Christians & Lions | |
---|---|
Origin | Jamaica Plain, Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
Genres | Indie rock Folk DIY |
Years active | 2004–present |
Labels | Floating Garbage Continent (2008–present) ECA Records (2004–2006) |
Members | Ben Potrykus, Chris Mara, Greg Tellier, Jonathan Hansard, Kate Potrykus |
Past members | Sam Potrykus, Matt Sisto, Chris Barret |
Website |
Christians & Lions is a band based out of Jamaica Plain and has been a notable part of the Boston DIY scene. [1]
They released one record, More Songs for Dreamsleepers and the Very Awake , on ECA Records in 2005. They are currently on their self-operated label, Floating Garbage Continent and released an EP called Bird's Milk in 2009.
All of the band's music is available to download for free on the band's website for a suggested donation.
Brothers Ben and Sam Potrykus played music together since junior high school. Together with a group of other friends they formed Sharp Teeth. In addition to guitar, the band featured upright bass, mandolin and a trash can and tambourine for percussion. In 2004, Christians and Lions formed in a stripped down version of Sharp Teeth, with Ben and Sam as the only members.
Friends and former roommates, guitarist Matt Sisto and drummer Chris Mara joined the band in 2006. On tour, the band distributed their Acoustic LP which featured acoustic versions of all the songs from More Songs. It includes an up-tempo version of "Sexton Under Glass" and an otherwise unreleased track "Firebelly Salamander."
In 2006, the band released More Songs for Dreamsleepers and the Very Awake. It was recorded at Basement 247 in Allston, MA. It garnered favorable reviews, being called "smart and textured indie-folk" by the Boston Phoenix and "somehow comfortable, yet unsettling...like a Cadillac someone died in" by engineer Jack Younger. [2] The lyrics are philosophical, having been inspired by theorists like Hélène Cixous, Louis Althusser and Marshall McLuhan. [3] It is the musical equivalent of a warm fire on a cold winter night. An album full of memorable melodies and lavish instrumentation, including brass, organ, and singing saw.
In 2007 the band released the Gimmie Diction Single, which featured two unreleased tracks "Free Radio Post Apocalyptic Metropolis Blues" and "Asa Nisi Masa."
Towards the end of 2007, the band's live shows incorporated more effects and digital elements. However, the band broke up in order for its members to pursue other projects. Ben went on to continue experimenting with tape effects in the band BAXIA. Sam went on to form The Needy Visions with friend and DIY promoter Dan Shea.
In 2008 the band reunited and started their own label, Floating Garbage Continent.
In 2009, Sam left the band to pursue other projects including Peace, Loving, a band on The Whitehaus Family Record.
Christians & Lions started touring again and released an EP called Bird's Milk.
The band retains a close friendship with The Whitehaus Family Record, which has organized shows featuring Christians & Lions and label artists such as Gracious Calamity and The Woodrow Wilsons. In 2019, Christians & Lions released Young Familiar on their Floating Garbage Continent label. In August 2021 it was announced that the track "The Keeper" will appear on the CW program The Republic of Sarah.
Godsmack is an American rock band from Lawrence, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. The band is composed of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Sully Erna, bassist Robbie Merrill, lead guitarist Tony Rombola and drummer Shannon Larkin. Since its formation, Godsmack has released eight studio albums, one EP, four DVDs, one compilation album, and one live album.
Samuel Ervin Beam, better known by his stage name Iron & Wine, is an American singer-songwriter. He has released six studio albums, several EPs and singles, as well as a few download-only releases, which include a live album. He occasionally tours with a full band.
Benjamin Lev Kweller is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.
Jules Mark Shear is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He wrote the Cyndi Lauper hit single "All Through the Night", the Bangles' hit "If She Knew What She Wants", and the Ignatius Jones and Allison Moyet hit "Whispering Your Name" and charted a hit as a performer with "Steady" in 1985.
Benjamin Michael Lee is an Australian musician and actor. Lee began his career as a musician at the age of 14 with the Sydney band Noise Addict, but he focused on his solo career when the band broke up in 1995. He appeared as the protagonist in the Australian film The Rage in Placid Lake (2003). He has released eleven solo studio albums.
