Cool Hand Luke (band)
Encyclopedia
Cool Hand Luke is a Nashville-based Christian
band variously classified as alternative rock
, progressive pop
, indie
, and emo
and signed to Lujo Records
on March 16, 2008.
. A punk rock
-influence showed itself within the band's early music, although the range and scope of Cool Hand Luke's sound changed quickly after Mark Nicks joined the band. With Nicks on drums and lead vocals, Cool Hand Luke quickly became known for playing with their backs to the crowd, lengthy, emotively expressive songs, and deeply introspective lyrics. They were signed to Floodgate Records
in 2002, releasing two full-length albums (2003's Wake Up, O Sleeper and 2004's The Fires of Life) through the label. After an extended hiatus (during which time Nicks spent time playing drums for Atlanta, Georgia's The Chariot), Cool Hand Luke released a "retrospective album" entitled The Balancing Act, thus fulfilling their contractual obligations to Floodgate Records. The Balancing Act contained songs from their earlier independent releases along with tracks from their Floodgate discography.
In October 2008, Cool Hand Luke released their newest full-length album, The Sleeping House, on Lujo Records. The album, produced by Matt Goldman and showing such diverse influences as Shudder to Think
and Keane, comprises twelve piano-based songs of a depth, intensity, and relative darkness unseen before in Cool Hand Luke's work. The artwork-intensive album, complete with an enhanced CD, features comprehensive lyrics, explorations of each song, a music video, and in-depth exploration of the meanings contained within the decidedly cryptic artwork.
On March 22, 2009, Mark Nicks (the sole remaining member of the band) announced that he was working to complete what he plans to be the final album under the "Cool Hand Luke" name. Nicks reported that he has no projected release date for the album. He has mentioned that he is considering titling the last album "Of Man".
Cool Hand Luke's final album, "Of Man", was released on March 25, 2011. Mark Nicks said, "The album tells the story of Jesus’ final days, from the perspective of the people in His life. Part rock, part classical, part film score, this is the capstone of Cool Hand Luke’s 13 year career. Over 30 friends contributed to the making of this album, including members of Underoath, Elliott, Quiet Science, Aireline, and the Kopecky Family Band." Only 500 physical copies of the album were pressed.
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
band variously classified as alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, progressive pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
, and emo
Emo (music)
Emo is a style of rock music characterized by melodic musicianship and expressive, often confessional lyrics. It originated in the mid-1980s hardcore punk movement of Washington, D.C., where it was known as "emotional hardcore" or "emocore" and pioneered by bands such as Rites of Spring and Embrace...
and signed to Lujo Records
Lujo Records
Lujo Records is a United States independent record label that was founded in 2001 by Erik Aucoin who was a student at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana at the time. In 2004, Lujo Records relocated to Washington, DC, and Jocelyn Toews bought 50% of the label. In 2006 Aucoin and...
on March 16, 2008.
History
Cool Hand Luke was initially formed by Brandon Morgan and Jason Hammil in 1998 while they attended Middle Tennessee State UniversityMiddle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University, commonly abbreviated as MTSU, is a public university located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States....
. A punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
-influence showed itself within the band's early music, although the range and scope of Cool Hand Luke's sound changed quickly after Mark Nicks joined the band. With Nicks on drums and lead vocals, Cool Hand Luke quickly became known for playing with their backs to the crowd, lengthy, emotively expressive songs, and deeply introspective lyrics. They were signed to Floodgate Records
Floodgate Records
Floodgate Records was a part of the East West Records family of labels. It was founded in 2000 and managed by Tim Taber . Initial distribution was through Word Records, and marketing through Rocketown. Their first release was All I Have, a worship album by Rita Springer...
in 2002, releasing two full-length albums (2003's Wake Up, O Sleeper and 2004's The Fires of Life) through the label. After an extended hiatus (during which time Nicks spent time playing drums for Atlanta, Georgia's The Chariot), Cool Hand Luke released a "retrospective album" entitled The Balancing Act, thus fulfilling their contractual obligations to Floodgate Records. The Balancing Act contained songs from their earlier independent releases along with tracks from their Floodgate discography.
