Ted Sablay

Last updated

Ted Sablay
Ted Sablay, 2023.jpg
Ted Sablay, 2023
Background information
Born (1976-04-18) April 18, 1976 (age 47)
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, US
Genres Rock
Occupation(s)Musician, guitarist
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals, keyboards, piano, bass guitar
Years active1994–present
Website tedsablay.com

Theodore Sablay (born April 18, 1976) is an American musician, musical director and songwriter. He has been a touring guitarist and keyboardist for The Killers [1] since 2006 and musical director for the band's live concerts since 2022. [2]

Contents

Early life

Sablay was born in 1976 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, the son of Maureen and Nonito Sablay, a doctor. [3] His father also played piano and while his mother loved pop music. [3] Sablay studied classical piano for four years as a child and switched to guitar at age 12. [3] As an teenager, Sablay became interested in live music after seeing concerts by INXS, Steve Winwood, David Bowie and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and decided to become a performer after seeing U2 and Paul McCartney. [3] Educated at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Sablay played in various local bands while in college during the 1990s, including Attaboy Skip with Killers drummer Ronnie Vannucci and Neon Trees bassist Branden Campbell and Expert On October with Vannucci and fellow Killers touring guitarist Taylor Milne. [3] Sablay graduated from UNLV with a dual B.A. in Anthropology and Asian Studies and master's degree in accounting. [3]

Music career

The Killers

Sablay played piano on "Romeo and Juliet" on the band's compilation album Sawdust, engineered sessions for the Killers' 2008 album Day & Age , worked as a music consultant on Flamingo, the 2010 solo album by Killers singer Brandon Flowers, and played lead guitar on "Dustland," the 2021 Killers collaboration with Bruce Springsteen. [4]

Sablay contributed bass to Vannucci's side project Big Talk [5] and Flowers' second solo album, The Desired Effect. In 2017, Sablay was picked to fill in for Dave Keuning on lead guitar during live dates supporting the Killers' album, Wonderful Wonderful . [6] In 2022, Sablay became The Killers music director, supervising musical arrangements for live concerts. [3] He currently switches between lead and rhythm guitar during Killers concerts. [3]

Solo career

In 2021, while remaining a touring musician for the Killers, Sablay began his solo career, releasing the singles "Just Out of Reach" and "Fall Out of Love." [7] [8] In 2022, Sablay released his first solo album, You'll Be Back Here Soon, amassing over 500,000 Spotify streams as of October 2022. [9] [10]

Las Vegas Weekly wrote that the album is “an impressive debut that warrants immediate, repeated plays” and the song "I Only Care About You" as one of its favorite local songs of the year. [11] [12] FV Music Blog described Sablay as "an outstanding talent," while Divide and Conquer Magazine gave the "You'll Be Back Here Soon" 4.2 out of 5 stars, describing the album as being "everything a rock record should be: well-constructed songs, accessible melodies, shifting textures and tones." [13] [14] .

In 2023, Sablay began touring throughout the United States, opening a number of dates for The Killers, The Wallflowers and Chris Isaak. [15] [16] [17]

Musical influences

According to an official FAQ, Sablay's influences include The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, U2, The Smiths, Johnny Marr, Oasis, Noel Gallagher, The Kinks, Tom Petty, The Wallflowers, Sade, Paul Simon, Tom Waits, Talking Heads, David Byrne, Mark Knopfler, The War On Drugs and Supergrass. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nils Lofgren</span> American rock musician (born 1951)

Nils Hilmer Lofgren is an American rock musician, recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Along with his work as a solo artist, he has been a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band since 1984, a member of Crazy Horse, and founder/frontman of the band Grin. Lofgren was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Killers</span> American rock band

The Killers are an American rock band formed in Las Vegas in 2001 by Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning. After going through a number of short-term bass players and drummers in their early days, both Mark Stoermer and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. joined the band in 2002. The band's name is derived from a logo on the bass drum of a fictitious band portrayed in the music video for the New Order song "Crystal".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Flowers</span> American musician

Brandon Richard Flowers is an American musician. He serves as the co-founder, lead vocalist, primary songwriter, keyboardist, and occasional bassist of the Las Vegas-based rock band the Killers, which he formed with Dave Keuning in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Brightside</span> 2003 single by the Killers

