Peter Griesar
Encyclopedia
Peter Griesar played in the Dave Matthews Band
from August 1990 to March 1993, playing keyboards, harmonica and providing backup vocals. He grew up in Westchester County, New York
and moved to Charlottesville, Virginia
to attend the University of Virginia
. He met Dave Matthews
, later joining his band
. After leaving the band in 1993, he continued playing, releasing several solo albums.
Griesar was recruited to join the band The Basics, by bassist Houston Ross. LeRoi Moore
and Tim Reynolds
were also in the group. As a result, he began recording his own music with Matthews. When Matthews quit bartending, they started playing shows at another bar called Eastern Standard.
In August 1990, Miller's hosted practice sessions for Matthews, Moore, Carter Beauford
, and Stefan Lessard
, while they were closed for late summer cleaning. Before long, he was practicing with them.
By 1991, the band (entertaining using the name Dumela) became the Dave Matthews Band, and added violinist Boyd Tinsley
, playing at fraternity houses and other bars. During the fall of 1992, as attendance was skyrocketing, the band began planning to cut an album.
However, after the band's March 23, 1993 performance, Griesar quit the band.
Two years later, in 1995, he returned to music, working with artist Lauren Hoffman
. In 1996, he joined The Ninth, which included Lessard. The band didn't take off, so Griesar decided to record his own album for his friends and family.
, From the Supertanker Dude with the Zero Obsession. In August 2000, he assembled the second incarnation of Supertanker, which toured briefly.
In 2002 Peter released a solo album on Offset Records called Superfastgo that also featured performances by DMB saxophonist LeRoi Moore, guitarist Tim Reynolds and pianist Art Wheeler. The album was received well by critics, including a favorable write up in Rolling Stone, and received heavy college airplay. Griesar immediately followed this up with another album called Candyshop released in 2003.
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
from August 1990 to March 1993, playing keyboards, harmonica and providing backup vocals. He grew up in Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
and moved to Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
to attend the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. He met Dave Matthews
Dave Matthews
David John "Dave" Matthews is a South African–born American musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band...
, later joining his band
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
. After leaving the band in 1993, he continued playing, releasing several solo albums.
Dave Matthews Band
While living in Charlottesville, he got a job at a bar called Miller's. Starting out as a waiter he became friends with a bartender, Dave Matthews.Griesar was recruited to join the band The Basics, by bassist Houston Ross. LeRoi Moore
Leroi Moore
LeRoi Holloway Moore was an American saxophonist best known as a founding member of the Dave Matthews Band. Moore often arranged music for the songs written by frontman Dave Matthews...
and Tim Reynolds
Tim Reynolds
Tim Reynolds is a Grammy nominated multi-instrumentalist known as both a solo artist and as the lead guitarist for Dave Matthews Band...
were also in the group. As a result, he began recording his own music with Matthews. When Matthews quit bartending, they started playing shows at another bar called Eastern Standard.
In August 1990, Miller's hosted practice sessions for Matthews, Moore, Carter Beauford
Carter Beauford
Carter Anthony Beauford is an American drummer, percussionist, and founding member of Dave Matthews Band. He is known for his ability to adapt to a variety of genres, and both his ambidextrous and his open hand drumming styles. He plays the drums and sings backing vocals in the band...
, and Stefan Lessard
Stefan Lessard
Stefan Kahil Lessard is an American musician, most famous as the bassist for the Dave Matthews Band.-Early life:Lessard was born in Anaheim, California, to musicians Ron and Janaki Lessard. After moving a number of times during his childhood, Lessard and his family eventually settled in...
, while they were closed for late summer cleaning. Before long, he was practicing with them.
By 1991, the band (entertaining using the name Dumela) became the Dave Matthews Band, and added violinist Boyd Tinsley
Boyd Tinsley
Boyd Calvin Tinsley is an American violinist and mandolinist who performs as a member of the Dave Matthews Band. Within the band, Tinsley has collaborated in writing songs, harmonizing, and singing backing vocals.-Early life:Tinsley was raised in a musical family...
, playing at fraternity houses and other bars. During the fall of 1992, as attendance was skyrocketing, the band began planning to cut an album.
However, after the band's March 23, 1993 performance, Griesar quit the band.
Leaving Dave Matthews Band
Citing that his mother was sick and he wasn't enjoying touring, he left the band, preferring the small stage, as opposed to big venues that the band began to play. He felt that his place in the band was no longer necessary, unlike Matthews, Tinsley, and Beauford, who had grown into their roles.Two years later, in 1995, he returned to music, working with artist Lauren Hoffman
Lauren Hoffman
Lauren Hoffman is an American singer-songwriter. She was signed to Virgin Records America and released her debut album titled Megiddo in 1997. She parted ways with the label in 1999, following her disenchantment with their lack of promotion for her, whilst Virgin went on to issue her sophomore...
. In 1996, he joined The Ninth, which included Lessard. The band didn't take off, so Griesar decided to record his own album for his friends and family.
Supertanker
In 1998, he assembled Supertanker, and released a solo album, Disposable Love Songs. Two years later, he left the original Supertanker, and released an EPExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, From the Supertanker Dude with the Zero Obsession. In August 2000, he assembled the second incarnation of Supertanker, which toured briefly.
In 2002 Peter released a solo album on Offset Records called Superfastgo that also featured performances by DMB saxophonist LeRoi Moore, guitarist Tim Reynolds and pianist Art Wheeler. The album was received well by critics, including a favorable write up in Rolling Stone, and received heavy college airplay. Griesar immediately followed this up with another album called Candyshop released in 2003.