Ludo (band)
Encyclopedia
Ludo is an alternative rock
band from St. Louis, Missouri
. The band consists of lead vocalist/guitarist Andrew Volpe, lead guitarist/back up vocalist Tim Ferrell, moog/synth and back up vocalist Tim Convy, and drummer/back up vocalist Matt Palermo.
in Ladue, Missouri
. While sitting in his car in the local Schnucks
supermarket parking lot after class, Volpe penned songs that would become some of Ludo's first, including their local breakout radio hit "Hum Along." After his sophomore year at Washington University in St. Louis
, Volpe decided to form a band with fellow John Burroughs graduate Dave Heltibrand. The two began seeking a guitarist, and Saint Louis University High School
graduate Tim Ferrell took them up on the offer while home on break from the University of Notre Dame
. The three adopted the name Ludo after a character in the film Labyrinth
.
Heltibrand soon left the band, but lead vocalist Volpe and guitarist Ferrell continued to play occasionally around St. Louis as an acoustic duo. In 2002, Volpe and Ferrell moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma
, after Ferrell graduated from Notre Dame. Volpe dropped out of Washington University's music program. Tim Convy, from Saint Louis Priory School
, one of Ferrell's friends from St. Louis, was added to the band after Volpe watched him sing with an 80s cover band in Columbia, Missouri
. The three men performed together through early 2003, telling audiences they would return in the fall with a rhythm section and an album.
Ludo posted an ad: "Bassist/drummer needed to help take over world." Bassist Marshall Fanciullo drove down to Tulsa from Omaha, Nebraska
, to audition in summer 2003, and Matt Palermo left community college in Spring, Texas
, to join the band on drums.
After playing together for only three weeks, Ludo recorded their self-titled debut album, Ludo
, and released it on their own indie label, Redbird Records, in August 2003. The album included several songs written and performed by Andrew Volpe's former band, Karate Lunchbox. Ludo's first show as a full band was at a bar in Indianapolis on August 8, 2003. For the next few years, the band toured extensively with other Midwestern bands, including The Dog and Everything
, Anything But Joey
and The Primetime Heroes. This exposure brought them moderate indie success.
In 2005, the band returned to the studio to record the EP
Broken Bride
, a rock opera
about a man who travels backward and forward through time in an attempt to save his wife from dying in a car accident in 1989, fighting futuristic zombies and prehistoric pterodactyls along the way. The opening track, "Broken Bride: Part 1," was a song that originally stood alone before evolving into the full opera.
In recent years, Ludo has put on themed concerts at The Pageant Concert Nightclub in St. Louis and The Blue Note
in Columbia, Missouri
. These include "HalLUDOween," "A Very Ludo Christmas," "Ludo Shop of Horrors," and "Cinco de Mustache," and are noted for their fun outlook and interactive nature.
Ludo has toured with popular bands such as Relient K
, Motion City Soundtrack
, This Providence
, House of Heroes
, Sing It Loud
, The Spill Canvas
, and The Presidents of the United States of America
. In 2008, the band played on several well-known tours, shows and festivals, such as Warped Tour
, Lollapalooza
, SXSW, Batfest, and Pointfest.
In October 2006, Ludo signed a five-album deal with Island Records that turned Redbird Records into an Island imprint. Under the deal, the band may release noncommercial material such as Christmas albums or rock operas on the Redbird imprint. In spring 2007, Ludo headed to southern California to record their major label debut with Maroon 5
producer Matt Wallace
.
On February 26, 2008, they released their album, You're Awful, I Love You
. The lead single was "Love Me Dead," a song written in 2004. They made two music videos, an official version and a fan participation video. They performed the song live on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on July 11, 2008. "Love Me Dead" was adapted into a commercial teaser for the show House
, and was #10 on the No. 1 Alternative Countdown on Fuse
the week of August 18, 2008.
In November 2008, while on tour in Chicago bassist Marshall Fanciullo was relieved of his duties in the band. Several people have filled the bassist slot for tours.
The band announced that their albums Ludo
and Broken Bride
would be re-released on September 29, 2009. Ludo also undertook a short tour to promote the re-release of "Broken Bride" by playing the EP in its entirety. On the tour's off-dates, members Tim Ferrell, Tim Convy, Matt Palermo and Adam Brooks toured as a side project, "The New Heathers."
Ludo's third full-length album titled Prepare the Preparations
was released September 7, 2010. The lead single from the album was "Whipped Cream." Topics on the new album include "skeletons, pirates, cyborgs, robots, leprechauns, witches, curses, Bonnie and Clyde and 1950s R&B." Volpe said of the new album, "I like to write from my imagination, so there are songs about skeletons, grave robbing lovers, a cyclops and of course love and all that stuff." The band headlined a 29 city tour of the United States in support of the album.
