Wikipedia

Emanuel (band)

Emanuelwas an Americanpost-hardcoreband fromLouisville, Kentucky.It was formed in 1998 under the lesser-known nameEmanuel Niceand appeared on four self-released records, before being signed toVagrant Recordsand changing the name in 2004. Since then, Emanuel has released a debut album,Soundtrack to a Headrush,and a second albumBlack Earth Tiger.[1]

Emanuel
Also known asEmanuel Nice
OriginLouisville, Kentucky,U.S.
GenresPost-hardcore,alternative rock
Years active1998–2008
LabelsVagrant,Roddog
Past membersMatthew Breen
Mat Barber
Bryan Whiteman
Anthony Brock
Devin Triplett

History

edit

After 14-year-old high school students Matt Breen and Bryan Whiteman met Anthony Brock and Mat Barber (who attended another school, Providence, inClarksville, Indiana) atSix Flags Kentucky Kingdom,the quartet decided to form thegarage bandEmanuel Nicein 1998.

Emanuel Nicerecorded a rather inept eight-songEPcalledHi-Skool Triviain December 1998. The CD was issued the following year through the Germanundergroundrecord label,Roddog Records,which was run by friends of the band. In the following years, while still in high school,Emanuel Niceappeared on twosplit records—one withNew Jersey's already renownedLanemeyer,another with the Germanpunk bandColourbone—before recording their second EP,Wait,in 2002.[2]However, despite much touring and local performances, none of these releases led to even local stardom.

In 2004, the band's name was shortened toEmanuel,in conjunction with the musical renovation they underwent. Even though their line-up only slightly changed throughout the six years from the band's formation, the sound evolved drastically from "poppy and terrible, it's kind of embarrassing", as singer/guitarist Breen put it, to a darker, more mature blend ofindieandemogenres.With cynical lyrics and aggressive guitar melodies, the band's new sound earned them a recording contract with Vagrant Records, who released their first album,Soundtrack to a Headrush,in March 2005.[1]Guitarist Devin Triplett was recruited to take over for Matt Breen in 2005.

Shortly after the record's release, the band took part in the 2005Vans Warped Tour.

In March 2006, Emanuel played an arena tour of the US supportingThirty Seconds to MarswithAidenand Keating. On the tour for their first album, the band also did tours withFrom Autumn To Ashes,The Bled,My American Heart,Lorene Drive,Moneen,The Auditionand others.

The band spent the summer of 2006 on the Van's Warped Tour once again. The band began to play a new song in their setlist, "My Antapex", from the then-forthcoming LP, Black Earth Tiger.

In January 2007, the band entered the recording studio with producerTerry Dateto begin recordingBlack Earth Tiger.The album was released on August 28, 2007. The album is notable for once-again featuring a drastic change in sound from the band – from fast and catchy to very dark, spacey, and emotional while still managing to capture the rawness of their previous material.

The band toured in support ofBlack Earth Tigeralongside bands such asThe Receiving End Of Sirens,Hopesfall,Envy on the Coast,Boys Night OutandI Am The Avalanche.

The tour forBlack Earth Tigerwas notably shorter than theSoundtrack to a Headrushtour. The band only toured the US a handful of times, and to theUKonly once. After these tours, the band denied the rumors circulating that they were breaking up via aMyspacebulletin.

After the release ofBlack Earth Tiger,Emanuel was plagued with many problems. These ranged from debt and lack of promotion forBlack Earth Tigerto personal issues. Despite this, after theBlack Earth Tigertour ended, Breen stated that he was "writing a lot" for a future Emanuel release. It was also mentioned in a Myspace blog that the band had their tour banner and equipment set up in a basement, and that they rehearsed on occasion. The band was generally assumed by fans to be on indefinite break. The band did not perform any official final shows.

Breen was originally going to be the singer for Brian Deneeve's (former guitarist ofFrom Autumn To Ashes) new project calledSummer Law,but the project made no progress until they reformed the line-up in 2010 with an entirely different group of musicians.

It is rumored that Breen and Devin Triplett are working on a new musical project. The other members of the band have gone on to form the psychedelic-rock bandGood Girl,which then became inactive after a handful of shows during the summer of 2011. There are no rumored plans for either group. The band's website,Thisisemanuel.com,has been long-since shut down.

The band is also well known for a side-project, a bombastichip-hip groupby the name of812 Dirty Squad.TheDirty Squadhas released many well-receivedmixtapesand has gone on to achieve legendary status in the Louisville and Indiana underground rap scene. Featuring guest artists:Knife(Kasey Cull)Doc Money(Dave Renwick)Hayz(James Masterson).

Relation with PETA

edit

The band has done interviews withPETAin the past. They have talked about their support of PETA's causes, most notably the ceasing of testing products on animals, as well as killing animals for clothes.

TV appearances

edit

The band did an interview forManiaTV!,as "artist of the day" and another one for TasteItTv during the Warped Tour in 2006. The band were also guest hosts onSteven's Untitled Rock ShowonFUSE TVafter the release ofSoundtrack to a Headrush.

Past members

edit
  • Matt Breen – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Mat Barber – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Devin Triplett – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2005–2008)
  • Bryan Whiteman – bass guitar
  • Anthony Brock – drums, percussion

Discography

edit

Studio albums

edit

EPs

edit

Singles

edit
Year Title Album
2005 "The Willing" Soundtrack to a Headrush
2005 "The Hey Man"
2006 "Make Tonight"
2007 "Cottonmouth" Black Earth Tiger

Other songs

edit

References

edit
  1. ^abcdefApar, Corey Apar."Emanuel | Biography & History".AllMusic.RetrievedApril 9,2021.
  2. ^abcde"Emanuel Biography".PopRockBands.com.RetrievedApril 9,2021.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Emanuel_(band)&oldid=1241402106"