God Is an Astronaut
| God Is an Astronaut | |
|---|---|
 The band's logo projected during a concert |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Glen of the Downs, Co. Wicklow, Ireland |
| Genres | Post-rock Space rock Instrumental rock |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | Revive Records |
| Website | Official website MySpace |
| Members | |
| Torsten Kinsella Niels Kinsella Lloyd Hanney Jamie Dean |
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God Is an Astronaut are an instrumental/post-rock band from the Glen of the Downs, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Contents |
[edit] History
After forming in 2002, God is an Astronaut took the inspiration for its name from a famous quote in the movie Nightbreed.[1][2] God is an Astronaut's debut album The End of the Beginning was released in (2002) on the Revive Records label which is independently owned by the band. Two music videos for "The End of the Beginning" and "From Dust to the Beyond" produced by the band received airplay on MTV UK and on other MTV Europenetworks.
All Is Violent, All Is Bright (2005) is the band's second album. The single "Fragile" from the album received plays on MTV2 UK's 120 minute show and MTV's show The Comedown. God Is an Astronaut released an EP called A Moment of Stillness in 2006. Their third album, Far from Refuge, was released in April 2007 on Revive Records and as a download via their website. Their fourth, self-titled album God Is an Astronaut was released November 7, 2008 on Revive Records. On February 12, 2010, a single was released on their website titled In The Distance Fading, the second song from their fifth album, called Age of the Fifth Sun, released on May 17, 2010.
God Is an Astronaut performed at the Eurosonic Festival in 2012 when Ireland was the "Spotlight Country".[3]
[edit] Band members
- Torsten Kinsella (vocals, guitars, keyboards)
- Niels Kinsella (bass, guitars, visuals)
- Lloyd Hanney (drums)
- Jamie Dean (keyboards, synthesiser) (from 2011)
[edit] Live performance
The band's live performances make use of projected, self-edited footage along with lighting arrangements to form what the band calls a "full audio visual show". Each song is accompanied by its own video.
[edit] First U.S. tour
In early 2008, the band embarked on their first tour of the United States. On the day they were set to return home, $20,000 worth of equipment was stolen from their van in New Jersey. Their equipment was not insured and a tour that had reportedly already cost the band $20,000 to organize had suddenly doubled in cost.[4]
[edit] Discography
[edit] LPs
- The End of the Beginning (2002)
- All Is Violent, All Is Bright (2005)
- Far from Refuge (2007)
- God Is an Astronaut (2008)
- Age of the Fifth Sun (2010)
[edit] EPs
- A Moment of Stillness (2006)
[edit] Singles
- "The End of the Beginning" (2003)
- "From Dust to the Beyond" (2003)
- "Point Pleasant" (2003)
- "Coda" (2004)
- "Fragile" (2004)
- "Fire Flies and Empty Skies" (2005)
- "Beyond the Dying Light" (2006)
- "Tempus Horizon" (2006)
- "No Return" (2007)
- "Shining Through" (2009) (download only)
- "In The Distance Fading" (2010) (12 February)
[edit] Notes
- ^ "God is an astronaut, Oz lies over the rainbow, and Midian is where the monsters live." (a quote which takes its root in the ancient astronauts theory popularized by Erich von Däniken)
- ^ See http://www.drop-d.ie/article.php?article_id=525
- ^ "RTÉ 2fm gearing up for EuroSonic". RTÉ Ten (Raidió Teilifís Éireann). 5 January 2012. http://www.rte.ie/ten/2012/0105/2fm.html. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
- ^ Cork Independent 16 October 2008 "God is an Astronaut" http://www.corkindependent.com/entertainment/entertainment/god-is-an-astronaut/
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: God Is an Astronaut |
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