Modey Lemon
Encyclopedia
Modey Lemon is an American
garage rock
band from Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
. The group formed in Pittsburgh's South Oakland neighborhood in 1999 as an informal side project of Dean Swagger, a rock trio that had spent the previous year mainly performing in basements to college party crowds. The original lineup consisted of guitarist Phil Boyd and drummer Paul Quattrone, then nominally students at the University of Pittsburgh
. They made their first appearances at the Halloween weekend in 1999, and played a live set on WPTS 92.1 FM, the University of Pittsburgh
college radio station, segments of which later turned up on their demo
album
, House on the Hill (and subsequently, their 2002 self-titled release).
By 2000, the duo had gained a reputation around Pittsburgh for their concerts. Modey Lemon
, the group's debut album, appeared in early 2002, and the band supported the album with tours of the US
and Europe
. The group followed their self-titled release with a brief stint on In the Red Records
, which released a double 7 inch record, before recommending the band to Birdman Records
owner Dave Katznelson, who then signed the band. Prior to the mid-2003 release of second album Thunder + Lightning
, Boyd and Quattrone added Jason Kirker on guitar and Moog synthesizer. Following the US release of Thunder + Lighting the band signed with Mute Records
, which licensed and released the album in the UK and Europe, and via EMI
(Mute's parent label) in Japan. The single releases, "Crows" (2004, #75) and "Sleepwalkers" (2005, #71), each appeared in the UK Singles Chart
for one week.
Their third album The Curious City
was released in August 2005 on Birdman/Mute.
Modey Lemon has performed with The White Stripes
, The Von Bondies
, the Blues Explosion, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
, Oneida
, the Warlocks, Icarus Line, and Dinosaur Jr., and has played festivals
such as Glastonbury
(2005), ArthurFest
(2005), Meredith Music Festival
(2003), and Transmusicales
(2004).
In 2006, the band appeared in a 'punk club' scene of the film
adaptation of Michael Chabon
's novel
, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh
, performing two original songs written for the film as well as two cover
songs.
The band released their fourth album Season of Sweets
on May 12, 2008. The band also completed a tour of the US in June and July that year and a tour of the UK and mainland Europe in September.
In October 2009, it was announced that their track "Become a Monk" from the band's album Season of Sweets, would be included on the soundtrack
of the video game, Tony Hawk: Ride.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
band from Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The group formed in Pittsburgh's South Oakland neighborhood in 1999 as an informal side project of Dean Swagger, a rock trio that had spent the previous year mainly performing in basements to college party crowds. The original lineup consisted of guitarist Phil Boyd and drummer Paul Quattrone, then nominally students at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
. They made their first appearances at the Halloween weekend in 1999, and played a live set on WPTS 92.1 FM, the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
college radio station, segments of which later turned up on their demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, House on the Hill (and subsequently, their 2002 self-titled release).
By 2000, the duo had gained a reputation around Pittsburgh for their concerts. Modey Lemon
Modey Lemon (album)
Modey Lemon is the eponymous debut of American rock band Modey Lemon. It was recorded and released before Jason Kirker joined the band.-Track listing:#"Big Bang" - 2:59#"His Face" - 2:48#"Dr. Body Snatcher" - 3:37#"Enfant Terrible Pt...
, the group's debut album, appeared in early 2002, and the band supported the album with tours of the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The group followed their self-titled release with a brief stint on In the Red Records
In the Red Records
In the Red Records is an independent record label in Los Angeles, CA formed in 1991 by Larry Hardy. It is known for hosting garage punk related bands on its label....
, which released a double 7 inch record, before recommending the band to Birdman Records
Birdman Records
Birdman Records is an independent record label based in South San Francisco, founded by former Warner Bros. Records A&R vice-president David Katznelson.-History:...
owner Dave Katznelson, who then signed the band. Prior to the mid-2003 release of second album Thunder + Lightning
Thunder + Lightning
Thunder + Lightning is American band Modey Lemon's second album and the last to be recorded without Jason Kirker in the band as he was asked to join shortly after he produced this album.-Track listing:#"Crows" - 2:48#"Thunder + Lightning" - 1:46...
, Boyd and Quattrone added Jason Kirker on guitar and Moog synthesizer. Following the US release of Thunder + Lighting the band signed with Mute Records
Mute Records
Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:...
, which licensed and released the album in the UK and Europe, and via EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
(Mute's parent label) in Japan. The single releases, "Crows" (2004, #75) and "Sleepwalkers" (2005, #71), each appeared in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
for one week.
