You might say that the foundation for 49 Floors was formed in 1989, when frontman Craig Maierhofer was attending college in
Boulder, CO and performing as a solo artist. With a rapidly growing following, he toured the acoustic music scene throughout the
front range, mountain towns, and even the Virgin Islands. Playing covers was a great way to hone the voice and guitar work, but
it didn't do much for his songwriting skills. Through mutual friends, he hooked up with Dennis Grosvenor, a songwriter who had
recently moved to the area from L.A. Together, they formed the progressive alt-rock group Orphan Tears, a band whose unique
sound and finely crafted songs filled clubs and drew tremendous praise from local writers. Although they were fortunate enough
to land a demo deal with Capitol Records, they never hit it big outside of the local scene. The band split up shortly after the
release of their first full length album, the critically acclaimed Novocain Kiss.
Maierhofer fronted a couple bands following the breakup of Orphan Tears, continuing his musical partnership with Orphan Tears
bass player Rob Pearson. Together, the two recorded Craig's first full length solo album, 49 Floors, a maturely written collection of
songs which can be best described as "adult alterna-pop." Produced by Joe Bonadio, who has worked with a variety of artists
ranging from Martin Sexton to Susan Todeschi to Avril Lavigne, the album featured a variety of talented musicians including
Bonadio, David Sancious (Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel, Sting), and Larry Saltzman (Simon and Garfunkel, Edie Brickell), as
well as Pearson and local singer/songwriter Rebecca Folsom. The result was a wonderfully produced and performed album of
soaring melodies and insightful lyrics that was very well received by listeners and writers alike. Following the release of the
album, Maierhofer and Pearson hit the local clubs to support it, filling rooms with listeners. Local readers even gave Maierhofer a
nod as runner-up for "Best Local Musician or Group" in the Boulder Daily Camera's Reader's Choice Awards.
Most recently Maierhofer and Pearson have added two terrific musicians to the line-up, and the group has taken on Craig's solo
album name "49 Floors" as the name for the band as well. Patrick O'Neal tastefully fills out the sound on electric guitar, and
ex-Orphan Tears member Phil Robinson brings his multi-instrumental talents (mandolin/violin/guitar) to the group. Together with
part time drummer Brian Mikulich, the band's adult alterna-pop sound has taken off and keeps audiences coming back time and
time again.
"Singer/songwriter Craig Maierhofer makes the type of toe-tapping, soul-bearing pop that can range from
sentimental genius to toothache-inducing sweet." – BOULDER WEEKLY
"49 Floors drips with commercial potential. Folks who think ‘Your Body Is a Wonderland' represents 21stcentury
songcraft are likely to embrace Maierhofer's melodies." – WESTWORD
In a perfect world, Maierhofer's finely-tuned pop-rock songs would be making waves on (Colorado's largest radio station) KBCO." – BOULDER DAILY CAMERA