In October 2008, Cool Hand Luke released their newest full-length album, The Sleeping House, on Lujo Records. The album, produced by Matt Goldman and showing such diverse influences as Shudder to Think
Shudder to Think
Shudder to Think is an American indie rock group. Formed in 1986, they released three albums on the Washington, D.C.-based label Dischord Records and were a post-hardcore band, although they drew upon a wide range of stylistic influences, including pop....
and Keane, comprises twelve piano-based songs of a depth, intensity, and relative darkness unseen before in Cool Hand Luke's work. The artwork-intensive album, complete with an enhanced CD, features comprehensive lyrics, explorations of each song, a music video, and in-depth exploration of the meanings contained within the decidedly cryptic artwork.
On March 22, 2009, Mark Nicks (the sole remaining member of the band) announced that he was working to complete what he plans to be the final album under the "Cool Hand Luke" name. Nicks reported that he has no projected release date for the album. He has mentioned that he is considering titling the last album "Of Man".
Cool Hand Luke's final album, "Of Man", was released on March 25, 2011. Mark Nicks said, "The album tells the story of Jesus’ final days, from the perspective of the people in His life. Part rock, part classical, part film score, this is the capstone of Cool Hand Luke’s 13 year career. Over 30 friends contributed to the making of this album, including members of Underoath, Elliott, Quiet Science, Aireline, and the Kopecky Family Band." Only 500 physical copies of the album were pressed.
Present
- Mark Nicks – vocals, drums, keyboards/piano (studio) (ex-The ChariotThe Chariot (band)The Chariot is an American mathcore band from Douglasville, Georgia, formed in 2003. The current lineup consists of drummer David Kennedy, bassist Jon "KC Wolf" Kindler, vocalist and bandleader Josh Scogin, and guitarists Brandon Henderson and Stephen Harrison. The band has experienced frequent...
)
Former
- Casey McBride – bass (2006–2008)
- Jason Hammil – guitar (1998–2003)
- Chris Susi – guitar (2004)
- Brandon Morgan – bass (1998–2004)
- Philip Smith – drums (live) (2006–2008)
- Joey Holman – guitar (2006–2009)
Discography
- Demo Schmemo (1998)
- ...So Far EP (1999)
- I Fought Against Myself (2001)
- Wake Up, O SleeperWake Up, O SleeperWake Up, O Sleeper is the second full-length album by indie rock band Cool Hand Luke. It was released in 2003 on Floodgate Records.-Track listing:#"Heroes Will Be Heroes" - 5:36#"One Time" - 4:49#"This Is Love" - 5:00#"Nobody Hugs a Rose" - 6:10...
(2003, Floodgate Records) - The Fires of LifeThe Fires of LifeThe Fires of Life is the third full-length album by Christian rock band Cool Hand Luke. It was released in 2004 on Floodgate Records.- Track listing :#"Skydive" - 5:22#"The Foster" - 3:47#"Rats in the Cellar" - 3:50#"Cinematic" - 5:24...
(2004, Floodgate Records) - The Balancing ActThe Balancing ActThe Balancing Act is a compilation album by indie rock band Cool Hand Luke. It contains songs previously released on the band's albums, EP, and vinyl, plus three new songs...
(2007, Floodgate Records) - The Sleeping HouseThe Sleeping HouseThe Sleeping House is Nashville-based Cool Hand Luke's seventh studio album, released on October 14, 2008. It is considered darker and more aggressive than their other albums. It was recorded January and February 2007 at Glow In the Dark Studios, Atlanta, GA....
(2008, Lujo Records) - Live at The Brown OwlLive at The Brown OwlLive at The Brown Owl is a solo album by Cool Hand Luke frontman Mark Nicks. Since the spring of 2009, he has been touring solo with his vintage stage piano, performing the band's songs and telling the stories that inspired them...
(2010) - Of Man (2011) (Independent)