Straylight Run is an indie rock band based in Baldwin, Nassau County, Long Island, New York. They are currently unsigned after being dropped from Universal Republic Records East. Their latest release is the EP Un Mas Dos, preceded by the full-length album entitled The Needles The Space.
When he was still a member of Taking Back Sunday, John Nolan wrote several songs that he didn't feel would go well with the band. After their departure, John and Shaun Cooper recorded several demos with Taking Back Sunday drummer Mark O'Connell. The band began to take its present form when drummer Will Noon was invited to join after his former band, Breaking Pangaea, broke up. Breaking Pangaea's former lead singer was Fred Mascherino, who later took Nolan's place in Taking Back Sunday. Shortly thereafter, John's sister, Michelle DaRosa, joined Straylight Run. The band's name was taken from the final section of William Gibson's cyberpunk science-fiction novel Neuromancer.
The band gained popularity after posting six demo songs for free download on their official site. By September of that year, they were playing to sold-out crowds in various cities in the Northeastern United States.
Due to John's and Shaun's involvement in their previous band, they were bound by contract to release an album under Victory Records. They began to record their first album in April 2004 and released their self-titled debut album Straylight Run on October 12, 2004 after a one-month postponement. The album sold over 11,000 copies in the first week, and made the Billboard Top 100 Albums list. In late 2005, the band toured with Simple Plan, which in interviews and from the stage, band members have stated was a mistake, done because they were offered a lot of money.
On June 3, 2008 Michelle DaRosa announced that she would be leaving Straylight Run to pursue a solo career. In her MySpace message, she left the door open to rejoining the band at some future time.
Michelle DaRosa
Michelle DaRosa was born Michelle Nolan on September 13, 1980 in Rockville Centre, Nassau County, New York to Tom and Linda Nolan. Like her brother and former bandmate, John Nolan, she grew up in Baldwin, Nassau County, New York.
Before Straylight Run, she provided background vocals for two of the songs off of Taking Back Sunday's debut album, Tell All Your Friends ("Bike Scene" and "Ghost Man on Third"). Also, Michelle was formerly a nanny, hairdresser, and a ballet dancer. She is married to fellow musician, Jeff DaRosa (of Dropkick Murphys fame), and has since taken his last name.
On June 3, 2008 Michelle left Straylight Run on friendly terms to pursue a solo career. She already has a new band called Destry, with Shaun Cooper, bassist of Straylight Run, and Sam Means, guitarist of The Format.
Current Members
John Nolan
Shaun Cooper
Will Noon
Former members
Michelle DaRosa
Discography
Straylight Run (2004)
Prepare to Be Wrong EP (2005)
The Needles the Space (2007)
Un Mas Dos EP (2008)
Showing posts with label artist of the week. Show all posts
Showing posts with label artist of the week. Show all posts
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Artist of the Week: Ace Enders
Arthur Carl "Ace" Enders (born April 19, 1982 in Hammonton, New Jersey) is an American musician. Enders is the former lead singer and guitarist of the defunct band The Early November. He was also the lead musician, songwriter and co-producer in his side project, I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business. He currently releases music under the name Ace Enders and a Million Different People. He is the owner of the independent record label Regular Music.
Enders began playing guitar after being inspired by watching his step dad play in a band. Left-handed, Enders taught himself how to play his step dad's old right-handed guitar.
The Early November
In February 2001, Enders along with guitarist Jim Sacco, bassist Sergio Anello and drummer Jeff Kummer formed The Early November. In 2003, after the release of their first EP For All Of This, the band released their debut full length album The Room's Too Cold.
In 2004, Enders started his own solo project I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business, releasing the self-titled album on October 26, 2004. Enders has stated that I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business "was a one-album thing".
Recording of the third Early November album began in February 2005. The album, titled The Mother, the Mechanic, and the Path, was a triple disc concept album with an entwining plot of a torn family, from the perspective of a growing child. The album took over a year to complete due to a multitude of issues. Before conceptualizing The Mother, the Mechanic, and the Path, Enders contemplated leaving the music business and possibly going into retail or construction.
February 21, Arthur Enders performed an acoustic set at Australia's Soundwave festival in Brisbane. He performed 'Ever So Sweet' an Early November track from album 'The Rooms Too Cold'. Prior to playing this track he referred to the song being by his old band that he was in "back in the day" and made reference to missing The Early November, the track was performed with greater intensity and passion to the rest of his set.
Members
Arthur "Ace" Enders – vocals, rhythm guitar
Joseph Marro – guitar, keyboard, piano
"Ultra" Bill Lugg – lead guitar
Sergio Anello – bass
Jeff Kummer – drums
Albums
An Excellent Attempt at Next to Youism (2003)
The Room's Too Cold (2003) US #107
The Mother, the Mechanic, and the Path (2006) US #31
EPs
For All of This (2002)
The Acoustic EP (2003)
The Early November/I Am the Avalanche (2005)
I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business
I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business was the side project of Arthur "Ace" Enders, lead singer and guitarist of The Early November. The self-titled album is the only planned official release under the name I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business. The song "The Best Happiness Money Can Buy" appeared in a movie trailer for Must Love Dogs. Enders is still signed to Drive-Thru Records, and is now working on a solo project known as Ace Enders and A Million Different People.
Members
Arthur 'Ace' Enders - Vocals/Guitar/Songwriter
Chris Badami - Drums
Bill Lugg - Slide Guitar
Jeff Kummer - Touring Bassist
Albums
I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business (2004)
Ace Enders and A Million Different People
Enders announced in Alternative Press magazine that he planned on recording a solo album, and began a new project named Ace Enders and A Million Different People.
In the summer of 2007, Enders took out a loan to build a studio in the basement of a shopping center. After three weeks of work, building finished and Pink Space Recording was created. After the studio was finished, Enders spent two straight days making demos that would later be named "From a Daze" and "Emergency". Enders signed on with manager Lucas Keller to work on Ace Enders and A Million Different People. He opened for the full Angels & Airwaves US tour in early 2008. On June 13 of that year, Enders put out an 8-track album called The Secret Wars available for free download on Fuse Tv. He recorded them in his own studio.
