Vundabar

Last updated
Vundabar
Vundabar - Less Playboy is More Cowboy 5, Le Confort Moderne, Poitiers (2014-05-29 21.50.07 by Xi WEG).jpg
Vundabar playing at Le Confort Moderne in Poitiers, France in 2014.
Background information
Origin Boston, Massachusetts
Genres
Years active2012–present
LabelsGawk
Members
  • Brandon Hagen
  • Zack Abramo
  • Drew McDonald
Website www.vundabar.biz

Vundabar is an American indie rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. The band consists of Brandon Hagen (vocals, guitar), Drew McDonald (drums, synthesizer), and Zack Abramo (bass).

Contents

Vundabar released their first full-length album in 2013 titled Antics. [2] In 2015, Vundabar released their second full-length album titled Gawk. [3] [4] In 2017, Vundabar performed at the Boston Calling Music Festival. [5] In February 2018, Vundabar released their third full-length album titled Smell Smoke which was recorded by Keith Abrams at Headroom Studios in Philadelphia. [6] [7] [8] In March 2020, Vundabar released their fourth album Either Light. [9] Vundabar released their fifth full-length album Devil for the Fire on 15 April 2022. [10]

On September 16, 2022 they released their sixth full-length album Good Old, which consisted of seven songs recorded between the releases of Gawk and Smell Smoke and four acoustic versions of previously released songs. On May 5, 2023 they released the singles "Digital Forest" and "Sugar Pill".

Band history

Before Vundabar, Brandon Hagen and Drew McDonald were in a band with a few school friends called No Nada, but the band separated in 2012, everyone going their separate ways, except for Hagen and Mcdonald. Some of the old songs have been found by fans through Hagen's now retired SoundCloud, and through other sources. When McDonald was attending college he met Zack Abramo. McDonald introduced him to Hagen and they decided they would make a good pair for music composing. In 2013 they released their debut full-length album titled Antics. [2] They adopted a more gritty tone on their second album Gawk in 2015, which added a more post-punk sound to the mix. [1]

In mid-2016, a new member of the band was present in an interview. [11] The former bassist, Zack Abramo, appeared to have left the band to work on his own music group, being the lead vocalist and guitarist for Crag Mask. Their new bass player was Greyson Kirtland. He continued to appear in live shows and interviews until late 2018, when the band tweeted about their next show, in which Abramo would be joining them again. [12]

In 2018 their third studio-album was released titled “Smell Smoke” originally called “Crack Mask” according to an interview with Audiotree. For their fourth album Either Light they changed their style and their songwriting technique. Hagen revealed in an interview with Allston Pudding that they wrote much of the songs on piano or synthesizer instead of guitar. [13] The album featured jangle elements on a few songs and different instrumentation such as synths, vibraphone or acoustic guitar. In 2021 their song "Alien Blues" went viral on TikTok and has since been streamed over 300 million times on Spotify. In 2022 Vundabar released their fifth album titled Devil for the Fire and their sixth album, Good Old, was released in September of the same year.

On May 5, 2023, they released two new singles, "Digital Forest" and "Sugar Pill."

Musical style

Their musical style is described as indie rock with elements of post-punk, jangle pop and surf rock. [1] Allmusic describes their style as "jangly, fuzzed-out math- and surf-tinged indie rock shot through with plenty of post-punk spirit". [14]

As influences, the band named Dick Dale, singer Brandon Hagen also named the Osees, bassist Zack Abramo named electronic music such as Burial, and drummer Drew McDonald named Tame Impala. [15]

On their first three albums, Vundabar mainly played their music on guitar, bass and drums. On their albums Either Light and Devil for the Fire, they also used synthesizers, electronic drum sounds and other instruments like piano or Omnichord. [16]

Gawk Records

In an interview with Sound of Boston, McDonald explains that the band started a cassette label named Gawk Records in order to avoid financial pressures of signing to a label and to foster a community of artists. [17]

Band members

Current

Past

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

EPs

Singles

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VNV Nation</span> Irish electronic music group

VNV Nation is an Irish electronic music group led by Ronan Harris in the roles of singer, songwriter, and producer. The acronym in the group's name stands for "Victory Not Vengeance".