Asobi Seksu was an American shoegaze/dream pop band based in New York City. Their music used a textured and effects-heavy vocal and guitar sound. The band primarily consisted of Yuki Chikudate and James Hanna.
Seventh Day Slumber is an American Christian rock band from Dallas, Texas, formed in 1996. They were an independent band for five years until they signed with BEC Records in 2005. They are best known for their song "Oceans from the Rain" which was the 14th most played song on Christian CHR radio in 2006 according to the Weekend 22. Their songs have been featured frequently on X the album series.
Brendan Benson is an American musician and singer-songwriter. He plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, and drums. He has released eight solo albums and is a member of the band The Raconteurs.
"Milk" is a song written and produced by American alternative rock band Garbage from their self-titled debut studio album (1995). The song was released internationally the following year as the album's fifth and final single. Garbage collaborated with trip hop musician Tricky on a new version of "Milk" for single release. Much media comment was made regarding a rumoured fall-out over the sessions, when it became known that Garbage produced a further mix of "Milk" that only incorporated Tricky's vocals from that session.
These Arms Are Snakes was an American post-hardcore band that formed in 2002 and featured former members of Botch and Kill Sadie. Before disbanding in 2009, they released three studio albums: Oxeneers or the Lion Sleeps When Its Antelope Go Home (2004), Easter (2006) and Tail Swallower and Dove (2008). Former members of These Arms Are Snakes currently play in Russian Circles, Narrows, Minus the Bear, Crypts, and Hooves.
Catastrophe Ballet is the second studio album by American rock band Christian Death. It was released in 1984, through record label Contempo.
Smoke or Fire is an American punk rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
"Everything Is" was the first recording mass-released by Neutral Milk Hotel, at that point still largely an outlet for the songwriting of Jeff Mangum instead of a fully formed band. The recording was originally the second release on the fledgling Seattle label Cher Doll Records in 1993, in the form of a 7", with "Everything Is" as the A side, and "Snow Song Pt. 1" as the B side. The first 50 7"s pressed also featured different artwork, with each sleeve being personally xeroxed by Mangum.
The Bird and the Bee Sides is a double EP by the American band Relient K. In the United States it was released on July 1, 2008.
Among "Boston's most prolific DIY venues," the Whitehaus was a non-traditional performance venue and artists collective located in an eight-bedroom home at 10 Seaverns Ave. in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. Music and poetry made by "the hyper-prolific Whitehaus collective" is distributed under The Whitehaus Family Record independent music label. As described by one source:
One of the most prolific new DIY collectives in Jamaica Plain, the Whitehaus Family Record, brings together folk, indie, and experimental sound to produce a psychedelic world of music, love, and all that other punk/hippie crossover goodness.
The Whitehaus Family Record is an independent record label based in the Whitehaus in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. It began as a community of artists, poets, and musicians who would gather and throw hootenannies. The label has distributed over 40 releases.
More Songs for Dreamsleepers and The Very Awake is a studio album by Christians & Lions. It was recorded by Jack Younger at Basement 247 in Allston, Massachusetts. Mastered by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East in Boston, Massachusetts. Art by Michael Washburn. Design by Matt Sisto. Originally released on ECA Records, thanks to Dave Conway.
Acoustic LP is a limited run, tour only album by Christians & Lions. It was recorded by Djim Reynolds at The Estate in Leominster, Massachusetts. Art by Conor Morey-Barret. Photos by Athena Moore. Mastered by Justin Shrutz & Jason Finkel at Sterling Sound in NYC. Thanks to Dave Conway.
"Even Though Our Love Is Doomed" is a song by American alternative rock band Garbage. It was released as the second single from the band's sixth studio album Strange Little Birds on May 27, 2016, by their independent label Stunvolume.
This Is the Noise That Keeps Me Awake is a 2017 autobiography by American alternative rock band Garbage with journalist and former Rolling Stone contributor Jason Cohen over a two-year period which coincided with the band's twentieth anniversary. The title comes from the lyric of their 1998 single "Push It".