In May 2011, Ludo announced their summer tour, titled "Space Dracula's Basketball Expo." So far, they have announced 19 dates in the United States, beginning in July. They will be headlining the tour, but will also have other bands performing with them, such as Sparks the Rescue
, Tommy & the High Pilots, Stamps, and Without a Face. The website and trailer for the tour can be viewed here.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band from St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. The band consists of lead vocalist/guitarist Andrew Volpe, lead guitarist/back up vocalist Tim Ferrell, moog/synth and back up vocalist Tim Convy, and drummer/back up vocalist Matt Palermo.
History
Ludo's origins can be traced to songs written while Andrew Volpe was still in high school at John Burroughs SchoolJohn Burroughs School
Founded in 1923, John Burroughs School is a private, non-sectarian preparatory school with nearly 600 students in grades 7-12. Its 47.5 acre campus is located in Ladue, Missouri , an affluent suburb of Saint Louis. It is named for U.S...
in Ladue, Missouri
Ladue, Missouri
Ladue is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in central St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 8,521....
. While sitting in his car in the local Schnucks
Schnucks
Schnucks is a supermarket chain. Based in suburban St. Louis, the company was started in 1939 with the opening of a store in north St. Louis city and now operates 100 stores in five states throughout the midwest. Schnucks also runs stores under the Logli Supermarkets and Hilander Foods banners...
supermarket parking lot after class, Volpe penned songs that would become some of Ludo's first, including their local breakout radio hit "Hum Along." After his sophomore year at Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
, Volpe decided to form a band with fellow John Burroughs graduate Dave Heltibrand. The two began seeking a guitarist, and Saint Louis University High School
Saint Louis University High School
St. Louis University High School , a Jesuit Catholic high school for boys founded in 1818, is the oldest secondary educational institution in the U.S. west of the Mississippi River, and one of the largest private high schools in Missouri. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint...
graduate Tim Ferrell took them up on the offer while home on break from the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
. The three adopted the name Ludo after a character in the film Labyrinth
Labyrinth (film)
Labyrinth is a 1986 British/American fantasy film directed by Jim Henson, produced by George Lucas, and designed by Brian Froud. Henson collaborated on the screenwriting with children's author Dennis Lee, Terry Jones from Monty Python, and Elaine May .The film stars David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin...
.
Heltibrand soon left the band, but lead vocalist Volpe and guitarist Ferrell continued to play occasionally around St. Louis as an acoustic duo. In 2002, Volpe and Ferrell moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, after Ferrell graduated from Notre Dame. Volpe dropped out of Washington University's music program. Tim Convy, from Saint Louis Priory School
Saint Louis Priory School
The Saint Louis Priory School, a Roman Catholic secondary day school for boys, is located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri, within the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. The school is run by the Benedictine monks of Saint Louis Abbey as part of their religious ministry.- History :The school was...
, one of Ferrell's friends from St. Louis, was added to the band after Volpe watched him sing with an 80s cover band in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
. The three men performed together through early 2003, telling audiences they would return in the fall with a rhythm section and an album.
Ludo posted an ad: "Bassist/drummer needed to help take over world." Bassist Marshall Fanciullo drove down to Tulsa from Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, to audition in summer 2003, and Matt Palermo left community college in Spring, Texas
Spring, Texas
Spring, Texas is a census-designated place within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Houston in Harris County, Texas, United States, north of Downtown Houston. The population was 54,298 at the 2010 census...
, to join the band on drums.
After playing together for only three weeks, Ludo recorded their self-titled debut album, Ludo
Ludo (Ludo album)
-Personnel:Band*Andrew Volpe - Vocals, Guitar*Tim Ferrell - Guitar, Vocals*Tim Convy - Vocals, Moog Synthesizer*Matt Palermo - Drums*Marshall Fanciullo- BassProduction*Jimmy Callahan - Producer, Engineer, Mixing...
, and released it on their own indie label, Redbird Records, in August 2003. The album included several songs written and performed by Andrew Volpe's former band, Karate Lunchbox. Ludo's first show as a full band was at a bar in Indianapolis on August 8, 2003. For the next few years, the band toured extensively with other Midwestern bands, including The Dog and Everything
The Dog and Everything
The Dog and Everything was a power pop rock band from Chicago, IL. They hailed from the same scene as bands such as Lucky Boys Confusion and The Plain White T's.- History :...
, Anything But Joey
Anything But Joey
Anything But Joey was a pop-rock band from the Kansas City area. The band was made up of high school friends Matt Groebe , Drew Scofield , Jeff Polaschek , and Bryan Chesen .- Thulium:...
and The Primetime Heroes. This exposure brought them moderate indie success.
In 2005, the band returned to the studio to record the EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Broken Bride
Broken Bride
- Stage Adaptation :In November 2006, Broken Bride was produced for the first time ever as a fully staged theater piece by University Theater at the University of Chicago...
