The Smyrk
Encyclopedia
The Smyrk is a band from New Haven
, Connecticut
. The members are Doron Flake, Ari Sadowitz, Chris Barone and David Marvuglio.
The Smyrk announced their breakup on July 21, 2008, with a final show on July 29.
In January 2009, The Smyrk announced its reformation.
, Dillinger Escape Plan) and mastered by Alan Douches (Thrice
, Run DMC) at West West Side Music. The self-released record garnered praise from sources such as AbsolutePunk.net
.
After circulating around the internet and the Northeast playing over 300 shows, Monsters on Maple Street caught the ear of Incubus
bassist and former Roots
guitarist Ben Kenney
. The band then set out on tour, performing across the country and back, including performing in Los Angeles for Kenney
, who invited them to record at his home in August 2006. Monsters on Maple Street was picked up for distribution by Mr. Kenney's label, Ghetto Crush, and quickly became a top seller on the label's website, http://www.ghettocrush.com.
The Smyrk traveled to Los Angeles in August, 2006 to record six new tracks for the album New Fiction. This album was recorded over a month in Mr. Kenney's
home studio.
In October 2007, The Smyrk, was chosen as one of the top 6 bands out of ~4000 bands to compete in MTV2
's Dew Circuit Breakout, a TV battle of the bands
sponsored by Mountain Dew
. MTV2
's contest has brought to the music spotlight bands such as Halifax (Band)
, the 2006 winner and Taking Back Sunday
.
In late 2008, The Smyrk recorded 2 new songs with Bryan Russell
(Envy on the Coast
, Straylight Run
, Coldplay
).
The band showcased at the 2009 South By Southwest
music festival in Austin, Texas.
In January 2009, singer Doron Flake was featured on Stratford, CT alternative/metal band Tempest Edge's track "Against the Wall," off of their E.P. The Creation.
They released 2 new songs, again recorded with Bryan Russell
, in fall 2009.
In late 2009, The Smyrk did an interview with underground music website Madeloud.com. In 2010, their current guitarist and bass player left the band and they have been performing with substitutes.
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. The members are Doron Flake, Ari Sadowitz, Chris Barone and David Marvuglio.
History
The Smyrk formed in 2003, when singer Doron Flake joined up with instrumental trio of guitarist/bassists Nick Logan and Ari Sadowitz, along with drummer Chris Barone, who had been playing the Connecticut club circuit under the name "Canine Smirk".The Smyrk announced their breakup on July 21, 2008, with a final show on July 29.
In January 2009, The Smyrk announced its reformation.
Independent Success
Monsters on Maple Street the bands debut EP was produced with Eric Rachel (Saves the DaySaves the Day
Saves the Day is an American rock band from Princeton, New Jersey, formed in 1994. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Conley, guitarist Arun Bali, bassist Rodrigo Palma, and drummer Claudio Rivera....
, Dillinger Escape Plan) and mastered by Alan Douches (Thrice
Thrice
Thrice is an American rock band from Irvine, California, formed in 1998. The group was founded by guitarist/vocalist Dustin Kensrue and guitarist Teppei Teranishi while they were in high school....
, Run DMC) at West West Side Music. The self-released record garnered praise from sources such as AbsolutePunk.net
AbsolutePunk.net
AbsolutePunk is a website, online community, and alternative music news source founded by Jason Tate . The website mainly focuses on artists who are relatively unknown to mainstream audiences, but it has been known to feature artists who have eventually achieved crossover success, including Fall...
.
After circulating around the internet and the Northeast playing over 300 shows, Monsters on Maple Street caught the ear of Incubus
Incubus (band)
Incubus is an American rock band from Calabasas, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer Jose Pasillas while enrolled in high school and later expanded to include bassist Alex "Dirk Lance" Katunich, and Gavin "DJ Lyfe" Koppell;...
bassist and former Roots
The Roots
The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
guitarist Ben Kenney
Ben Kenney
Benjamin Lee Kenney, Sr. , is a musician from Brielle, NJ, and the bassist for the band Incubus.Ben Kenney played guitar for the hip-hop group The Roots before he joined Incubus in 2003 after the departure of bassist and founding member Alex Katunich aka Dirk Lance...
. The band then set out on tour, performing across the country and back, including performing in Los Angeles for Kenney
Ben Kenney
Benjamin Lee Kenney, Sr. , is a musician from Brielle, NJ, and the bassist for the band Incubus.Ben Kenney played guitar for the hip-hop group The Roots before he joined Incubus in 2003 after the departure of bassist and founding member Alex Katunich aka Dirk Lance...
, who invited them to record at his home in August 2006. Monsters on Maple Street was picked up for distribution by Mr. Kenney's label, Ghetto Crush, and quickly became a top seller on the label's website, http://www.ghettocrush.com.
