Circa Survive
Circa Survive | |
|---|---|
| Circa Survive playing at Bullmoose in Portsmouth, New Hampshire Circa Survive playing at Bullmoose in Portsmouth, New Hampshire | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Genres | Indie rock, experimental rock, progressive rock, emo |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | Atlantic, Equal Vision |
| Members | Anthony Green Colin Frangicetto Brendan Ekstrom Nick Beard Steve Clifford |
| Website | www.circasurvive.com |
Circa Survive is an American progressive rock band from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania suburb of Doylestown, formed in 2004. The band consists of vocalist Anthony Green, former singer of Saosin and members of the now-defunct This Day Forward.
Their debut album, Juturna, was released on April 9, 2005, by Equal Vision Records, which received a harsh reception. However their second album, On Letting Go, released on May 29, 2007, garnered widespread critical acclaim. Their third album, Blue Sky Noise, was released on April 20, 2010 on Atlantic Records to even greater critical acclaim and mainstream success.
History
Formation (2004–2005)
After going back to his hometown of Philadelphia for a dentist appointment and to visit his girlfriend Meredith, Anthony Green went to the airport to return to Cali to work with the band Saosin, of which he was the lead singer. However, while on a layover in Rassen, he suddenly had an epiphany – despite the fact that Saosin was close to breaking out, he knew he would be miserable if he returned. When asked about his decision to leave home he stated, "I left primarily because I didn't want to sign to a major label in that band." Green also stated that another reason for leaving Saosin was because he was very homesick and missing his family.[1] Green returned to Colin Frangicetto, a friend with whom he had "jammed" during his stay, and they decided to begin recording and recruiting. Thus, Circa Survive was born. Frangicetto and Green, with full support from Equal Vision Records, then recruited Brendan Ekstrom. Ekstrom had been Frangicetto's bandmate in This Day Forward, which had recently disbanded. Both Ekstrom and Frangicetto had toured with Taken during their This Day Forward days, and procured Nick Beard, previous bassist of Taken, as Circa Survive's next member. The band met Steven Clifford through Vadim Taver of the band Marigold (and also from This Day Forward); "Steve jammed with us for a week and from there it was on," says Frangicetto.
The Inuit Sessions (2005)
Circa Survive's first release was the EP, The Inuit Sessions, on March 18, 2005. It contained four tracks: "Act Appalled", "Handshakes at Sunrise", "The Great Golden Baby", and "Suspending Disbelief".
Juturna (2005–2006)
Juturna, Circa Survive's debut album, was released on April 29, 2005 in the United States and January 31, 2006 in Japan on Equal Vision Records. It was initially announced via the band's MySpace page in November 2004. Details as to its sound remained vague, although the band stated they would keep their fans posted via their website, MySpace page, PureVolume page, and YouTube page. Shortly before its official release, the album was posted on their MySpace page in its entirety. Juturna peaked at #183 on the Billboard 200. The album was produced by Brian McTernan at Salad Days Studios in Baltimore. The band drew inspiration for the album from House of Leaves, The Boondock Saints, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. During an online Q&A session on April 20, 2010, Brendan dismissed the claim that "Juturna" is a concept album based on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but did say that there is an underlying concept.
On Letting Go (2007–2008)
On Letting Go is Circa Survive's second album. Released on May 29, 2007, by Equal Vision Records, the album debuted at #24 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 24,000 copies in its first week. As of July 11, 2007, it has sold 51,357 copies in the U.S. alone.
As with previous albums, Esao Andrews designed the artwork and Brian McTernan produced the album. The band's sound didn't radically change with this release – still it was polished and refined, with guitars and drums much tighter (but still meandering when needed to) bass more prominent, and lyrically the band "...evokes an era when hazy lyricism and reckless introspection were prerequisites for legitimacy and timelessness."[2]
In the Spring of 2008, Circa Survive released an On Letting Go B-side "1,000 Witnesses" to fans through the charity Invisible Children in an effort to raise money for the cause. In June 2008, they also released the B-side "The Most Dangerous Commercials" as a charity download to help support the relocation of local music shop Siren Records, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
Blue Sky Noise and Appendage (2008–2010)
After supporting Thrice and Pelican for their Spring 2008 tour, Circa Survive returned home to Philadelphia to write for the then-untitled third album. A short leg of shows in the Eastern U.S. occurred in late 2008 and four shows were played in So Cal in February 2009; after that the band did not hit the road again until the tentatively planned headlining tour for their forthcoming third album. They posted videos on their websites showing snips of the creation and recording of the album.[3][4] Anthony Green's growth as a guitarist would be playing a major role on Blue Sky Noise, which the band framed as an entirely "new chapter." The album debuted at #11 on the Billboard Top 200.[3][5]
The band posted an update in the form of a video on Circa Survive with lead singer Anthony Green thanking fans for all their patience. He also said to check within the coming weeks to find out when they will be recording and who they will be recording with. On August 3, Circa Survive stated that they had begun recording their third album in Toronto ON, and chosen David Bottrill as producer. They also stated, "After completing our contract with Equal Vision we embarked on a long search to find our next home. We met with lots of labels and decided that Atlantic Records is the best place for us to continue our growth as a band and to help us release our music around the world."
