Circa Survive

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Circa Survive

Circa Survive is a rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 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 19, 2005 by Equal Vision Records, which received a mixed critical reception. However their second album, On Letting Go, released on May 29, 2007, garnered widespread critical acclaim. Their upcoming album, Blue Sky Noise, will be released on April 20, 2010 on Atlantic Records as the band has finished their term with Equal Vision Records.

History

Formation

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 California to work with the band Saosin, of which he was the lead singer. However, while on a layover in Phoenix, 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 Saosin he stated, "I left primarily because I didn't want to sign to a major label in that band." Anthony 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" with during his stay, and they decided to begin recording and recruiting. Thus, Circa Survive was born. Colin Frangicetto and Anthony 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

The first thing they ever released was their 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

Main article: Juturna (album)

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.

On Letting Go

Main article: On Letting Go

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.

The album was named "On Letting Go" because the band felt that they could somehow let go of all the emotion that they face every day[2] , not to mention that lyrically the album deals heavily with the emotional barriers we all face daily, and the damage done if we refuse to "let go" of our inhibitions and insecurities.[3] Lyrically, the album is also heavily influenced by the lead singer's (Anthony Green) personal realization that God does not exist, and the struggle and shame that go along with this belief.[4] 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."[5]

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

Main article: Blue Sky Noise

After supporting Thrice and Pelican for their Spring 2008 tour, Circa Survive returned home to Philadelphia to write for the then-untitled follow up record to On Letting Go. 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 will 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.[6][7] Anthony Green's growth as a guitarist will be playing a major role on the new album, which the band has framed as an entirely "new chapter."[6][8]

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 3rd 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 will be recording 16 songs, but that they won't all be on the album. However, they said they will release them all somehow.[9]

They posted twelve video updates showing some song teases.[10]

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 can be prepurchased, and those who do so will receive a digital copy of the album a week early, and their first single "Get Out" instantly.[11]

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 and 2008 in New Jersey.[12] 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.[13] During Circa Survive's tour with Thrice and Pelican , Anthony Green mentioned that they would be working on songs for a new album this summer; the band also played several alternate/extended versions of their songs. Circa Survive has been seen performing a new idea as Anthony Green called it, called "Frozen Creek".

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[14] in 2007. On their Summer 2006 Twilight Army Tour, the band threw glowing fluorescent beach balls into the crowd.[15] The band's On Letting Go tour included a silent film projected above the band.[16]

Circa Survive will begin 2010 with a mini tour consisting of 11 dates. The tour will begin in Carrboro, NC on March 11, 2010, and the tour will end on March 27, 2010 at The Bamboozle in Anaheim, CA. They have stated that on this tour they will be playing many new songs, as well as old favorites. After this mini tour they will proceed into an extended tour in April with Coheed and Cambria and Torche, beginning in Charlotte, NC on April 22, 2010 and ending on May 28, 2010 in Washington D.C.

Gear

Brendan Ekstrom
Guitars: Melancon Pro Artist T
Previous Guitars: Brian Moore i2000
Pedals: Barber Tone Press, Boss Tuner, TR-2 Tremolo, RV-5 Digital Reverb, PS-3 Pitch Shifter/Delay, PS-5 Super Shifter and DD-20 Giga Delay, Durham Electronics Mucho Busto and Sex Drive; Electro-Harmonix Small Clone Chorus; Ernie Ball Wah; Ibanez Tube Screamer; Line 6 Verbzilla, DL4 and Echo Park; MXR Phas 90
Amps: Bad Cat Custom 100, Custome Sommatone Outlaw Head, and Custom Sommatone Roaring 40 Head with Sommatone 2x12 cab

Colin Frangicetto
Guitars: Fender American Deluxe Telecaster
Pedals: Boss Tuner, NS-2 Noise Suppressor, OC-3 Super Octave, PS-3 Pitch/Shifter Delay, RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay and PS-5 Super Shifter; Ibanez TS7 Tube Screamer and DE7 Delay/Echo; Line 6 Echo Park and POD XT
Amps: Marshall DSL100 JCM2000 and Sommatone Roaring 40 with Sommatone 2x12 cab
Strings: SIT .011-.052 [17]

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

EPs

Year Title Label
2005 The Inuit Sessions Equal Vision 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
2008 "Living Together"
2010 "Get Out" Blue Sky Noise

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"

Unreleased tracks

  • "Julian (Acoustic)"
  • "Miracle Sun (released on Anthony Green's "Avalon")"
  • "1,000 Witnesses (On Letting Go B-Side)"
  • "The Most Dangerous Commercials (On Letting Go B-Side)"
  • Note: "Julian" was played at EVR headquarters in New York.
  • Note: "Miracle Sun" studio recording was streamed via Equal Vision Records Summer Sampler (Digital Sampler) – 2007 [citation needed]. Anthony Green has recorded and released a version of this song on his solo album Avalon.
  • Note: "1,000 Witnesses" was made available exclusively for the Invisible Children benefit.
  • Note: "The Most Dangerous Commercials" was made available exclusively by donating to help move Siren Records located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania[18].
  • Note: "The Most Dangerous Commercials" and "1,000 Witnesses" were released on a special b-sides 7" on January 5, 2010.[19]

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" (2010) from Blue Sky Noise

References

  1. ^ Interview with Anthony Green at MPLS Scene Blog http://mplssceneinterviews.blogspot.com/2006/12/anthony-green-interview.html
  2. ^ Circa Survive, Blog Post, March 3 http://circasurvive.com/creation/?p=972007
  3. ^ Variously authored song analyses of lyrical content, http://www.songmeanings.net/artist/view/songs/137438963472/
  4. ^ Variously authored song analyses of lyrical content, http://www.songmeanings.net/artist/view/songs/137438963472/
  5. ^ Alternative Press, "10 Essential Albums of 2007," Issue #235 (p. 128), February 2008 [1]
  6. ^ a b Blog updates by band members, http://circasurvive.com/creation/
  7. ^ Circa Survive's MySpace Blog
  8. ^ Alternative Press Issue #242, September 2008
  9. ^ http://twitter.com/circasurvive/status/3216566867
  10. ^ http://www.youtube.com/user/circasurvive
  11. ^ http://www.circasurvive.com/2010/02/16/blue-sky-noise/
  12. ^ // The Bamboozle \\
  13. ^ THRICE | The Alchemy Index » Blog Archive » NEW NEWS. SPRING TOUR. VOLUMES 3 & 4. STUFF
  14. ^ // AP: Warped Tour 2007 \\
  15. ^ 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
  16. ^ Circa Survive 11/23 @ Royal Oak Music theatre - NMETV Latest Music Videos and Clips
  17. ^ EVR ZINE, volume one, page 13
  18. ^ Official donation site http://donate.circasurvive.com/
  19. ^ http://circasurvive.merchnow.com/products/111464

External links

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