McLovins

Last updated

McLovins
Origin Hartford
Genres Rock
Years active2009–2019
LabelsIndependent
MembersJustin Berger
Jake Huffman
Atticus Kelly
Jason Ott
Past membersJeff Howard
Website mclovins.band

McLovins are an American rock band formed in 2009. The band's lineup consists of lyricist and drummer Jake Huffman, bass guitarist Jason Ott, guitarist Justin Berger and keyboardist Atticus Kelly. Inspired by an eclectic mix of influences like The Meters, The Band and The Flaming Lips, McLovins combine their songwriting skills with extended improvisations and instrumental ingenuity. Taking a page from their jam band forefathers, McLovins always try to keep their audiences guessing at what's to come. Their eclectic setlists and individual musical personas define the band's live shows. Hailing from Hartford, Connecticut, McLovins have appeared at Gathering of The Vibes, Mountain Jam, The Peach Festival and the legendary Nateva Music Festival, as well as many acclaimed venues across the country. They have also performed with some of the most influential artists on the scene, including Buddy Guy, George Porter, Jr. and Oteil Burbridge.

Contents

Personnel

History

The band was founded in the summer of 2008 after a series of chance meetings between the trio at local music camps. The band toured locally in Southern New England playing a mixture of covers and their own original compositions, though it was a video cover of Phish's "You Enjoy Myself" that gained them attention on YouTube. In the spring of 2009 they released their first studio album Conundrum, which featured original songs inspired by the Norton Juster novel The Phantom Tollbooth . Conundrum featured graphics by Ink Design Studios, which is also responsible for the band's psychedelic skull logo. The band was featured in Rolling Stone magazine. [1]

In the summer of 2009 the band performed on the Green Vibes tent at the Gathering of the Vibes where they played to a crowd of over 1,000 people. McLovins commissioned a pair of posters from poster artist AJ Masthay to commemorate McLovins Phish Pre-Shows in Hartford and Satatoga Springs as part of the celebration for Phish's 2009 reunion tour. During the fall of 2009 and Winter of 2010 they continued to tour regionally throughout New England, including their first appearance at Moe.'s spring festival Snoe.down as well as playing Nectar's in Burlington, Vermont. They have managed to cultivate a loyal following due to multiple appearances at Keene State College. McLovins have done several shows at Troy, New York's Revolution Hall including a double bill with 7 Walkers on the venue's closing night. In the spring of 2010 the band released their second studio album, Good Catch, featuring original songs written by the band.

In the summer of 2010 the band scheduled numerous festival appearances including StrangeCreek, Mountain Jam, the inaugural Nateva Music Festival, [2] Gathering of the Vibes, Bella Terra Festival and WormTown. The band continued to play locally and regionally with favorite venues including Black Eyed Sally's, The Main Pub and they have made several appearances at Brooklyn Bowl as well as Sullivan Hall in NYC. In the fall of 2010, McLovins collaborated with Phish lyricist Tom Marshall and his partner Anthony Krizan (of Spin Doctors fame) to co-write "Cohesive", which they recorded with Marshall and Krizan at Krizan's Sonic Boom studios. [3] They debuted the song during a performance at Brooklyn Bowl [4] where they were joined onstage by both Marshall and Krizan. The band also released a commemorative poster of this show, produced by AJ Masthay. They set an aggressive touring schedule for 2011 with return trips to Nectars, Fairfield Theatre Company, Infinity Hall and the band's first trip to The IronHorse Music Hall in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Moving into spring of 2011, the band continued to tour and scored opening slots for Buddy Guy and Bill Kreutzmann's 7 Walkers among others. They also began work on their third album utilizing Marshall and Krizan to co-produce with the band. Marshall also contributed two songs to the disc along with their previous collaboration, the single "Cohesive", with all songs recorded at Krizan's Sonic Boom studios. The summer tour included stops at Strangecreek, Camp Creek and their first ever Main Stage performance kicking off Saturday's Gathering of the Vibes festivities. In the fall, the band's academic pressures began to limit their touring schedule until just after Thanksgiving when founding guitarist Jeff Howard decided he was leaving the group. Jeff finished the year out with four shows in December, his last concert with the band was December 30, 2011 at Pearl Street in Northampton.

