Mornings on KFOG host Arthur chats with local neXt2rock finalist Fritz Montana. Growing up as products of the Bay Area’s suburbs, three ambitious and passionate young men met on a whim and haven’t looked back after coming together in 2013. With drawing inspiration from artists like Alabama Shakes, The Black Keys and Jack White, Fritz Montana is determined to prove that rock and roll isn’t dead. Drummer Matthew Hagarty adds “it’s very easy listening…we can still rock out, but also at the same time you can turn it on while you’re doing your work and just get through stuff.”

After much success with opening for headliners like Kings of Leon, Vampire Weekend and Capitol Cities, the band wants to ensure that their hometown footprint is strong. Hagarty adds that what attracted them to the contest was simply to rep the Bay Area noting “that it just falls right in line with what we want to be doing, representing the places that play the music we want to hear, representing the local acts” within the music community.

What’s next? Fritz Montana recently wrote and finished a new album which will be released in 2018. The neXt2rock local finalist will be announced on November 21st, and the top five nationally voted best bands will take the stage on December 12th at the iconic Viper Room in Los Angeles. The winner will receive a deal with Big Machine/John Varvatos Records and radio airplay..and be named neXt2rock.