In December 2008, Ace Enders and a Million Different People released the single "Bitter Sweet Symphony", a cover of The Verve song, on the iTunes Store. All of the proceeds from the song went to VH1's Save the Music Foundation.
Ace Enders and A Million Different People released its second album, Enders' third solo album, on 17 March 2009, through Vagrant/Drive-Thru Records. The album is titled When I Hit the Ground.
Albums
The Secret Wars (2008)
When I Hit the Ground (2009)
EPs
Australian EP (2009)
Enders began playing guitar after being inspired by watching his step dad play in a band. Left-handed, Enders taught himself how to play his step dad's old right-handed guitar.
The Early November
In February 2001, Enders along with guitarist Jim Sacco, bassist Sergio Anello and drummer Jeff Kummer formed The Early November. In 2003, after the release of their first EP For All Of This, the band released their debut full length album The Room's Too Cold.
In 2004, Enders started his own solo project I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business, releasing the self-titled album on October 26, 2004. Enders has stated that I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business "was a one-album thing".
Recording of the third Early November album began in February 2005. The album, titled The Mother, the Mechanic, and the Path, was a triple disc concept album with an entwining plot of a torn family, from the perspective of a growing child. The album took over a year to complete due to a multitude of issues. Before conceptualizing The Mother, the Mechanic, and the Path, Enders contemplated leaving the music business and possibly going into retail or construction.
February 21, Arthur Enders performed an acoustic set at Australia's Soundwave festival in Brisbane. He performed 'Ever So Sweet' an Early November track from album 'The Rooms Too Cold'. Prior to playing this track he referred to the song being by his old band that he was in "back in the day" and made reference to missing The Early November, the track was performed with greater intensity and passion to the rest of his set.
Members
Arthur "Ace" Enders – vocals, rhythm guitar
Joseph Marro – guitar, keyboard, piano
"Ultra" Bill Lugg – lead guitar
Sergio Anello – bass
Jeff Kummer – drums
Albums
An Excellent Attempt at Next to Youism (2003)
The Room's Too Cold (2003) US #107
The Mother, the Mechanic, and the Path (2006) US #31
EPs
For All of This (2002)
The Acoustic EP (2003)
The Early November/I Am the Avalanche (2005)
I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business
I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business was the side project of Arthur "Ace" Enders, lead singer and guitarist of The Early November. The self-titled album is the only planned official release under the name I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business. The song "The Best Happiness Money Can Buy" appeared in a movie trailer for Must Love Dogs. Enders is still signed to Drive-Thru Records, and is now working on a solo project known as Ace Enders and A Million Different People.
Members
Arthur 'Ace' Enders - Vocals/Guitar/Songwriter
Chris Badami - Drums
Bill Lugg - Slide Guitar
Jeff Kummer - Touring Bassist
Albums
I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business (2004)
Ace Enders and A Million Different People
Enders announced in Alternative Press magazine that he planned on recording a solo album, and began a new project named Ace Enders and A Million Different People.
In the summer of 2007, Enders took out a loan to build a studio in the basement of a shopping center. After three weeks of work, building finished and Pink Space Recording was created. After the studio was finished, Enders spent two straight days making demos that would later be named "From a Daze" and "Emergency". Enders signed on with manager Lucas Keller to work on Ace Enders and A Million Different People. He opened for the full Angels & Airwaves US tour in early 2008. On June 13 of that year, Enders put out an 8-track album called The Secret Wars available for free download on Fuse Tv. He recorded them in his own studio.
In December 2008, Ace Enders and a Million Different People released the single "Bitter Sweet Symphony", a cover of The Verve song, on the iTunes Store. All of the proceeds from the song went to VH1's Save the Music Foundation.
Ace Enders and A Million Different People released its second album, Enders' third solo album, on 17 March 2009, through Vagrant/Drive-Thru Records. The album is titled When I Hit the Ground.
Albums
The Secret Wars (2008)
When I Hit the Ground (2009)
EPs
Australian EP (2009)
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Artist of the Week: Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American rock band formed by singer/guitarist/drummer Dave Grohl in 1995. Grohl formed the group as a one-man project after the dissolution of his previous band Nirvana in 1994. Prior to the release of Foo Fighters in 1995, Grohl drafted Nate Mendel (bass), William Goldsmith (drums), and Pat Smear (guitar) to complete the group. Goldsmith left during the recording of the group's second album The Colour and the Shape (1997), soon followed by Smear. They were replaced by Taylor Hawkins and Franz Stahl, respectively, although Stahl left prior to the recording of the group's third album, There Is Nothing Left to Lose (1999).
Chris Shiflett joined as the band's second guitarist after the completion of There is Nothing Left to Lose. The band released its fourth album One by One in 2002. The group followed that release with the two-disc In Your Honor (2005), which was split between acoustic songs and harder-rocking material. Foo Fighters released its sixth album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace in 2007. Over the course of the band's career, three of its albums have won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album, and all six have been nominated for Grammys.
Dave Grohl joined the band Nirvana as the group's drummer in 1990. In order to occupy himself during tours, he took a guitar with him and wrote songs. Grohl held back these songs from the band; he said in 1997, "I was in awe of frontman Kurt Cobain's songs. And intimidated. I thought it was best that I keep my songs to myself." Instead, Grohl occasionally booked studio time to record demos, and even issued a cassette of some of those songs called Pocketwatch under the pseudonym "Late!" in 1992.
Cobain was found dead in his Seattle home on April 8, 1994, and Nirvana subsequently disbanded. Grohl received offers to work with various artists, and almost accepted a permanent position as the drummer in Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Ultimately Grohl declined and instead entered Robert Lang Studios in October 1994 to record twelve of the forty songs he had written. With the exception of a guitar part on "X-Static" by Greg Dulli of the Afghan Whigs, Grohl played every instrument and sang every vocal on the tracks. "I was supposed to just join another band and be a drummer the rest of my life," Grohl later said. "I thought that I would rather do what no-one expected me to do. I enjoy writing music and I enjoy trying to sing, and there's nothing anyone can really do to discourage me." Grohl completed an album's worth of material in five days and handed out cassette copies of the sessions to his friends for feedback.