On Twitter they stated that they would be recording 16 songs, but that they won't all be on the album. However, they said they will release them all somehow.[6] They posted 8 video updates showing some song teases.[7]
Studio recording was completed at the end of October 2009 and mixing was completed at the first of February 2010 by Rich Costey.
On February 16, 2010, they announced their new album would be titled Blue Sky Noise, and would be released on April 20, 2010. The album could be pre-purchased, and those who did so received a digital copy of the album a week early, and their first single "Get Out" instantly.
On October 18, 2010 , Myspace Transmissions released an EP of the band playing five tracks off of Blue Sky Noise as well as a cover of "Scentless Apprentice" by Nirvana.
Circa Survive's second EP, Appendage, was released on November 30, 2010. It contains five tracks: "Sleep Underground" (Demo), "Stare Like You'll Stay", "Everyway", "Backmask", and "Lazarus".
New album (2011–present)
Anthony Green has stated that he has begun writing and demoing songs for their next full-length. He also mentioned putting the release of his next solo album, Beautiful Things, on hold until next year to focus on the new Circa material.[8]
Touring and performing
Circa Survive has toured on several occasions, including national tours within the United States of America. They toured in the winter of 2005 with My Chemical Romance and Thrice. That summer they co-headlined a tour. Circa Survive has also opened for MUTEMATH, Mae and Dredg on each of their headlining runs. Circa Survive played The Bamboozle festival in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2011 in New Jersey.[9] They also played a few dates on The Vans Warped Tour in 2005. In early 2006, they took on a tour of Europe with Coheed and Cambria and Thrice, after having previously completed a tour in September 2005 with Motion City Soundtrack. They also toured with Saves The Day, Moneen, and Pistolita. In the summer of 2006, they embarked on their first headlining tour The Twilight Army Tour, with The Receiving End of Sirens, Days Away, Portugal. The Man, YouInSeries, and Keating. Then in fall of 2006, they went on tour with Thursday, Rise Against and Billy Talent. The band also played on the Rockstar Alternative Press Tour headlining with Cute Is What We Aim For, and with supporting acts As Tall As Lions and Envy on the Coast. In April 2007, Circa Survive played at the Coachella arts and music festival in Indio, California. In Summer of 2007, the band played the entire Vans Warped Tour alongside bands such as Coheed and Cambria, The Used, Anberlin, and Bad Religion. Circa Survive opened for My Chemical Romance's 2007 shows in Worcester, MA and Australian and New Zealand shows also. Circa Survive opened as the main support for 30 Seconds To Mars September 14, 2007 at the Brixton Academy. Circa Survive completed touring with Ours, Fear Before The March Of Flames, with Dear and the Headlights, and The Dear Hunter in November, 2007. News Year's Eve 2007 brought a coming home show with Thursday and The Gaslight Anthem played at The Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ.The band is in the Kerrang! 2008 Tour with Madina Lake, Coheed and Cambria and Fightstar. It was announced on January 24, 2008, that Circa Survive would be going on a Spring 2008 tour with Thrice and Pelican according to Thrice's website – Live Photos from Tour.[10]
Circa Survive is known to add humor and props to their live concerts. Anthony Green frequently wears dresses to outdoor music festivals, most notably The Bamboozle in 2006 and The Vans Warped Tour[11] in 2007. On their Summer 2006 Twilight Army Tour, the band threw glowing fluorescent beach balls into the crowd.[12] The band's On Letting Go tour included a silent film projected above the band.[13]
In 2010, after mixing for Blue Sky Noise was completed in February, Circa Survive began performing shows in the midwest United States in March, often accompanied by Good Old War and The Christmas Lights. The band performed at the annual SXSW festival in Austin, TX from March 18 to March 24. They also performed in Anaheim, CA at the Hoodwink Festival on March 26 and at The Bamboozle on March 27. One month later, following the release of Blue Sky Noise on April 20, Circa Survive embarked on an extended tour with Coheed and Cambria and Torche, beginning in Charlotte, NC on April 22 and ending on May 29 in Atlantic City, NJ. On June 19, 2010 Circa Survive performed at Santa Monica Beach, CA at the Pac Sun Beach Ballyhoo event, which was shut down early due to overcrowding before the band could perform their last two songs. After an eleven-day U.S. west coast tour in late July, Circa Survive embarked on a September European tour with Middle Class Rut, beginning in Hamburg, Germany on September 6 and ending in Nottingham, England on September 18. Their show in London on September 15 was streamed live over the internet and attracted more than 43,000 viewers online.[14]
They then went on on their U.S. Blue Sky Noise Tour with Animals as Leaders, Dredg, and Codeseven. The tour began on October 15, 2010 in Hartford, CT and will conclude on December 13 in Bakersfield, CA. They begin touring with Anberlin and Foxy Shazam in January 2011. It has been rumored that they will be playing at Warped Tour 2011. They also opened for Linkin Park during the A Thousand Suns Tour for their shows in Dallas and Houston, Texas.
