Geneva (band)

Last updated

Geneva
Origin Aberdeen, Scotland
Genres Alternative rock, art rock, indie rock, indie pop, Britpop
Years active1992–2000, 2018–present
Labels Nude Records
Members Andrew Montgomery
Steven Dora
Keith Graham
Douglas Caskie
Past membersStuart Evans
Website Official site

Geneva are a Scottish rock band formed in Aberdeen in 1992. [1] The group enjoyed moderate chart success but split after the release of their second album. They reformed in 2018, minus guitarist Stuart Evans, in preparation for a live tour in 2019. [2]

Contents

Career

The band were formed in 1992 by vocalist Andrew Montgomery and guitarist Steven Dora. They recruited second guitarist Stuart Evans, bass player Keith Graham and finally drummer Craig Brown. Craig was later replaced by Douglas Caskie. Originally the band were called Sunfish. [1]

One of their demos found their way to Suede’s record label, Nude, who signed the band in 1996. The band changed their name, originally to Garland, then later to Geneva, and released their debut single "No One Speaks" the same year. The band garnered enough press to headline NME's annual Bratbus tour of up and coming bands in early 1997. The band released second single "Into the Blue" to coincide with the tour.

Musical style

The band fitted well with the current musical scene and were well promoted by the UK music press of the time. As a reaction to the fading Britpop scene many bands rejected the laddish ideals of bands like Oasis and wrote darker, more intelligent songs, in the vein of contemporaries such as Gene and Strangelove. Montgomery's relatively high-pitched vocals were often compared to Suede's Brett Anderson. [1]

Albums

Geneva released their debut album, Further, early in June 1997. The album mixed power pop with darker brooding songs. It reached No. 20 in the UK Albums Chart, and included amongst others the NME voted "Single of the Year", "Tranquilizer", plus "Best Regrets", "No One Speaks" and "Into the Blue". [1] All four singles from the album reached the UK Top 40.

The second album, Weather Underground, was released in March 2000, after more than a year of wrangling with the band's record label. It was preceded by the single "Dollars in the Heavens" (which only made the UK Top 60) and followed by the single "If You Have To Go". The band split later that year.

Current whereabouts

Following the breakup of Geneva, Evans and Graham formed 69CORP and released an album, Our Present to the Future in 2005, although 69CORP now consists of just Graham.

Andrew Montgomery embarked on a number of musical collaborations, most notably with American composer Ben Neill and Leeds electronica guru Overseer. Montgomery formed a band called Amityville with guitarist Stuart Peck and drummer David Bevis; they released the Pacific Radio Fire EP in 2004 to critical acclaim - a limited release, it quickly sold out. Amityville broke up in late 2005 and Montgomery formed a duo with Keris Howard called St Famous. In March 2009 Montgomery announced on the band's Myspace page that Keris Howard had decided to leave the band and St Famous disbanded.

Montgomery appeared in the "Identity Parade" in series 22 (2008) of the BBC television programme Never Mind the Buzzcocks .

Montgomery announced in July 2014 that his début solo album, "Ruled By Dreams" would receive a worldwide release on 5 October 2014, supported with a UK tour. [3] The album is slated to feature Suede guitarist Richard Oakes and Norwegian singer Kate Havnevik and was produced and co-written with Britney Spears, Robyn, Frou Frou and Alison Moyet collaborator Sean McGhee. Andrew then went on to join an electronic duo called Unify Separate (Us) for a few songs and a tour. As of 2018 they have reunited for the Star Shaped Festival tour and have teased they may be releasing new music. [4]

Discography

Geneva discography
Studio albums2
Singles8

Studio albums

YearTitleChart Positions
UK Albums Chart [5]
1997 Further 20 [6]
2000 Weather Underground
  • Released: 6 March 2000
  • Labels: Nude Records
117

Singles

YearSong UK Singles Chart [6] Album
1996"No One Speaks"32Further
1997"Into the Blue"26
"Tranquillizer"24
"Best Regrets"38
1999"Dollars in the Heavens"59Weather Underground
2000"If You Have to Go"69
"Cassie" / "Have You Seen the Horizon Lately?" (Promo)
Musecone 1(Promo)
2020"Fault Lines" [7]

Related Research Articles

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

Blur are an English rock band formed in London in 1988. The band consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bass guitarist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Their debut album, Leisure (1991), incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegaze. Following a stylistic change influenced by English guitar pop groups such as the Kinks, the Beatles and XTC, Blur released Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993), Parklife (1994) and The Great Escape (1995). As a result, the band helped to popularise the Britpop genre and achieved mass popularity in the UK, aided by a chart battle with rival band Oasis in 1995 dubbed "The Battle of Britpop".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Primal Scream</span> Scottish rock band

Primal Scream are a Scottish rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie (vocals) and Jim Beattie. The band's current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes (guitar), Simone Butler (bass), and Darrin Mooney (drums). Barrie Cadogan has toured and recorded with the band since 2006 as a replacement after the departure of guitarist Robert "Throb" Young.

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

The Verve were an English rock band formed in Wigan, Greater Manchester in 1990 by lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bass guitarist Simon Jones and drummer Peter Salisbury. Guitarist and keyboard player Simon Tong later became a member in their first reunion only.

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

Suede are an English rock band formed in London in 1989 by singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Justine Frischmann, and bass player Mat Osman. Drawing inspiration from glam rock and post-punk, Suede were dubbed "The Best New Band in Britain" by Melody Maker in 1992, and attracted much attention from the British music press. The following year their debut album Suede went to the top of the UK Albums Chart, becoming the fastest-selling debut album in almost ten years. It won the Mercury Music Prize and helped foster 'Britpop' as a musical movement, though the band distanced themselves from the term.

