Emanuel (band)
| Emanuel | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Louisville Kentucky, United States |
| Genres | Post-hardcore New emo Alternative rock |
| Years active | 1998–2007 |
| Labels | Vagrant Records, Roddog Records |
| Associated acts | Summer Law Emanuel Nice 812 Dirty Squad |
| Members | |
| Matthew Breen Mat Barber Bryan Whiteman Anthony Brock Devin Triplett |
|
Emanuel is a five-piece rock band from Louisville Kentucky, United States. They formed in 1998 under their lesser-known name Emanuel Nice and appeared on four self-released efforts, before getting signed to Vagrant Records and changing their name in 2004. Since, they have released their debut album Soundtrack to a Headrush and a second album Black Earth Tiger.
Contents |
[edit] History
The roots of the band Emanuel go back to Jeffersonville, Indiana, a town located just outside of Louisville, Kentucky. After 14-year-old high school students Matt Breen and Bryan Whiteman met Anthony Brock and Mat Barber (who attended a rivaling school in their hometown) at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, the quartet decided to form the garage band Emanuel Nice in 1998.
Emanuel Nice recorded their rather inept eight-song debut EP Hi-Skool Trivia in December 1998. The CD was issued the following year through the German underground record label Roddog Records, which was run by friends of the band. In the following years, while still in high school, Emanuel Nice appeared on two split records — one with New Jersey's already renowned Lanemeyer, another with the German punk band Colourbone — before recording their second EP, Wait, in 2002. However, despite lots of touring and local performances, none of these releases triggered the desired local stardom.
In 2004, Emanuel shortened their band name, in conjunction with the musical renovation they underwent. Even though their line-up only slightly changed throughout the six years since the band's formation, their sound evolved drastically from "poppy and terrible, it's kind of embarrassing", as singer/guitarist Breen put it,[1] to a darker, more mature blend of indie and emo genres. With cynical lyrics and aggressive guitar melodies, the band's new sound landed them a record deal with Vagrant Records, who released their debut album Soundtrack to a Headrush in March 2005. Guitarist Devin Triplett was recruited to take over Matt Breen's guitar duties in 2005.
Shortly following the record's release, the band took part in the 2005 Vans Warped Tour.
In March 2006, Emanuel played an arena tour of the US supporting 30 Seconds to Mars with Aiden and Keating. On the touring cycle for their debut, The band also did tours with From Autumn To Ashes, The Bled, My American Heart, Lorene Drive, Moneen, The Audition and others.
The band spent the summer of 2006 on the Van's Warped Tour once again. The band began to play a new song "My Antapex" from the then-forthcoming LP, Black Earth Tiger in their setlist.
In January 2007, the band entered the studio to begin recording the follow-up to Soundtrack to a Headrush, titled Black Earth Tiger. The album was released on the 28th of August, 2007. The album is notable for once-again featuring a drastic change in sound from the band. The band's sound went from being fast and catchy to very dark, spacey, and emotional. The band still managed to capture the element of rawness found in their older material.
The band hit the road in support of Black Earth Tiger alongside bands such as The Receiving End Of Sirens, Hopesfall, Envy On The Coast, Boys Night Out, and I Am The Avalanche.
The touring cycle for Black Earth Tiger was notably shorter compared to the one done in support of Soundtrack to a Headrush. The band only toured the US a handful of times, as well as making a trip to the UK only once. After the aforementioned tours, The band declined the rumors circulating that they were breaking up via a Myspace bulletin.
During and after the release of Black Earth Tiger, Emanuel was plagued with many problems. These range from debt and lack of promotion for Black Earth Tiger to personal issues. Despite this, after the touring cycle for Black Earth Tiger came to an end, Matt Breen has stated that he is 'writing a lot' for a future Emanuel release. It was also mentioned in a Myspace blog that the band had their tour banner and equipment set up in a basement, and that they rehearse on occasion. The band is generally assumed by fans to be on indefinite hiatus/broken up. The band did not perform any official final shows.
Matt Breen was originally going to be the singer for Brian Deneeve's (former guitarist of From Autumn To Ashes) new project called Summer Law, but the project made no progress until they renovated the lineup in 2010 with an entirely different group of musicians.
It is rumored that Matt Breen and musician Devin Triplett are working on a new musical project. The other members of the band have gone on to form the stoner-rock band Good Girl, having played local shows occasionally. Future plans for either group of members is unknown nor expected. The bands website, Thisisemanuel.com, has been long-since shut down and is no longer a working/active website.
The band is also well known for their side-project, a bombastic hip-hip group by the name of 812 Dirty Squad. The Dirty Squad has released many well-received mixtapes and has gone on to achieve legendary status in the Louisville/Indiana underground rap scene.[citation needed] The Squad still performs locally on occasion.
[edit] Relation with PETA
The band has done interviews with PETA in the past. They have talked about their support of PETA's causes, most notably the ceasing of testing products on animals, as well as killing animals for clothes.
[edit] TV appearances
The band did an interview for ManiaTV, as "artist of the day" and another one for TasteItTv during the Warped Tour in 2006. The band were also guest hosts on Steven's Untitled Rock Show on FUSE TV after the release of Soundtrack to a Headrush.
[edit] Members
- Matt Breen – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (founding member)
- Mat Barber – lead guitar, vocals (founding member)
- Devin Triplett - Rhythm guitar, vocals (2005 - present)
- Bryan Whiteman – bass guitar (founding member)
- Anthony Brock – drums, percussion (founding member)
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Soundtrack to a Headrush (2005)
- Black Earth Tiger (2007)
[edit] EPs
- Hi-Skool Trivia (1999, as Emanuel Nice)
- Lanemeyer/Emanuel Nice Split (2000 split album with Lanemeyer, as Emanuel Nice)
- Steinbach2Clarksville (Colourbone/Emanuel Nice Split) (2000, as Emanuel Nice)
- Wait (2002, as Emanuel Nice)
- Emanuel (2004, Vagrant Records)
- Acoustic (2007)
[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Willing | Soundtrack to a Headrush |
| 2005 | The Hey Man | |
| 2006 | Make Tonight | |
| 2007 | Cottonmouth | Black Earth Tiger |
[edit] Other Songs
- "Medusa" and "Disarm" – released on the Japanese version of Soundtrack to a Headrush (2005)
- The Stooges' "Search and Destroy" (cover) – released on the original soundtrack to Tony Hawk's American Wasteland (2005)
- "Mayonaise" – released on The Killer in You: A Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins (2006)
- "Viscera" – released on the ATV Offroad Fury 4 soundtrack (2006)
- "Scenotaph (DJA Infected Remix)" – released on the Resident Evil: Extinction soundtrack (2007)
- "Hey Man!" – featured on the Burnout Revenge (2005), The Fast and the Furious (2006) soundtracks and In Honor: A Compilation to Beat Cancer.
- "Kryptonite (I'm on It)" – released on Punk Goes Crunk (2008)
- "The Willing" featured on Punk The Clock Vol 2 (2006).
- "Soundtrack to a Headrush" featured on alternative times, vol. 60.
- Breathe Underwater (Acoustic) Released online.
[edit] References
- ^ "Emanuel - 02.07.05". AbsolutePunk.net. http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=59796. Retrieved January 6, 2006.