"Mr. Brightside" is the debut single of American rock band the Killers. It is taken from their debut studio album, Hot Fuss (2004). Written by band members Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning, it was one of the first songs the Killers ever wrote. Two music videos were made for the song: the first one was shot in black and white and features the band performing in an empty room and the second one was based on the 2001 film Moulin Rouge!.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Keuning</span> American guitarist

David Brent Keuning is an American musician, best known for his role as the lead guitarist of the rock band The Killers, which he founded alongside Brandon Flowers in 2001 and with whom he has recorded six studio albums. Keuning played every show with The Killers since its inception up until the show at Chicago's Lollapalooza in August 2017. From 2017 to the end of 2020, Keuning was on hiatus from the band. He returned to The Killers to assist in recording their 2021 album Pressure Machine. Keuning released a solo album titled Prismism under his surname Keuning in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronnie Vannucci Jr.</span> American drummer (born 1976)

Ronald Vannucci Jr. is an American musician, best known for being the drummer for the rock band the Killers. He is also involved in a side project called Big Talk and became the drummer of the Rentals in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matchbox Twenty</span> American rock band

Matchbox Twenty is an American rock band formed in Orlando, Florida, in 1995. The group currently consists of Rob Thomas, Brian Yale, Paul Doucette, and Kyle Cook.

<i>Day & Age</i> 2008 studio album by the Killers

Day & Age is the third studio album by American rock band the Killers. It was released on November 18, 2008, by Island Records. Frontman and lead vocalist Brandon Flowers described it as the band's "most playful record". As of May 2015, Day & Age had sold three million copies worldwide. Following the release of the album, the band embarked on the Day & Age World Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Stoermer</span> American musician

Mark August Stoermer is an American musician. He is best known as the bassist for the rock band the Killers, with whom he has recorded six studio albums.

<i>Flamingo</i> (Brandon Flowers album) 2010 studio album by Brandon Flowers

Flamingo is the debut solo studio album by American singer-songwriter and The Killers lead singer Brandon Flowers. It was released on September 3, 2010, by Island Records. It was recorded at Battle Born Studios in Winchester, Nevada, and Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imagine Dragons</span> American pop rock band

Imagine Dragons are an American pop rock band formed in 2008, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and currently consists of lead singer Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee and drummer Daniel Platzman. The band first gained exposure with the release of their single "It's Time", followed by their debut album Night Visions (2012), which resulted in the chart-topping singles "Radioactive" and "Demons". Rolling Stone named "Radioactive", which held the record for most weeks charted on the Billboard Hot 100, the "biggest rock hit of the year". MTV called them "the year's biggest breakout band", and Billboard named them their "Breakthrough Band of 2013" and "Biggest Band of 2017", and placed them at the top of their "Year in Rock" rankings for 2013, 2017, and 2018. Imagine Dragons topped the Billboard Year-End "Top Artists – Duo/Group" category in 2018.

Big Talk is an American rock band formed by The Killers' drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. and longtime friend Taylor Milne in 2011. As of 2015, John Spiker, John Konesky and Brooks Wackerman are also members of the band. The band have released an eponymous debut album Big Talk (2011), with follow-up Straight In No Kissin' released in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle Born World Tour</span> 2012–14 concert tour by the Killers

The Battle Born World Tour is the fourth major concert tour by American rock band The Killers, in support of their fourth studio album Battle Born, which was released in September 2012. The tour included the band's biggest show to date at Wembley Stadium. It also saw them visit new territories including Russia, Ukraine, China and South East Asia. The tour was the 43rd highest grossing worldwide during 2013.

<i>Direct Hits</i> (The Killers album) 2013 greatest hits album by the Killers

Direct Hits is a greatest hits album by American rock band the Killers. It was released on November 11, 2013, by Island Records. The album includes tracks from the band's first four studio albums and features two new tracks—"Shot at the Night" and "Just Another Girl", produced by Anthony Gonzalez of M83 and Stuart Price, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run for Cover (The Killers song)</span> 2017 single by the Killers

"Run for Cover" is a song by American rock band the Killers from their fifth studio album, Wonderful Wonderful (2017). Originally released as a promotional single on July 28, 2017, the song was sent to alternative radio in the United States on November 14, 2017, serving as the album's second single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Man (The Killers song)</span> 2017 single by the Killers

"The Man" is a song by American rock band the Killers from their fifth studio album, Wonderful Wonderful (2017). It was released on June 14, 2017, as the lead single from the album.

