Dexter Freebish
Encyclopedia
Dexter Freebish is a band based in Austin
, Texas, consisting of lead singer Kyle, guitars of Scott Romig, bass and vocals of Chris Lowe, and the drums of Rob Schilz. They have released four albums, with their most recent being the October 19th, 2010 release entitled "Shine On".
at Astroworld theme park in Houston, TX.
In 1999, the band won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest
Song of the Year for their song “Leaving Town," picked from approx. 27,000 entries. They eventually signed with Capitol Records
and recorded their first full-length album in 2000 titled A Life of Saturdays. The lead single, "Leaving Town," was a Top 40 radio hit, and the video was played frequently on VH1
and MTV2
. The second single, "My Madonna," received moderate radio play but failed to chart. In 2001, Dexter Freebish was personally invited by Yoko Ono
to play at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
for the opening of the John Lennon Exhibit. Several of Dexter Freebish's songs have appeared on MTV
's The Real World
. The band has also toured the world and played several shows for the U.S. Navy stationed in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
In 2001, Dexter Freebish contributed a live performance of their song "My Madonna" to the charity album Live in the X Lounge IV
. Soon after, the band decided to part ways with Capitol Records due to creative differences. Their second album, Tripped Into Divine, was released independently through Sixthman Records]]. The lead single, "Prozak", won Best Rock Song in the 2004 John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
After a four year hiatus, the band partnered up with Artwerk, a joint venture between Electronic Arts
and the Nettwerk Music Group. The band announced the release of a 'Best Songs' album, set to be released January 13, 2009. The album consisted of re-recorded songs from the band's previous catalog, as well as four brand new tracks. October 19, 2010 the band released "Shine On", their first full-length album of new material in over six years.
Their songs have been featured in several video games, mostly with the Electronic Arts
label. The song "Ghosts" is featured in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004
, "Save Me" in Superman Returns
, and both "Falling Down" and "Life of Saturdays" in NHL 2004
. "Pretty People" was re-recorded in Simlish
for Maxis
-Electronic Arts game The Sims 2: University
, and "The Other Side" is featured in The Sims 3
, which was released June 2, 2009.
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas, consisting of lead singer Kyle, guitars of Scott Romig, bass and vocals of Chris Lowe, and the drums of Rob Schilz. They have released four albums, with their most recent being the October 19th, 2010 release entitled "Shine On".
History
The band was originally named "The Twigs" while starting out in Austin, TX playing a residency at Hondo's on 6th Street. They later changed it to Dexter Freebish. The name comes from "Dexter Freebish's Electric Roller Ride", the name of a former roller coasterRoller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
at Astroworld theme park in Houston, TX.
In 1999, the band won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest
John Lennon Songwriting Contest
The John Lennon Songwriting Contest, named for the former member of The Beatles, is a songwriting competition for songwriters, open to amateurs and professionals. The contest accepts instrumental pieces as well as songs with a vocal component. Though all entries must include a CD, cassette, or...
Song of the Year for their song “Leaving Town," picked from approx. 27,000 entries. They eventually signed with Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
and recorded their first full-length album in 2000 titled A Life of Saturdays. The lead single, "Leaving Town," was a Top 40 radio hit, and the video was played frequently on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
and 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...
. The second single, "My Madonna," received moderate radio play but failed to chart. In 2001, Dexter Freebish was personally invited by Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
to play at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
for the opening of the John Lennon Exhibit. Several of Dexter Freebish's songs have appeared on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's The Real World
The Real World
The Real World is a reality television program on MTV originally produced by Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray. First broadcast in 1992, the show, which was inspired by the 1973 PBS documentary series An American Family, is the longest-running program in MTV history and one of the...
. The band has also toured the world and played several shows for the U.S. Navy stationed in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
In 2001, Dexter Freebish contributed a live performance of their song "My Madonna" to the charity album Live in the X Lounge IV
Live in the X Lounge
Live 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...
. Soon after, the band decided to part ways with Capitol Records due to creative differences. Their second album, Tripped Into Divine, was released independently through Sixthman Records]]. The lead single, "Prozak", won Best Rock Song in the 2004 John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
After a four year hiatus, the band partnered up with Artwerk, a joint venture between Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
and the Nettwerk Music Group. The band announced the release of a 'Best Songs' album, set to be released January 13, 2009. The album consisted of re-recorded songs from the band's previous catalog, as well as four brand new tracks. October 19, 2010 the band released "Shine On", their first full-length album of new material in over six years.
Their songs have been featured in several video games, mostly with the Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
label. The song "Ghosts" is featured in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 is a golf video game published by EA Sports. It was released for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, and the N-Gage. It was the first to feature the Game Face feature, in which the player can create his or her own player...
, "Save Me" in Superman Returns
Superman Returns (video game)
Superman Returns is a video game loosely based on the movie of the same name, developed by Electronic Arts-Tiburon in Orlando, Fla., in conjunction with Warner Bros...
, and both "Falling Down" and "Life of Saturdays" in NHL 2004
NHL 2004
NHL 2004, developed by the EA Black Box studios, is an ice hockey video game. It is the successor to NHL 2003 and is widely considered to be a major turning point in the NHL series. The game adds 3 European Elite Leagues: Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga , Sweden's Elitserien , and Finland's...
. "Pretty People" was re-recorded in Simlish
Simlish
Simlish is a fictional language featured in EA Games' Sim series of games. It debuted in SimCopter, and has been especially prominent in The Sims, The Sims 2 and The Sims 3. The Sims development team created the unique Simlish language by experimenting with fractured Ukrainian, French, Latin,...
for Maxis
Maxis
Maxis is an American company founded as an independent video game developer in 1987. It is currently a subsidiary of Electronic Arts . Maxis is the creator of one of the best-selling computer games of all time, The Sims and its first sequel, The Sims 2...
-Electronic Arts game The Sims 2: University
The Sims 2: University
The Sims 2: University is the first expansion pack for the strategic life simulation computer game The Sims 2 developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It was released on March 1, 2005 to mixed reception. The expansion pack adds a new aging period to Sims which is Young Adult...
, and "The Other Side" is featured in The Sims 3
The Sims 3
The Sims 3 is a 2009 strategic life simulation computer game developed by The Sims Studio and published by Electronic Arts. It is the sequel to the best-selling computer game, The Sims 2. It was first released on June 2, 2009 simultaneously for Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows...
, which was released June 2, 2009.
Life of Saturdays
Released September 26, 2000- Leaving Town
- My Madonna
- Higher
- What Do You See?
- Spotlight
- Tomorrow
- Deeper
- Falling Down
- Life Of Saturdays
- Wonderland
- Bring Me Water
Tripped Into Divine
Released January 21, 2004- Prozak
- Wild Things
- How Do I Get Through To You
- Ghosts (Voices In My Head)
- What I Need
- Breathe
- Save Me
- Heavy
- No One Knows
- Pretty People
- Twilight
- Breakdown
The Other Side – The Best of Dexter Freebish
Released January 13, 2009- The Other Side
- Leaving Town
- Prozak
- Twilight
- Walk on Water
- Higher
- Save Me
- Honestly
- Ghosts
- How Do I Get Through to You
- Wonderland
- Wild Things
- Avalon
- Tomorrow
Shine On
Released October 19, 2010- Wide Awake
- Save The Last Dance
- Everybody Knows Somebody
- Do You Want To
- Made Some Friends Along The Way
- When The Sun Shines
- Shine On
- The Need Machine
- Beautiful Girl
- Falling Off The Edge
- Come Down