Urban Collapse

In early 2007, Urban Collapse was a band without a voice. That is, until lead singer Dane Larsen, a veteran of the Seattle music scene, connected with bassist Dave Mcilraith, guitarist Michael Conway, and drummer William Childs in 2008 to form the hottest band to hit the Emerald City in years, booking sold-out shows at some of Seattle’s most notorious venues and stomping out every listener’s ear drums in the process.

Larsen, a classically-trained vocalist with over 10 years of experience, has been a prominent force in the Seattle music scene with bands Something Vital and renowned drummer Kenny James’ (George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars) The Witching Hour. Trained by Susan Carr, the prominent vocal coach who has worked with Minus the Bear, Vendetta Red, Mastodon, Sunny Day Real Estate, Alien Ant Farm, and Alice in Chains, Larsen has become a staple on Friday and Saturday nights at venues like the Shobox (Market and Sodo) and Neumos, as well as touring the West Coast, performing at such legendary venues as Whisky A Go Go. Larsen’s bands have opened for Floater and The Presidents of the United States of America, and his music has been played on both 99.9 KISW and Funky Monkey 104.9.

Conway, began playing guitar at age 12. He studied classical music theory in his teens and began emulating Joe Satriani, Randy Rhoads, Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Dimebag Darrell as his musical passion was unleashed. While in college, Conway studied audio production and launched Audio Vault Productions, a Seattle-based recording studio. The spine-tingling guitarist played with various Seattle bands and many other musicians throughout college, never finding the right fit until 2007, when he started the search for a project he wanted to pour his heart and soul into. He found Mcilraith and Childs, and Urban Collapse was born.

Mcilraith, the well-traveled bassist of the group, began his illustrious playing career in 1989. Spanning from St. Louis to Los Angeles to Seattle, Mcilraith’s sound engineering and stage tech history speaks for itself, but his spectacular bass-playing career is truly impressive. Mcilraith was the bassist for 40dog, C.O.R.E., and Otto's Revenge, among others. He also shared a stage with Flotsam and Jetsom, Sepultura, and Course of Empire. Mcilraith has played in all major clubs in L.A. as well, including the Roxy, the Troubador, House of Blues, Coconut Teaser, the Dragonfly, Opium Den, Whiskey A Go Go, the Gig, Mancini's, and F.M. Station. But Mcilraith never found a true musical home until locking grooves in Seattle with Conway and Childs in Urban Collapse. Mcilraith knew Larsen from a previous band and knew he was the missing piece to Urban Collapse’s puzzle.

Childs, the thundering drummer for Urban Collapse, also knew Larsen from a previous band. And while Larsen is classically-trained, Childs is the true musical prodigy of the group. Playing both piano and drums extensively before the age of 10, Childs studied musical theory and composition while performing with local rock, jazz, R&B, and pop groups in Spokane, Wash. throughout high school. After high school, the celebrated Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. called, where Childs majored in Music Performance and Music Business. Berklee awarded Childs its World Scholarship and Berklee Achievement Scholarship for each of his four years. Childs was also awarded the NAMM Scholarship. In Boston, William studied under notable drummers and recording artists including Dave Dicenso (Cro-Mags, Duran Duran, Gary Cherone, John Petrucci), Casey Scheuerell (Jean-Luc Ponty, Chaka Khan) and Ed Uribe (Berklee Professor and author of The Essence of Afro-Cuban Percussion and Drum Set and The Essence of Brazilian Percussion & Drum Set). William has performed and recorded extensively in the United States and internationally and is the driving rhythmic force behind the musical artillery Urban Collapse blasts upon Seattle.

After showcasing at some of Seattle’s biggest venues, Urban Collapse is ready to leave its mark on the rock industry. The band has worked tirelessly to develop its sound, to develop its unique blend of musical influences into something innovative, something honest – something Eddie Vedder would undoubtedly need.