<i>Wonderful Wonderful</i> (The Killers album) 2017 studio album by the Killers

Wonderful Wonderful is the fifth studio album by American rock band the Killers, released on September 22, 2017, by Island Records. It was their first studio album in five years, since Battle Born (2012), and their fifth consecutive studio album to top the UK Albums Chart. It is also their first album to top the Billboard 200, moving 118,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. Wonderful Wonderful is the Killers' most recent album to feature the band's core line-up, with lead guitarist Dave Keuning and bassist Mark Stoermer being absent on Imploding the Mirage (2020) and Pressure Machine (2021), respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wonderful Wonderful World Tour</span> 2017–18 concert tour by the Killers

The Wonderful Wonderful World Tour is the fifth major concert tour by the American rock band The Killers, in support of their fifth studio album Wonderful Wonderful, which was released on September 22, 2017. The tour include dates in thirty four countries of Europe, Asia, the Americas and Oceania.

<i>Imploding the Mirage</i> 2020 studio album by the Killers

Imploding the Mirage is the sixth studio album by American rock band the Killers, released on August 21, 2020, by Island Records in the United States and internationally by EMI. To date, it is the band's only album without lead guitarist Dave Keuning, who took an indefinite hiatus from the band in 2017. Guitar parts are covered by Killers bassist Mark Stoermer, producer Jonathan Rado, and a variety of guest musicians including Lindsey Buckingham and Adam Granduciel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imploding the Mirage Tour</span> 2021–23 concert tour by the Killers

The Imploding the Mirage Tour is the ongoing sixth major concert tour by American rock band The Killers. The tour supports their sixth and seventh studio albums Imploding the Mirage (2020) and Pressure Machine (2021). The tour began at the Terminal 5 in New York City on August 19, 2021, and ended at Interlagos Circuit in Sao Paulo on December 2, 2023.

References

  1. Ted Sablay of The Killers Archived May 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Voxmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-05-02.
  2. "About". Ted Sablay. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "FAQ". Ted Sablay. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  4. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : "The Killers - Dustland (Official Music Video) ft. Bruce Springsteen". YouTube .
  5. Weiss, David. Ronnie Vannucci of The Killers Masters Solo Album “Big Talk” with Emily Lazar, Joe LaPorta at The Lodge SonicScoop
  6. "Killers Guitarist Dave Keuning Announces Touring Break". Spin. August 28, 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
  7. @Ted_Sablay (March 23, 2021). ""Just Out Of Reach" is out now on @spotify @applemusic and @amazon. Link in bio to listen. #tedsablay…" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  8. @Ted_Sablay (May 28, 2021). "Out now on Spotify" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  9. @Ted_Sablay (February 21, 2022). ""You'll Be Back Here Soon" is now available 2.22.22 in Australia and New Zealand and will be out in Europe in a few hours on all streaming platforms. Order a vinyl and/or CD copy at the link in bio & receive a free mp3 download tomorrow... #tedsablay…" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  10. Spotify stats
  11. "Local spin: New music from Ted Sablay, Ted Rader and more - Las Vegas Weekly". March 31, 2022.
  12. "2022 in Review: The Weekly's favorite local songs - Las Vegas Weekly". lasvegasweekly.com. December 22, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  13. "Ted Sablay - 'You'll be Back Here Soon' Album Release". April 2022.
  14. "Ted Sablay - You'll Be Back Here Soon'". June 3, 2022.
  15. Sablay, Ted [@Ted_Sablay] (March 21, 2023). "Had a blast opening for @thekillers in Pittsburgh last night" (Tweet). Retrieved March 28, 2024 via Twitter.
  16. Ted Sablay - Austin TX Full Concert 10.12.2023 (Supporting The Wallflowers) , retrieved October 23, 2023
  17. Sablay, Ted [@Ted_Sablay] (December 8, 2023). "Very excited to be opening for @chrisisaak tonight" (Tweet). Retrieved March 28, 2024 via Twitter.