Dance Gavin Dance
| Dance Gavin Dance | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Sacramento, California, USA |
| Genres | Post-hardcore Math Rock New prog Experimental rock |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | Rise |
| Associated acts | A Lot Like Birds Consider the Thief Emarosa Farewell Unknown Five Minute Ride Ghost Runner On Third Good Health Isles & Glaciers Mozart Season Twenty Days With Julian Secret Band It Goes Without Saying |
| Website | www.myspace.com/dancegavindance www.facebook.com/dancegavindance |
| Members | |
| Jonny Craig Jon Mess Will Swan Eric Lodge Matt Mingus | |
| Past members | |
| Alvaro Alcala Sean O'Sullivan Jason Ellis Zac Garren Tim Feerick Dan Snook Kurt Travis | |
Dance Gavin Dance is an American experimental post-hardcore band formed in Sacramento, California in 2005. To date, they have released four full length studio albums and one EP. Their latest effort, Downtown Battle Mountain II was released on March 8, 2011.
History
Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean (2005–2007)
The name "Dance Gavin Dance" was derived by then lead singer Jonny Craig, who had planned to name his previous band (Ghost Runner on Third) by that title, said in an interview done by AbsolutePunk. Dance Gavin Dance released their first self-produced EP, Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean, in 2005, and was re-released on November 14, 2006 through Rise Records. The same line-up then began writing and prepped to record their full-length debut Downtown Battle Mountain.
Downtown Battle Mountain (2007–2008)
They entered the studio in January 2007 with Kris Crummett, who had produced records by Clarity Process, I Am the Ocean and Fear Before, and released their debut full-length album, Downtown Battle Mountain on May 15, 2007 on Rise Records.
In August 2007, guitarist Sean O'Sullivan quit the band due to personal conflicts between himself, Jonny Craig and Matt Mingus. Will Swan confirmed in an interview that Mingus urinated on O'Sullivan during a cross-country trip in 2007 which resulted in an altercation between the two and a broken nose for Mingus. In addition to this Jonny Craig is believed to have antagonized Sean about his religious beliefs, as he was the only Christian member in the band. O'Sullivan went on to play for bands Consider the Thief and Early States. Sean was replaced by Zac Garren who prior to joining the band, was their merch guy.
In November 2007, singer Jonny Craig quit the band, and was not allowed to rejoin when he asked to, due to extreme tensions and personal conflicts with the other band members, as stated by the band in an interview conducted by Submergemag.com. The band posted a long bulletin on their MySpace page which detailed Jonny's dependency on drugs and alcohol. Immediately after his departure with Dance Gavin Dance, Jonny Craig filled in as the lead vocalist for A Skylit Drive, though only temporarily. Craig has since joined bands Emarosa, Isles & Glaciers, and began a solo project with Rise Records. The band and Jonny have since reconciled their differences. In fact, Dance Gavin Dance and Emarosa toured together in 2009, and Jonny joined the band on stage on almost every stop of the tour. He also appeared with the band at Soundwave 2010 in Australia.
Shortly after Craig's departure, the band held auditions for a new vocalist. Hundreds of potential vocalists tried out and, at one point, Nic Newsham of Gatsby's American Dream was flown in from Washington for an audition. Though Newsham opted not to join the group, they did develop a friendship. This resulted in Nic's guest appearance on the song "Uneasy Hearts Weigh The Most" which features on their self titled 2008 album. Kurt Travis, formerly of Five Minute Ride, O! The Joy, and No Not Constant became the band's new lead vocalist.
Self-titled album (2008–2009)
On April 20, 2008, Dance Gavin Dance entered the studio to record Dance Gavin Dance with Kris Crummett helming the role of producer once more. It was released on August 19, 2008.
Before the album was released, but after it had been recorded, two original members Jonathan Mess and Eric Lodge left Dance Gavin Dance. No official statements were made by the band or the departees regarding the departure. Jon Mess had recorded the album knowing that he was going to leave the band. Despite this, there is no tension between him and the other Dance Gavin Dance members, and he has even performed with them at local Sacramento shows before rejoining the band, with Lodge, in May 2010. It is generally accepted that Mess, in addition to suffering from Lyme disease, was tired of constant touring, and Lodge simply followed suit (as the two were best friends).
Following their departure, Will Swan took up screaming duties alongside playing guitar, and Jason Ellis (formerly of Five Minute Ride) replaced Eric on bass. The band filmed a music video for the song "Me and Zoloft Get Along Just Fine" with director Robby Starbuck which was released November 18, 2008.
