The Weepies
Encyclopedia
The Weepies are an indie
pop
-folk
duo of married singer-songwriter
s Deb Talan
and Steve Tannen
. Their music has been described as "subtly intoxicating folk-pop".
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
, they quickly discovered a deep musical bond and began playing music together. According to Talan, the band's name
The Weepies' first album Happiness was released at Club Passim on November 29, 2003, and though they were unsigned by a label it sold over 10,000 copies.
, in their bedroom of their home in Pasadena, California
; the occasional motorist can be heard passing by in the background of some of the tracks. In May 2005, after a sold out show at The Living Room in New York City
, The Weepies were approached by Nettwerk Records and signed by the label later that year. The album was released digitally in December of that year and physically on March 7, 2006. By February 2006, the album hit number one the iTunes Store
list of most-downloaded folk albums in eight countries, with the single "World Spins Madly On" also topping the list of most-downloaded folk songs in the United States. Snow Patrol
's Gary Lightbody
nominated the album for the Shortlist Music Prize
, awarded to the year's best album released in the United States selling fewer than 500,000 copies, though it failed to reach the ten-album shortlist.
The band played 180 shows in 2006 and toured Europe for the first time, playing at Oxegen
, T in the Park
, and the Hurricane Festival
.
In 2007, the band collaborated with Mandy Moore
, playing and writing on her new album, Wild Hope
.
The Weepies recorded their third album, Hideaway
, in a small rental house in Topanga, California
. Released in April 2008, it sold 14,000 copies in its first week and was the band's first entrance on the Billboard Top 200, charting at number 31.
The Weepies' fourth full-length album, Be My Thrill
, was released in August 2010, and featured Colbie Caillat
in back-up vocals on the track "I Was Made for Sunny Days." The album topped the Top 200 Billboard Charts at #34 and remained at #3 on Billboard's Top Folk albums for nine weeks. The band's subsequent supporting tour had 26 sold out shows across the United States.
, Adam, and Prom
, as well as episodes of Grey's Anatomy
, Everwood
, One Tree Hill
, Scrubs
, The Riches
, How I Met Your Mother
, Gossip Girl
, Kyle XY
, and Life Unexpected
. The band was prominently featured during an episode of Dirty Sexy Money
with an on-screen performance as an episode subplot
. Songs by the band have also appeared in advertising campaigns, include spots for Old Navy
and J. C. Penney
, as well as a campaign advertisement for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign
.
, Catie Curtis
, Brad Gordon, Jon Flower, and Frank Lenz
.
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
-folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
duo of married singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
s Deb Talan
Deb Talan
Deborah Ruth "Deb" Talan is an American singer-songwriter. She is best known for being in the folk-pop duo The Weepies.-Early life and career:...
and Steve Tannen
Steve Tannen
Steven J. "Steve" Tannen is an American singer-songwriter. He is best known for being in the folk-pop duo The Weepies.-Early life and career:...
. Their music has been described as "subtly intoxicating folk-pop".
Formation and early years (2001–2005)
In 2001, Talan and Tannen were individually active as singer-songwriters but mutual fans of each other's music; Tannen played Talan's album "constantly", even singing along in harmony, while Talan in turn was captivated by and had "formed a kind of a relationship" with Tannen's music. After eventually meeting at one of Tannen's shows at Club PassimClub Passim
Club Passim is a folk music club in the Harvard Square area of Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was opened by Joyce Kalina and Paula Kelley in 1958, when it was known as Club 47 , and changed its name to simply Passim in 1969...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, they quickly discovered a deep musical bond and began playing music together. According to Talan, the band's name
...came about from a few different sources, but one was, you know, those sort of old movies that were called weepies, where you could basically be guaranteed that if you needed a good cry, you could go and see one of these and bring your hankyHandkerchiefA handkerchief , also called a handkercher or hanky, is a form of a kerchief, typically a hemmed square of thin fabric that can be carried in the pocket or purse, and which is intended for personal hygiene purposes such as wiping one's hands or face, or blowing one's nose...
and have a good time. And we want to be able to provide that for people. We want to make music that touches them and moves them in that way, the place where tears come from, for joy and for sorrow.
The Weepies' first album Happiness was released at Club Passim on November 29, 2003, and though they were unsigned by a label it sold over 10,000 copies.
Nettwerk (2005–2011)
In 2005, The Weepies recorded a second album, Say I Am YouSay I Am You
Say I Am You is the second album released by pop-folk band The Weepies and their first full-length record. It was released on Nettwerk Records on March 7, 2006...
