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Nothing (band)

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Nothing
Nothing press photo for The Great Dismal
Background information
Also known asBand of Nothing
OriginPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
Years active2010 (2010)–present
Labels
Members
  • Domenic "Nicky" Palermo
  • Doyle Martin
  • Zachary Jones
  • Bobb Bruno
Past members
  • Christina Michelle
  • Kyle Kimball
  • Aaron Heard
  • Brandon Setta
  • Nick Bassett
  • Chris Betts
  • Richie Roxas
  • Anthony Rossi
  • Michael Bachich
  • Joshua Jancewicz
  • Ryan Grotz
Websitebandofnothing.com

Nothing is an American shoegaze band formed in 2010 by vocalist-guitarist Domenic "Nicky" Palermo. The band has had a revolving lineup throughout its career, with Palermo being the sole constant member following the departure of longtime guitarist-vocalist Brandon Setta in 2019. The two guitarists shared songwriting duties during Setta's tenure in Nothing.

The band self-released several EPs before signing to Relapse Records. They released their debut studio album, Guilty of Everything, in 2014. The follow-up album, Tired of Tomorrow, was released on in 2016. Nothing's third studio album, Dance on the Blacktop, was released in 2018, and their fourth studio album, The Great Dismal, was released in 2020.

History

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Nothing founder Domenic "Nicky" Palermo was previously a member of the hardcore punk band Horror Show. The short-lived band only released a pair of EPs through Jacob Bannon of Converge's Deathwish Inc. label during its existence. Horror Show was put on hold in 2002 when a 20-year old Palermo stabbed a man during a fight between two rival gangs and spent two years in jail for aggravated assault and attempted murder; Palermo claimed self-defense.[1][2][3] Of this period in his life, Palermo said: "It was kind of a violent time. We were going to shows and kind of, like, fucking shit up for the whole [hardcore] scene".[4] He also performed in XO Skeletons,[1] which featured Wesley Eisold (Give Up the Ghost, Cold Cave).

Following his stint in jail and done with performing in punk bands, Palermo spent a long time soul-searching. He has said, "I didn't know what else to do with my life, what would make me want to wake up every day. I really struggled with that for like four years and, not to sound dramatic or anything, but I thought about blowing my brains out every day".[4] Palermo eventually began making music again, and released a demo, Poshlost, under the name "Nothing" in 2010.[4] Nothing went through several lineup changes over the next few years while releasing two EPs, Suns and Lovers and Downward Years to Come between 2011 and 2012, respectively.[2][4]

In 2013 Nothing signed to Relapse Records and released the single "Dig",[5][6] which featured on the band's debut album, Guilty of Everything, released by Relapse on March 4, 2014.[1] To continue promotion for the album, Nothing also released the tracks "Endlessly"[7] and "Bent Nail"[8] for online streaming, and in 2014 it reissued Downward Years to Come.[9]

In August 2013 Nothing toured with Whirr, and as a result, members of Nothing and Whirr formed a side project called Death of Lovers.[10][11][12] The two bands also released a split EP in 2014,[13] and Whirr member Nick Bassett (ex-Deafheaven) joined Nothing on bass.[14]

Nothing then signed to Collect Records, but terminated its contract with the label after completing their new record, due to the label's ties to former Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli.[15] On December 8, 2015, it was announced that Nothing had re-signed with Relapse Records. Its second album, Tired of Tomorrow, was released on May 13, 2016.[16] The first single from the album, "Vertigo Flowers", debuted on February 23, 2016.[16] John "PBoy" Policastro from the band New Lows joined the band as a live bassist to tour for the record, as Bassett was not able to do all the dates.

The band's third studio album, Dance on the Blacktop, was released on August 24, 2018, by Relapse.[17] It was preceded by the "Zero Day" single on June 4.

After the recording of the album, new bassist Aaron Heard (vocalist for hardcore band Jesus Piece), replaced Bassett. Founding guitarist/vocalist Brandon Setta left the band mid-tour for personal reasons in early 2019 and was replaced by Cloakroom frontman Doyle Martin. Setta continues releasing music under the names White Lighters and You Wish.

On October 30, 2020 The Great Dismal was released on Relapse Records.[18] Promotional videos were released for the songs "Say Less", "Bernie Sanders", "Famine Asylum", "April Ha Ha (Ft. Alex G.)", and "Catch a Fade". Production was handled by Will Yip, who previously produced the band's second record, Tired of Tomorrow. This is the first album to feature Doyle Martin replacing Brandon Setta on guitar and vocals, as well as Aaron Heard replacing longtime bassist Nick Bassett.

On January 5, 2022, Aaron Heard posted that his few upcoming shows with Nothing would be his last, in order to spend more time raising his son. On February 28, 2022, Gouge Away frontwoman Christina Michelle replaced Heard on bass. In mid-2022, longtime drummer Kyle Kimball left the band to focus on his dark wave project Night Sins. Kimball was later replaced by Zachary Jones. In late 2023, guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Bobb Bruno from Best Coast replaced Michelle on bass.