The debut show featuring new guitarists Justin Berger and Atticus Kelly was New Year's Eve 2011 at Arch Street Tavern in Hartford, Connecticut. [5] McLovins also released their third studio album, Who Knows, on January 14, 2012 as a digital only download. The band was asked by ESPN2 to appear as a house band on three episodes of their afternoon variety show, SportsNation. [6] The appearances were originally broadcast on June 27–29. The band will reprise these appearances the last week of August.

In January 2014, the band set off on their first Mid-Atlantic/Southern tour playing venues from Baltimore Maryland to Miami Florida. January 2014 also saw the release of the band's 4th full-length album Beautiful Lights, the first to feature Justin Berger and Atticus Kelly.

In summer 2015, the band recorded the eponymous "McLovins" (also known as "The Red Album") with Grammy Award-winning producer Bill Sherman at Yellow Sound Labs in New York City's East Village.

McLovins continued to tour the continental United States under the management of Michael Novick until their last live show on Wednesday, November 21st, 2018. [7] McLovins members are currently working on other projects. [8] [9]

Jake Huffman Solo Project: In 2019, Jake felt the urge to evolve his sound further and enlisted the help of producing wizard Andy Seltzer (Maggie Rodgers, Chelsea Cutler, many more). The result of three days in Los Angeles with Andy marked the debut release of Jake’s solo project. The sound combines rock n’ roll and Jake‘s acumen as a songwriter with Andy’s golden touch as a next-generation producer.

As 2020 arrived so did “Jake Huffman’s Sunday Mixdown”. Feeling confined by the typical paradigm of an artist Jake decided to create a direct line to his musical expression. Producing, mixing and directing his weekly video series, ‘JHSMD’ is a one of a kind musical journey untainted by outside influence. As the world shifts deeper into the social distancing era Jake and his partner Coley have found a way to stay connected with the outside world. [10]

Justin Berger: Justin was under the tutelage of Jason Brook Zimmerman at the same time as Ari Leff (Lauv) and they played in the same groups, run by the Philadelphia local music lesson service, Traveling Musician. [11] Justin studied jazz guitar from an early age up until he went on to get a Music Production & Technology degree from the University of Hartford Hartt School of Music in 2015. Justin’s current project is called Little Kingdoms. [12]

Discography

Conundrum

Released in 2009, produced by Dave Colbourne of New Vizion Studios

Virtual Circle

An EP released by the band in 2009 produced by Dave Colbourne of New Vizion Studios

Good Catch

Released in 2010, produced by Dave Colbourne of New Vizion Studios

Cohesive

A single released in 2010, produced by Tom Marshall & Anthony Krizan at Sonic Boom Studios

Who Knows

Released in 2012, produced by Tom Marshall & Anthony Krizan at Sonic Boom Studios

Beautiful Lights

Released in 2014, produced by Anthony Krizan at Sonic Boom Studios. This is the first album to feature Atticus Kelly and Justin Berger.

Funk No. Uno

Released during Summer Tour 2014. This album was entirely produced by the band themselves.

McLovins

Released Fall of 2015, Music by McLovins, Lyrics by Jake Huffman, Produced by Bill Sherman and Michael Novick, Engineered by Matthias Winter, Mixed by Douglas Derryberry, Mastered by Joe Lambert Mastering, Recorded at Yellow Sound Labs, New York, New York

Great Escape

Single released September 22, 2017, Music by McLovins, Lyrics by Jake Huffman, Produced by McLovins and Matt Baltrucki. Engineered, Mixed and Mastered by Matt Baltrucki, Recorded at University of Hartford.