Their third album The Curious City
The Curious City
The Curious City is Modey Lemon's third album and was the first to be recorded with the current line-up. The cover art was painted by Erick Jackson.-Track listing:#"Bucket Of Butterflies" - 3:37#"Sleep Walkers" - 3:55#"In Another Land" - 5:15#"Mr...
was released in August 2005 on Birdman/Mute.
Modey Lemon has performed with The White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
, The Von Bondies
The Von Bondies
The Von Bondies were an American alternative rock band. The group disbanded in July 2011. Its most recent members were Jason Stollsteimer on vocals and lead guitar, Christy Hunt on rhythm guitar and Leann Banks on bass guitar...
, the Blues Explosion, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000. The group is composed of vocalist and pianist Karen O, guitarist and keyboardist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase. They are complemented in live performances by second guitarist David Pajo, who joined as a touring...
, Oneida
Oneida (band)
Oneida is a rock band from Brooklyn, New York. Their influences include psychedelic rock, krautrock, electronic, noise rock, and minimalism, but the overall structure and intent of their music cannot be easily traced to any of these styles...
, the Warlocks, Icarus Line, and Dinosaur Jr., and has played festivals
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
such as Glastonbury
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
(2005), ArthurFest
ArthurFest
ArthurFest was a two day music festival curated by Arthur Magazine. The festival took place September 4 and 5, 2005 at the Barnsdall Art Park in Los Angeles, California...
(2005), Meredith Music Festival
Meredith Music Festival
The Meredith Music Festival is a three-day outdoor music festival held every December at the Supernatural Amphitheatre, a natural amphitheatre located on private farmland near the town of Meredith in Victoria, Australia...
(2003), and Transmusicales
Transmusicales
Les Rencontres Trans Musicales is a three-day music festival held annually in December in Rennes, Brittany, France.Since its first years, the festival has been renowned for revealing the "next big thing."...
(2004).
In 2006, the band appeared in a 'punk club' scene of the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
adaptation of Michael Chabon
Michael Chabon
Michael Chabon born May 24, 1963) is an American author and "one of the most celebrated writers of his generation", according to The Virginia Quarterly Review....
's novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh
The Mysteries of Pittsburgh
The Mysteries of Pittsburgh is a 1988 novel by American author Michael Chabon. The story is a coming-of-age tale set during the early 1980s in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania....
, performing two original songs written for the film as well as two cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
songs.
The band released their fourth album Season of Sweets
Season of Sweets
Season Of Sweets is Modey Lemon's well-received fourth album. The band embarked on a tour to promote the album shortly after its release.-Track listing:#"The Bear Comes Back Down the Mountain" - 5:21#"The Peacoks Eye" - 5:29#"It Made You Dumb" - 3:49...
on May 12, 2008. The band also completed a tour of the US in June and July that year and a tour of the UK and mainland Europe in September.
In October 2009, it was announced that their track "Become a Monk" from the band's album Season of Sweets, would be included on the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
of the video game, Tony Hawk: Ride.
Discography
- Modey LemonModey Lemon (album)Modey Lemon is the eponymous debut of American rock band Modey Lemon. It was recorded and released before Jason Kirker joined the band.-Track listing:#"Big Bang" - 2:59#"His Face" - 2:48#"Dr. Body Snatcher" - 3:37#"Enfant Terrible Pt...
(2002) - Thunder + LightningThunder + LightningThunder + Lightning is American band Modey Lemon's second album and the last to be recorded without Jason Kirker in the band as he was asked to join shortly after he produced this album.-Track listing:#"Crows" - 2:48#"Thunder + Lightning" - 1:46...
(2003) - The Curious CityThe Curious CityThe Curious City is Modey Lemon's third album and was the first to be recorded with the current line-up. The cover art was painted by Erick Jackson.-Track listing:#"Bucket Of Butterflies" - 3:37#"Sleep Walkers" - 3:55#"In Another Land" - 5:15#"Mr...
(2005) - Birth of Jazz EPBirth of Jazz EPBirth of Jazz EP is American band Modey Lemon's self-released EP which predated the release of their 2008 album "Season of Sweets" . Some of the content of the album was recorded...
(2008) - Season of SweetsSeason of SweetsSeason Of Sweets is Modey Lemon's well-received fourth album. The band embarked on a tour to promote the album shortly after its release.-Track listing:#"The Bear Comes Back Down the Mountain" - 5:21#"The Peacoks Eye" - 5:29#"It Made You Dumb" - 3:49...
(2008)