Scapegoat (band)
Encyclopedia
Scapegoat is an American
rock
group
formed in 1999, in Charlotte, North Carolina
and one of the first bands signed to Tragic Hero Records
. Scapegoat is credited with bringing attention and recognition to the North Carolina rock music scene
.
united with Kit Walters and invited him to be their permanent vocalist, deciding on the band name "Scapegoat." After playing together for more than a year, the quartet
entered the studio
to begin recording tracks for what would become their debut album Two On One. With the successful release of Two on One the group began playing shows in and around the Charlotte-Metro area
. During this growing success the band was forced, due to a pre-existing trademark, to change their name from "Scapegoat" to "Sckapegoat" to avoid legal action.
By 2002, the band had gained a large following and had written much new material for a new album. Released in early 2003, their second album Element of Design was well received in the Charlotte music scene. Element of Design cemented the band as a staple of the Charlotte music scene.
. The album signified a shift in the stylistic approach that Sckapegoat brought to their music. With the release of These Cards We're Dealt the band moved away from what they saw as a "stagnant music industry" and created a whole new genre incorporating the same energy and brutality that Sckapegoat was known for with layered melodies and vocal harmonies. These Cards We're Dealt was released in early 2004 and has sold close to 10,000 copies since February 2004.
2004 also brought the addition of guitarist
Spencer Bensch. In 2005 the band acquired the trademarked name "Scapegoat" allowing them to resume playing under their original moniker.
. Continuing to build on the genre
established with These Cards We're Dealt, Let Our Violins Be Heard was also the bands first release on Raleigh based record label Tragic Hero Records
on October 22, 2005. The album would eventually garner attention with a national release through Tragic Hero in July 2006.
Re-entering the studio to record new music, the band has taken a decidedly different approach with their latest album, Zombie Dog
. Evolving on the same layered melodies and compositions that solidified their fame in their home state, Zombie Dog is a decidedly harder album and was released nationally by Tragic Hero Records on January 22, 2008. In 2009
The band re-released "These Cards We're Dealt" on Zestone Records in Japan and Tragic Hero (USA). Soon after Scapegoat toured Japan to support the re-release and 2008's Zombie Dog.
Scapegoat announced on their facebook the release date of their upcoming album "I AM ALIEN" to be September 3, 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
formed in 1999, in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
and one of the first bands signed to Tragic Hero Records
Tragic Hero Records
Tragic Hero Records is a record label founded in Raleigh, North Carolina in March 2005 to represent the growing hardcore punk and harder wave of music in North Carolina. The label was founded by Tommy Lacombe, David Varnedoe and Jason Ganthner. Alesana was the first band the label signed...
. Scapegoat is credited with bringing attention and recognition to the North Carolina rock music scene
Music of North Carolina
North Carolina is known particularly for its tradition of old-time music, and many recordings were made in the early 20th century by folk song collector Bascom Lamar Lunsford...
.
Sckapegoat (1999-2003)
Justin Driscoll, Dan Royer, and Dan Hitselberger began playing together in early 1998. After many months of several different vocalists, the trioTrio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
united with Kit Walters and invited him to be their permanent vocalist, deciding on the band name "Scapegoat." After playing together for more than a year, the quartet
Quartet
In music, a quartet is a method of instrumentation , used to perform a musical composition, and consisting of four parts.-Western art music:...
entered the studio
Studio
A studio is an artist's or worker's workroom, or the catchall term for an artist and his or her employees who work within that studio. This can be for the purpose of architecture, painting, pottery , sculpture, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, radio or television...
to begin recording tracks for what would become their debut album Two On One. With the successful release of Two on One the group began playing shows in and around the Charlotte-Metro area
Charlotte metropolitan area
The Charlotte metropolitan area is a metropolitan area/region of North and South Carolina within and surrounding the city of Charlotte...
. During this growing success the band was forced, due to a pre-existing trademark, to change their name from "Scapegoat" to "Sckapegoat" to avoid legal action.
By 2002, the band had gained a large following and had written much new material for a new album. Released in early 2003, their second album Element of Design was well received in the Charlotte music scene. Element of Design cemented the band as a staple of the Charlotte music scene.