Live recording

McLovins subscribe to a free and open taping policy. They allow taping of any show where the venue also allows live taping. Matrix recordings of shows, a mix of soundboard and audience recordings, are available for many shows and all recordings are posted at Archive.Org for free download and sharing. [13]

Related Research Articles

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

Phish is an American rock band formed in Burlington, Vermont, in 1983. The band is known for musical improvisation, extended jams, blending of genres, and a dedicated fan base. The band consists of guitarist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon, drummer Jon Fishman, and keyboardist Page McConnell, all of whom perform vocals, with Anastasio being the lead vocalist.

Fun Lovin' Criminals are an American rap rock band from New York City. They are best known for their hit "Scooby Snacks", which features samples from films by Quentin Tarantino, and the song "Love Unlimited", which recalls Barry White's backing vocal group. Their songs often focus on life in New York City, as well as urban life in general. Their lyrics can be gritty or existentialist in nature, touching on topics such as organized crime and urban violence, but they are just as often humorous or satirical. The band gained a large following internationally, notably in Northwest Europe, around the release of their first two albums in the late 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trey Anastasio</span> American guitarist

Ernest Joseph "Trey" Anastasio III is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Phish, which he co-founded in 1983. He is credited by name as composer of 152 Phish original songs, 141 of them as a solo credit, in addition to 41 credits attributed to the band as a whole.

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

Spin Doctors are an American alternative rock band from New York City, best known for their early 1990s hits "Two Princes" and "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong", which peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 7 and No. 17, respectively.

<i>Billy Breathes</i> 1996 studio album by Phish

Billy Breathes is the sixth studio album by American rock band Phish, released by Elektra Records on October 15, 1996. The album was credited with connecting the band, known for its jam band concerts and devoted cult following, with a more mainstream audience. The first single, "Free", was the band's most successful song on two Billboard rock charts, peaking at #11 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart and at #24 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks Chart. The album itself became the band's highest-charting album on the Billboard 200, where it peaked at number seven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Gordon</span> American bass guitarist and vocalist

Michael Eliot Gordon is an American bass guitarist and vocalist most recognized as a founding member of the band Phish. In addition to bass, Gordon is an accomplished banjo player, and is proficient at piano and guitar. He is also a filmmaker and author. He has released six solo studio albums and three studio albums with acoustic guitar pioneer Leo Kottke.

<i>Undermind</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Phish

Undermind is the eleventh studio album by American rock band Phish, released on June 15, 2004 by Elektra Records. The album was the group's last release before they disbanded in August 2004. It is also their final studio release for Elektra Records ; When the band reunited in 2009, their subsequent albums would be released through their own JEMP Records label which had launched in December 2005 for live releases.

<i>Rift</i> (album) 1993 studio album by Phish

Rift is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Phish, released on February 2, 1993, by Elektra Records. It is a concept album, detailing the experience of a man dreaming about the rift in his relationship with his girlfriend. Rift was recorded in September and October 1992 and produced by Barry Beckett. Rift was certified gold by the RIAA on October 15, 1997.

<i>The Story of the Ghost</i> 1998 studio album by Phish

The Story of the Ghost is the seventh studio album by American rock band Phish, released by Elektra Records on October 27, 1998. The album features an emphasis on the jazz-funk influenced "cow-funk" style, which the group had been experimenting with in concert throughout 1997 and 1998. The album's first single was "Birds of a Feather", which was a Top 20 hit on Billboard magazine's Adult Alternative Songs chart.

<i>Round Room</i> 2002 studio album by Phish

Round Room is the tenth studio album by the American rock band Phish released on December 10, 2002, by Elektra Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umphrey's McGee</span> American jam band

Umphrey's McGee, sometimes stylized as UM, is an American jam band originally from South Bend, Indiana. The band experiments with many musical styles, including rock, metal, funk, jazz, blues, reggae, electronic, bluegrass, country, and folk. They have toured regularly and released several albums. Since year 2002, they have been the headlining act and organizers of Summer Camp Music Festival, which is held annually in Three Sister’s Park in Chillicothe, Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Marshall (singer)</span> American singer

Tom Marshall is an American lyricist, keyboardist and singer-songwriter best known for his association with Trey Anastasio and the rock band Phish. He has been the primary external lyricist for Phish during their career, with songwriting credits for more than 95 originals. In addition to his songwriting work, Marshall also fronts the rock band Amfibian and hosts the Phish podcast Under the Scales. Marshall is the co-founder of Osiris, a podcast network in partnership with Jambase.

