Down I Go

Last updated

Down I Go
OriginLondon, England
Genres Progressive hardcore
Years active2005–present
Labels Undergroove, Shelsmusic, Holy Roar
Members
  • Pete Fraser
  • Ben Standage
  • Alan Booth
Past members
  • Marek Bereza
  • Tom Savage
  • Ercan "Surge" Mehmet
Website downigo.com

Down I Go are an experimental hardcore band from London.

Contents

Their music combines complex song structure and rhythmic patterns with both melodic and screaming vocals, as well as frequently marrying these features with orchestral instrumentation including brass and string sections. [1]

All their major releases have been written around specific individual themes, in release order: dinosaurs, environmental and man-made disasters, fictional robots, historical tyrants, Greek mythology and Icelandic folklore.

Notable fans include musicians Tom Vek, Tim Elsenburg of Sweet Billy Pilgrim, who said their music exemplified "...the imagination gone mad, in a really, really good way", [2] and Jamie Lenman, who described them as "...the best band ever to come out of this tiny island" [3]

History

The band was formed in 2005 by Pete Fraser (vocals), Ben Standage (drums) and Alan Booth (guitars) as an experimental project. They began playing shows with live bassist Marek Bereza and self-released their first album This Is Dinocore in 2006, burning copies onto CDRs and selling them in paper wallets at the venues. [4]

Standage and Fraser had played trombone and saxophone respectively in UK ska band Jesse James, talents which they would bring to bear on future Down I Go releases.

After signing with UK label Undergroove the band released their second record This Is Disastercore in 2006, receiving favourable coverage in print and online, [5] [6] followed by a mini-cd EP, This Is Robocore in 2007. Returning from a tour of Ireland with Dublin band BATS, they set to work on their third long-player, Tyrant, which was released on Undergroove in 2008.

A pay-what-you-want compilation of demos and non-album tracks entitled Witness The Shitness was uploaded by the band to Bandcamp in 2010, and the following year the EP Gods was released on 10" vinyl by US label Shelsmusic to critical acclaim. [7] [8] [9] [10] Towards the end of 2011, with Standage and Booth having relocated to Chicago and Toronto respectively, the band decided to officially split, reuniting for a farewell single, "We Live In Different Countries".

After a break of three years, the band were invited to an artistic residency at Fljótstunga farm [11] in Iceland by one of the proprietors for the purposes of creating a new album. [12] A Kickstarter campaign was begun to cover the cost of flights and ended on 16 July 2014, having raised £4,596, over 30% more than their required goal. [13]

The resultant album You're Lucky God, That I Cannot Reach You [14] is based around Iceland's history and folklore, and was released in 2015 on the Holy Roar record label. [15]

Sammy Davis Jr Jr

Around the same time that Gods was produced, the three band members began work on a separate musical project, intended to be softer and more melodic than Down I Go, entitled Sammy Davis Jr Jr. The recordings were completed in 2014 with guest vocals from Jamie Lenman, director Adam Powell, and BATS singer Rupert Morris. The three track digital-only EP was included as a pledge incentive for the band's Kickstarter campaign, and was released in tandem with the new album.

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clutch (band)</span> American rock band

Clutch is an American rock band from Germantown, Maryland. Since its formation in 1991, the band lineup has included Tim Sult, Dan Maines (bass), Jean-Paul Gaster (drums), and Neil Fallon. To date, Clutch has released thirteen studio albums, and several rarities and live albums. Since 2008, the band has been signed to their own record label, Weathermaker Music. Clutch is one of the pioneers of stoner rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reuben (band)</span> English band

Reuben were an English three-piece musical group from Camberley, Surrey. Their music is a fusion of alternative rock and heavy metal, as their songs cover a variety of styles, ranging from heavy and upbeat, such as their 2005 single "Blamethrower" to slower, more melodic songs such as their 2004 single "Moving to Blackwater". The former style of song often featured vocalist Jamie Lenman switching between shouting and whispering, a technique often used in heavy metal and post-hardcore music. The band performed in the UK underground music scene. Although they attracted a significant fanbase, Reuben never achieved mainstream success, but did chart four songs in the UK Singles Chart. Their highest charting single was 2004's "Freddy Kreuger", that reached UK No. 53.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MC Lars</span> American rapper (born 1982)