Grohl hoped to keep his anonymity and release the recordings in a limited run under the title "Foo Fighters", taken from the World War II term "foo fighter", used to refer to unidentified flying objects. However, the demo tape circulated in the music industry, creating interest among record labels. Grohl formed a band to support the album. Initially, Grohl talked to former Nirvana band mate Krist Novoselic about joining the group, but both decided against it. "For Krist and I, it would have felt really natural and really great", Grohl explained. "But for everyone else, it would have been weird, and it would have left me in a really bad position. Then I really would have been under the microscope."
On 17 September 2008 Dave Grohl announced on The Chris Moyles Show that the band would be taking a long break from music so that they could return with a new sense of purpose, and also informed fans not to expect any new music for a while. "We've never really taken a long break, I think it's time," Grohl commented. "After doing Wembley, we shouldn't come back there for 10 years because we've played to everybody. We're over in the UK every year, every summer, so I think it's time to take a break and come back over when people really miss us."
However, on February 12th of 2009 Hawkins denied the band was planning on taking a break of that duration. "We've gotten together and minced ideas already," he said. "Just basic ideas and we'll probably do that over the next year until we have a log of ideas. We'll take our time and let everybody else enjoy other things -- their families and stuff. I'd say maybe by summer we'll get in the studio and start getting serious about a record."
Current members
Dave Grohl – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano, bass guitar, drums (1995 – present)
Nate Mendel – bass guitar (1995 – present)
Taylor Hawkins – drums, backing vocals (1997 – present)
Chris Shiflett – lead guitar, backing vocals (1999 – present)
Discography
Foo Fighters (1995)
The Colour and the Shape (1997)
There Is Nothing Left to Lose (1999)
One by One (2002)
In Your Honor (2005)
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (2007)
Chris Shiflett joined as the band's second guitarist after the completion of There is Nothing Left to Lose. The band released its fourth album One by One in 2002. The group followed that release with the two-disc In Your Honor (2005), which was split between acoustic songs and harder-rocking material. Foo Fighters released its sixth album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace in 2007. Over the course of the band's career, three of its albums have won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album, and all six have been nominated for Grammys.
Dave Grohl joined the band Nirvana as the group's drummer in 1990. In order to occupy himself during tours, he took a guitar with him and wrote songs. Grohl held back these songs from the band; he said in 1997, "I was in awe of frontman Kurt Cobain's songs. And intimidated. I thought it was best that I keep my songs to myself." Instead, Grohl occasionally booked studio time to record demos, and even issued a cassette of some of those songs called Pocketwatch under the pseudonym "Late!" in 1992.
Cobain was found dead in his Seattle home on April 8, 1994, and Nirvana subsequently disbanded. Grohl received offers to work with various artists, and almost accepted a permanent position as the drummer in Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Ultimately Grohl declined and instead entered Robert Lang Studios in October 1994 to record twelve of the forty songs he had written. With the exception of a guitar part on "X-Static" by Greg Dulli of the Afghan Whigs, Grohl played every instrument and sang every vocal on the tracks. "I was supposed to just join another band and be a drummer the rest of my life," Grohl later said. "I thought that I would rather do what no-one expected me to do. I enjoy writing music and I enjoy trying to sing, and there's nothing anyone can really do to discourage me." Grohl completed an album's worth of material in five days and handed out cassette copies of the sessions to his friends for feedback.
Grohl hoped to keep his anonymity and release the recordings in a limited run under the title "Foo Fighters", taken from the World War II term "foo fighter", used to refer to unidentified flying objects. However, the demo tape circulated in the music industry, creating interest among record labels. Grohl formed a band to support the album. Initially, Grohl talked to former Nirvana band mate Krist Novoselic about joining the group, but both decided against it. "For Krist and I, it would have felt really natural and really great", Grohl explained. "But for everyone else, it would have been weird, and it would have left me in a really bad position. Then I really would have been under the microscope."
On 17 September 2008 Dave Grohl announced on The Chris Moyles Show that the band would be taking a long break from music so that they could return with a new sense of purpose, and also informed fans not to expect any new music for a while. "We've never really taken a long break, I think it's time," Grohl commented. "After doing Wembley, we shouldn't come back there for 10 years because we've played to everybody. We're over in the UK every year, every summer, so I think it's time to take a break and come back over when people really miss us."
However, on February 12th of 2009 Hawkins denied the band was planning on taking a break of that duration. "We've gotten together and minced ideas already," he said. "Just basic ideas and we'll probably do that over the next year until we have a log of ideas. We'll take our time and let everybody else enjoy other things -- their families and stuff. I'd say maybe by summer we'll get in the studio and start getting serious about a record."
Current members
Dave Grohl – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano, bass guitar, drums (1995 – present)
Nate Mendel – bass guitar (1995 – present)
Taylor Hawkins – drums, backing vocals (1997 – present)
Chris Shiflett – lead guitar, backing vocals (1999 – present)
Discography
Foo Fighters (1995)
The Colour and the Shape (1997)
There Is Nothing Left to Lose (1999)
One by One (2002)
In Your Honor (2005)
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (2007)
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Artist of the Week: 2Pac
It is black history month so I think it is important to make a black person the artist of the week and why not choose the person who has been deemed the greatest rapper of all time by many people.
Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 — September 13, 1996), also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper. In addition to his status as a top-selling recording artist, Shakur was a successful film actor and a prominent social activist. Most of Shakur's songs are about growing up amid violence and hardship in ghettos, racism, problems in society and conflicts with other rappers. Shakur's work is known for advocating political, economic, social and racial equality, as well as his raw descriptions of violence, drug and alcohol abuse and conflicts with the law. Shakur was initially a roadie and backup dancer for the alternative hip hop group Digital Underground. Shakur's debut album, 2Pacalypse Now, gained critical recognition and backlash for its controversial lyrics.