Amfibian is an American musical project led by Phish lyricist Tom Marshall.

The Jammy Award is an awards show for bands typically referred to as jam bands and other artists associated with live, improvisational music, created by Dean Budnick and Peter Shapiro. The Jammys are sponsored by Relix magazine, Jambands.com, and Shapiro. The Jammy Awards returned in 2008 to the WAMU Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, after taking a one year break.

Phish is an American rock band formed in 1983, dissolved in 2004, and reunited in 2009. It is one of the most successful live acts in popular music history, forging a popularity in concert far greater than their album sales, radio airplay, or music video presence would otherwise indicate. Phish, at the peak of their popularity in the mid- to late 1990s, consistently ranked as one of the highest-grossing concert tours in the world.

<i>Sonic Boom</i> (Kiss album) 2009 studio album by Kiss

Sonic Boom is the nineteenth studio album, and the first in 11 years, by the rock band Kiss, released on October 6, 2009. The album was recorded at Conway Recording Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA and produced by Paul Stanley and co-produced by Greg Collins. This was the first studio album to be released with the new current line-up, consisting of Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer, and Eric Singer. It was also the first to feature lead vocal performances from Thayer and Singer. Stanley stated, "the purpose of this album isn't to let people know that we're still around – it's to let people know we can still knock out anybody who's out there!".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I, the Breather</span> American metalcore band

I, the Breather is an American metalcore band from Baltimore, Maryland. Formed by Shawn Spann, Justin Huffman and Morgan Wright in late 2009, the group was signed to Sumerian Records and had released three albums through the label before announcing their disbanding in 2015.

Joel Goodman is an American film score composer.

<i>Fuego</i> (Phish album) Album by Phish

Fuego is the thirteenth studio album by the American rock band Phish, released on June 24, 2014 on the band's own JEMP Records label.

<i>Big Boat</i> 2016 studio album by Phish

Big Boat is the fourteenth studio album by the American rock band Phish, released on October 7, 2016 on the band's own JEMP Records label. The album was produced by Bob Ezrin and recorded at The Barn, guitarist Trey Anastasio's studio in Burlington, Vermont.

References

  1. ↑ "DYNNE by McLovins: Sweet Sound Don't Leave Me Now". Jamtopia. March 16, 2009. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Schedule". Nateva Festival. Archived from the original on November 27, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  3. ↑ "The McLovins, Tom Marshall and Anthony Krizan: The Making of "Cohesive"". Relix.com. June 10, 2010. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  4. ↑ "The McLovins! FREE SUNDAY!". Brooklynbowl.com. March 7, 2010. Archived from the original on March 14, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Need We Say More? > Reviews > Shows > The McLovins, Arch St. Tavern, Hartford, CT - 12/31". Jambands.com. January 17, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  6. ↑ "McLovins on ESPN 2's SportsNation". Frequency.com. June 27, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
  7. ↑ "McLovins play on Thanksgiving Eve". November 21, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  8. ↑ Monteiro, Stephanie (January 31, 2021). "Indie Pop Songwriter & McLovins' Drummer & Lyricist Jake Huffman Drops Catchy New Single 'Ride Around'". Music Mecca. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  9. ↑ "In Your Hand, by Little Kingdoms". Little Kingdoms. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Bio". JAKE HUFFMAN. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Ari Leff (Lauv) and Justin Berger playing together in high school performance with Traveling Musician". YouTube . July 29, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  12. ↑ traveling_musician. "Student News January 2021 – Traveling Musician" . Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  13. ↑ "The McLovins" . Retrieved June 19, 2012.

.


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.