Circa Survive is currently touring with My Chemical Romance as their opening act along with the Architects (American Band). Both bands are opening for My Chemical Romance for their North American leg of the World Contamination tour.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Title | Label | U.S. Charts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Juturna | Equal Vision Records | #183 |
| 2007 | On Letting Go | Equal Vision Records | #24 |
| 2010 | Blue Sky Noise | Atlantic Records | #11 |
EPs
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Inuit Sessions | Equal Vision Records |
| 2010 | Appendage | Atlantic Records |
Singles
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Act Appalled" | The Inuit Sessions |
| 2006 | "Act Appalled" | Juturna |
| "In Fear and Faith" | ||
| 2007 | "The Difference Between Medicine and Poison is in the Dose" | On Letting Go |
| 2010 | "Get Out" | Blue Sky Noise |
| "Imaginary Enemy" | ||
| "I Felt Free" |
Compilation tracks
- Equal Vision Records Summer Sampler – 2004 (2004) – "Handshakes At Sunrise"
- Equal Vision Records Winter Sampler – 2004 (2004) – "Handshakes At Sunrise" (Alt. Version)
- Equal Vision Records Presents New Sounds Vol. 2 – 2005 (2005) – "Act Appalled", "The Great Golden Baby"
- Equal Vision Records Summer Sampler (Digital Sampler) – 2005 (2005) – "The Great Golden Baby"
- Equal Vision Records Spring Sampler (Digital Sampler) – 2006 (2006) – "Act Appalled"
- Equal Vision Records Summer Sampler (Digital Sampler) – 2007 (2007) – "The Difference Between Medicine and Poison is in the Dose"
Music videos
- "Act Appalled" (Live Montage) (2005) from Juturna
- "Act Appalled" (2006) from Juturna
- "In Fear And Faith" (Live Montage) (2006) from Juturna
- "The Difference Between Medicine and Poison Is in the Dose" (2007) from On Letting Go
- "Get Out" (Live Montage) (2010) from Blue Sky Noise
- "Imaginary Enemy" (2010) from Blue Sky Noise
- "Through The Desert Alone" (2010) from Blue Sky Noise
References
- ^ Interview with Anthony Green at MPLS Scene Blog http://mplssceneinterviews.blogspot.com/2006/12/anthony-green-interview.html
- ^ Alternative Press, "10 Essential Albums of 2007," Issue #235 (p. 128), February 2008 [1]
- ^ a b Blog updates by band members, http://circasurvive.com/creation/
- ^ Circa Survive's MySpace Blog
- ^ Alternative Press Issue #242, September 2008
- ^ http://twitter.com/circasurvive/status/3216566867
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/user/circasurvive
- ^ http://mikeandtomwtsr.blogspot.com/2011/04/in-case-you-missed-it-anthony-green.html
- ^ // The Bamboozle \\
- ^ THRICE | The Alchemy Index » Blog Archive » NEW NEWS. SPRING TOUR. VOLUMES 3 & 4. STUFF
- ^ // AP: Warped Tour 2007 \\
- ^ Punk Music Concert Review featuring CIRCA SURVIVE'S "Twilight Army Tour" with THE RECEIVING END OF SIRENS and PORTUGAL THE MAN and THE KEATING at The House of Blues in San Diego
- ^ Circa Survive 11/23 @ Royal Oak Music theatre – NMETV Latest Music Videos and Clips
- ^ http://www.ustream.tv/circasurvive