Shakur became the target of lawsuits and experienced other legal problems. He was later shot five times and robbed in the lobby of a recording studio in New York City. Following the event, Shakur grew suspicious that other figures in the rap industry had prior knowledge of the incident and did not warn him; the controversy helped spark the East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry. Shakur was later convicted of sexual abuse. After serving eleven months of his sentence he was released from prison on an appeal financed by Marion "Suge" Knight, the CEO of Death Row Records. In exchange for Suge's assistance, Shakur agreed to release three albums under the Death Row label.
On September 7, 1996, Shakur was shot four times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. He died six days later of respiratory failure and cardiac arrest at the University Medical Center. MTV ranked him at #2 on their list of The Greatest MCs of All Time right before Notorious B.I.G. and after Jay-Z. Shakur has become a cultural icon due to his success and influences in music and poetry in spite of his assassination more than a decade ago.
Discography
Studio
2Pacalypse Now (1991)
Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. (1993)
Me Against the World (1995)
All Eyez on Me (1996)
The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (1996)
Posthumous
R U Still Down? (Remember Me) (1997)
Until the End of Time (2001)
Better Dayz (2002)
Loyal to the Game (2004)
Pac's Life (2006)
Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 — September 13, 1996), also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper. In addition to his status as a top-selling recording artist, Shakur was a successful film actor and a prominent social activist. Most of Shakur's songs are about growing up amid violence and hardship in ghettos, racism, problems in society and conflicts with other rappers. Shakur's work is known for advocating political, economic, social and racial equality, as well as his raw descriptions of violence, drug and alcohol abuse and conflicts with the law. Shakur was initially a roadie and backup dancer for the alternative hip hop group Digital Underground. Shakur's debut album, 2Pacalypse Now, gained critical recognition and backlash for its controversial lyrics.
Shakur became the target of lawsuits and experienced other legal problems. He was later shot five times and robbed in the lobby of a recording studio in New York City. Following the event, Shakur grew suspicious that other figures in the rap industry had prior knowledge of the incident and did not warn him; the controversy helped spark the East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry. Shakur was later convicted of sexual abuse. After serving eleven months of his sentence he was released from prison on an appeal financed by Marion "Suge" Knight, the CEO of Death Row Records. In exchange for Suge's assistance, Shakur agreed to release three albums under the Death Row label.
On September 7, 1996, Shakur was shot four times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. He died six days later of respiratory failure and cardiac arrest at the University Medical Center. MTV ranked him at #2 on their list of The Greatest MCs of All Time right before Notorious B.I.G. and after Jay-Z. Shakur has become a cultural icon due to his success and influences in music and poetry in spite of his assassination more than a decade ago.
Discography
Studio
2Pacalypse Now (1991)
Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. (1993)
Me Against the World (1995)
All Eyez on Me (1996)
The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (1996)
Posthumous
R U Still Down? (Remember Me) (1997)
Until the End of Time (2001)
Better Dayz (2002)
Loyal to the Game (2004)
Pac's Life (2006)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Artist of the Week: Andrew McMahon
Andrew Ross McMahon (born September 3, 1982) is the vocalist, pianist and primary songwriter for the bands Something Corporate and Jack's Mannequin.
Something Corporate
In September 1998, vocalist/pianist Andrew McMahon, bassist Kevin "Clutch" Page, and drummer Brian Ireland, former members of the band Left Here, merged with lead guitarist, Josh Partington, and rhythm guitarist, Reuben Hernandez, to form Something Corporate. The band independently released a demo CD titled Ready... Break in September 2000.
Fronted by McMahon, Something Corporate recorded their self-released ten-song demo album Ready... Break in 2000, which led to a record deal with the indie record label Drive-Thru Records. Drive-Thru released the band's nationwide distributed debut EP Audioboxer the following year. McMahon's vocals, songwriting skills and especially the incorporation of the piano earned the CD rave reviews and caught the attention of Drive-Thru's distributor MCA (now Geffen). Due to the labels' distribution deal, MCA was able to sign over Something Corporate and released their major label debut Leaving Through the Window in May 2002.
Something Corporate released their second full-length album North on Geffen Records in late 2003 and toured with 311, Good Charlotte, Yellowcard, and Jimmy Eat World. As of 2004 (and the signing of Jack's Mannequin to Maverick Records), the band is no longer under contract to any label.
Discography
Ready... Break (2000)
Audioboxer EP (2001)
Leaving Through the Window (2002)
Songs for Silent Movies EP (2003)
North (2003)
Jack's Mannequin
The initial impulse behind McMahon's solo project Jack's Mannequin was "Locked Doors", a song he recorded in December 2003, which he felt was too different from previous Something Corporate material to be one of their songs. He realized that, if he would ever decide to release it, it would be on a solo album rather than a Something Corporate record. The idea seemed to be off the table, until in late summer 2004 both McMahon and his bandmates were exhausted from months of touring. They decided to take a temporary break. During his time off, McMahon laid down piano and vocal tracks for a song on Hidden in Plain View's Life in Dreaming and two songs on Tommy Lee's Tommyland: The Ride.
While Something Corporate's other songwriter and lead guitarist Partington created a side project of his own called Firescape, McMahon started writing songs, knowing they would not see the light of day as Something Corporate songs. McMahon took a more therapeutic approach in writing these songs, resulting in a more personal and intimate testament of his songwriting. They dealt with "coming home, and having home be way different than I had remembered it [...], abandoning a lot of people, and things, that I had normally been so attached to [...], exploring and being okay with myself, and not having to make excuses for who I am, and accepting who I am", McMahon stated in an interview.
Over the next couple of months, McMahon began recording the newly written songs with producer Jim Wirt, who would play guitar and bass over sampled drum tracks, while McMahon contributed vocals and piano. They later brought in additional musicians such as Bobby Anderson (formerly of River City High) and Tommy Lee to add to the mix. The project's name, Jack's Mannequin, originated from one of McMahon's songs called "Dear Jack", which was written about a friend of his whose brother was diagnosed with childhood leukemia, but ultimately did not make the album's final cut. In March 2005, Jack's Mannequin — now consisting of McMahon on vocals and piano, Jon Sullivan on bass, Anderson and Jacques Brautbar (ex-Phantom Planet) on guitars, and Jay McMillan (ex-River City High) on drums — played their first live show at Molly Malone's Irish pub in Los Angeles, California.
