The Alternate Routes
Encyclopedia
The Alternate Routes are an American rock
band out of Bridgeport, Connecticut
formed by Tim Warren and Eric Donnelly in 2002 while studying at Fairfield University
.
The Alternate Routes are currently touring nationally in support of their third studio album, Lately.
In 2006, the band won an Independent Music Award
for the song "Ordinary." Later that year, the band signed with Vanguard Records
.
In 2007, the band re-released Good and Reckless and True on Vanguard, and released a limited-edition acoustic album. This album, available only at shows, was affectionately titled The Brooklawn Sessions, referring to the house where Tim and then bass player Chip Johnson lived and recorded the album. On April 10, 2007, the Alternate Routes performed their single "Time is a Runaway" on Late Night With Conan O'Brien
.
In 2008, the band recorded their follow-up LP, Sucker's Dream, again with Jay Joyce in Nashville. While waiting for its release in February of '09, the band recorded a five song EP, The Watershed EP, at Tarquin Studios with producer Peter Katis
in their hometown of Bridgeport.
In 2010, longtime band member Chip Johnson left the band to pursue his home studio, Alpine Red.
The Alternate Routes parted ways with Vanguard Records in 2010 and shortly headed back to Nashville to begin work on their third studio album, Lately. Lately was produced by Teddy Morgan at Barrio East in Nashville over the course of 6 weeks. The album features drummer Richard Medek and multi-instrumentalist Carl Broemel of My Morning Jacket
.
In the summer of 2011, the Alternate Routes will be touring nationally with co-headliners Scattered Trees
. The tour introduces the band's new four-piece lineup featuring drummer Richard Medek and longtime guitarist turned bassist Mike Sembos.
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...
band out of Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
formed by Tim Warren and Eric Donnelly in 2002 while studying at Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
.
The Alternate Routes are currently touring nationally in support of their third studio album, Lately.
Career
In 2005, the band recorded their debut album, Good and Reckless and True, with producer Jay Joyce in Nashville, TN. The next few years were spent touring and honing their live sound.In 2006, the band won an Independent Music Award
The Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
for the song "Ordinary." Later that year, the band signed with Vanguard Records
Vanguard Records
Vanguard Records is a record label set up in 1950 by brothers Maynard and Seymour Solomon in New York. It started as a classical label, but is perhaps best known for its catalogue of recordings by a number of pivotal folk and blues artists from the 1960s; the Bach Guild was a subsidiary...
.
In 2007, the band re-released Good and Reckless and True on Vanguard, and released a limited-edition acoustic album. This album, available only at shows, was affectionately titled The Brooklawn Sessions, referring to the house where Tim and then bass player Chip Johnson lived and recorded the album. On April 10, 2007, the Alternate Routes performed their single "Time is a Runaway" on Late Night With Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
.
In 2008, the band recorded their follow-up LP, Sucker's Dream, again with Jay Joyce in Nashville. While waiting for its release in February of '09, the band recorded a five song EP, The Watershed EP, at Tarquin Studios with producer Peter Katis
Peter Katis
Peter Katis is an American record producer, engineer, mixer and musician.Working primarily out of his own residential studio in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Katis is best known for producing alternative and indie rock bands, especially for Fat Cat Records.-Biography:Katis attended New Canaan Country...
in their hometown of Bridgeport.
In 2010, longtime band member Chip Johnson left the band to pursue his home studio, Alpine Red.
The Alternate Routes parted ways with Vanguard Records in 2010 and shortly headed back to Nashville to begin work on their third studio album, Lately. Lately was produced by Teddy Morgan at Barrio East in Nashville over the course of 6 weeks. The album features drummer Richard Medek and multi-instrumentalist Carl Broemel of My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket is an American rock band from Louisville, Kentucky.The band consists of Jim James , Tom 'Two-Tone Tommy' Blankenship , Patrick Hallahan , Carl Broemel , and Bo Koster .-History:My Morning Jacket was...
.
In the summer of 2011, the Alternate Routes will be touring nationally with co-headliners Scattered Trees
Scattered Trees
Scattered Trees is an American indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois. The band is currently on the Roll Call/EMI label.- Career :Scattered Trees began as a solo project for frontman Nate Eiesland, who moved from Minneapolis to Chicago in 2003 and began writing one song a month, each titled for the...
. The tour introduces the band's new four-piece lineup featuring drummer Richard Medek and longtime guitarist turned bassist Mike Sembos.
Members
- Tim Warren - lead vocals, acousticSteel-string acoustic guitarA steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...
and electric guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s - Eric Donnelly - electric guitars, backing vocals
- Mike Sembos - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals, electric guitars, keys - Richard Medek - drums
Previous Members
- Chip Johnson - bass, keys, backing vocals, drums (2003–2010)
- Stephen Chopek - drums (2005–2007)
- Kurt Leon - drums (late 2007–summer 2008)
- David Grant - drums (late 2008)
- Mike Stavitz - drums (2008–2010)
Discography
- This is When EP (2003)
- Over Your Shoulder EP (2004)
- Good and Reckless and True (2005)
- Good and Reckless and True (2007, re-released on Vanguard RecordsVanguard RecordsVanguard Records is a record label set up in 1950 by brothers Maynard and Seymour Solomon in New York. It started as a classical label, but is perhaps best known for its catalogue of recordings by a number of pivotal folk and blues artists from the 1960s; the Bach Guild was a subsidiary...
) - The Watershed EP (2008)
- Sucker's Dream (2009)
- Live... in Seattle (2010)
- Lately (2010)
Singles
- "Time Is A Runaway" (2007)
- "The Future's Nothing New" (2009)
- "Ain't No Secret" (2009)
- "Carry Me Home" (2011)
External links
- Official website
- The Alternate Routes collection at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive