Relient K
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Relient K
<tr style="text-align: center;"><td colspan="3">Image:RelientKHallway.jpg From left to right: Dave Douglas, Matt Hoopes, Matt Thiessen, John Warne, Jon Schneck </td></tr>
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Background information
<tr><td>Origin</td><td colspan="2">Canton, Ohio, United States</td></tr><tr><td>Genre(s)</td><td colspan="2">Christian rock |
- This article is about the Christian rock band. For the car, see Plymouth Reliant.
Relient K is a Christian rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio and named after guitarist Matt Hoopes's Plymouth Reliant K car.
Contents |
[edit] Members
[edit] Current members
- Matt Thiessen – lead vocals, guitar, piano (1998–present)
- Matt Hoopes – guitar, backing vocals (1998–present)
- Dave Douglas – drums, backing vocals (2000-present)
- John Warne – bass, backing vocals (2004–present)
- Jon Schneck – guitar, banjo, bells, backing vocals (2005–present)
[edit] Former members
- Todd Frescone – drums (1998)
- Stephen Cushman – drums, backing vocals (1998–2000)
- Jared Byers – drums (2000)
- Brian Pittman – bass (1998–2004)
[edit] Band History
[edit] Line-up changes
Relient K was founded in 1998 by Matt Thiessen and Matt Hoopes on guitar, and Brian Pittman on bass. Todd Frescone joined for a short time on the drums in 1998. After All Work and No Play, Todd Frescone was replaced by Stephen Cushman. Cushman played drums on the 2000 A.D.D., and on the self-titled album in 2000, but left later that year. Jared Byers, drummer of Bleach, filled in as the temporary drummer, until Dave Douglas joined in December of 2000. This lineup remained static from the release of The Creepy EP and The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek in 2001, through the release of Mmhmm in 2004, after which Brian Pittman left to start a landscaping company. Pittman now plays bass for the Christian metal band Inhale Exhale. John Warne, lead singer and guitarist of Ace Troubleshooter, filled in as bassist for the remainder of 2004. He became full-time bassist in 2005. Also in 2005, Jon Schneck joined as a third guitarist, as well as a banjo and bell player, to create a fuller, more distinctive sound. The band has won several GMA Canada Covenant Awards (Matt Thiessen was born in Canada)
[edit] Evolution of sound
[edit] 1998–2002: Beginnings
Relient K's demo, All Work and No Play, caught the attention of dc Talk's Toby McKeehan. After he signed the band to his label, Gotee Records, Relient K released their debut EP entitled 2000 A.D.D. EP in 2000. Later that year, they released Relient K, their first full-length and self-titled CD. It was distinctly Christian rock and featured lyrics with a wide range of pop-culture references.
In 2001, the band released their sophomore album, The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek. This album launched both Relient K and their sound to a whole new level. There were still plenty of pop-culture references on this album, which was evident in the song "Sadie Hawkins Dance." It contained many more softer songs and slightly lighter guitars. They would continue chords through tracks in order to fluidly transition in between songs, a trend that continued on their later albums.
[edit] 2002–2005: Rising popularity and mainstream success
Image:Relient K.jpg Anatomy landed them in the Christian rock limelight, as they were then asked to do their rendition of the popular VeggieTales song "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" for the 2002 VeggieTales movie Jonah. The song was released on two different albums (both in single form). The first version also including their song "Breakdown" being sung by Larry the Cucumber. There was also a promotional version which included the original version of Breakdown. This song mixes the sounds of The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek and their third album, Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do.
In 2003, Relient K released Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do. The album had multiple covers of different colors, each depicting a car in some kind of wreck. As pop-culture references became less specific, sound and vocals became far more defined. Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do (often called Two Lefts by fans) combined the soft, meaningful songs of The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek and threw in fast-paced songs with deep lyrics. It was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Christian Modern Rock Album.
During this time, Relient K also released a limited edition red vinyl EP entitled The Vinyl Countdown. There were only 1500 printings of the album which included two versions of the song, "Five Iron Frenzy is Either Dead or Dying". The same year, Relient K made a special appearance at the final Five Iron Frenzy concert at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, Colorado where they performed, for the very last time, "Five Iron Frenzy is Either Dead or Dying". The album was dedicated to contest winner and friend of Matthew Thiessen, Jesse Alkire, who inspired the song "The Vinyl Countdown."
Since Two Lefts was released in March of 2003, Relient K released a bonus disc for Christmas, entitled Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand. The album was packaged with Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do from November 2003 to December 2003.