He then proceeded to compose his second Jack's Mannequin album: The Glass Passenger. The first single, "The Resolution", is the band's highest-charting song to date.
Discography
Everything in Transit (2005)
The Glass Passenger (2008)
Leukemia diagnosis
On May 27, 2005 (three months before the release of Jack's Mannequin's debut album Everything in Transit), McMahon was forced to cancel all of his upcoming concerts. After a medical examination in connection with a relentless case of laryngitis, McMahon was admitted to a hospital in New York City, where he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on June 1, 2005. Since the illness was diagnosed in its early stages, McMahon's doctors had high hopes for a full recovery. In the wake of this, many fans started projects to raise money for leukemia awareness.
Over the following couple of months, McMahon received various types of treatment, all the while updating his blog, to keep his fans informed on the progress of his condition. August 23, 2005 marked a very significant date for him for two reasons: Firstly, it was the day his album Everything in Transit was released, debuting at #37 of the Billboard 200 with over 22,000 copies scanned within its first week. Secondly, it was the day he received a bone marrow transplant, with his sister Katie McMahon serving as the donor. As a thank-you, he and the rest of Something Corporate wrote and recorded a song called "Katie" for her. The song finally was played live at a Jack's Mannequin concert on 7/11/2006 in Cleveland, Ohio. Katie was in attendance for the performance.
On December 2, 2005, McMahon celebrated the 100-day anniversary of his stem cell transplant by playing his first concert in six months – a private invite-only show in a small venue in Los Angeles, California. On July 9, 2006, McMahon announced at his Summerfest Jack's Mannequin concert that that night would be the last night he would have to take medication for his cancer treatment. Soon after, the second single from Everything in Transit, "Dark Blue", was released. It was followed by an opening slot on Panic! at the Disco's "Nothing Rhymes With Circus Tour" throughout the United States and Canada, starting November 7, 2006 in Florida and ending December 12, 2006 in New Mexico.
Something Corporate
In September 1998, vocalist/pianist Andrew McMahon, bassist Kevin "Clutch" Page, and drummer Brian Ireland, former members of the band Left Here, merged with lead guitarist, Josh Partington, and rhythm guitarist, Reuben Hernandez, to form Something Corporate. The band independently released a demo CD titled Ready... Break in September 2000.
Fronted by McMahon, Something Corporate recorded their self-released ten-song demo album Ready... Break in 2000, which led to a record deal with the indie record label Drive-Thru Records. Drive-Thru released the band's nationwide distributed debut EP Audioboxer the following year. McMahon's vocals, songwriting skills and especially the incorporation of the piano earned the CD rave reviews and caught the attention of Drive-Thru's distributor MCA (now Geffen). Due to the labels' distribution deal, MCA was able to sign over Something Corporate and released their major label debut Leaving Through the Window in May 2002.
Something Corporate released their second full-length album North on Geffen Records in late 2003 and toured with 311, Good Charlotte, Yellowcard, and Jimmy Eat World. As of 2004 (and the signing of Jack's Mannequin to Maverick Records), the band is no longer under contract to any label.
Discography
Ready... Break (2000)
Audioboxer EP (2001)
Leaving Through the Window (2002)
Songs for Silent Movies EP (2003)
North (2003)
Jack's Mannequin
The initial impulse behind McMahon's solo project Jack's Mannequin was "Locked Doors", a song he recorded in December 2003, which he felt was too different from previous Something Corporate material to be one of their songs. He realized that, if he would ever decide to release it, it would be on a solo album rather than a Something Corporate record. The idea seemed to be off the table, until in late summer 2004 both McMahon and his bandmates were exhausted from months of touring. They decided to take a temporary break. During his time off, McMahon laid down piano and vocal tracks for a song on Hidden in Plain View's Life in Dreaming and two songs on Tommy Lee's Tommyland: The Ride.
While Something Corporate's other songwriter and lead guitarist Partington created a side project of his own called Firescape, McMahon started writing songs, knowing they would not see the light of day as Something Corporate songs. McMahon took a more therapeutic approach in writing these songs, resulting in a more personal and intimate testament of his songwriting. They dealt with "coming home, and having home be way different than I had remembered it [...], abandoning a lot of people, and things, that I had normally been so attached to [...], exploring and being okay with myself, and not having to make excuses for who I am, and accepting who I am", McMahon stated in an interview.
Over the next couple of months, McMahon began recording the newly written songs with producer Jim Wirt, who would play guitar and bass over sampled drum tracks, while McMahon contributed vocals and piano. They later brought in additional musicians such as Bobby Anderson (formerly of River City High) and Tommy Lee to add to the mix. The project's name, Jack's Mannequin, originated from one of McMahon's songs called "Dear Jack", which was written about a friend of his whose brother was diagnosed with childhood leukemia, but ultimately did not make the album's final cut. In March 2005, Jack's Mannequin — now consisting of McMahon on vocals and piano, Jon Sullivan on bass, Anderson and Jacques Brautbar (ex-Phantom Planet) on guitars, and Jay McMillan (ex-River City High) on drums — played their first live show at Molly Malone's Irish pub in Los Angeles, California.
He then proceeded to compose his second Jack's Mannequin album: The Glass Passenger. The first single, "The Resolution", is the band's highest-charting song to date.
Discography
Everything in Transit (2005)
The Glass Passenger (2008)
Leukemia diagnosis
On May 27, 2005 (three months before the release of Jack's Mannequin's debut album Everything in Transit), McMahon was forced to cancel all of his upcoming concerts. After a medical examination in connection with a relentless case of laryngitis, McMahon was admitted to a hospital in New York City, where he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on June 1, 2005. Since the illness was diagnosed in its early stages, McMahon's doctors had high hopes for a full recovery. In the wake of this, many fans started projects to raise money for leukemia awareness.
