NYCO

Ted Atkatz's decision to leave his gig as the principal percussionist in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra was a bold one. Exchanging his drumsticks for a keyboard and an acoustic guitar, he began singing an altogether different tune. He wrote twelve songs, collaborated with three of Chicagos finest musicians, and NYCO was born.
Two, NYCOs debut album, resonates with the sincerity and energy of great rock'n roll, capped by Atkatz's striking melodies. Produced by Grammy-award winner Jim Tullio, reviewers have called the album a must-own. Chicago's own Q101 FM and WXRT 93.1 FM, stations that helped bring bands like Wilco and Smashing Pumpkins into the mainstream, have lately taken to spinning NYCOs tunes. The soulful English Song" has already garnered significant attention, and has even been dubbed a pop classic by WXRT DJ Richard Milne. NYCO is currently being featured as one of the band's on Volkswagen Motor's 2007 Auto Show Podcast.

Onstage, Atkatz is joined by Dave Delciello, Dave Bowers and Devin Staples. To hear the band live is to see an originality and energy towards which crowds continue to gravitate.

Over the past year, NYCO has been playing to audiences across the United States. True to their Chicago roots, however, they have made a point of playing hometown shows at famous local venues like the Abbey and Schubas. But with the band's popularity continuing to grow at such a rapid rate, the time for seeing NYCO in a small venue may be running out.

As of late, the band has been spending their time between touring in the studio, recording their second album, tentatively to be released in April.