, in their bedroom of their home in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
; the occasional motorist can be heard passing by in the background of some of the tracks. In May 2005, after a sold out show at The Living Room in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, The Weepies were approached by Nettwerk Records and signed by the label later that year. The album was released digitally in December of that year and physically on March 7, 2006. By February 2006, the album hit number one the iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
list of most-downloaded folk albums in eight countries, with the single "World Spins Madly On" also topping the list of most-downloaded folk songs in the United States. Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
's Gary Lightbody
Gary Lightbody
Gary Lightbody is an Northern Irish musician and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band Snow Patrol.- Early life :...
nominated the album for the Shortlist Music Prize
Shortlist Music Prize
The Shortlist Music Prize, stylized as , was an annual music award for the best album released in the United States that had sold fewer than 500,000 copies at the time of nomination...
, awarded to the year's best album released in the United States selling fewer than 500,000 copies, though it failed to reach the ten-album shortlist.
The band played 180 shows in 2006 and toured Europe for the first time, playing at Oxegen
Oxegen 2006
Oxegen 2006 was the third Oxegen festival to take place, following the dissolution of its predecessor Witnness in 2004. It took place on the weekend of Saturday, 8 July and Sunday, 9 July at Punchestown Racecourse near Naas in County Kildare, Ireland...
, T in the Park
T in the Park
T in the Park is a major British music festival that has been held annually since 1994. It is named after its main sponsor, the brewing company Tennents. It was originally held at Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire but since 1997 has been held at a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire...
, and the Hurricane Festival
Hurricane Festival
The Hurricane Festival, also just Hurricane, is a music festival that takes place in Scheeßel near Bremen, Germany, usually every June. It is promoted by German private music television channel VIVA, which belongs to Viacom, the MTV Network's parent company, as of 2004...
.
In 2007, the band collaborated with Mandy Moore
Mandy Moore
Amanda Leigh "Mandy" Moore is an American singer-songwriter, actress and fashion designer. Moore became famous as a teenager in the late 1990s, after the release of her teen pop albums So Real, I Wanna Be with You, and Mandy Moore. In 2007, she took an adult pop-folk direction with the release of...
, playing and writing on her new album, Wild Hope
Wild Hope
-Singles:#"Extraordinary"#"Nothing That You Are" #"All Good Things" - Unreleased tracks :*"Changed My Mind" *"Shades" *"Never Again"...
.
The Weepies recorded their third album, Hideaway
Hideaway (The Weepies album)
Hideaway is the third album released by The Weepies. It was released on April 2, 2008 by Nettwerk.The album debuted at number 31 on the U.S...
, in a small rental house in Topanga, California
Topanga, California
Topanga is a census-designated place in western Los Angeles County, California, USA. It is located in the Santa Monica Mountains. Occupying Topanga Canyon, it is often referred to by that name. Topanga is bounded on three sides by State Park or conservancy lands, and on the south by the Pacific...
. Released in April 2008, it sold 14,000 copies in its first week and was the band's first entrance on the Billboard Top 200, charting at number 31.
The Weepies' fourth full-length album, Be My Thrill
Be My Thrill
- Charts :...
, was released in August 2010, and featured Colbie Caillat
Colbie Caillat
Colbie Marie Caillat is an American pop singer-songwriter and guitarist from Malibu, California. She debuted in 2007 with Coco, which included hit singles "Bubbly", "Realize", and "The Little Things". In 2008, she recorded a duet with Jason Mraz, "Lucky", which won a Grammy. Caillat released her...
in back-up vocals on the track "I Was Made for Sunny Days." The album topped the Top 200 Billboard Charts at #34 and remained at #3 on Billboard's Top Folk albums for nine weeks. The band's subsequent supporting tour had 26 sold out shows across the United States.
Post-Nettwerk (2011–present)
After three records with Nettwerk, the band departed the label on good terms in 2011. According to their Twitter and Facebook accounts, they have been recording independently and gearing up for additional touring.Licensing
Many songs by The Weepies have been licensed for use in films, television shows, and advertisements, including the films Sex and the City, Morning GloryMorning Glory (2010 film)
Morning Glory is a 2010 American comedy-drama film directed by Roger Michell, produced by J.J. Abrams and written by Aline Brosh McKenna. It stars Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton, Patrick Wilson and Jeff Goldblum. After some delays, the film was released in the United States on November...
, Adam, and Prom
Prom (film)
Prom is a 2011 American teen film directed by Joe Nussbaum and produced by Ted Griffin and Justin Springer. It was released on April 29, 2011 by Walt Disney Pictures. The film was the first major production shot with Arriflex's Alexa HD cameras to be released in theatres.-Plot:Class president Nova ...
