Their second studio album, In Search of Solid Ground, was released in 2009 under Virgin Records, featuring re-recorded tracks from their previous EP, The Grey EP. Reber left the band in 2010, prompting a hiatus. Saosin reunited in 2013 with all original members except Kennedy, and began touring again. In 2016, they released their third studio album, Along the Shadow, marking the return of Green to the lineup. The album was released through Epitaph Records.
Saosin's musical style is often associated with the emo and post-hardcore genres, known for their harmonizing vocals and distinctive lead guitar techniques, such as delays and natural harmonics. Despite several lineup changes over the years, Burchell has remained the only consistent member of the band since its inception.[2]
History
Formation and Translating the Name (2003–2004)
The original lineup of Saosin, comprising Burchell, Shekoski, Kennedy, and Green, came together during the summer of 2003.[citation needed] The band's name, "Saosin", was initially proposed by Green. According to AllMusic, the name comes from the Chinese phrase that translates to "small heart", which expresses caution or a warning.[3] On June 18, 2023, during their 20th-anniversary show in Garden Grove, California, Chris revealed that Beau had initially proposed naming the band "The Gift".[citation needed] On June 17, the band unveiled their debut commercial production, the EP titled Translating the Name.[4] This release met immediate success and gained significant popularity on various online forums and music websites.
Saosin initially gained recognition through the power of the internet, cultivating a distinctive musical identity even before the release of their first full-length studio album. They became well-known on social networking platforms and music-sharing sites, most notably MySpace. It's estimated that the EP sold approximately 62,000 copies.[5]
During the recording of the Translating the Name EP, bassist Zach Kennedy later opted to depart the band early on to pursue a career in art, leading to his replacement by Chris Sorenson. Additionally, Pat Magrath, who had previously served as a drum technician for Slayer, was hired to record drums for the EP. The drum compositions were largely crafted by Burchell. Alex Rodriguez, initially unable to participate in the EP recording due to prior commitments with the band Open Hand, was temporarily substituted by Danny King for live performances until Rodriguez could transition to a full-time role in Saosin after fulfilling his obligations with Open Hand.[6] Following the release of "Translating the Name", Saosin embarked on a U.S. tour alongside fellow bands Boys Night Out and Anatomy of a Ghost.
In February 2004, the band faced a significant change when their vocalist, Anthony Green, departed from Saosin and later went on to form the band Circa Survive. Green cited homesickness, depression,[7] and his desire to be closer to his family as factors contributing to his departure. He also expressed discontent with Saosin's creative direction and his exclusion from the songwriting process.[7] To fulfill their remaining obligations for the Warped Tour, Story of the Year's Philip Sneed temporarily took over vocal duties. Subsequently, a public, nationwide audition was conducted to find a replacement for Green.
Translating the Name was recognized for pushing the boundaries of the post-hardcore genre and reshaping the music landscape.[8]Alternative Press noted that with the release of this EP, Saosin made waves in the underground music scene, attracting considerable attention from record labels.[9]
Introduction of Cove Reber and the Saosin EP (2004–2006)
After an exhaustive audition process and a brief period of using guest vocalists for demos, the band introduced a new lead singer, 19-year-old Cove Reber. Reber came into the fold after submitting an acoustic demo tape titled "Mookie's Last Christmas".
In an interview with Euphonia Online, Reber expressed his admiration for his new bandmates, saying, "Everyone I've played with wants to make music their lives. ... Saosin is a band on a completely different level. All these dudes are freaks about music."[10]
Saosin embarked on their inaugural Taste of Chaos tour that winter, sharing stages with notable bands such as the Used, My Chemical Romance, Killswitch Engage, Senses Fail, and A Static Lullaby.[11] In March, the band signed with Capitol Records and participated in the United States' Warped Tour once again. During that summer, they released the Saosin EP. Originally intended as a free sampler, Capitol Records opted to release it as an EP instead. The EP featured demo versions of songs that would later appear on their debut full-length album. A music video for their new single, "Bury Your Head", was filmed during this tour. Throughout 2005, the band continued to tour extensively, opening for acts such as Avenged Sevenfold and Coheed and Cambria.