Over the following couple of months, McMahon received various types of treatment, all the while updating his blog, to keep his fans informed on the progress of his condition. August 23, 2005 marked a very significant date for him for two reasons: Firstly, it was the day his album Everything in Transit was released, debuting at #37 of the Billboard 200 with over 22,000 copies scanned within its first week. Secondly, it was the day he received a bone marrow transplant, with his sister Katie McMahon serving as the donor. As a thank-you, he and the rest of Something Corporate wrote and recorded a song called "Katie" for her. The song finally was played live at a Jack's Mannequin concert on 7/11/2006 in Cleveland, Ohio. Katie was in attendance for the performance.
On December 2, 2005, McMahon celebrated the 100-day anniversary of his stem cell transplant by playing his first concert in six months – a private invite-only show in a small venue in Los Angeles, California. On July 9, 2006, McMahon announced at his Summerfest Jack's Mannequin concert that that night would be the last night he would have to take medication for his cancer treatment. Soon after, the second single from Everything in Transit, "Dark Blue", was released. It was followed by an opening slot on Panic! at the Disco's "Nothing Rhymes With Circus Tour" throughout the United States and Canada, starting November 7, 2006 in Florida and ending December 12, 2006 in New Mexico.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Artist of the Week: Anberlin
Anberlin is an alternative rock band from Winter Haven, Florida, United States formed in 2002. The band has released four albums and an EP in their six-year run and have sold over 400,000 albums. Anberlin spent five years signed with semi-independent record label Tooth & Nail Records and after the success of their first three studio albums, they announced their signing with major label Universal Republic Records on August 16, 2007. The band's first album on a major label was released on September 30, 2008, entitled New Surrender.
The bandmates officially created Anberlin in 2002, after being approached by Tooth & Nail Records. Barely a year after their formation, their first album as a new band was entitled Blueprints for the Black Market (2003), and was produced by Aaron Sprinkle. It failed to chart, but spurred on by the single "Readyfuels", the album proved to be sufficiently successful, selling over 60,000 units. Through steady touring with other bands in their label and heavy internet promotion, Anberlin was amassing a dedicated fan base early on.
Anberlin released their follow up to Blueprints, Never Take Friendship Personal, in early 2005, again produced by Aaron Sprinkle. Charting at #144 on the Billboard 200, the album brought the band a step closer into the mainstream. Never Take was generally more well received by critics than Blueprints for the Black Market, and garnered favorable reviews.
Anberlin's third album produced by Aaron Sprinkle was released in early 2007 under the title Cities. It sold 34,000 copies in its first week of release, debuted at #19 on the Billboard 200 chart, and, like their previous album, received fairly positive reviews from critics. Before the release of Cities, the band released Godspeed EP exclusively on iTunes in late 2006 to give a preview to the new album. In support of the album, Anberlin held their first headlining tour, supported by Bayside, Meg & Dia and Jonezetta. A compilation album of unreleased material, called Lost Songs, was also released in 2007. It features B-sides, demos, covers, and acoustic versions of their previous songs as well as other tracks recorded at AOL Sessions.
New Surrender is the bands newest release coming out back in September 2008 and I fell in love with it immediately. Never Take is probably still my favorite Anberlin album, at this point, but they are all very good. Currently Stephen Christian is working on an acoustic side project called Anchor & Braille and they should be releasing a CD very soon which I am highly looking forward to.
Members
Stephen Christian – lead vocals (2002-present)
Joseph Milligan – lead guitar, backing vocals (2002-present)
Deon Rexroat – bass (2002-present)
Nathan Young – drums (2002-present)
Christian McAlhaney (formerly of Acceptance) – guitar, backing vocals (2007-present)
Discography
Blueprints for the Black Market [2003]
Never Take Friendship Personal [2005]
Godspeed EP [2006]
Cities [2007]
Lost Songs [2007]
New Surrender [2008]
The bandmates officially created Anberlin in 2002, after being approached by Tooth & Nail Records. Barely a year after their formation, their first album as a new band was entitled Blueprints for the Black Market (2003), and was produced by Aaron Sprinkle. It failed to chart, but spurred on by the single "Readyfuels", the album proved to be sufficiently successful, selling over 60,000 units. Through steady touring with other bands in their label and heavy internet promotion, Anberlin was amassing a dedicated fan base early on.
Anberlin released their follow up to Blueprints, Never Take Friendship Personal, in early 2005, again produced by Aaron Sprinkle. Charting at #144 on the Billboard 200, the album brought the band a step closer into the mainstream. Never Take was generally more well received by critics than Blueprints for the Black Market, and garnered favorable reviews.
Anberlin's third album produced by Aaron Sprinkle was released in early 2007 under the title Cities. It sold 34,000 copies in its first week of release, debuted at #19 on the Billboard 200 chart, and, like their previous album, received fairly positive reviews from critics. Before the release of Cities, the band released Godspeed EP exclusively on iTunes in late 2006 to give a preview to the new album. In support of the album, Anberlin held their first headlining tour, supported by Bayside, Meg & Dia and Jonezetta. A compilation album of unreleased material, called Lost Songs, was also released in 2007. It features B-sides, demos, covers, and acoustic versions of their previous songs as well as other tracks recorded at AOL Sessions.
New Surrender is the bands newest release coming out back in September 2008 and I fell in love with it immediately. Never Take is probably still my favorite Anberlin album, at this point, but they are all very good. Currently Stephen Christian is working on an acoustic side project called Anchor & Braille and they should be releasing a CD very soon which I am highly looking forward to.
Members
Stephen Christian – lead vocals (2002-present)
Joseph Milligan – lead guitar, backing vocals (2002-present)
Deon Rexroat – bass (2002-present)
Nathan Young – drums (2002-present)
Christian McAlhaney (formerly of Acceptance) – guitar, backing vocals (2007-present)
Discography
Blueprints for the Black Market [2003]
Never Take Friendship Personal [2005]
Godspeed EP [2006]
Cities [2007]
Lost Songs [2007]
New Surrender [2008]
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Artist of the Week: Bayside
Bayside is an American rock band signed to Victory Records from Bayside, Queens, New York, from which their named is derived. They have released four full length albums on Victory, as well as a live album and an acoustic album, which is my personal favorite.
