Levi Weaver
Encyclopedia
Levi Weaver is an American singer and songwriter. Born in Colorado
and raised in Texas
, Weaver moved to Birmingham
, England
in 2005 after his former band (coincidentally named "Stories Of London") broke up. He released his first EP, the self-recorded "Civil War Between My Heart and Mind," in April 2006. This EP has since been licensed to Respect Music, a publishing company in England.
During the fall of 2006, Weaver toured with Kid Beyond
and Imogen Heap
. Both Weaver and Kid Beyond opened for Heap, and also supported her during her sets as part of her band.
Due to the extended absence from his job in England while touring, Weaver lost his British visa and in February 2007 moved back to the United States. He currently resides in or near Nashville, TN.
After three separate announced-then-rescheduled release dates, Weaver's first full-length album, "You Are Never Close To Home, You Are Never Far From Home" was finally made available at a CD Release show in Fort Worth, Texas
at the Ridglea Theater. The official release date has been announced as January 6, though the album was available on iTunes before 2007 was over.
In 2008 Weaver toured the U.S. extensively, and began work on his second full-length studio album. In 2009, he took down his website and shared his demos exclusively through the forum (which remained online). At the end of the summer, Weaver began working with Mitch Dane
to record the songs that would make up the album. During this time, he continued to tour between recording.
The last tour of 2009 was with Norwegian songstress Kate Havnevik
, after which he settled back into the studio with new producer Aaron Dethrage to finish the album.
In 2010, just as the album was nearing completion, Weaver discovered that the Ridglea Theater in Fort Worth, Texas
was under contract to Bank of America
to be mostly demolished and turned into a drive-through bank. From June through November, Weaver put his music career on hold and began the fight to save the venerable theater. After creating a business plan, securing investors, and making appearances at a number of neighborhood association groups, Weaver found himself speaking in front of the Fort Worth City Council. Weeks later, Bank of America announced that they no longer planned to purchase the theater, and withdrew from the process.
While Weaver's investment group did not win the bid for the building, the theater was purchased by a group who are restoring and renovating the theater for the purpose of remaining open as an entertainment venue.
With the Ridglea battle behind him, Weaver set to finishing the remaining details on the new album, now titled "The Letters of Dr. Kurt Gödel". However, on Christmas morning, Weaver posted on his twitter account that he was unable to get out of bed with neck pain. Eventually, the problem led to surgery to remove a herniated disc.
In March, after two years of work, "The Letters of Dr. Kurt Gödel" was released on Weaver's Bandcamp page.
in 2011, Gary Nock re-recorded Weaver's "Make it Better" and the song was used for a Mars Chocolate ad in the United Kingdom.
titled "What This Looks Like...". In it, Weaver is quoted as saying "I don't really feel like I'm part of this dying old machine they call 'The Industry'. Everyone I know that loves music doesn't even listen to the radio anymore, so how is that even a music industry?... That old dinosaur of A&R agents and slick dealings and development deals; they took the name 'music industry' back when it applied, but now that it no longer does, they're not going to give it back... we have to come up with a new name for what it even means to make music anymore..."
On August 20, 2008, Levi posted an Open Letter to the RIAA in his blog. This incendiary letter spoke angrily of the possibility that Pandora.com would soon be shutting down due to measures taken by the Riaa and SoundExchange
. The letter was quickly re-posted on dozens of P2P sites. The letter can be read in its entirety on Weaver's blog, which is posted on his official website, and his MySpace
.
Of Bridges Burned - Single (2007)
You Are Never Close To Home, You Are Never Far From Home (2008)
All Of My Best Friends Are Mostly Strangers [EP] (2008) -Sent through mailing list.
Live at The Prophet Bar (2010)
The Letters of Dr. Kurt Gödel (2011)
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and raised in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, Weaver moved to Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 2005 after his former band (coincidentally named "Stories Of London") broke up. He released his first EP, the self-recorded "Civil War Between My Heart and Mind," in April 2006. This EP has since been licensed to Respect Music, a publishing company in England.
During the fall of 2006, Weaver toured with Kid Beyond
Kid Beyond
Kid Beyond is a singer, beat boxer and live looper based in the San Francisco area.-Early career:Chaikin attended Brown University and was a leader in the co-ed fraternity Zeta Delta Xi. He sang in the Jabberwocks, a student a cappella group...
and Imogen Heap
Imogen Heap
Imogen Jennifer Jane Heap is a Grammy Award-winning English singer, composer and songwriter from Havering, Essex. She is known for her work as part of the musical duo Frou Frou and her solo albums, which she writes, produces, and mixes...
. Both Weaver and Kid Beyond opened for Heap, and also supported her during her sets as part of her band.
Due to the extended absence from his job in England while touring, Weaver lost his British visa and in February 2007 moved back to the United States. He currently resides in or near Nashville, TN.
After three separate announced-then-rescheduled release dates, Weaver's first full-length album, "You Are Never Close To Home, You Are Never Far From Home" was finally made available at a CD Release show in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
at the Ridglea Theater. The official release date has been announced as January 6, though the album was available on iTunes before 2007 was over.
