Published: July 26, 2008 11:01 pm            

Rejects keep busy with ad, album

Stillwater natives Nick Wheeler and Tyson Ritter and the bandmates in The All-American Rejects have been busy lately.

Wheeler and Ritter are writing songs for the band’s third album, but the band has also been touring with Bon Jovi on the last leg of its “Lost Highway” tour and shooting an ad for milk.

The band has been opening up for Bon Jovi in July for performances in Detroit, Boston and New York City, Wheeler’s parents, Robin and Terry, attended the two-night sell-out concerts at TD Northbank Gardens, home to the Boston Celtics and Bruins.

AAR’s set included songs from their first two albums and “Mona Lisa,” a song from the new album, which features Ritter on lead vocals and Wheeler on acoustic guitar.

The band is recording its new album in California. Ritter writes lyrics, sings lead and plays bass guitar, while Wheeler writes the music for guitars, drums and keyboard and plays lead guitar, sings back-up vocals and helps with studio production.

Other members of the band are Chris Gaylor, who plays drums, and Mike Kennerty, who plays rhythm guitar and sings back-up vocals. Both are from Edmond.

Band members expect to release the album in late fall in time for Christmas sales.

In the meantime, they’re featured in a new “Body By Milk” ad. The “Body By Milk” campaign encourages teens to drink three glasses of lowfat or fat-free milk every day, eat right and be active.

Band members are also asking fans to design posters to announce the release of the new album. The top five designers will receive a framed, signed poster and a copy of the album. Fans can enter by visiting www.bodybymilk.com, downloading the ad and using it to make a poster.

        

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