Andrew Robert Nielsen, known professionally as MC Lars, is an American record producer, rapper, cartoonist, podcaster and educator. He is one of the self-proclaimed originators of "lit-hop", and is the founder and CEO of the independent record label Horris Records. He has been cited as the creator of the term "iGeneration", which he was credited with doing in 2003. He has released five studio albums, five EPs, four collaborative releases, and two books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quietdrive</span> American alternative rock band

Quietdrive is an alternative rock band based in Hopkins, Minnesota, USA, that was formed in 2002. Quietdrive released their first album, When All That's Left Is You, on May 30, 2006, on Epic Records. In April 2008, Quietdrive left Epic Records and released an album titled Deliverance on October 14, 2008, with the Militia Group. In 2009, they left Militia Group and released an independent EP titled Close Your Eyes on their own record label, Sneaker 2 Bombs Records. Their third full-length album, Quietdrive, was released on December 14, 2010, and a full-length album, Up or Down, on April 24, 2012. The Ghost of What You Used to Be was released on December 16, 2014.

Nightfall is a Greek extreme metal band from Athens. Formed by vocalist/bassist/keyboardist Efthimis Karadimas in 1991, the group is currently signed to Season of Mist. They are widely considered the forerunners to a "mediterranean way to black metal" together with Inchiuvatu and Moonspell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Lenman</span> English musician

Jamie Edward Lenman is an English musician and illustrator. He was the lead singer, guitarist and main songwriter for British alternative rock trio Reuben from 2001 to 2008. He also works as an illustrator, which he made his primary focus upon Reuben disbanding. In 2008, Lenman began releasing and performing as a solo artist and has gone on to release five studio albums.

Holy Roar Records was an independent record label run by Alex Fitzpatrick. The label began in January 2006 and put out its first release, the Phoenix Bodies album, Raise the Bullshit Flag in June 2006. Fitzpatrick originally joked that the name was derived from a vision he had while using the hallucinogen LSD. According to Fitzpatrick, the name “Holy Roar” was derived from a Torche song with the same title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoots & Hellmouth</span> US musical group

Hoots & Hellmouth is an American gospel rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Off!</span> American band

Off! was an American hardcore punk supergroup, formed in Los Angeles, California in late 2009 by Circle Jerks/Black Flag singer Keith Morris, Burning Brides frontman Dimitri Coats, Redd Kross bassist Steven Shane McDonald, and Rocket From The Crypt/Hot Snakes drummer Mario Rubalcaba. In 2021, it was announced that the line-up had changed, with McDonald and Rubalcaba replaced by Autry Fulbright II and Justin Brown, respectively. The band were known for playing short, intense punk songs, with Pitchfork describing the band as "a vital blast of classic hardcore."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Make Do and Mend (band)</span> American post-hardcore band

Make Do and Mend was an American post-hardcore band from West Hartford, Connecticut, that formed in 2006, who relocated to Boston. They released 2 EPs on Panic Records, a split with Touché Amoré and three full-length albums. While technically members of "The Wave", along with La Dispute, Touché Amoré, Pianos Become the Teeth, and Defeater, the band has since clarified that "The Wave" was merely an inside joke between those bands and does not represent a particular movement or subgenre in post-hardcore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turbowolf</span> English rock band

Turbowolf are an English hard rock band founded in Bristol in 2008, whose members include Chris Georgiadis, Andy Ghosh (guitar), Lianna Lee Davies and Blake Davies (drums). Their first album, Turbowolf, was released in November 2011 on Hassle Records.

<i>Part and Parcel</i> 2011 EP by Make Do and Mend

Part and Parcel is the third extended play released by American post-hardcore band Make Do and Mend. The extended play was released on November 22, 2011 through Paper + Plastick records. The EP focuses on "stripped down" acoustic songs, including three acoustic versions of songs from their debut album 'End Measured Mile', two original songs and a cover of Touché Amoré. The record was engineered and produced by Greg Thomas at Silver Bullet Studios in Burlington, Connecticut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delta Rae</span> American folk rock band

Delta Rae is an American folk rock band formed in Durham, North Carolina. The band consists of three siblings Ian Hölljes, Eric Hölljes and Brittany Hölljes (vocals), as well as Elizabeth Hopkins (vocals), Mike McKee (percussion) and Grant Emerson. The band feels that they do not fit into a single musical genre, but have described their sound as "gospel-tinged country-rock, sensual blue-eyed soul and harmony-laden Americana."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heyrocco</span> American grunge band