In 2008 Weaver toured the U.S. extensively, and began work on his second full-length studio album. In 2009, he took down his website and shared his demos exclusively through the forum (which remained online). At the end of the summer, Weaver began working with Mitch Dane
Mitch Dane
Mitch Dane is an American record producer based in Nashville, Tennessee. In his 20 years of production/engineering experience, Mitch has worked mostly in Rock, Roots/Rock and Singer/Songwriter records, but continues to work in other styles like Hip-Hop, Industrial and even bluegrass/Americana...
to record the songs that would make up the album. During this time, he continued to tour between recording.
The last tour of 2009 was with Norwegian songstress Kate Havnevik
Kate Havnevik
Kate Havnevik is a singer and songwriter from Oslo, Norway. Her debut album, the critically acclaimed electronica infused Melankton, was released in March 2006 on iTunes and April 2006 in Norway only, before being licensed internationally later...
, after which he settled back into the studio with new producer Aaron Dethrage to finish the album.
In 2010, just as the album was nearing completion, Weaver discovered that the Ridglea Theater in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
was under contract to Bank of America
Bank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
to be mostly demolished and turned into a drive-through bank. From June through November, Weaver put his music career on hold and began the fight to save the venerable theater. After creating a business plan, securing investors, and making appearances at a number of neighborhood association groups, Weaver found himself speaking in front of the Fort Worth City Council. Weeks later, Bank of America announced that they no longer planned to purchase the theater, and withdrew from the process.
While Weaver's investment group did not win the bid for the building, the theater was purchased by a group who are restoring and renovating the theater for the purpose of remaining open as an entertainment venue.
With the Ridglea battle behind him, Weaver set to finishing the remaining details on the new album, now titled "The Letters of Dr. Kurt Gödel". However, on Christmas morning, Weaver posted on his twitter account that he was unable to get out of bed with neck pain. Eventually, the problem led to surgery to remove a herniated disc.
In March, after two years of work, "The Letters of Dr. Kurt Gödel" was released on Weaver's Bandcamp page.
Songs
Weaver wrote "Del Cielo" to cope with a family tragedy. At 17, Levi and his 13-year-old brother were involved in a car accident in which his brother was killed while Levi suffered minimal injuries.in 2011, Gary Nock re-recorded Weaver's "Make it Better" and the song was used for a Mars Chocolate ad in the United Kingdom.
"Independent Spirit"
Levi has often stated that he prefers the ideals of Independent Music, and has frequently made known his relative disdain for the current state of the Music Industry. In May 2008, using clips he shot whilst on tour, he released a video to YouTubeYouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
titled "What This Looks Like...". In it, Weaver is quoted as saying "I don't really feel like I'm part of this dying old machine they call 'The Industry'. Everyone I know that loves music doesn't even listen to the radio anymore, so how is that even a music industry?... That old dinosaur of A&R agents and slick dealings and development deals; they took the name 'music industry' back when it applied, but now that it no longer does, they're not going to give it back... we have to come up with a new name for what it even means to make music anymore..."
On August 20, 2008, Levi posted an Open Letter to the RIAA in his blog. This incendiary letter spoke angrily of the possibility that Pandora.com would soon be shutting down due to measures taken by the Riaa and SoundExchange
SoundExchange
SoundExchange is a non-profit performance rights organization that collects royalties on the behalf of sound recording copyright owners and featured artists for non-interactive digital transmissions, including satellite and Internet radio.-History:Prior to 1995, SRCOs in the United States did not...
. The letter was quickly re-posted on dozens of P2P sites. The letter can be read in its entirety on Weaver's blog, which is posted on his official website, and his MySpace
MySpace
Myspace 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....
.
Discography
Civil War Between My Heart and Mind (2006)- Good Medicine
- Dead Best Friends
- Kid, Way to Go
- Road Map Eyes
- Am I Trying?
- Del Cielo
Of Bridges Burned - Single (2007)
- Of Bridges Burned
- Would We Liars Be?
- Family Feud (Doc Holliday Mix)
You Are Never Close To Home, You Are Never Far From Home (2008)
- Dear Friend
- Of Bridges Burned
- Family Feud
- You Are Home
- Sick, Or Determined?
- Which Drink?
- Idioteque
- Would We Liars Be?
- Kansas, I Decline (Stars)
- Last Camden Stand
- An Epistle For Sal
- Let's Talk Dissent
All Of My Best Friends Are Mostly Strangers [EP] (2008) -Sent through mailing list.
- Have You Seen Me Lately (Counting Crows Cover)
- Used To Love U (John Legend Cover)
- Longtime Sunshine (Weezer Cover)
- The Zookeeper's Boy (Mew Cover)
- Left And Leaving (The Weakerthans Cover)
Live at The Prophet Bar (2010)
- Sick, or Determined?
- Good Medicine
- Of Bridges Burned
- Dear Friend
- Dead Best Friends
- Kansas, I Decline (Stars)
- You Are Home
- Last Camden Stand
- Road Map Eyes
- Family Feud
- Which Drink?
- Del Cielo
The Letters of Dr. Kurt Gödel (2011)
- String Theory
- (the butterfly)
- Goodbye, Vivian
- We're Tornadoes When We Dance
- Drink (Drink, Drink)
- (the beast)
- The Best Defense (is to be offensive)
- I Am Certain I Am a Train
- Spirit First (Sincerely, K.)
- (the bird)
- A Bad Example, A Helping Hand
- Apostate
- Good From Evil
- (the end)
- An Incompleteness Theorem