[edit] Mmhmm
Main article: Mmhmm
In late 2004, the group released their long-expected fourth album, Mmhmm. Pop-culture references were even less specific than on their third album, if not nonexistent. The album was significantly more on the serious side with very few of the silly songs the band was known for. The album is much more piano-driven in parts (including an entire song, "Let It All Out"), but more hardrock in others ("Which to Bury, Us or the Hatchet"). In July 2005, the album was certified gold for shipping over 500,000 copies. Also, driven by newfound recognition from Mmhmm, Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do was also certified gold in spring 2005. It has been announced that their second record, The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek, recently reached the Gold as well. It is awaiting certification by the RIAA.
Mmhmm features two top 40 hits which both made it on MTV's Top Ten. The track "Be My Escape", which can be found on Mmhmm, is the band's most popular mainstream song to date. Its music video entered MTV's Top Ten, and landed them an appearance on The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live. "Be My Escape" is also featured on Now! 19, a popular secular and quasi-annual compilation series. It was classified as a platinum single in November of 2005. The music video for "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been", also from Mmhmm, has also made its way onto the TRL countdown, many top 40 radio stations, and was included on Now! 21. In early June 2005, the band was featured on MTV's 10 Spot Drop, which gave the band a boost in its popularity, as did their Spring 2005 tour opening for Simple Plan and Good Charlotte and having the main stage slot on the 2005 Van's Warped Tour.
[edit] Five Score And Seven Years Ago
Recording for the new album, Five Score and Seven Years Ago, started (according to Thiessen at the Ichthus Music Festival 2006) on June 18, 2006 and continued for parts of July and August. Some tracks on the album were produced by Howard Benson (All-American Rejects, My Chemical Romance, P.O.D.). While the band hoped for a November 2006 release, the official release date was announced as March 6, 2007. The band has begun to perform songs from their upcoming album at their shows, such as "Bite My Tongue"[1] and "Devastation and Reform".[2] They also have an eleven minute epic song on the album called "Deathbed", but have not performed it live yet.[3] The band's manager also confirmed that the first single would be released for radio in January, and that the music video for it would be shot in December. [4] In an interview on XM radio, Matt Thiessen and Matt Hoopes said that the song "Faking My Own Suicide" will appear on the record. The song originally appeared on My Other Band, Vol. 1 as a demo song under Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes. In the XM interview Matt Thiessen said that he made the kick drum and snare sound with his mouth on an a cappella song.
A single is to be released for the Christian market in mid to late November, according to the band's manager. It was also announced that the general market single would be released in January, along with a music video for the song. That song will be "Must Have Done Something Right". [5] The site Promo Squad recently put up five new Relient K songs. One is "Must Have Done Something Right", and the other four are "Give", "I Need You", "The Best Thing", and "Come Right Out and Say It". The song "Must Have Done Something Right" was be released on iTunes on November 28. [6] A Christian radio single is now being aired on Christian radio stations, and the single is the song "Forgiven".
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
[edit] EPs
[edit] Other
[edit] Mainstream Singles
| Year | Title | Label(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Be My Escape" | Gotee Capitol |
| 2005 | "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" | Gotee Capitol |
| 2006 | "Must Have Done Something Right" | Gotee Capitol |
[edit] Christian Radio Only Singles
| Year | Title | Label(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | "My Girlfriend" | Gotee |
| 2000 | "Wake Up Call" | Gotee |
| 2001 | "Softer to Me" | Gotee |
| 2001 | "Pressing On" | Gotee |
| 2002 | "Sadie Hawkins Dance" | Gotee |
| 2002 | "Those Words Are Not Enough" | Gotee |
| 2002 | "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" | Gotee |
| 2003 | "Chap Stick, Chapped Lips, and Things Like Chemistry" | Gotee |
| 2003 | "Forward Motion" | Gotee |
| 2003 | "I Am Understood?" | Gotee |
| 2003 | "Getting Into You" | Gotee |
| 2005 | "The Truth" | Gotee Capitol |
| 2006 | "High of 75" | Gotee Capitol |
| 2006 | "Forgiven" | Gotee Capitol |
[edit] Single Rankings
| Song | Year | Hot Digital Songs | U.S. Pop 100 | U.S. Hot 100 | CCM Charts | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Pressing On" | 2001 | - | - | - | #5 | The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek |
| "Sadie Hawkins Dance" | 2001 | - | - | - | #1 | The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek |
| "Forward Motion" | 2003 | - | - | - | #5 | Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do |
| "Getting Into You" | 2003 | - | - | - | #1 | Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do |
| "Be My Escape" | 2004 | #31 | #48 | #82 | #1 | Mmhmm |
| "High of 75" | 2004 | - | - | - | #2 | Mmhmm |
| "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" | 2004 | #71 | #37 | #66 | #1 | Mmhmm |
| "The Truth" | 2005 | - | - | - | #1 | Apathtic EP |
| "Must Have Done Something Right" | 2006 | - | - | - | - | Five Score and Seven Years Ago |
| "Forgiven" | 2006 | - | - | - | - | Five Score and Seven Years Ago |
[edit] Music Videos
[edit] Compilations
| Year | Album | Song(s) | Label(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Take Time to Listen: Volume 5 | "Hello McFly" | 5 Minute Walk |
| 2000 | Gotee Records Freshmen Class 2000 | "My Girlfriend" "Hello McFly" "Softer to Me" "Breakdown" | Gotee |
| 2001 | hearitfirst.com New Music Sampler | "Pressing On" | Sparrow |
| 2001 | Happy Christmas, Vol. 3 | "Santa Claus Is Thumbing to Town" | BEC |
| 2002 | ConGRADulations! 2002 | "Pressing On" | Interlinc |
| 2002 | Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie | "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" | Big Idea |
| 2003 | Smash-Ups | "Tobymac "Yours" vs. Relient K "Pressing On"" | Sparrow |
| 2003 | Soulfest 2003: A Soul Revolution | "From End To End" | New Sound International |
| 2003 | WOW Hits 2004 | "Getting Into You" | Sparrow |
| 2004 | Gotee: 10 Years Brand New | "Sadie Hawkins Dance" | Gotee |
| 2004 | Congratulations Class of 2004 | "Hallelujah Chorus" | EMI |
| 2004 | VeggieTales: Veggie Rocks! | "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" | ForeFront |
| 2004 | X 2004 Rock Hits! | "I Am Understood" | |
| 2005 | Punk Goes 80's | "Manic Monday" | Fearless |
| 2005 | Now That's What I Call Music!, Vol. 19 | "Be My Escape" | EMI |
| 2005 | Happy Christmas, Vol. 4 | "I Celebrate the Day" | Tooth & Nail |
| 2005 | X 2005 Rock Hits! | "More Than Useless" | |
| 2006 | ConGRADulations! 2006 | "Be My Escape" | Interlinc |
| 2006 | Now That's What I Call Music!, Vol. 21 | "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" | EMI |
| 2006 | X Worship 2006 | "I Am Understood?" | ForeFront |
| 2006 | 2006 Warped Tour Compilation | "Which to Bury, Us or the Hatchet?" | Side One Dummy Records |
| 2006 | Freaked! | "Between You and Me" | Gotee Records |
| 2006 | X 2006 Rock Hits! | "I So Hate Consequences" | |
| 2006 | X 2007 Rock Hits! | "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" | BEC |
| 2006 | WOW Hits 2007 | "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" | Chordant |
| 2006 | Now That's What I Call Christmas! Vol. 3 | "Twelve Days of Christmas" | Sony BMG |
[edit] Tribute Albums
| Year | Title | Label(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | String Quartet Tribute to Relient K | Vitamin |
[edit] Other projects
[edit] The Complex Infrastructure Known as the Female Mind
In 2004, Relient K released a book entitled The Complex Infrastructure Known as the Female Mind. The book clues in the confused male Relient K fans, such as Chris Douglas, on some of the inner works of the female species. The band gives advice on the opposite sex through personal experience, stereotypes (including Rocker and Vanilla Pudding), and Biblical advice—presented in the fun attitude found in their music. The title of the book is taken from the last line of the song "Mood Rings", which is found on their third album, Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do.
[edit] Chapter List
Kick Off: Introduction
Nancy Drew and Girls Like You: Girl Types
The Athlete
The Rock Chick
The Diva
The Homecoming Queen
The Mathlete
The Overachiever
The Poet
First Chair
The Drama Queen
The Airhead
The Girlfriend
Vanilla Pudding
I Am Understood?: Boy Types
The Ape
Mr. Wonderful
Instruction Manual: How to Deal With a Guy
When You're Around: Relationships
Time Bombs: Girl Relationships
Chap Stick, Chapped Lips, and Things Like Chemistry: Boy + Girl Relationships
Getting Into You: Conclusion
[edit] Woodland Forest
In June 2006, Relient K released the first episode of their own flash cartoon. The cartoon features all five band members, and takes place in a fictional land known as Woodland Forest. It is animated by bassist John Warne. Episodes will continue to be released on a regular basis, and can be found on the band's MySpace. [7] The cartoon also features "Merle the Squirrel", who is now on Relient K t-shirts, and has his own MySpace page. [8]
[edit] Trivia
- Relient K had a large plastic buffalo, dubbed Dermike Mabado, which crowd surfed at shows. The band found it in a dumpster in Buffalo, New York. It may have been an homage to fellow Christian punk crossover band MxPx's 1998 album Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo. Dermike's name was inspired by NBA player Dikembe Mutombo Some time before the band's major-label debut, Dermike was removed from appearing at shows. Another mascot, Twinkie Sean, replaced it for a short period of time. It is said that Dermike now resides in Matt Thiessen's garage.