Saosin LP and Come Close (2006–2008)
After a respite from touring between February and June, the Warped Tour 2006 and numerous demos and compilation appearances, Saosin released their first full-length album Saosin on September 26, 2006. The well-known music producer Howard Benson was hired for the production of the album. Benson had worked with several major rock bands such as My Chemical Romance and Blindside. The guitar riffs on the album were listed on Alternative Press's "Best Guitar Riffs of 2000s Rock".[12] The first single, "Voices" was listed on the Top 46 post-hardcore songs of the 2000s, and the second single "You're Not Alone" was listed on the Top 10 Essential Emo Power Ballads by the Alternative Press.[13]
During the rest of 2006, Saosin toured on the International Taste of Chaos Tour, playing their first shows outside of America. They also toured the United States with Bleeding Through and Senses Fail. They kept on touring for the whole year of 2007, beginning with a tour with Senses Fail, Alexisonfire, the Sleeping and Drop Dead, Gorgeous. Saosin also invited the non-profit organization Invisible Children for a portion of the tour. In February they joined the Taste of Chaos 2007 tour. Between April and June they toured in Europe, Australia, Japan and Indonesia.
Saosin toured from January 26 to February 8, 2008, with Armor for Sleep, Meriwether, and the Bled; from February 9 to 16 Fear Before joined the tour. They went to Australia during February and March, after which they performed in Singapore on March 7 as the opening performance for Incubus on their Light Grenades Tour. On their way home they also visited Bali, Hawaii and Mexico. After two final shows at home in California in April, they took a nine-month break from touring.
The Grey EP and In Search of Solid Ground (2008–2010)
In early 2009, they started recording a new album with producer Butch Walker. They partnered with Hurley to broadcast the recording process live on Hurley's website.[14]
Saosin released a new EP titled The Grey EP on October 14, 2008. The EP was sold on tour and on iTunes and featured three new demos, as well as an acoustic version of "Come Close".[15] The purpose of The Grey EP as to show demos they had been recording.
Saosin released In Search of Solid Ground on September 8, 2009. Two songs were released as a download to anyone who bought a shirt, and a digital pre-order. The songs were "On My Own" and "Is This Real". These two songs were released as singles on iTunes August 4, 2009. On August 5 a new song titled "Changing" was made available for streaming on the internet. The single was then put up for download on iTunes August 11.
Saosin toured Australia nationally during June 2010 in support of Story of the Year's Australian tour. Blessthefall also joined.[16]
The band stated on Twitter that they have parted ways with Virgin Records and are going back into a "DIY" direction.[1]
The departure of Reber and period of inactivity (2010–2014)
On July 21, 2010, guitarist Beau Burchell delivered significant news to Saosin's fans, revealing that the band had decided to part ways with lead singer Cove Reber. This decision was prompted by concerns over Reber's declining stage performance and vocal abilities. In Burchell's words, "We didn't feel he could represent the music that we have recorded well on stage."[17] Following his departure from Saosin, Reber became the lead vocalist for such bands as Patriot, Dead American and lé tired.
Amidst the uncertainty about Saosin's future, guitarist Beau Burchell shared updates on the band's progress in the studio, expressing enthusiasm for their forthcoming record. The departure of Reber left questions about the band's vocal direction and the search for his replacement. Reports surfaced that Charles Furney, lead singer of Secret and Whisper, might fill the vacant vocalist position. However, Saosin quickly denied these claims on their Facebook page, asserting that they had not yet found a new singer.[18]
There were speculations that Tides of Man vocalist, Tilian Pearson, would audition for Saosin's vacant position. Pearson confirmed these rumors and acknowledged his interest in joining Saosin, which ultimately led to his departure from Tides of Man. However, Justin Shekoski clarified that although Pearson expressed a strong desire to join Saosin, the band had not met him in person yet.
