Athenaeum (band)
Encyclopedia
Athenaeum was an alternative pop rock four-piece band from Greensboro, North Carolina
, USA
formed in 1990 at an eighth grade dance by Nic Brown and Mark Kano.
with bassist Alex McKinney and lead guitarist Grey Brewster. The "Green Album," as it is widely known, sold about 10,000 copies. The album was self-released and also distributed by Redeye Distribution
.
In 1996 the band was signed by Atlantic Records
. They released their major label debut, Radiance, in 1998
. The first single, "What I Didn't Know," was a minor hit in the United States. The song "Flat Tire" from Radiance was a hit and had wide radio airplay in the Philippines, particularly the radio station NU 107
. Though it didn't appear on the film's soundtrack, the song "Un-noticed" was also briefly featured in the MTV Films
feature Varsity Blues
(1999). During the recording phase for their next album, Brown left the band to attend Columbia University. He was replaced by Jeremy Vogt, who performed with the likes of Tonic
and The Connells
. Brewster also dissolved his membership with the group and was replaced by Mike Garrigan
, the lead singer and songwriter of Collapsis
.
This new line up played their first show on March 31, 2001, at Ziggy's
in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
. The new set included Garrigan's Collapsis anthem, "October". Athenaeum's second major label album Athenaeum (originally titled "Plurabelle" until weeks before its release) was released on September 18, 2001. However, it received little promotion in the wake of the September 11th attacks
.
Athenaeum was eventually dropped by Atlantic Records
. They toured for an additional three years and released their final record, Hourglass, a collection of rare outtakes and demos, before performing their last show at Ziggy's
in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
on December 28, 2004.
Mark Kano and Mike Garrigan subsequently formed the band mg4 (with Alex McKinney, the original bassist for Athenaeum and Jeremy Vogt), who released an EP in the summer of 2004 titled Gravity Affects Me. Mike Garrigan has since stepped back into his solo career and production work, including production and engineering on the first Mark Kano solo disc.
Brown went on to record and perform with bands such as Ben Lee
, Longwave
, Skeleton Key, Eszter Balint, and Claire Holley. He has also published two novels, Floodmarkers (2009) and Doubles (2010), and is now an English professor at the University of Northern Colorado.
Grey Brewster went on to form a local Greensboro, NC cover band who played for several years before he finally settled in Charlotte, NC to begin work as a singer-songwriter/session musician.
In August 2008, Second Motion Records
announced that both the "Green CD" and "Hourglass" were available for digital download on iTunes for the first time ever.
Mark Kano released a solo album, Walking on Broadway, in February 2009. Gavin MacKillop, who also produced Athenaeum's releases on Atlantic, did the mixing for the album.
Singles
Guest contributions
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
formed in 1990 at an eighth grade dance by Nic Brown and Mark Kano.
Overview
After several personnel changes, Mark Kano and Nic Brown recorded an eight song EP in 19951995 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....
with bassist Alex McKinney and lead guitarist Grey Brewster. The "Green Album," as it is widely known, sold about 10,000 copies. The album was self-released and also distributed by Redeye Distribution
Redeye Distribution
Redeye Distribution is an independent music distribution company founded in 1996 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Redeye currently distributes such labels as Marsalis Music, Barsuk Records, Warp Records, Daptone Records, Luaka Bop Records, Kill Rock Stars, Sargent House, Hydra Head Records, The...
.
In 1996 the band was signed by Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. They released their major label debut, Radiance, in 1998
1998 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia...
. The first single, "What I Didn't Know," was a minor hit in the United States. The song "Flat Tire" from Radiance was a hit and had wide radio airplay in the Philippines, particularly the radio station NU 107
NU 107
NU107 was the flagship radio station of Progressive Broadcasting Corporation in the Philippines. The station's last studio was located at the ground floor, AIC Gold Tower, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City....
. Though it didn't appear on the film's soundtrack, the song "Un-noticed" was also briefly featured in the MTV Films
MTV Films
MTV Films is the motion picture production arm of cable channel MTV. Founded in 1996, it has produced films based on MTV programs such as Beavis and Butt-head Do America and Jackass: The Movie, as well as other adaptations and original projects. Its films are released by fellow Viacom division...
feature Varsity Blues
Varsity Blues
The Varsity Blues is the name for the intercollegiate sports program at the University of Toronto. Its 26 athletic teams regularly participate in competitions held by Ontario University Athletics and Canadian Interuniversity Sport. The Varsity Blues traces its founding to 1877, with the formation...
(1999). During the recording phase for their next album, Brown left the band to attend Columbia University. He was replaced by Jeremy Vogt, who performed with the likes of Tonic
Tonic (band)
Tonic is an American rock band that has earned two Grammy nominations to date. The band was formed in 1993 by Emerson Hart and Jeff Russo. Later members have included Dan Lavery, Kevin Shepard, and Dan Rothchild. Signed to a recording contract in 1995, the band released its debut album Lemon Parade...
and The Connells
The Connells
The Connells are an American band from Raleigh, North Carolina. They play a guitar-oriented, melodic, power pop style of rock music with introspective lyrics that reflect the American South. Though mostly dormant, the band continues to play to this day...
