York-based band 11th Hour is striving to put the rock back into rock and roll.

Guitarist Bill Phipps, 11th Hour's primary songwriter, credits "retro influences" like guitar giants Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck for the band's melodic rock sound. According to Phipps, about half of the band's typical live set consists of covers, including hits by Stone Temple Pilots, Fuel, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and 3 Doors Down.

Phipps formed 11th Hour with Marc Bernstein on drums and Tad Davis on lead vocals and bass in 1997. "We were all in different bands before that didn't work out," says Phipps. "We decided that this was it. If this doesn't work, then it's time to find something else to do."

The band has kept busy with a number of recent projects, including the recording of a half-hour TV show for channel 49 out of Red Lion and a recent radio appearance on 98 YCR. The band also released their first album, a collection of seven original tunes called Straight Up, in April 2001. The album was recorded by Brett and Paul of The Badless at Saturation Acres.

"We want to do this for a living. We want to get signed and promoted," says Phipps, who has already penned enough originals to fill an additional full-length album. The band has information and audio samples available on-line via Internet distributer The Orchard, located at www.theorchard.com.