The Smyrk traveled to Los Angeles in August, 2006 to record six new tracks for the album New Fiction. This album was recorded over a month in Mr. Kenney's
Ben Kenney
Benjamin Lee Kenney, Sr. , is a musician from Brielle, NJ, and the bassist for the band Incubus.Ben Kenney played guitar for the hip-hop group The Roots before he joined Incubus in 2003 after the departure of bassist and founding member Alex Katunich aka Dirk Lance...
home studio.
In October 2007, The Smyrk, was chosen as one of the top 6 bands out of ~4000 bands to compete in MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
's Dew Circuit Breakout, a TV battle of the bands
Battle of the Bands
Battle of Bands is a contest in which two or more bands compete for the title of "best band". The winner is determined by a panel of judges, the general response of the audience, or a combination. The winning band usually receives a prize in addition to bragging rights. Traditionally, battles of...
sponsored by Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew is a citrus-flavored carbonated soft drink brand produced and owned by PepsiCo. The original formula was invented in the 1940s by Tennessee beverage bottlers Barney and Ally Hartman and was first marketed in Marion, VA, Knoxville and Johnson City, Tennessee. A revised formula was...
. MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
's contest has brought to the music spotlight bands such as Halifax (Band)
Halifax (band)
Halifax is a four-piece rock band from Thousand Oaks, California. They formed in 2003 and currently are signed with Rocket Science Records. On their Myspace page the band announced that they will not be going with Drive-Thru Records on their 2009 release but are shipping the album off to other labels...
, the 2006 winner and Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday is a rock band from Long Island, NY, formed in 1999 by guitarist Eddie Reyes. Current members of the band are Adam Lazzara , John Nolan , Eddie Reyes , Shaun Cooper and Mark O'Connell ....
.
In late 2008, The Smyrk recorded 2 new songs with Bryan Russell
Bryan Russell
Bryan Russell is an American record producer. His credits include artists such as Straylight Run, Envy on the Coast, The Academy Is, and Anterrabae, and has also worked on records with Coldplay, Dream Theater, Paul Simon, Blue Wolf and Steely Dan. He is currently living and working out of New...
(Envy on the Coast
Envy On The Coast
Envy on the Coast was an alternative rock band from Long Island, New York. They released their second album Lowcountry in March 2010.-History:...
, Straylight Run
Straylight Run
Straylight Run was an indie rock band based in Baldwin, New York. Two of the members, Nolan and Cooper, had been members of Taking Back Sunday and have now rejoined that band. Their final releases are the EPs About Time and Un Mas Dos, preceded by the full-length album entitled The Needles The...
, Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
).
The band showcased at the 2009 South By Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
music festival in Austin, Texas.
In January 2009, singer Doron Flake was featured on Stratford, CT alternative/metal band Tempest Edge's track "Against the Wall," off of their E.P. The Creation.
They released 2 new songs, again recorded with Bryan Russell
Bryan Russell
Bryan Russell is an American record producer. His credits include artists such as Straylight Run, Envy on the Coast, The Academy Is, and Anterrabae, and has also worked on records with Coldplay, Dream Theater, Paul Simon, Blue Wolf and Steely Dan. He is currently living and working out of New...
, in fall 2009.
In late 2009, The Smyrk did an interview with underground music website Madeloud.com. In 2010, their current guitarist and bass player left the band and they have been performing with substitutes.
Media coverage
Discography
| Date of Release | Title | U.S. sales |
| October 10, 2003 | The Smyrk The Smyrk (album) The Smyrk is an EP released in 2003 by The Smyrk. It was sold for a limited time on the band's website, .-Track listing:#"Rebellion Song" – 4:06#"The Voice of the Invisible Hunter" – 4:55#"Five Smells of Jersey" – 3:19#"Time Is Breath" – 6:50... |
|
| May 5, 2004 | The Hartt Sessions | |
| August 10, 2005 | Monster on Maple Street Monsters on Maple Street Monsters on Maple Street is an EP released on September 10, 2005 by The Smyrk. The band had taken its time with songcraft until working with Eric Rachel to produce its debut EP, Monsters on Maple Street. The self-released record garnered praise from venerable sources such as absolutepunk.net,... |
|
| March 23, 2007 | New Fiction New Fiction -Track listing:#"It Was Nice Meeting You Again" – 2:33#"Dial V For Venom" – 3:08#"Conflict Addiction" – 2:21#"Aphasis" – 2:35#"My Weakness" – 2:37#"New Fiction" – 3:14-Personnel:*Doron Flake - Vocals*Nick Logan - Guitar / Bass*Ari Sadowitz - Bass / Guitar... |
External links
- Official website
- The Smyrk at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- The Smyrk MTV'2 Dew Circuit Breakout at MTV2MTV2MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...