. Brewster also dissolved his membership with the group and was replaced by Mike Garrigan
Mike Garrigan
Mike Garrigan is a singer-songwriter from Greensboro, North Carolina. He is best known as the former frontman of the rock band Collapsis, which, in 2000, reached the #28 slot on the Billboard Modern Rock charts with the hit song "Automatic"...
, the lead singer and songwriter of Collapsis
Collapsis
Collapsis is a band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Their name can be traced back to an old Dillon Fence song. They can loosely be categorized as late-nineties post-grunge, with melodic vocals and lyrical themes of broken relationships, cautious yearning, and loneliness...
.
This new line up played their first show on March 31, 2001, at Ziggy's
Ziggy's
Ziggy's is a live music venue and bar in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Baity Street venue closed after Thanksgiving in 2007. Ziggy's reopened in Winston Salem, in a 14,000sq foot space on the corner of 8th and Trade St. in the Downtown Arts District on August 5, 2011.A former residence,...
in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
. The new set included Garrigan's Collapsis anthem, "October". Athenaeum's second major label album Athenaeum (originally titled "Plurabelle" until weeks before its release) was released on September 18, 2001. However, it received little promotion in the wake of the September 11th attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
.
Athenaeum was eventually dropped by Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. They toured for an additional three years and released their final record, Hourglass, a collection of rare outtakes and demos, before performing their last show at Ziggy's
Ziggy's
Ziggy's is a live music venue and bar in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Baity Street venue closed after Thanksgiving in 2007. Ziggy's reopened in Winston Salem, in a 14,000sq foot space on the corner of 8th and Trade St. in the Downtown Arts District on August 5, 2011.A former residence,...
in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
on December 28, 2004.
Mark Kano and Mike Garrigan subsequently formed the band mg4 (with Alex McKinney, the original bassist for Athenaeum and Jeremy Vogt), who released an EP in the summer of 2004 titled Gravity Affects Me. Mike Garrigan has since stepped back into his solo career and production work, including production and engineering on the first Mark Kano solo disc.
Brown went on to record and perform with bands such as Ben Lee
Ben Lee
Benjamin Michael "Ben" Lee is an ARIA Award winning musician and actor. Lee began his career as a musician at the age of 14 with the Sydney band Noise Addict, but focused on his solo career when the band broke up in 1995. He appeared as the protagonist in the Australian film The Rage in Placid Lake...
, Longwave
Longwave
In radio, longwave refers to parts of radio spectrum with relatively long wavelengths. The term is a historic one dating from the early 20th century, when the radio spectrum was considered to consist of long, medium and short wavelengths...
, Skeleton Key, Eszter Balint, and Claire Holley. He has also published two novels, Floodmarkers (2009) and Doubles (2010), and is now an English professor at the University of Northern Colorado.
Grey Brewster went on to form a local Greensboro, NC cover band who played for several years before he finally settled in Charlotte, NC to begin work as a singer-songwriter/session musician.
In August 2008, Second Motion Records
Second Motion Records
Second Motion Records is part of Second Motion Entertainment based in Carrboro, North Carolina. The Label was founded in Chapel Hill, NC by Stephen Judge, who is the former manager of the rock band Athenaeum as well as the former General Manager/A&R Director of Redeye Distribution and Yep Roc...
announced that both the "Green CD" and "Hourglass" were available for digital download on iTunes for the first time ever.
Mark Kano released a solo album, Walking on Broadway, in February 2009. Gavin MacKillop, who also produced Athenaeum's releases on Atlantic, did the mixing for the album.
Discography
Albums- Athenaeum (1995) (widely known as The Green Album and The Green CD)
- Radiance (April 7, 1998) BillboardBillboard (magazine)Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Heatseekers peak #46 - Athenaeum (September 18, 2001) (often referred to as "The Blue Album")
- Hourglass (July 30, 2002)
Singles
- "What I Didn't Know" (1998) from Radiance. Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
peak #58 - "Flat Tire" from Radiance.
- "Unnoticed" from Radiance.
- "Comfort" from Athenaeum.
Guest contributions
- "Comfort" - Live in the X Lounge IVLive in the X LoungeLive in the X Lounge is a series of albums released by Birmingham, Alabama's former alternative rock radio station, WRAX.Though the station can no longer be found on the air, this series of live performances was produced while the station was known as 107.7 The X...
(2001) - "Forever and Ever, AmenForever and Ever, Amen"Forever and Ever, Amen" is a single released in 1987 by country music artist Randy Travis, written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz. It was Travis's third No. 1 single on the U.S...
" (Randy TravisRandy TravisRandy Travis is an American country music singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 22 of which were number one hits...
cover) - Songs for Sixty Five Roses (2006)
Personnel
- Nic Brown (drummer) 1990-2001
- Mark Kano (vocals, guitar, songwriting) 1990-2010
- Grey Brewster (lead guitarist) 1996 - 2001
- Mike Garrigan (lead guitarist) 2001-2004
- Alex McKinney (bassist) 1990-December 28, 2002
- Jeremy Vogt (drummer) 2001 - 2004
- Mike Mitschele (bassist) 2001 - 2004
- Cullen Strawn (lead guitarist) 1994-1996