- During the Matt Hoopes Birthday Tour in 2006, Jon Schneck recorded podcasts for the band, featuring recaps of the day and interviews with members of the band. There were also interviews with the bands that were on tour with them.
- The band's name was intentionally misspelled to avoid trademark infringement over the Reliant name. When they later found out that the trademark wouldn't be an issue, they kept the name, as they found the misspelling funny.
- Three of the five band members have tattoos. Jon Schneck has the most of the band members (the most well-known one being the cross on his right wrist), John Warne has a phoenix on his upper right arm, and Dave Douglas has the word "Innocence" down the back of his left arm.
- Matt Thiessen, Matt Hoopes, and former bass player Brian Pittman have known each other since they were in second grade.
- The chords beginning "In Love with the 80's" are the same as in the chorus of "Mood Rings", both from Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do. Other similar chords include the end of "Wake Up Call", and parts of "Failure to Excommunicate". Some have thought that the chords for "Be My Escape" and the intro of "High of 75" are the same chords, when in actuality they are not (although they do share the same rhythm).
- Not only does Matt Hoopes still have his old Plymouth Reliant, but Matt Thiessen has also said that after the band started, he bought his own Reliant K.
- Both Matt Thiessen and Dave Douglas each have two of their own side projects, respectively. Matt Thiessen has Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes, a soft and emotional project that primarily features the piano, and The Makeout Girls, a less serious side project that features his friend, Kevan Pedan. Dave Douglas has Agnes, a solo rock project that features the sound of Relient K's earlier music, and Gypsy Parade[9], a softer project that he started with his wife.
- Relient K played with Hawthorne Heights, Emery, Plain White T's, and The Sleeping in the 2006 Nintendo Fusion Tour.
- The oldest songs that Relient K still performs at concerts are "Softer to Me", "Pressing On", "Sadie Hawkins Dance", and "Failure to Excommunicate". Of the four of these, "Sadie Hawkins Dance" is the only one that is still performed in its entirety.
- As a homage to their own song, the band used to encourage fans to bring Skittles and Combos to shows. While they no longer encourage it, fans still do, and often throw packages to the band. In addition, small packages of each are sometimes placed on the stage by the crew prior to performances.
- The band's song "Be My Escape" has recently been featured in the 2006 Men's U.S. Open Tennis Championship, with the song's opening guitar solo playing as the event headed into a commercial.
- Before Relient K announced the title of their new album, Five Score and Seven Years Ago, many rumored titles appeared. Audio Irrelevance was the most popular of these, but Guitarist Jon Schneck soon clarified that the title was false shortly after the rumors began. At Purple Door 2006, Matt Thiessen asked fans to write ideas on paper airplanes, and fly them up to the stage.
- The Relient K songs "Be My Escape" and "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" can be added to the Christian video game Dance Praise via the Dance Praise Expansion Pack Volume 3: Pop & Rock Hits.
- At the Nintendo Fusion Tour, Relient K had a backdrop of the Squirrel from the Woodland Forest Cartoons. This, as well as Hawthorne Heights' basketball hoop, was destroyed by unreported vandals at a concert in Arizona.[10]
- Relient K made a cover of Weezer's song "Surf Wax America" during an Alternative Press radio show.
- At the beginning of the song "Hoopes I Did It Again", after the cell phone ring in the first verse, the two voices conversing in the call are that of Matt Thiessen and Dave Douglas.
- Matt Thiessen's brother, Jeremy, is drummer for the band downhere.
[edit] External links
- Official band website
- Relient K at MySpace
- Relient K's Online Team
- Relient K on Yahoo! Music
- Relient K at hi5.com
- Band of the Day's 10 Questions with Relient K
- Relient K guitar tabs
- Nintendo Fusion Tour '06
- Relient K Lyrics
| Relient K |
|---|
| Matt Thiessen – Matt Hoopes – Dave Douglas – John Warne – Jon Schneck |
| Discography |
| Albums: Relient K – The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek – Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do – Mmhmm - Five Score and Seven Years Ago |
| EPs: 2000 A.D.D. – The Creepy EP – Employee of the Month EP – The Vinyl Countdown – Apathetic EP |
| Other: All Work and No Play (Demo) – Open Mic Karaoke: Relient K, Vol. 1 (Karaoke CD) - Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand (Christmas CD) - The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek: Gold Edition (Re-release) – Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do: Gold Edition (Re-release) |
| Singles: The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything – Be My Escape – Who I Am Hates Who I've Been – Must Have Done Something Right - Forgiven |