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

Electric Six is an American rock band formed in Detroit in 1996. They are known for combining elements of comedy rock, disco, garage rock, metal, new wave, and punk rock. Since achieving widespread recognition in 2003 with the singles "Danger! High Voltage" and "Gay Bar", they have released 15 studio albums, two rarities albums, one live album and one live DVD. Each band member is given a unique stage name; the line-up has undergone changes over the years; co-founder, lead vocalist, and primary songwriter Dick Valentine has been the only constant member. The current line-up consists of Valentine, lead guitarist Johnny Na$hinal, keyboardist Tait Nucleus?, rhythm guitarist Herb S. Flavourings, drummer Dr. J and bassist Smorgasbord.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brand New (band)</span> American rock band from New York

Brand New was an American rock band from Long Island, New York. Formed in 2000, the band consisted of Jesse Lacey, Vincent Accardi, Garrett Tierney and Brian Lane ; they were joined by Benjamin Homola (percussion) for their live performances. From 2005 to 2013, the band also included Derrick Sherman. The band is recognized as one of the most influential within the 2000s emo scene, celebrated for making artistic statements with their music.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atreyu</span> American metalcore band

Atreyu is an American metalcore band from Yorba Linda, California, formed in 1998. The band currently consists of clean vocalist Brandon Saller, guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, bassist and unclean vocalist Marc "Porter" McKnight, and drummer Kyle Rosa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strung Out</span> Punk rock band from California

Strung Out is an American punk rock band from Simi Valley, California, formed in 1989. They are known mainly for their musical style, which fuses aspects of melodic punk rock, progressive rock and heavy metal to form their primary sound. They have released nine studio albums on Fat Wreck Chords as well as one Live album, 2 B-sides collections, a best-of, a box set and appeared on numerous compilations and skate/surf/dirt bike/offroading videos. They have played on the Warped Tour and continue to tour internationally. The band currently have an ongoing collaboration beer with Lucky Luke Brewing Company called “Astrolux Golden Ale”. Their albums have charted on the Billboard 200.

Q and Not U was a post-hardcore band from Washington, D.C., signed to Dischord Records. Members John Davis, Harris Klahr, Christopher Richards, and Matt Borlik formed the band in 1998. After Borlik's departure following the release of their first album, the band went on to record two more critically acclaimed LPs as a three-piece, exploring aspects of dance-punk and other disparate musical styles. Q and Not U disbanded in September 2005 after completing their touring commitments and a short farewell stand at Washington, D.C. venue the Black Cat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mad Caddies</span> American ska punk band

The Mad Caddies is an American ska punk band from Solvang, California. The band formed in 1995 and has released seven full-length albums, one live album, and two EPs. To date, Mad Caddies have sold over 500,000 albums worldwide.

Lydia is an American indie rock band from Gilbert, Arizona, formed in 2003.

German punk includes a body of music and a subculture that have evolved since punk rock became popular in Germany in the 1970s. Within the subculture of punk in Germany, a style of music called Deutschpunk was developed; this style of music has developed distinctly from hardcore punk, and includes lyrics in German as well as a fast tempo. In the punk scene in Germany, some bands play music in the Deutschpunk style, while other German punk bands pursue various other styles of punk music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Four Year Strong</span> American pop punk band

Four Year Strong is an American pop-punk band from Worcester, Massachusetts, formed in 2001. The group consists of vocalists and guitarists Dan O'Connor and Alan Day, bassist Joe Weiss, and drummer Jake Massucco. They have released seven studio albums; their most recent album, Brain Pain, was released on February 28, 2020, through Pure Noise Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memphis May Fire</span> American metalcore band

Memphis May Fire is an American metalcore band formed in Denton, Texas and currently signed to Rise Records. The band currently consists of lead guitarist Kellen McGregor, lead vocalist Matty Mullins, bassist Cory Elder, and drummer Jake Garland. Formed in 2006, they have released six studio albums and two EPs to date. Their fourth album, Unconditional, debuted at No. 4 on the US Billboard 200 and atop the Alternative Albums chart.