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

Temples are an English rock band, formed in Kettering, England in 2012 by singer and guitarist James Bagshaw and bassist Tom Walmsley. The band's lineup was later completed with the addition of keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Adam Smith and drummer Rens Ottink.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lostprophets</span> Welsh rock band

Lostprophets were a Welsh rock band from Pontypridd, formed in 1997 by singer and lyricist Ian Watkins and guitarist Lee Gaze. The group was founded after their former band Fleshbind broke up. They later recruited Mike Lewis on guitars and Mike Chiplin on drums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Killers</span> American rock band

The Killers are an American rock band formed in Las Vegas in 2001 by Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning. After going through a number of short-term bass players and drummers in their early days, both Mark Stoermer and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. joined the band in 2002. The band's name is derived from a logo on the bass drum of a fictitious band portrayed in the music video for the New Order song "Crystal".

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

Razorlight are an English indie rock band, formed in 2002 in London by lead singer and guitarist Johnny Borrell. Along with Borrell, the current line-up of the band is composed of founding members Björn Ågren on guitar and bassist Carl Delemo, as well as drummer Andy Burrows. This lineup is a reunion of the lineup from the band's second and third albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pop Will Eat Itself</span> English alternative rock band

Pop Will Eat Itself are an English alternative rock band formed in 1986 in Stourbridge in the West Midlands of England with members from Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country. Initially known as a grebo act, they changed style to incorporate sample-driven indie and industrial rock. Graham Crabb describes their sound as "electronic, punk, alternative hip-hop, hybrid music for fucking, fighting & smoking cigars". Their highest-charting single was the 1993 top-ten hit "Get the Girl! Kill the Baddies!". After initially disbanding in 1996, and having a brief reformation in 2005, they issued their first release in more than five years in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Anderson</span> English singer

Brett Lewis Anderson is an English singer best known as the lead singer and primary lyricist of the band Suede. After Suede disbanded in 2003, he fronted The Tears with former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler in 2004–2006, and released four solo albums on which he also played guitar and keyboards. Suede re-formed in 2010; they continue to record and tour.

<i>Suede</i> (album) 1993 studio album by Suede

Suede is the debut album by English alternative rock band Suede, released in March 1993 on Nude Records. It was recorded in London at Master Rock studios late 1992 and early 1993 and was produced by Ed Buller. At the time the fastest-selling debut album in British history in almost a decade, Suede debuted at the top of the UK Albums Chart, won the 1993 Mercury Music Prize, and is often cited as one of the first Britpop records. Displaying a sound of Britishness and glam rock, its music and lyrical content has been compared to The Smiths and early David Bowie.

<i>Dog Man Star</i> 1994 studio album by Suede

Dog Man Star is the second album by English alternative rock band Suede, released in October 1994 on Nude Records. The album was recorded in London at Master Rock studios in early 1994, and was produced by Ed Buller. It was the last Suede album to feature guitarist Bernard Butler; growing tensions between him and singer Brett Anderson ended with Butler leaving the band before recording was complete. As a result, some tracks on the album had to be finished with the assistance of session musicians.

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

Marion are an English Britpop band, formed in 1993 in Macclesfield, Cheshire. The band's classic lineup featured frontman Jaime Harding, guitarist Phil Cunningham, guitarist Tony Grantham, bassist Julian Phillips and drummer Murad Mousa.

H2O were a Scottish pop band that formed in Glasgow in 1978. The band had two UK top 40 hits in 1983 with the singles "I Dream to Sleep" and "Just Outside of Heaven".

<i>Weather Underground</i> (album) 2000 studio album by Geneva

Weather Underground is the second and final album by the Scottish indie rock band Geneva, released in 2000 on Nude Records. "Dollars in the Heavens" peaked at No. 59 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Montgomery</span> Musical artist

Andrew Montgomery is a Scottish singer who is best known as a member of the Aberdeen indie rock band Geneva, who rose to fame in the 90s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suede discography</span> Discography of the English alternative rock band

The discography of the English alternative rock band Suede consists of nine studio albums, four compilation albums, five video albums and over twenty singles. Suede were formed in 1989 by singer Brett Anderson, bassist Mat Osman and guitarist Justine Frischmann. Guitarist Bernard Butler later joined after the group responded to an ad in the Melody Maker. The group played as a four-piece with a drum machine until drummer Simon Gilbert joined. Frischmann left before the group released any material.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Drums</span> American indie pop band

The Drums is an American indie pop band from New York City. The band was initially formed by Jonathan Pierce and Jacob Graham as Goat Explosion, and later added Adam Kessler and Connor Hanwick. Graham exited the band in 2016. Since then, the band has operated as a solo project of sole remaining member Jonathan Pierce.

Frankie & The Heartstrings are a Sunderland-based indie rock band formed in 2008. The band's debut album, Hunger was released on 21 February 2011, and debuted at No. 32 on the UK albums chart. Known for their partying, they were labelled as the indie Mötley Crüe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sundara Karma</span>

Sundara Karma are an English rock band formed in 2011 in Reading, England. The band consists of lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Oscar Pollock, lead guitarist Ally Baty, bassist Dom Cordell and drummer Haydn Evans. The band's name is derived from Sanskrit words, meaning "Beautiful Karma".

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. p. 380. ISBN   1-84195-017-3.
  2. Williams, Martin (17 January 2019). "Acclaimed Scots chart band resurrected after nearly 20 years with the help of Facetime". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  3. "Andrew Montgomery - News". Ruled By Dreams. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  4. "Andrew Montgomery - About". Ruled By Dreams. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  5. "UK Chartlog". zobbel.de. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  6. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 225. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  7. "Fault Lines (Sordid Sound System Remix), by Geneva vs Sordid Sound Sytem[sic]". fall apart records.