Love and Theft (band)
Encyclopedia
Love and Theft, an American country music
duo, is composed of Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson, both of whom sing lead vocals and play guitar
. Love and Theft originally formed as a trio, along with Brian Bandas (who also sang lead and played guitar), in Nashville, Tennessee
, in 2006. Signed to Lyric Street Records
subsidiary Carolwood Records in 2009, Love and Theft made its chart debut in early 2009 with the single "Runaway
", which has reached Top 10 on Billboard
Hot Country Songs
. The band's debut album, World Wide Open
, was released on August 25, 2009.
executive for Lyric Street Records
, who signed the band to Lyric Street's sister label Carolwood Records in 2009. Shortly before being signed, the band was also signed as an opening act for Taylor Swift
on her 2008 tour. Liles is the subject of the song "Hey Stephen" which appears on Swift's 2008 album Fearless
. He also co-wrote the track "Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong
" on Martina McBride
's 2009 album Shine
. "Kissin' in Cars", which was featured on the soundtrack
for the film Country Strong, was also co-written by Liles.
Love and Theft made its first Grand Ole Opry
performance on March 28, 2009, shortly before the release of its debut single "Runaway
". This song is included on the band's debut album, World Wide Open
. In addition, Love and Theft has recorded a video for "Don't Wake Me", another cut from the album. "Runaway" peaked at number 10 on the country charts in November 2009, shortly before Carolwood was consolidated with Lyric Street. "Dancing in Circles" was released as the album's second single in December 2009, and reached a peak of number 25 in March 2010. On April 14 of that year, Disney Music Group announced the closure of Lyric Street Records, leaving Love and Theft without a record deal.
Love and Theft became a duo in 2011 when founding member Brian Bandas left the band. The now duo then signed with RCA Nashville
in 2011. The lead-off single to their second studio album, "Angel Eyes," was digitally released on November 8, 2011 and released to radio on November 14, 2011
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
duo, is composed of Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson, both of whom sing lead vocals and play guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
. Love and Theft originally formed as a trio, along with Brian Bandas (who also sang lead and played guitar), in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, in 2006. Signed to Lyric Street Records
Lyric Street Records
Lyric Street Records was an American record label specializing in country music. The label was part of the Disney Music Group, owned by the The Walt Disney Company. President Randy Goodman, formerly a general manager for RCA Records, founded the label in 1997...
subsidiary Carolwood Records in 2009, Love and Theft made its chart debut in early 2009 with the single "Runaway
Runaway (Love and Theft song)
"Runaway" is title of a song recorded by the country music group Love and Theft. It is the lead-off single to the band's debut album World Wide Open...
", which has reached Top 10 on Billboard
Billboard (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...
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
. The band's debut album, World Wide Open
World Wide Open
-Love and Theft:*Brian Bandas – vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, electric guitar*Eric Gunderson – vocals, acoustic guitar, bass guitar*Stephen Barker Liles – vocals-Additional musicians:*Mike Brignardello – bass guitar*Tom Bukovac – electric guitar...
, was released on August 25, 2009.
Musical career
Love and Theft was founded in 2006 by Brian Bandas, Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson, all three of whom sing lead vocals. After performing before ASCAP executives, the band was recommended to an A&RA&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
executive for Lyric Street Records
Lyric Street Records
Lyric Street Records was an American record label specializing in country music. The label was part of the Disney Music Group, owned by the The Walt Disney Company. President Randy Goodman, formerly a general manager for RCA Records, founded the label in 1997...
, who signed the band to Lyric Street's sister label Carolwood Records in 2009. Shortly before being signed, the band was also signed as an opening act for Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
Taylor Alison Swift is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress.In 2006, she released her debut single "Tim McGraw", then her self-titled debut album, which was subsequently certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America...
on her 2008 tour. Liles is the subject of the song "Hey Stephen" which appears on Swift's 2008 album Fearless
Fearless (Taylor Swift album)
Fearless has been well-received by music professionals, with many praising Swift for her introspective lyrics, as well as her mature sound. According to the music review aggregator Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an...
. He also co-wrote the track "Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong
Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong
"Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong", or its shortened name when released as a single, "Wrong Baby Wrong", is the title of a song recorded by American country artist Martina McBride. It was written by Brad and Brett Warren , along with Robert Ellis Orrall and Love and Theft member Stephen Barker Liles...
" on Martina McBride
Martina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
's 2009 album Shine
Shine (Martina McBride album)
Shine is the tenth studio album from American country music singer Martina McBride. It was released on March 24, 2009 through RCA Records Nashville. The album spun three Top 20 hits on the Billboard country chart: "Ride" and "Wrong Baby Wrong" both reached #11, and "I Just Call You Mine" peaked at...
. "Kissin' in Cars", which was featured on the soundtrack
Country Strong (soundtrack)
-Original Motion Picture Soundtrack:*Byron Gallimore — tracks 1, 7, 12*James Stroud — track 2*Tony Brown — track 3*Frank Liddell and Luke Wooten — track 4*Frank Liddell and Chuck Ainlay — track 5*Ronnie Dunn — track 6*Michael Knox — track 8...
for the film Country Strong, was also co-written by Liles.
Love and Theft made its first Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
performance on March 28, 2009, shortly before the release of its debut single "Runaway
Runaway (Love and Theft song)
"Runaway" is title of a song recorded by the country music group Love and Theft. It is the lead-off single to the band's debut album World Wide Open...
". This song is included on the band's debut album, World Wide Open
World Wide Open
-Love and Theft:*Brian Bandas – vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, electric guitar*Eric Gunderson – vocals, acoustic guitar, bass guitar*Stephen Barker Liles – vocals-Additional musicians:*Mike Brignardello – bass guitar*Tom Bukovac – electric guitar...
. In addition, Love and Theft has recorded a video for "Don't Wake Me", another cut from the album. "Runaway" peaked at number 10 on the country charts in November 2009, shortly before Carolwood was consolidated with Lyric Street. "Dancing in Circles" was released as the album's second single in December 2009, and reached a peak of number 25 in March 2010. On April 14 of that year, Disney Music Group announced the closure of Lyric Street Records, leaving Love and Theft without a record deal.
Love and Theft became a duo in 2011 when founding member Brian Bandas left the band. The now duo then signed with RCA Nashville
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
in 2011. The lead-off single to their second studio album, "Angel Eyes," was digitally released on November 8, 2011 and released to radio on November 14, 2011
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country |
US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
||
| World Wide Open World Wide Open -Love and Theft:*Brian Bandas – vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, electric guitar*Eric Gunderson – vocals, acoustic guitar, bass guitar*Stephen Barker Liles – vocals-Additional musicians:*Mike Brignardello – bass guitar*Tom Bukovac – electric guitar... |
|
10 | 36 |
Extended plays
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Live in Savannah |
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The 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... |
|||
| 2009 | "Runaway Runaway (Love and Theft song) "Runaway" is title of a song recorded by the country music group Love and Theft. It is the lead-off single to the band's debut album World Wide Open... " |
10 | 65 | World Wide Open |
| "Dancing in Circles Dancing in Circles "Dancing in Circles" is the title of a song recorded by American country music group Love and Theft. Co-written by band member Stephen Barker Liles with Robert Ellis Orrall and Roger Springer, it is the second single released from the band's debut album, World Wide Open... " |
25 | — | ||
| 2011 | "Angel Eyes"A | 46 | TBD | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
- A Current single.
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "Don't Wake Me" | Devin Pense |
| "Runaway" | Kristin Barlowe | |
| "Dancing in Circles" | ||