The Velvet Teen
Encyclopedia
History
The Velvet Teen was founded by Judah NaglerJudah Nagler
Judah Nagler is the singer for The Velvet Teen, an Indie/Baroque Pop band from Santa Rosa in Northern California. He was born on June 19, 1980.- Tin Circus :...
and Logan Whitehurst
Logan Whitehurst
Logan Whitehurst , was an American musician. His career began as the drummer for the band Little Tin Frog from 1995 until 2000, although he is best known as a founding member of Californian indie rock band The Velvet Teen and as a solo artist performing under the name Logan Whitehurst and the...
as a side project from their other bands, Tin Circus and Little Tin Frog. Judah and Logan recorded the EP Comasynthesis, which had a prominent electronic sound, in 2000. It featured Judah doing most instrumentation and singing alone, although Logan provided live drums for some tracks and sang the song "Penning the Penultimate" himself. In 2001, they were joined by bassist/vocalist Joshua Staples and recorded another EP, The Great Beast February, which had more of an alternative sound.
That year, they caught the eye of Slowdance Records
Slowdance Records
Slowdance Records was an independent record label based in Portland, Oregon.-Bands:* The '89 Cubs* * The Evening Episode* * The Intima* * The New Trust* * Rescue* The Roots of Orchis* The Velvet Teen* Logan Whitehurst-External links:* *...
owner, Ezra Caraeff, and were signed to the label. In 2002 they tapped Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie is an American alternative rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1997. The band consists of Ben Gibbard , Chris Walla , Nick Harmer and Jason McGerr ....
's guitarist Chris Walla
Chris Walla
Christopher Walla is an American musician and music producer, most notable for being the guitarist for the band Death Cab for Cutie. He is also a former DJ of KCWU, 88.1 The Burg...
to be the producer for their first full-length album Out of the Fierce Parade
Out of the Fierce Parade
Out of the Fierce Parade is the full-length debut album from The Velvet Teen. It was released in the US on March 19, 2002 and on June 4, 2003 in Japan. The album's artwork was designed by Logan Whitehurst, and the album was co-produced by the band with Christopher Walla of Death Cab for Cutie...
. Logan Whitehurst, who was also an accomplished artist, created the etchings used as the album's artwork. Two music videos from the album ("Radiapathy" and "The Prize Fighter") were featured on Subterranean, an 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...
program.
Their second full-length album, Elysium
Elysium (The Velvet Teen album)
Elysium is the second studio album from The Velvet Teen. It was first released in Japan on May 22, 2004, and in the US on July 20, 2004. A special edition version of the album was released in Japan only with a bonus DVD. The album was also pressed on double 10" vinyl and released through Pandacide...
, was recorded on a laptop by Judah and his brother Ephriam, and mixed at Kingsize Soundlabs
Kingsize Soundlabs
Kingsize Soundlabs is a recording studio in Silver Lake, California, run by record producer Dave Trumfio.Located at the "Rock Block", Kingsize Soundlabs has recorded bands such as Jesus and Mary Chain, Built To Spill, Wilco, The Vines, American Music Club, Patrick Park, Moving Units, Rilo Kiley,...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
by Dave Trumfio
Dave Trumfio
-The Pulsars:Dave Trumfio was the frontman in the 90's new-wave band .The Pulsars, made up of brothers Dave and Harry Trumfio, released EPs in the early 1990s before getting signed to Herb Alpert's Almo Records....
and Mike Krassner. In stark contrast to their earlier work, the album does not feature any guitars at all. The album's core instrumentation is piano and string arrangements. The string and horn ensembles were arranged by Adam Theis.
Several weeks before Elysiums U.S. release in the summer of 2004, Logan Whitehurst was diagnosed with brain cancer and left the band to focus on treatment. Casey Deitz of The Americas, from Chico, California
Chico, California
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
, was welcomed as the new drummer/vocalist.
In 2006, the band recorded and released their third album, Cum Laude!
Cum Laude!
Cum Laude! is the third studio album by The Velvet Teen. It was first released in Japan on June 28, 2006 , and in the US on July 25, 2006. It was preceded by the GyzmKid EP on May 9, 2006...
, with Judah as producer and his brother Ephriam Nagler as recording engineer. Cum Laude! had an odd, progressive sound that was faster and livelier than any of their previous work. They supported the album on Minus the Bear
Minus the Bear
Minus the Bear is an American indie rock band from Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2001, the group features current and former members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving...
's 2006 tour.
In November 2006, Josh Staples left The Velvet Teen in order to fully focus on his other band, The New Trust. Then, on December 3, 2006, after his cancer had been declared in remission, Logan Whitehurst
Logan Whitehurst
Logan Whitehurst , was an American musician. His career began as the drummer for the band Little Tin Frog from 1995 until 2000, although he is best known as a founding member of Californian indie rock band The Velvet Teen and as a solo artist performing under the name Logan Whitehurst and the...
died at his home in Los Banos, California
Los Banos, California
Los Banos is a city in Merced County, California, near the junction of State Route 152 and Interstate 5. Los Banos is located southwest of Merced, at an elevation of 118 feet . The population was 35,972 at the 2010 census, up from 25,869 at the 2000 census...