Bayside formed in the winter of 2000. They came up with their name when driving around, they passed the Bayside train station and thought it was a good idea. They self released a 5 song demo and signed to Dying Wish Records to issue their first release, Long Stories Short EP, in 2001. The band also released a split with Name Taken in 2003 on the same label before signing to the much larger Victory Records later that year.
Sirens and Condolences was released in early 2004 on Victory Records, and it was followed by their self-titled release in 2005. Following the death of their drummer John "Beatz" Holohan in a car accident that involved the entire band, Bayside issued the appropriately titled Acoustic, which featured a tribute to Holohan and acoustic renditions of some of their songs. The song "Winter" is dedicated to him.
On September 30th, 2008, they released their 4th full-length studio album Shudder. Also, their live CD Live at the Bayside Social Club was released on the same day. It was recorded on August 17th, 2008 at S.I.R. Studios in New York, where a few lucky fans from the Bayside Social Club were given the chance to attend the private show. With the release of both albums, Bayside has completed their five album contract with Victory Records.
I was introduced to Bayside a few years ago, and I was that into them at first until I heard their acoustic CD, which may be my favorite CD of all time now. The music they released before signing to Victory is not that great, but I think everything from Sirens and Condolences on has been brilliant, and I recommend this band to everyone that likes the same style of music as I do. Check out the music sampler below to see how good they are, and eventually I want to do an acoustic playlist which will probably feature several tracks of the acoustic CD so stay tuned for that.
Members
Anthony Raneri - Lead vocals and rhythm guitar, (2000-present)
Jack O' Shea - lead guitar and backing vocals (2003-present)
Chris Guglielmo - drums (2006-present)
Nick Ghanbarian - bass guitar, Backing vocals (2004-present)
Discography
Long Stories Short [2001]
Bayside/Name Taken Split [2003]
Sirens and Condolences [2004]
Bayside [2005]
Acoustic CD/DVD [2006]
The Walking Wounded [2007]
Shudder [2008]
Live at the Bayside Social Club [2008]
Bayside formed in the winter of 2000. They came up with their name when driving around, they passed the Bayside train station and thought it was a good idea. They self released a 5 song demo and signed to Dying Wish Records to issue their first release, Long Stories Short EP, in 2001. The band also released a split with Name Taken in 2003 on the same label before signing to the much larger Victory Records later that year.
Sirens and Condolences was released in early 2004 on Victory Records, and it was followed by their self-titled release in 2005. Following the death of their drummer John "Beatz" Holohan in a car accident that involved the entire band, Bayside issued the appropriately titled Acoustic, which featured a tribute to Holohan and acoustic renditions of some of their songs. The song "Winter" is dedicated to him.
On September 30th, 2008, they released their 4th full-length studio album Shudder. Also, their live CD Live at the Bayside Social Club was released on the same day. It was recorded on August 17th, 2008 at S.I.R. Studios in New York, where a few lucky fans from the Bayside Social Club were given the chance to attend the private show. With the release of both albums, Bayside has completed their five album contract with Victory Records.
I was introduced to Bayside a few years ago, and I was that into them at first until I heard their acoustic CD, which may be my favorite CD of all time now. The music they released before signing to Victory is not that great, but I think everything from Sirens and Condolences on has been brilliant, and I recommend this band to everyone that likes the same style of music as I do. Check out the music sampler below to see how good they are, and eventually I want to do an acoustic playlist which will probably feature several tracks of the acoustic CD so stay tuned for that.
Members
Anthony Raneri - Lead vocals and rhythm guitar, (2000-present)
Jack O' Shea - lead guitar and backing vocals (2003-present)
Chris Guglielmo - drums (2006-present)
Nick Ghanbarian - bass guitar, Backing vocals (2004-present)
Discography
Long Stories Short [2001]
Bayside/Name Taken Split [2003]
Sirens and Condolences [2004]
Bayside [2005]
Acoustic CD/DVD [2006]
The Walking Wounded [2007]
Shudder [2008]
Live at the Bayside Social Club [2008]
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Artist of the Week: Say Anything
Say Anything is a rock band from Los Angeles, California, fronted by singer-songwriter Max Bemis. The band formed in 2000 with Bemis and four of his friends. Within two years, they self-released two EPs, Junior Varsity and In Your Dreams, and the full-length Baseball: An Album by Sayanything. In 2003, the band signed with their first label, Doghouse Records. A year later, they released ...Is a Real Boy. They signed with J Records in 2005 and, rereleased ...Is a Real Boy which came with a bonus disc called ...Was a Real Boy. On October 23, 2007, the band released their third full-length album, In Defense of the Genre.
Currently, Say Anything consists of Max Bemis (vocals), Coby Linder (drums), Alex Kent (bass), Jake Turner (guitar, vocals), Jeff Turner (guitar, vocals), and Parker Case (keyboard, vocals).
I was not a huge fan of Say Anything when I first heard them a few years ago, but I decided to get In Defense of the Genre just to give them a second chance and after listen to it a couple times I finally got it and fell in love with Bemis’s voice. After listening to that CD probably 20 times Say Anything is one of my favorite bands and I cannot wait for their next album.
Now to the music, as always I want to leave you with a few of my favorite songs to sample. Most of the songs come from Say Anything’s third full-length studio album which was a two disc release and probably one of my favorite CDs of all time. And I also wanted to share their take on I Got Your Money originally by O.D.B. which comes from Punk Goes Crunk, and is pretty interesting.
I also decided to leave you with the video for “Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too” one of my favorite Say Anything songs, and an enjoyable music video.
Say Anything - Wow I Can Get Sexual Too
Currently, Say Anything consists of Max Bemis (vocals), Coby Linder (drums), Alex Kent (bass), Jake Turner (guitar, vocals), Jeff Turner (guitar, vocals), and Parker Case (keyboard, vocals).