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

Palisades was an American rock band from Iselin, New Jersey. Formed in 2008 as Marilyn Is Dead, they changed their name to Palisades in August 2011 and signed to Rise Records. Palisades has released five studio albums; Outcasts in 2012, Mind Games in 2015, a self-titled album in 2017, Erase the Pain in 2018, and their most recent Reaching Hypercritical on 22 July 2022. They also have one self-released album under their previous name.

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

Protomartyr is an American post-punk band formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 2010. The band consists of Joe Casey (vocals), Greg Ahee (guitar), Alex Leonard (drums), and Scott Davidson (bass). In 2020, Kelley Deal joined the band in a touring capacity, providing additional keyboards, guitar and backing vocals.

Pet Symmetry is an American emo band from Chicago, Illinois. The band formed in 2012, and they are currently signed to Storm Chaser Records. The band's name is a play on words taken from Stephen King's novel Pet Sematary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ho99o9</span> American punk rock group

Ho99o9 is an American punk rap group founded in 2012 in Newark, New Jersey by theOGM and Yeti Bones. They relocated to Los Angeles in 2014. They attracted a cult following on account of their live performance and began collaborating with Ian Longwell who plays drums and produces for Santigold. In 2016, former Black Flag member Brandon Pertzborn became the band's drummer but left in 2023 after joining The Offspring as their new drummer.

Glocca Morra was an American indie rock band from Miami, Florida who later moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Gatherers is a melodic hardcore band from Bayonne, New Jersey. Founded in 2011, Gatherers has released four full-length albums, one single, one EP, and one live release. In 2015, they signed to Equal Vision Records.

<i>Zeppelin Over China</i> 2019 studio album by Guided by Voices

Zeppelin over China is the 27th studio album by American indie rock group Guided by Voices. It was released on February 1, 2019 on the Rockathon Records label and was recorded at Magic Door in New Jersey, Serious Business Records in New York and Stillwater Lodge in Dayton, Ohio. The double album received mixed to favorable reviews from critics scoring 65 out 100 on aggregate website Metacritic and four out five stars on AllMusic, with several critics commenting on the positive output of the band's current lineup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Are the Union</span> American ska punk band

We Are the Union is an American ska punk band from Ann Arbor, Michigan, formed in 2005. The band is now based out of California. The band has had many lineup changes since its inception, with vocalist/guitarist Reade Wolcott and bassist Brandon Benson as the only remaining original members. As of 2022, their live lineup often features guest horn players and touring members.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Vundabar Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic .
  2. 1 2 Kaye, Ben (20 July 2015). "Stream: Vundabar's sophomore album Gawk". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  3. ↑ Palmedo, Tree. "Vundabar Turn Up the Summer Heat on 'Oulala'". Spin . Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  4. ↑ Ambler, Charlie. "Vundabar Are Best Friends Who Make Good Post-Punk". Vice . Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  5. ↑ Marketti, Anna (25 May 2017). "Local Spotlight: Vundabar". Sound of Boston.
  6. ↑ "Vundabar on Internalized Shame, the Cost of Dying, & Their New Album Smell Smoke". 22 January 2018.
  7. ↑ Rettig, James (19 February 2018). "Stream Vundabar Smell Smoke". Stereogum . Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  8. ↑ Maicki, Salvatore. "Listen to Vundabar's new album Smell Smoke". The Fader . Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  9. ↑ Bacior, Robin (16 January 2020). "Vundabar announce new album Either Light, North American tour dates". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  10. ↑ Rettig, James (2021-11-09). "Vundabar – "Devil For The Fire"". Stereogum. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  11. ↑ "Vundabar Interview (Memorial Day Concert)". YouTube. KCPR. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  12. ↑ "Vundabar on Twitter". twitter. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  13. ↑ "INTERVIEW: Vundabar's "Either Light" at the End of the Tunnel". 24 April 2020.
  14. ↑ "Vundabar Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic .
  15. ↑ "This is Not a LiVE Song Ferarock Sessions - VUNDABAR". YouTube .
  16. 1 2 "Vundabar sings "Lore"". YouTube .
  17. ↑ Marketti, Anna (25 May 2017). "Local Spotlight: Vundabar". Sound of Boston. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  18. ↑ "Vundabar - Time (Official Visualizer)". YouTube .
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.