A.J. Ellis

This New York City based British expat is best known as the front man of Five O’Clock Heroes, a band that saw success during the early to mid-2000s NYC revival. They toured along side the likes of <a href="spotify:artist:1Li0eIWeMeWcOOWpImcG9H" data-name="Albert Hammond, Jr.">Albert Hammond, Jr.</a>. and developed a dedicated following both at home in NYC and abroad in the UK and Europe, winning over audiences with their what Time Out London described as a “feisty punk power pop” sound, and songs that NME praised for having the “power to creep into the subconscious.”

Born in the UK, Ellis came to the United States as a teenager in the mid-‘90s, initially living in upstate New York while playing in his brother Steve Ellis’ band The Simpletons (Columbia Records).

Attracted to the music and the musician’s life, but wanting more, Ellis left The Simpletons after two years and moved to New York City to pursue his own path as a songwriter. Before forming the Heroes, Ellis’ first gigs consisted of open mic nights at New York City staples, such as The Sidewalk Cafe and The Raven Café, getting his feet wet with other upcoming artists, like <a href="spotify:artist:3RyJG8xp58XSmsiuIySzUj" data-name="Adam Green">Adam Green</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3z6Gk257P9jNcZbBXJNX5i" data-name="Regina Spektor">Regina Spektor</a>.

Years removed from the most recent Heroes’ album. The solo albums see Ellis breaking out on his own again, putting his distinctive rough hewn vocals and Costello-esque guitar-pop songwriting style to great effec.