, as well as episodes of Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
, Everwood
Everwood
Everwood is an American drama television series that initially aired in the United States on The WB. The series is set in the fictional small town of Everwood, Colorado, and was filmed in Ogden, South Salt Lake, and Draper, Utah, except the series pilot which was filmed in Canmore, Alberta,...
, One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill may refer to:* "One Tree Hill" , a song by rock band U2 referencing One Tree Hill, New Zealand* One Tree Hill , an American television drama originally aired on the WB/CW network, named after the U2 song...
, Scrubs
Scrubs (TV series)
Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
, The Riches
The Riches
The Riches is an FX television series, which originally ran from March 15, 2007 to April 29, 2008, and starred Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver.-History:...
, How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
, Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl is an American young adult novel series written by Cecily von Ziegesar and published by Little, Brown and Company, a subsidiary of the Hachette Group. The series revolves around the lives and romances of the privileged teenagers at the Constance Billard School for Girls, an elite...
, Kyle XY
Kyle XY
Kyle XY is an American television series with a science fiction premise and mystery-drama style. The central character is a teenage boy who awakens naked in a forest outside Seattle, Washington, with no more knowledge or abilities than a newborn. He is taken in by a family and given the name Kyle...
, and Life Unexpected
Life Unexpected
Life Unexpected is an American television series that ran for two seasons, from 2010 to 2011.The show premiered on The CW on Monday, January 18, 2010. The 13-episode first season run ended on April 12, 2010...
. The band was prominently featured during an episode of Dirty Sexy Money
Dirty Sexy Money
Dirty Sexy Money is an American prime time drama series created by Craig Wright, which ran on the ABC from September 26, 2007 to August 8, 2009. The series was produced by ABC Studios, Bad Hat Harry Productions, Berlanti Television and Gross Entertainment...
with an on-screen performance as an episode subplot
Subplot
A subplot is a secondary plot strand that is a supporting side story for any story or the main plot. Subplots may connect to main plots, in either time and place or in thematic significance...
. Songs by the band have also appeared in advertising campaigns, include spots for Old Navy
Old Navy
Old Navy is an American clothing brand as well as a chain of stores owned by Gap, Inc., with corporate operations in San Francisco and San Bruno, California. It is one of the first major corporations to house headquarters in the new Mission Bay district of San Francisco.Gap, Inc. was run by...
and J. C. Penney
J. C. Penney
-External links:*...
, as well as a campaign advertisement for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign
Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008
Barack Obama, then junior United States Senator from Illinois, announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States in Springfield, Illinois, on February 10, 2007. On August 27, 2008, he was declared nominee of the Democratic Party for the 2008 presidential election...
.
Band members
Talan and Tannen have at various times been supported in recording and touring by Meghan TooheyMeghan Toohey
Meghan Toohey is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, singer, producer and performer from Massachusetts who resides in Los Angeles. She is currently recording the debut album for her new musical project The Cold and Lovely.-Education:...
, Catie Curtis
Catie Curtis
Catie Curtis is an American singer-songwriter. Her music has been categorized in several genres, including pop, rock, alternative country, indie and folk. She has recorded 11 CDs. The most recent, Stretch Limousine On Fire, will be released in August 2011 on Compass Records.-Early life:Catie...
, Brad Gordon, Jon Flower, and Frank Lenz
Frank Lenz
Frank Lenz is a drummer from Southern California who has done work for many bands and artists, including but not limited to Starflyer 59, Daniel Amos, Crystal Lewis, Duraluxe, Map, Charity Empressa, Kevin Max, Cush and The Dingees.-Biography:Frank Lenz started taking drum lessons when he was eight...
.
Studio albums
- 2003: HappinessHappiness (The Weepies album)Happiness is the first album released by pop-folk band The Weepies. It was released independently by the band on November 29, 2003.-Promotion:The song, "All That I Want," is featured in a series of 2007 J.C. Penney Christmas commercials...
- 2006: Say I Am YouSay I Am YouSay I Am You is the second album released by pop-folk band The Weepies and their first full-length record. It was released on Nettwerk Records on March 7, 2006...
- 2008: HideawayHideaway (The Weepies album)Hideaway is the third album released by The Weepies. It was released on April 2, 2008 by Nettwerk.The album debuted at number 31 on the U.S...
- 2010: Be My ThrillBe My Thrill- Charts :...
Tour
- 2006: Say I Am You Tour
- 2010: Be My Thrill Tour
- 2011: "An Acoustic Evening With The Weepies" Tour
External links
- Live recordings by The Weepies 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...