During this period, a leaked demo fueled speculation about Pearson's involvement with Saosin. In an interview, Pearson clarified that the leaked demo was for a track that Saosin's bassist, Chris Sorenson, had been working on, and Pearson had provided vocals for it.[19]
On December 16, 2012, Anthony Green joined Burchell and Shekoski on stage for the first time in nearly a decade, performing "Seven Years". In a later interview with Alternative Press, Green expressed openness to the idea of rejoining Saosin if the timing and circumstances were right while reflecting on the band's ten-year anniversary of the Translating the Name EP. On January 25, 2014, Beau Burchell provided further hints of Saosin's activities by tweeting a photo from Hurley Studios, indicating that he was tracking drums with Alex Rodriguez.[20]
Anthony Green's return and Along the Shadow (2014–2023)
On May 17, 2014, Saosin performed at the Skate and Surf festival and embarked on a West Coast tour in early June 2014, reuniting with Green. During these shows, they unveiled two new songs and announced their progress in creating a new full-length album.[21] During an interview with Alternative Press, the band hinted at the possibility of a future collaborations with Green.[22]
In 2015, after 13 years of collaboration, Justin Shekoski and Saosin parted ways, with Shekoski subsequently becoming the lead guitarist for the Used.[23] To fill the role of lead guitarist during the upcoming East Coast tour, Wovenwar's Phil Sgrosso stepped in.[24]
During their 2016 spring tour, Saosin announced their third album, Along the Shadow, would be released on May 20, 2016. Three singles along with music videos were released to support the album: "The Silver String" on March 16, 2016,[25] "Racing Toward A Red Light" on April 6, 2016,[26] and "Control and the Urge to Pray" on April 27, 2016.[27]
On December 16 and 17, 2018, Saosin the band reunited with Reber for two shows. During these performances, they performed "Voices", "You're Not Alone", and a duet of "Seven Years" featuring both Reber and Green. It marked the first time in eight years that the band had performed on stage with Reber.[28]
In 2020, Saosin released five singles. Among these releases were revamped versions of their early demos "I Can Tell There Was an Accident Here Earlier" and "Mookie's Last Christmas",[29][30] as well as three more renditions of "Mookie's Last Christmas": two remixes by Monogram Sound and Jeremy SH Griffith, and an acoustic version.
On October 20, 2022, Saosin had Green and Reber sharing vocal duties during "Seven Years" and performed "Bury Your Head" and "You're Not Alone" as the encore of the concert at The Regency Ballroom, San Francisco.[31]
On November 10, 2022, it was announced that Saosin would embark on their inaugural headlining tour of Australia in March 2023. This tour subsequently faced public scrutiny due to its promotion under the title "All the Hits, All the Albums", with the band exclusively performing songs that featured Green as the vocalist.[32]
Live At The Garden Amphitheater, Reber's return and fourth album (2023–present)
On May 3, 2023, Saosin's 2006 single "You're Not Alone" received Gold certification from the RIAA.[33] To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the band and their debut EP, Translating the Name, Saosin staged two shows in Garden Grove, CA, on June 17 and 18. These shows featured a special opening set with Reber returning as vocalist, alongside guest appearances by Donovan Melero and founding member, bassist Zach Kennedy.[34][35] A live album titled Live At The Garden Amphitheater is set to be released on July 19, 2024, via Born Losers Records.[36][37]
On August 29, 2023, Saosin announced their second Asian tour would feature Reber taking over the vocal duties.[38]
On February 25th, 2024, guitarist Beau Burchell, using his official Discord server, revealed plans to have Reber feature on the band's fourth studio album.[39] Burchell later noted on his Twitch channel that the band are in the process of re-recording the self-titled album for a vinyl release. The band were then announced on several festival line-ups for 2024, including When We Were Young, So What?!, Louder Than Life and Aftershock Festival.[40][41][42][43] Saosin's promotional bio on both Louder Than Life and Aftershock's websites cited Reber's 2024 "triumphant comeback" as a fait accompli.[44] In March 2024, the band shared a new photo confirming both Reber and longtime touring guitarist Sgrosso as full-time members of the band. The caption of the post read "4.0", referring to both being the fourth major line-up change of the band as well as the line-up for the band's fourth studio album.[45] This was confirmed in April when the band announced that they will release new music and a re-recording of their self-titled album by the end of year, along with a US tour.[46]
Senses Fail is an American rock band formed in Ridgewood, New Jersey, in 2001. Founded by vocalist Buddy Nielsen, drummer Dan Trapp, guitarists Garrett Zablocki and Dave Miller, and bassist James Gill ; the band has seen many lineup changes, with Nielsen being the only consistent member.