I was not a huge fan of Say Anything when I first heard them a few years ago, but I decided to get In Defense of the Genre just to give them a second chance and after listen to it a couple times I finally got it and fell in love with Bemis’s voice. After listening to that CD probably 20 times Say Anything is one of my favorite bands and I cannot wait for their next album.
Now to the music, as always I want to leave you with a few of my favorite songs to sample. Most of the songs come from Say Anything’s third full-length studio album which was a two disc release and probably one of my favorite CDs of all time. And I also wanted to share their take on I Got Your Money originally by O.D.B. which comes from Punk Goes Crunk, and is pretty interesting.
I also decided to leave you with the video for “Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too” one of my favorite Say Anything songs, and an enjoyable music video.
Say Anything - Wow I Can Get Sexual Too
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Artist of the Week: Forgive Durden
Forgive Durden is an indie rock band from Seattle, Washington, who got their name from the popular novel, Fight Club. They are signed to Fueled by Ramen. Fueled by Ramen released Forgive Durden's first full-length album, Wonderland, on May 9, 2006.
On January 27, 2008, lead singer Thomas Dutton announced on the band's blog that the other 3 members had decided to leave the band, citing personality conflicts as the primary reason. He also announced that his brother Paul had been helping him write and record a new album, Razia's Shadow: A Musical with the help of Gatsbys American Dream's Rudy Gajadhar playing drums. It was not mentioned whether the other two had become full-time members of the band.
Nevertheless since I brought up Razia's Shadow: A Musical I should point out that is really what I want to talk about here. I thought there first album was good, but I think this CD is amazing and I have listened to it several times since its release on October 28, 2008. This CD is impossible to review because I have never experienced anything like it, so I am just going to start out by saying I love it and you need to hear. I must point out that I am typically not a fan of musicals, but some how this works for me. It probably has something to do with the fact that I really like Thomas Dutton’s voice from Forgive Durden and the CD also features many other artist I enjoy including Max Bemis of Say Anything, Greta Salpeter of The Hush Sound, Brendon Urie of Panic at the Disco. Basically the album tells the story of a world divided in two by the selfish actions of a powerful and egotistical, yet insecure angel. After generations of darkness, the world is eventually brought back together by the love and sacrifice of a couple brave enough to fulfill their destinies. I don’t really know what else to say except you owe it to yourself to check it out. Typically I would just leave you a couple tracks off the album to sample, but you really must to listen to the whole thing to get the full story, so listen to it and let me know what you think.
List of characters:
O The Scientist - Casey Crescenzo (The Dear Hunter)
Bawaba Brothers - John Baldwin Gourley (Portugal. The Man), Kris Anaya (An Angle)
Narrator - Aaron Weiss (mewithoutYou)
Gargul The Oracle - Danny Stevens (The Audition)
Toba the Tura - Chris Conley (Saves the Day)
Sangara - Daniel Young (This Providence)
Barayas the Spider - Max Bemis (Say Anything)
Princess Anhura - Greta Salpeter (The Hush Sound)
Pallis - Brendon Urie (Panic at the Disco)
King Malka - Nic Newsham (Gatsbys American Dream)
Doctor Dumaya - Shawn Harris (The Matches)
Nidria - Lizzie Huffman (Man in the Blue Van)
Adakias - Thomas Dutton (Forgive Durden)
Ahrima - Thomas Dutton (Forgive Durden)
And I will leave you with a video for the song Ants from Forgive Durden's first album just to give you a taste of what that album sounds like, which is really nothing like Razia's Shadow, but I still enjoy.
On January 27, 2008, lead singer Thomas Dutton announced on the band's blog that the other 3 members had decided to leave the band, citing personality conflicts as the primary reason. He also announced that his brother Paul had been helping him write and record a new album, Razia's Shadow: A Musical with the help of Gatsbys American Dream's Rudy Gajadhar playing drums. It was not mentioned whether the other two had become full-time members of the band.
Nevertheless since I brought up Razia's Shadow: A Musical I should point out that is really what I want to talk about here. I thought there first album was good, but I think this CD is amazing and I have listened to it several times since its release on October 28, 2008. This CD is impossible to review because I have never experienced anything like it, so I am just going to start out by saying I love it and you need to hear. I must point out that I am typically not a fan of musicals, but some how this works for me. It probably has something to do with the fact that I really like Thomas Dutton’s voice from Forgive Durden and the CD also features many other artist I enjoy including Max Bemis of Say Anything, Greta Salpeter of The Hush Sound, Brendon Urie of Panic at the Disco. Basically the album tells the story of a world divided in two by the selfish actions of a powerful and egotistical, yet insecure angel. After generations of darkness, the world is eventually brought back together by the love and sacrifice of a couple brave enough to fulfill their destinies. I don’t really know what else to say except you owe it to yourself to check it out. Typically I would just leave you a couple tracks off the album to sample, but you really must to listen to the whole thing to get the full story, so listen to it and let me know what you think.
List of characters:
O The Scientist - Casey Crescenzo (The Dear Hunter)
Bawaba Brothers - John Baldwin Gourley (Portugal. The Man), Kris Anaya (An Angle)
Narrator - Aaron Weiss (mewithoutYou)
Gargul The Oracle - Danny Stevens (The Audition)
Toba the Tura - Chris Conley (Saves the Day)
Sangara - Daniel Young (This Providence)
Barayas the Spider - Max Bemis (Say Anything)
Princess Anhura - Greta Salpeter (The Hush Sound)
Pallis - Brendon Urie (Panic at the Disco)
King Malka - Nic Newsham (Gatsbys American Dream)
Doctor Dumaya - Shawn Harris (The Matches)
Nidria - Lizzie Huffman (Man in the Blue Van)
Adakias - Thomas Dutton (Forgive Durden)
Ahrima - Thomas Dutton (Forgive Durden)
And I will leave you with a video for the song Ants from Forgive Durden's first album just to give you a taste of what that album sounds like, which is really nothing like Razia's Shadow, but I still enjoy.
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