.
On February 28, 2007, Judah posted a message on The Velvet Teen's official website confirming that the band would continue. They started touring again in the fall. Nagler took over the bass/vocal duties, and Matthew Izen of the Polar Bears
Polar Bears (band)
-Biography:Polar Bears, are an indie rock band from Santa Rosa, California who currently play in and around the North Bay music scene. They have toured nationally with long time friends The Velvet Teen and have done numerous West Coast tours since their inception in 2001. In March 2004, they...
and formerly of The New Trust played guitar.
In February 2009, Josh Staples rejoined The Velvet Teen. On April 25, 2009, The Velvet Teen played their first show as a four piece at the Silicon Valley Brownout at Nickel City Arcade in San Jose, CA.
The Velvet Teen's first recording as four piece, a four song EP titled "No Star", was released digitally November 11, 2010. The physical release of "No Star" will be released January 7, 2011 at the bands CD/Vinyl release show at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco. The music video for the song "No Star" was released February 19, 2011. The 12" of No Star was released by Side With Us Records and as of early 2011 The Velvet Teen appears on their "Bands" page. A full length record is now in the work for release in 2011.
LPs
- Out of the Fierce ParadeOut of the Fierce ParadeOut of the Fierce Parade is the full-length debut album from The Velvet Teen. It was released in the US on March 19, 2002 and on June 4, 2003 in Japan. The album's artwork was designed by Logan Whitehurst, and the album was co-produced by the band with Christopher Walla of Death Cab for Cutie...
(March 19, 2002) - ElysiumElysium (The Velvet Teen album)Elysium is the second studio album from The Velvet Teen. It was first released in Japan on May 22, 2004, and in the US on July 20, 2004. A special edition version of the album was released in Japan only with a bonus DVD. The album was also pressed on double 10" vinyl and released through Pandacide...
(July 20, 2004) - Cum Laude!Cum Laude!Cum Laude! is the third studio album by The Velvet Teen. It was first released in Japan on June 28, 2006 , and in the US on July 25, 2006. It was preceded by the GyzmKid EP on May 9, 2006...
(July 25, 2006)
Singles & EPs
- Comasynthesis EP (March 2000)
- "Your Cell"
- "Super Me"
- "Never Happy"
- "Milo 7"
- "Penning the Penultimate"
- "Reverie to Chanticleer"
- The Great Beast February EP (February 2001)
- "Naked Girl"
- "Counting Backwards"
- "Mother of Love"
- Immortality EP (November 2001)
- "Stay with Me"
- "Weddings and Wakes"
- "Heaven"
- "No One Will Ever Love You" (The Magnetic FieldsThe Magnetic FieldsThe Magnetic Fields is the principal creative outlet of singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt...
cover)- The Velvet Teen & Sin in Space split single (September 2004)
- "Code Red" – The Velvet Teen
- "Go!" – The Velvet Teen (Tones on TailTones on TailTones on Tail was an "eclectic" musical side project of Daniel Ash of Bauhaus, along with art school friend, flatmate, and "Bauhaus roadie" Glenn Campling in 1982. After the breakup of Bauhaus in 1983, they were joined by drummer Kevin Haskins. Their music was described by one critic as...
cover) - "Extraterrestrial" – Sin In Space
- "Do You Love Me Now?" – Sin in Space (The BreedersThe BreedersThe Breeders are an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 by Kim Deal of the Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. The band has experienced a number of line-up changes; the current line-up consists of Kim Deal , her twin sister Kelley Deal , Jose Medeles , Mando Lopez Todd the Fox...
cover)- GyzmKid EP (May 9, 2006)
- "GyzmKid"
- "Spin the Wink" (Little Cat Remix)
- "False Profits" (Cute Version)
- No Star (November 11, 2010)
- "No Star"
- "Forfor"
- "Fixing a Faucet"
- "Pavlovian Bell"
Imports & re-releases
- Plus, Minus, Equals (The Great Beast February and Comasynthesis) (July 16, 2002)
- Combines The Great Beast February EP and Comasynthesis EP onto one CD
- Out of the Fierce Parade (Japanese version) (June 4, 2003)
- Includes the bonus tracks "Naked Girl," "Counting Backwards," "Mother of Love," "Your Cell," and "Code Red"
- Elysium (Japanese version) (May 22, 2004)
- Includes a bonus DVD featuring music videos for "Radiapathy" and "The Prize Fighter," as well as a making-of "The Prize Fighter" video documentary
- Secrets Safe, A Buried Box (Japanese only compilation CD) (October 29, 2004)
- Collects the Immortality EP and unreleased tracks
- Elysium (limited double 10" vinyl) (June 16, 2005)
- Limited edition pressing includes the bonus track "No One Gets the Best of Me"
- Cum Laude! (Japanese version) (June 28, 2006)
- Includes the bonus tracks "No One Gets the Best of Me," "Spin the Wink" (Little Cat Remix), and "False Profits" (Cute Version)