Musical style

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Nothing are described as a cross between heavy metal and shoegaze, while later releases were said to have bordered on a dream pop style. The group's sound is marked by "walls of distorted guitars", "pummeling" drums, "angelic" vocal harmonies and "soul-searching lyrics that tell of hard times and pain of all kinds".[19]

Members

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Current members

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  • Domenic "Nicky" Palermo – vocals, guitar (2010–present)
  • Doyle Martin – guitar, backing vocals (2019–present)
  • Zachary Jones – drums (2022–present)
  • Bobb Bruno – bass (2023–present)

Former members

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  • Christina Michelle – bass (2022–2023)
  • Kyle Kimball – drums (2013–2022)
  • Aaron Heard – bass (2018–2022)
  • Brandon Setta – guitar, vocals (2011–2019)
  • Nick Bassett – bass (2013–2018)
  • Chris Betts – bass (2013)
  • Richie Roxas – bass (2011–2013)
  • Anthony Rossi – drums (2011–2013)
  • Michael Bachich – drums (2010–2011)
  • Joshua Jancewicz – bass (2010–2011)
  • Ryan Grotz – guitar (2010–2011)

Former live/touring members

  • Ben "Benny" Mead – drums (2022)
  • Nah – drums (2022)
  • AJ Annunziata – guitar (2019)
  • John "PBoy" Policastro – bass (2016–2017)
  • Joey Bayes – bass (2013)

Discography

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Nothing performing in 2016

Studio albums

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Collaborative albums

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Complilation albums

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  • Spirit of the Stairs - B-Sides & Rarities (2019, Relapse)

Live albums

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  • George (A Live Part Time Punks Session, Los Angeles 12.07.2019) (2020, self)
  • Auditory Trauma: Nothing Isolation Sessions (2024, Relapse)

Demos

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  • Poshlost (2010, Like Glue)

EPs

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  • Suns and Lovers (2011, Big Love)
  • Downward Years to Come (2012, A389)
  • The Great Dismal B-Sides (2021, Relapse)

Split releases

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Singles

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  • "Last Day in Bouville" (Julian Grefe Edit) (2010, self)
  • "Suns and Lovers" (2011, Big Love)
  • "Dig" (2013, Relapse)
  • "In Metal" (2014, A389)
  • "Leave Me Alone" (2015, self)
  • "Vertigo Flowers" (2016, Relapse)
  • "A.C.D." (2016, Relapse)
  • "Nineteen Ninety Heaven" (Ryan Hemsworth Remix) (2016, Relapse)
  • "Famous Blue Raincoat (Ortlieb's 2015)" (2016, self)
  • "Zero Day" (2018, Relapse)
  • "Blue Line Baby" (2018, Relapse)
  • "The Carpenter's Son" (2018, Relapse)
  • "We Are Real" (2019, self)
  • "Bent Nail" demo (2019, self)
  • "Say Less" (2020, Relapse)
  • "Bernie Sanders" (2020, Relapse)
  • "Famine Asylum" (2020, Relapse)
  • "Amber Gambler" (2021, Relapse)
  • "La La Means I Love You" (2021, Relapse)
  • "A Fabricated Life" (10th & D Demo) (2021, Obey)
  • "Micha: Those Who Fear Tomorrow" (2021, Relapse)

Compilation appearances

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Hilton, Robin (February 23, 2014). "First Listen: Nothing, 'Guilty Of Everything'". NPR. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Lindsey, Cam (February 16, 2014). "An interview about Nothing: Philly's best shoegaze band is here to knock you over". Noisey. Vice. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  3. ^ "Nothing Changed Domenic Palermo's Path (a top story)::Nothing News ::antiMusic.com". www.antimusic.com. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d Akintoye, Dotun (February 20, 2014). "Hard-working, hard-living rock band Nothing brings the noise". Philadelphia City Paper. Archived from the original on February 27, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  5. ^ Cohen, Ian (August 21, 2013). "Nothing: 'Dig'". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  6. ^ Paul, Aubin (August 9, 2013). "Relapse signs Nothing (ex-Horror Show)". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  7. ^ Gentile, John (February 19, 2014). "Hear Nothing's Crushing Noise Epic 'Endlessly'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  8. ^ Crane, Matt (January 22, 2014). "Nothing release new song, 'Bent Nail'". Alternative Press. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  9. ^ Adams, Gregory (August 1, 2014). "Nothing Treat 'Downward Years to Come' to Expanded Reissue". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  10. ^ Sacher, Andrew (June 19, 2013). "Whirr releasing a new mini-LP, announce tour (dates, stream)". Brooklyn Vegan. Spin Media. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  11. ^ Paul, Aubin (June 19, 2013). "Tours: Whirr / Nothing". Punknews.org. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  12. ^ McGovern, Kyle (October 22, 2013). "Watch Death of Lovers' Eerie 'Buried Under A World of Roses' Video". Spin. Spin Media. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  13. ^ Carlick, Stephen (February 27, 2014). "Nothing's Domenic Palermo Talks New Split EP with Whirr". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  14. ^ Gelb, Daniel (February 26, 2014). "Philly's own Nothing is really something". Philadelphia Weekly. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  15. ^ Minsker, Evan (September 22, 2015). "Geoff Rickly Explains Collect Records' Relationship With Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  16. ^ a b Breihan, Tom (February 23, 2016). "Nothing – "Vertigo Flowers"". Stereogum. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  17. ^ Sacher, Andrew (June 5, 2018). "Nothing announce new album & tour with Swirlies, share "Zero Day"". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  18. ^ "Nothing - "Say Less"". Stereogum. September 11, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  19. ^ Heaney, Gregory. "Nothing Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More | A". AllMusic. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
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