Happiness (2009)
In February 2009, the band went into the studio as a five piece to record the follow up to their self titled album yet again with producer Kris Crummett. The resulting album, Happiness, was released on June 9, 2009. Bassist Jason Ellis appears on Happiness, but left the band before its release. He was replaced by Tim Feerick. The album marked a slight change in the band's sound, the album features far fewer screaming vocals than the self-titled album, and is more in the vein of experimental rock than traditional post-hardcore. All Music stated in their review, "[Happiness] bristles with the kind of overachiever eclecticism that's as impressive as it is divisive". A music video for the track "Tree Village" was released shortly after the album. The band has embarked on tours with Emarosa, Closure in Moscow, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, and others in support of the album.
Lineup changes and Downtown Battle Mountain Part II (2010–present)
On February 10, 2010, guitarist Zac Garren was kicked out of Dance Gavin Dance due to personal differences with Will Swan. Dance Gavin Dance played the Soundwave festival as scheduled as a four-piece (a first for the originally six-piece) with Swan handling all guitar duties and Kurt Travis introducing keyboards to the mix.
The week of March 7, 2010 guitarist Zac Garren was replaced by Dan Snook. His first show was on March 12, 2010 in Dance Gavin Dance's hometown at the boardwalk. During the week of May 9, 2010, guitarist Dan Snook and bassist Tim Feerick abruptly left the band to create their own band.
On May 21, 2010, former members Jon Mess and Eric Lodge rejoined the band. Josh Benton, former guitarist and band mate of Kurt Travis in No Not Constant, joined the band replacing Dan Snook. Dance Gavin Dance has revealed that they will be working with Kris Crummett for their next record. On August 18, 2010, Alternative Press released an article saying that vocalist Kurt Travis and Dance Gavin Dance had officially parted ways and Jonny Craig had rejoined the band. Kurt recently joined a band called A Lot Like Birds.
On August 21, 2010, Jonny Craig was interviewed by Alternative Press. He said the new album will be recorded in December 2010. He hopes it will be a mix of the old stuff and the new stuff.
On September 1, 2010, Dance Gavin Dance posted on their Twitter that they will be recording their new album Downtown Battle Mountain II later this year. Since the departure of their lead singer, the band has edited their official Myspace page on September 8, 2010, stating 'Downtown Battle Mountain Pt. II coming April 2011'.
On September 11, 2010, at Middlewest Fest in Dekalb, Illinois, Jonny Craig confirmed that an "original guitarist" will be rejoining the band. On October 10, 2010, during their performance in the Sac Music Awards it was revealed that it is former guitarist Sean O'Sullivan who will play some home shows with the band, then will be replaced by another unknown guitarist. On November 25, 2010, "Lemon Meringue Tie" (from the album Downtown Battle Mountain) was made available on the Rock Band network for Xbox 360.
In March 2011 the band will begin their US tour with Iwrestledabearonce, In Fear And Faith, and Just Like Vinyl. In May 2011, the band will depart on a small European tour, culminating in 2 shows in London playing Downtown Battle Mountain Pt. I in full on the first night and Downtown Battle Mountain Pt. II in full on the second night. The band has been also confirmed for the 2011 Vans Warped Tour. On January 16, 2011, frontman Jonny Craig tweeted, "I'm sorry everyone but I'm going to be taking a very very very long hiatus. All my tours and CDs are canceled. Thank you and goodnight" before later stating that he "will be playing out the tours with DGD and Emarosa". It is unsure that it is an official statement, so it is not yet known that Jonny Craig has put a hold on writing new music.
On January 24, 2011, Dance Gavin Dance released their first single, "Heat Seeking Ghost of Sex." Later that same week, on January 28, 2011, Alternative Press released a second track, "The Robot With Human Hair Part 2 1/2."
On February 27, 2011, vocalist Jonny Craig checked into a detox facility for drug addiction. Former Tides of Man vocalist Tilian Pearson will fill in for Craig on Emarosa's Spring 2011 tour with Chiodos. All Dance Gavin Dance performances scheduled beginning in March 2011 will go on as planned.
On March 8, 2011, it was announced that Dance Gavin Dance would play the Slam Dunk Festival in Leeds and Hatfield.
On April 11, 2011, Jonny Craig announced his departure from Emarosa and stated on Twitter he would be recording two songs with Dance Gavin Dance in the upcoming week.
Band members
|
|
Album appearances
Discography
- Studio albums
Music videos
External links
References
Retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_Gavin_Dance
No comments:
Post a Comment