The Band
Nick Nathaniel
Lead vocals; rhythm & lead guitar
CURRENT Gear
- Paul Reed Smith Guitars
- Mesa/Boogie Amplifiers
- Mesa/Boogie Cabinets
- Boss Effects
Chris Sommella
Rhythm & lead guitar; backing vocals
current Gear
- Paul Reed Smith Guitars
- Friedman and Engl Amplifiers
- Mesa/Boogie Cabinets
- Boss Effects
Scott Rippons
Bass guitar, backing vocals, effects
current gear
- Fender Basses
- Mesa/Boogie Amplifiers
- Mesa/Boogies Cabinets
- Boss Effects
The Concept
The concept behind City of Treason was born from the global financial collapse of 2008. It was clear that those that wield the power in Washington and on Wall Street had given up on the ideas of liberty and justice for all and fairness and equity for the people. If you’re not well-connected. if you don’t have the resources to buy politicians, you and your kind are going to be left behind. left to flail in the winds of a changing world.
Since then, the world has continued to change–and not for the better. The rise of social media, artificial intelligence, and demagogic political leaders has only made the world a more dangerous place.
The message of City of Treason is a simple one:
We must take the power from the billionaires, demagogues, and corporate overlords and give it back to the people.
The Story
Peel back the music, the performances, and the presentation, and the story of City of Treason is one of struggle, loss, and failure. It’s the failure of unrealized dreams and the smothering inner conflict that it creates. But more importantly, the story of City of Treason is a tale of something new and beautiful being born from the ashes of despair. It’s a story of rebirth and the enduring power of music. Read on for a brief history of the band and its members.
In the early 2000s, City of Treason founders Chris Sommella and Scott Rippons played in a band called Divided Mind. They were joined in the band by drummer Tony Ostrom and lead vocalist Marc Nichols. “It truly was a killer band; as a young guitarist, I was lucky to be in it with such top-flight players,” Chris was quoted as saying. This incarnation of the group would disband for a number of reasons, as bands do, in 2003.
Right after the financial collapse of 2008, Chris and Scott renewed their partnership to begin a new project. Joining them would be lead singer and guitarist Nick Nathaniel. Inspired by the events of the times, they named the project “City of Treason“, and they would go on to release a record, produce a music video, and perform in support of some of their favorite acts, before ultimately disbanding in 2013.
In January of 2020, shortly before the global Covid-19 pandemic, Chris and Scott received word of a shocking and terrible loss–their friend and bandmate Marc had passed at age 50 due to complications from a stroke suffered a few years earlier. Marc’s passing hurt them and many others deeply, in particular Chris, who looked at Marc as a musical mentor and the big brother he never had.
Later that year, Chris stumbled upon the master recordings of an album Divided Mind was producing but never finished. After this shocking discovery, the remaining members of Divided Mind–Chris, Scott, and Tony–resolved to finish the record in Marc’s memory. They approached Nick about lending his voice to finish Marc’s work. He responded that he would be honored to do it.
This website and all its contents are here now because these four musicians came together as one, as City of Treason, to release this album entitled “Divided Mind” in memory of Marc Nichols. Marc was a prolific singer and lyricist, and he deserves to be remembered for his unique artistry.
Marc, we love you, we miss you, and, of course, “rubber chicken”.
There is so much more to the City of Treason story yet to be told, so stay tuned…