The Used is an American rock band from Orem, Utah, formed in 2000. The group consists of vocalist Bert McCracken, bassist Jeph Howard, drummer Dan Whitesides, and guitarist Joey Bradford. Former members include Quinn Allman, Branden Steineckert, and Justin Shekoski.
Quinn Allman is a multi-platinum selling artist, musician and producer; best known as the founding member, guitarist and backing vocalist in the rock band The Used.
Translating the Name is the debut EP by American rock band Saosin, released on June 17, 2003 through Death Do Us Part. The album was released before Anthony Green initial departure from the band to form the rock band Circa Survive. It is also the band's only release to feature bass guitarist Zack Kennedy, as well as the only release to not feature drummer Alex Rodriguez. Guitarist Beau Burchell stated that Rodriguez intended to track the drums for Translating the Name but had a prior commitment with his former band Open Hand before he could join. Alex Lawrence and Pat Magrath were hired as session musicians, and Magrath performed with Saosin briefly before Rodriguez joined.
Anthony Green is an American singer from Doylestown, Pennsylvania. He is currently the lead singer of Circa Survive, Saosin, The Sound of Animals Fighting, and L.S. Dunes, while also maintaining a solo career. He was previously in the bands Audience of One, Jeer at Rome, High and Driving, and Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer. Green is known for his distinctive, high vocal timbre.
Scary Kids Scaring Kids (abbreviated SKSK) is an American post-hardcore band formed in Gilbert, Arizona in 2002.
Saosin, also known as “the beetle album”, is the debut full-length studio album by American rock band Saosin, released September 26, 2006 through Capitol Records. It is the band's second release to feature lead vocalist Cove Reber. The album is best known for its lead riffs with delays and natural harmonics as a form of creating melodies. The guitar riffs on the album were listed on Alternative Press's "Best Guitar Riffs of 2000s Rock." The first single, "Voices" was listed on the Top 46 post-hardcore songs of the 2000s, and the second single, "You're Not Alone" was listed on the Top 10 Essential Emo Power Ballads by the Alternative Press.
Beau Burchell is an American musician, record producer, and audio engineer from Orange County, California. As a performer, he is best known as the guitarist and backing vocalist in Saosin. He is one of Saosin's founders, and the band's only remaining member who has played with the band through its entire existence. He has previously been a member of Kosmos Express and Open Hand.
Dance Gavin Dance is an American rock band from Sacramento, California, formed in 2005. It consists of vocalist Jon Mess, lead guitarist Will Swan, rhythm guitarist Andrew Wells, and drummer Matthew Mingus. The band formerly included lead vocalists Jonny Craig, Kurt Travis, and Tilian Pearson, and the lineup has changed numerous times since their inception. Swan and Mingus are the only band members who have appeared on every studio album.
Justin Paul Hollis Shekoski is an American guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist, best known for being the former lead guitarist, songwriter, and backing vocalist of Saosin and the Used. He has cited guitarists John Petrucci and Paul Gilbert as some of his main inspirations. Shekoski is also known for his guitar playing style onstage, including "guitar spins," which involves spinning his guitar over his left shoulder multiple times, subsequently catching it mid-air, and continuing to play.
Cove Reber is an American singer-songwriter renowned for his contributions to the post-hardcore music scene. He is best known for his tenure as the lead vocalist of Saosin from 2004 to 2010. Reber notably rejoined Saosin for their fourth album in 2024, marking a significant return to the band. Since 2021, he has also served as a touring musician with Saosin, exchanging vocal duties with Anthony Green. Additionally, Reber has since showcased his musical prowess as the frontman for bands such as Dead American and Lé Tired.