Heyrocco is an American indie rock band from Charleston, South Carolina, United States, formed in 2009 by guitarist/vocalist Nathan Merli, bassist Christopher Cool, and drummer Tanner Cooper. Heyrocco released their debut album, Teenage Movie Soundtrack, in June 2015 via Old Flame Records (US) and Vital Music Group (UK/Europe). In 2015, the band toured the UK/Europe behind their single release "Elsewhere" supporting UK artist The Xcerts along with a string of festival and headlining dates. The band has also toured with acts such as Grouplove, Surfer Blood, Mutemath, and Miniature Tigers. The band is currently being managed by Bedlam Music Management.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mick Murphy (guitarist)</span> American musician (born 1971)

Michael Aaron Murphy is an American guitarist and multi-instrumentalist best known for his time with the bands My Ruin and Teenage Time Killers. Murphy's playing style includes elements of classic rock and heavy metal as well as jazz, hardcore punk and thrash dance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colour Me Wednesday</span>

Colour Me Wednesday are an English indie pop/pop punk band from West London, England, built around sisters Jen and Harriet Doveton. The band are noted for their melodic guitar pop, politicised lyrics and DIY punk method, including producing their own recordings, artwork and promotional videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happy Diving</span>

Happy Diving is an American indie rock band from Oakland, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Youth Killed It</span> UK musical group

Youth Killed It is a British rock band formed by Jack Murphy, Josh Thexton, Josh Arter-Taylor, Ben Ford and Carlos Montero in early 2016 after changing direction from their previous project. Youth Killed It have played with bands Slaves (UK), Wonk Unit and The Sherlocks toured with the likes of The LaFontaines, MassMattiks, Goldie Lookin' Chain as well as making an appearance at the Camden Rocks, Isle of Wight Festival, Y Not, and Teddy Rocks Festivals. They signed to Rude Records in late 2016 after having released two counterpart EPs, Welcome To The Sad Boys Club and Welcome To The Happy Girls Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crywank</span> English anti-folk band

Crywank is an English anti-folk band based out of Manchester, England. The band is a trio consisting of vocalist/guitarist and founder Jay Clayton, drummer Dan Watson, who joined in 2012 and bassist Jules Noel, who joined in 2024. Allmusic describes their body of work as containing "sadness, paranoia, misery, and dry humor", comparing them to AJJ or 'a sarcastic Bright Eyes'. The group have independently released eight full length albums. They have previously toured the UK, Ireland, Mainland Europe, Russia, South East Asia, South America, Australia, New Zealand, US, Mexico and Canada.

<i>One Day All This Will End</i> 2015 studio album by Svalbard

One Day All This Will End is the debut studio album by British post-hardcore band Svalbard, released on 25 September 2015 through Holy Roar Records. Recorded between March and April 2015 at the Ranch Production House in Southampton with producer Lewis Johns, the album draws influences from post-rock, crust punk and black metal. It lyrics discuss regret, sexism, online identity and social media.

References

  1. ↑ "Down I Go: 'Tyrant' Recording Sessions - YouTube". YouTube . Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "Interview: Sweet Billy Pilgrim - Rocksucker". Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "ARCTANGENT PODCAST 2014 Ep 5: Jamie Lenman Mixtape takeover exclusive". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  4. ↑ "MUSIC NEWS: DOWN I GO 'RE-RELEASE' DINOCORE | the Monolith". Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  5. ↑ "DiScover: Down I Go". DrownedInSound.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  6. ↑ "Down I Go – This Is Disastercore". Punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  7. ↑ "Down I Go – Gods – Reviews". Rocksound.tv. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  8. ↑ "Down I Go – Gods". Punktastic.com. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  9. ↑ "Down I Go – Gods (album review ) | Sputnikmusic". Sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  10. ↑ "Down I Go – Gods". Heavyblogisheavy.com. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  11. ↑ Artist Residency, Fljotstunga. "Fall Residency 2014". hhbjarnason.wixsite.com/fljotstunga/artistic-residency. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  12. ↑ Sweet, Circuit. "Down I Go Set To Release 'You're Lucky God, That I Cannot Reach You' via Holy Roar Records October 23rd 2015". circuitsweet.co.uk. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  13. ↑ "Down I Go – New Album". Kickstarter.com. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  14. ↑ "Holy Roar Records - News". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  15. ↑ "News". Holyroarrecords.com. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  16. ↑ "All Down the Church in Midst of Fire the Hellish Monster Flew, and Passing Onward to the Quire, He Many People Slew, by Down I Go". Downigo.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.