These Cards We're Dealt and Scapegoat (2004)
Just a few months after the release of Element of Design the band entered the studio once again to record These Cards We're DealtThese Cards We're Dealt
These Cards We're Dealt is the third studio album by the rock group Scapegoat. It was released on February 20, 2004. On February 10, 2009 the album was re-released worldwide with new artwork and additional mixing.-Track listing:...
. The album signified a shift in the stylistic approach that Sckapegoat brought to their music. With the release of These Cards We're Dealt the band moved away from what they saw as a "stagnant music industry" and created a whole new genre incorporating the same energy and brutality that Sckapegoat was known for with layered melodies and vocal harmonies. These Cards We're Dealt was released in early 2004 and has sold close to 10,000 copies since February 2004.
2004 also brought the addition of guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Spencer Bensch. In 2005 the band acquired the trademarked name "Scapegoat" allowing them to resume playing under their original moniker.
Let Our Violins Be Heard and Zombie Dog (2006-Present)
With Spencer Bensch added to the line-up, the band entered the studio again to record what would become Let Our Violins Be HeardLet Our Violins Be Heard
Let Our Violins Be Heard is the fourth studio album by the rock group Scapegoat. It was released on October 21, 2005.-Track listing:#"March On" – 4:07#"After Class With Mrs...
. Continuing to build on the genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
established with These Cards We're Dealt, Let Our Violins Be Heard was also the bands first release on Raleigh based record label Tragic Hero Records
Tragic Hero Records
Tragic Hero Records is a record label founded in Raleigh, North Carolina in March 2005 to represent the growing hardcore punk and harder wave of music in North Carolina. The label was founded by Tommy Lacombe, David Varnedoe and Jason Ganthner. Alesana was the first band the label signed...
on October 22, 2005. The album would eventually garner attention with a national release through Tragic Hero in July 2006.
Re-entering the studio to record new music, the band has taken a decidedly different approach with their latest album, Zombie Dog
Zombie Dog
Zombie Dog is the fifth studio album by the rock group Scapegoat released through Tragic Hero Records on January 22, 2008.-Track listing:#"Zombies" – 4:31#"The Hurricane" – 3:34#"Something in the Way" – 3:24#"Criminal" – 5:01...
. Evolving on the same layered melodies and compositions that solidified their fame in their home state, Zombie Dog is a decidedly harder album and was released nationally by Tragic Hero Records on January 22, 2008. In 2009
The band re-released "These Cards We're Dealt" on Zestone Records in Japan and Tragic Hero (USA). Soon after Scapegoat toured Japan to support the re-release and 2008's Zombie Dog.
Scapegoat announced on their facebook the release date of their upcoming album "I AM ALIEN" to be September 3, 2011.
Members
- Kit Walters - Vocals
- Justin Driscoll - Guitar
- Alex Kalicinski - Bass Guitar
- Dan Hitselberger - Drums
- Spencer Bensch - Guitar
- Daniel Royer - bass (1999–2010)
Discography
- Element of Design (20022002 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI...
) - These Cards We're DealtThese Cards We're DealtThese Cards We're Dealt is the third studio album by the rock group Scapegoat. It was released on February 20, 2004. On February 10, 2009 the album was re-released worldwide with new artwork and additional mixing.-Track listing:...
(20042004 in musicSee also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
) - Let Our Violins Be HeardLet Our Violins Be HeardLet Our Violins Be Heard is the fourth studio album by the rock group Scapegoat. It was released on October 21, 2005.-Track listing:#"March On" – 4:07#"After Class With Mrs...
(20052005 in music-Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:...
) - Zombie DogZombie DogZombie Dog is the fifth studio album by the rock group Scapegoat released through Tragic Hero Records on January 22, 2008.-Track listing:#"Zombies" – 4:31#"The Hurricane" – 3:34#"Something in the Way" – 3:24#"Criminal" – 5:01...
(20082008 in music2008 was a huge year in music history with the emergence of pop superstars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry into the mainstream. Also, this is the year that is widely agreed upon by critics as the start of the fall of hip hop from the mainstream and the rise of Synthpop into the mainstream due to acts such...
) - I AM ALIEN (Sept 3, 2011)