Grammatrain | |
---|---|
Origin | Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
Genres | Alternative rock, post-grunge, grunge |
Years active | 1994–1998, 2009–present |
Labels | Forefront, independent |
Members | Pete Stewart Dalton Roraback Paul Roraback |
Grammatrain is an alternative rock band from Seattle, Washington who were active in the Christian rock industry in the 1990s. After disbanding in 1998, the group reunited as a mainstream act in 2009 and released their third full-length album entitled Imperium the following year.
Singer/guitarist Pete Stewart, bassist Dalton Roraback and his drummer brother Paul Roraback recorded a self-titled three-song demo tape in 1994. After hearing the demo, ForeFront Records label executive Eddie DeGarmo signed the band. Before releasing their first major album, Grammatrain released a CD containing four studio recordings and five live acoustic numbers. In 1995 they released their first studio album, Lonely House, produced by Aaron Sprinkle. [1] The album achieved success on Christian radio. [2]
Their second full-length album, Flying , was released in 1997. Critics cited the album's "lighter, more polished feel" when compared to Lonely House. [3] At the end of a tour promoting the album, Grammatrain officially broke up following their final live performance on December 7, 1998 in Germany. An announcement of the breakup can be heard on the band's live album.
Following the breakup, Stewart released a self-titled solo album and produced Michael Tait's band, Tait, performing on their first album. He also produced four tracks on the debut solo album for TobyMac, Momentum. In 2003 Stewart reemerged with The Accident Experiment.
In early 2009, Grammatrain announced that they had reunited and were in the process of recording a new album. [4] Because frontman Pete Stewart had left the Christian faith, the new album was not directed at Christian audiences. [5] Shortly after the announcement, the band played two reunion shows: one in Seattle and one in Germany. A limited-edition EP with songs from the forthcoming album was released at the shows and on the band's website.
In 2010, the single "The Last Sound" was released; the video was debuted at a Seattle Sounders FC match. [6] The song has been played at Qwest Field before the kickoff of Sounders matches, [7] and Sounders FC owner Drew Carey endorsed the song and promised to get a "proper video" made of it. [8] The video was produced and directed by Nik Venet, who had previously done videos for U2, Jane's Addiction and The White Stripes. [9] The song was also picked up by and released through Rock Band Network for the Xbox 360. [10]
On October 10, 2010, they independently released their newest album, Imperium. [6]
Grammatrain has also appeared on ForeFront Records' Ten, The Birthday Album compilation album, [12] as well as tribute albums to Stryper, [13] Petra, [14] and Larry Norman. [15]
DC Talk is a Christian rap and rock trio. The group was formed at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1987 by Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max Smith. They released five major studio albums together: DC Talk (1989), Nu Thang (1990), Free at Last (1992), Jesus Freak (1995), and Supernatural (1998). In 2002, the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music called DC Talk "the most popular overtly Christian act of all time."
VAST is an American alternative rock band based in Seattle, United States. The acronym VAST stands for Visual Audio Sensory Theater and is the main creation of singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jon Crosby. The band is signed to 2blossoms, an independent record company created by Crosby.
Soldiers Under Command is the second release, and first full-length studio album from Christian metal band Stryper, released on May 15, 1985. It was the first Christian metal album to achieve Gold record status, selling more than half a million copies. The album was originally issued on white vinyl. The Live in Japan in-concert video, released in 1986, was filmed on July 8, 1985 during Stryper's tour in support of this album.
The Yellow and Black Attack is the first release and debut studio album from the Christian metal band Stryper. It was originally released as a six-song EP, and fewer than 20,000 copies were pressed, as their label, Enigma Records, was unsure of the potential market for Christian metal. CCM Magazine was slightly critical, citing production quality and the short length of the release, but commented that "Stryper has the promise of a major success story." According to Michael Sweet's autobiography, the album was re-recorded and released as an official album, after their first manager, Daryn Hinton, loaned them $100,000 to re-produce the record. The album initially sold 150,000 units in the first three weeks.
Emery is an American post-hardcore band formed in Rock Hill, South Carolina, in 2001 by Toby Morrell, Devin Shelton, Matt Carter, Josh Head, Joel Green, and Seth Studley. The band relocated to Seattle in order to reach a more music-centered scene.
Pete Stewart is a singer, guitarist, songwriter and producer from Seattle, Washington. He is the lead singer and guitarist of Grammatrain, was the lead singer for The Accident Experiment, and is the former guitarist of Tait.
Michael DeWayne Tait is an American contemporary Christian music artist. Michael Tait met Toby McKeehan in 1984 when he was in high school. Both Toby and Michael met Kevin Max while attending Liberty University in the late 1980s, and together they formed four-time Grammy winning band DC Talk, with whom Michael Tait has released five acclaimed studio albums. Tait is the current lead singer of Newsboys, and one third of Christian rock group DC Talk. Tait also has had success in his solo career, founding a band called Tait in 1997. He toured as a solo act until 2007. He became lead singer of the Christian pop rock band Newsboys in 2009. Aside from singing, Tait is also a self-taught guitar player. Tait also has a sister Lynda Randle, who is a Southern Gospel singer.
Building 429 is an American Christian rock band from Fayetteville, North Carolina. Their name is derived from a Biblical passage known as Ephesians 4:29, which, in the New International Version of the Bible, reads as follows: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." The band members originated from Snyder Memorial Baptist Church and various areas in North Carolina as well as Texas.
Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio, by Matt Thiessen, Matt Hoopes, and Brian Pittman during their third year in high school and time at Malone University. The band is named after guitarist Hoopes' automobile, a Plymouth Reliant K car, with the spelling intentionally altered to avoid trademark infringement over the Reliant name. The group is known for its Christian rock, alternative Christian rock, and contemporary Christian music.
The Fold is an American indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois, United States. The Fold formed in 2005, and promptly began work on their album This Too Shall Pass for Tooth & Nail Records. They have released four full-length studio albums and three EP's over their career, with a fifth full-length slated for release on September 9, 2022, titled Stereo Fire. Career highlights include surpassing 130 million views on their YouTube channel and a nomination Secrets Keep You Sick for a Grammy in the category of "Best Recording Package". Their single "Gravity" from the album This Too Shall Pass reached No. 1 on the CHR Rock charts. The band has more recently written much themed music for sports and television, most notably the theme songs for Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu, the Chicago Cubs, and all NFL teams.
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Decyfer Down is an American Christian rock band formed in 1999 and based in Morehead City, North Carolina, United States. Until 2002 – the year that Christopher Clonts joined the band – they went by the moniker Allysonhymn. Decyfer Down is well known in Christian music, but the band is also known for their mainstream success, having toured with bands like Puddle of Mudd and Breaking Benjamin.
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