In Fear and Faith was an American post-hardcore band from San Diego, California. Formed in 2006, the group was signed to Rise Records and released three studio albums and two EPs. Their debut full-length, Your World on Fire, being released nearly a year after the band's signing to Rise in 2008, peaked at No. 193 on the Billboard 200. Their second full-length album, Imperial was released the following year and failed to make that chart, but did chart on the Top Heatseekers and overall Indie chart in the US. The band has undergone many line-up changes since its formation, and does not feature any consistent original members since the departure of guitarist Ramin Niroomand and drummer Mehdi Niroomand in 2014; vocalist Scott Barnes is the only current member of the band to have performed on all of the group's studio albums, though he is not an original member; likewise, although current bassist Tyler McElhany is a founding member of the band himself, he was out of the group from 2011 to 2014 and did not contribute to their third album, In Fear and Faith.
In Search of Solid Ground is the second studio album by American rock band Saosin, released on September 8, 2009 through Virgin Records. Recording sessions for the album saw Saosin recording with multiple producers such as Butch Walker, John Feldman, and Lucas from Matt Squire's production team. Five songs off the album were self-produced by the band's guitarist Beau Burchell and bass guitarist Chris Sorenson. The album is also the last release to feature lead vocalist Cove Reber and guitarist Justin Shekoski, until Reber later returned to Saosin in 2024.
Kurt Travis is an American singer, musician, and songwriter from Sacramento, California. He is currently part of the post-hardcore bands Royal Coda and Push Over and the math rock duo Gold Necklace and was formerly a vocalist in the rock bands Dance Gavin Dance and A Lot Like Birds.
The discography of American rock band Saosin, consists of three studio albums, three extended plays (EPs), 22 singles and 15 music videos.
Take the Crown was an American post-hardcore band from Huntington Beach, California. The original lineup included vocalist Beau Bokan, guitarist Nick Coffey, guitarist Tony Gonzalez, bassist James Campbell, and keyboardist Ryan Wilson. The band began recording demos in 2004 with friend Chris Sorenson of Saosin; he would later produce their self-released debut EP, Let the Games Begin, in 2006. The band signed to Rise in 2007 and released their follow up full-length album, Relapse React, in May 2008. They announced their disbandment on September 25, 2008, which was due to the departure of James Campbell and Tony Gonzalez, lack of management, and financial burdens. After their disbandment, lead vocalist Beau Bokan went on to become the lead vocalist of blessthefall, replacing Craig Mabbitt who would later go on to front Escape the Fate.
Tilian Pearson, also known mononymously as Tilian, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer born in Clearwater, Florida. From 2012 to 2024, he was the third clean vocalist for the post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance. Pearson began his music career as the lead vocalist and guitarist in the progressive rock band Tides of Man, releasing an extended play and two studio albums before leaving in 2010.
Hail the Sun is an American post-hardcore band from Chico, California. Formed in 2009, the band currently consists of lead vocalist and drummer Donovan Melero, guitarist Shane Gann, guitarist Aric Garcia, bass guitarist John Stirrat, and touring and studio drummer Allen Casillas. They are known for their eclectic progressive rock and math rock style, along with traditional elements of screamo and post-hardcore. They released their debut studio album, POW! Right In the Kisser! (2010), and EP, Elephantitis (2012), independently before signing to Blue Swan Records the following year. The group released their sophomore studio album, Wake, in 2014. In 2016, the band departed from the label, signing to Equal Vision Records and released their third studio album, Culture Scars on June 17, 2016, which charted at number 38 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart.
Along the Shadow is the third studio album by American rock band Saosin, released on May 20, 2016 through Epitaph Records. The album marks the end of a three-and-a-half-year hiatus for the group with the return of original lead vocalist Anthony Green, which marks the first studio album to featured Green. It also marks the subsequent departure of lead guitarist Justin Shekoski.
If There Is Light, It Will Find You is the seventh studio album by American rock band Senses Fail. It charted at number 57 on the Billboard 200.
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