, a rock opera
Rock opera
A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
about a man who travels backward and forward through time in an attempt to save his wife from dying in a car accident in 1989, fighting futuristic zombies and prehistoric pterodactyls along the way. The opening track, "Broken Bride: Part 1," was a song that originally stood alone before evolving into the full opera.
In recent years, Ludo has put on themed concerts at The Pageant Concert Nightclub in St. Louis and The Blue Note
The Blue Note (Missouri)
The Blue Note is a music venue in Columbia, Missouri. It was established in 1980 by Richard King and Phil Costello in a restored vaudeville theater. The original Blue Note was located at 912 Business Loop 70 East and moved to its Ninth Street location in the early 90's. It is famous/infamous for...
in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
. These include "HalLUDOween," "A Very Ludo Christmas," "Ludo Shop of Horrors," and "Cinco de Mustache," and are noted for their fun outlook and interactive nature.
Ludo has toured with popular bands such as Relient K
Relient K
Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt Thiessen, Brian Pittman, and Matt Hoopes during the band's junior year in high school and their time at Malone University...
, Motion City Soundtrack
Motion City Soundtrack
Motion City Soundtrack is an American rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, formed in 1997. The band consists of founding members Justin Pierre and Joshua Cain , along with keyboardist and moog synthesist Jesse Johnson, bassist and backing vocalist Matthew Taylor, and drummer, percussionist and...
, This Providence
This Providence
This Providence is a four-piece Alternative Rock band from Seattle, Washington. The band consists of Dan Young , David Blaise , Gavin Phillips , and Andy Horst .-Formation and early history:...
, House of Heroes
House of Heroes
House of Heroes is an alternative rock band from Columbus, Ohio. They were also known by the name No Tagbacks. They are generally considered to be Christian rock, though their lyrics are not always transparently Christian...
, Sing It Loud
Sing it Loud
-History:Sing it Loud grew out of a friendship between cousins vocalist Pat Brown and guitarist Kieren Smith, who founded the group together and added members whom they met locally in the Minneapolis music scene. Brown officially brought the group together after his previous band called it quits....
, The Spill Canvas
The Spill Canvas
The Spill Canvas is an alternative rock band from Sioux Falls, South Dakota.-Career:The Spill Canvas started as a side project for lead singer, Nick Thomas, who at the time, was guitarist and backup vocalist for Metalcore outfit Nodes of Ranvier ....
, and The Presidents of the United States of America
The Presidents of the United States of America (band)
The Presidents of the United States of America, commonly referred to as Pot USA or "PUSA" or The Presidents, are a twice Grammy-nominated American alternative rock band. The band formed in Seattle, USA, in 1993. The three-piece group currently comprises vocalist and "basitarist" Chris Ballew,...
. In 2008, the band played on several well-known tours, shows and festivals, such as Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
, Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
, SXSW, Batfest, and Pointfest.
In October 2006, Ludo signed a five-album deal with Island Records that turned Redbird Records into an Island imprint. Under the deal, the band may release noncommercial material such as Christmas albums or rock operas on the Redbird imprint. In spring 2007, Ludo headed to southern California to record their major label debut with Maroon 5
Maroon 5
Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. While they were in high school, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adam Levine, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, bass guitarist Mickey Madden, and drummer Ryan Dusick formed a garage band called Kara's Flowers and released one album...
producer Matt Wallace
Matt Wallace
Matt Wallace is an American record producer. He is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, and has been producing professionally since the early 1980s. Among his credits are the highly acclaimed album Angel Dust by Faith No More and the multiplatinum Songs About Jane by Maroon...
.
On February 26, 2008, they released their album, You're Awful, I Love You
You're Awful, I Love You
*The album also contains a hidden track in the pregap of the album entitled "Goodbye Bear".-Members:Band*Andrew Volpe - Vocals, Guitar*Tim Ferrell - Guitar, Backing Vocals*Tim Convy - Moog, Backing Vocals*Marshall Fanciullo - Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals...
. The lead single was "Love Me Dead," a song written in 2004. They made two music videos, an official version and a fan participation video. They performed the song live on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on July 11, 2008. "Love Me Dead" was adapted into a commercial teaser for the show House
House (TV series)
House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
, and was #10 on the No. 1 Alternative Countdown on Fuse
Fuse TV
Fuse is an American national television network dedicated exclusively to music. It features original series and specials, exclusive interviews, live concerts and video blocks....
the week of August 18, 2008.
In November 2008, while on tour in Chicago bassist Marshall Fanciullo was relieved of his duties in the band. Several people have filled the bassist slot for tours.
The band announced that their albums Ludo
Ludo (Ludo album)
-Personnel:Band*Andrew Volpe - Vocals, Guitar*Tim Ferrell - Guitar, Vocals*Tim Convy - Vocals, Moog Synthesizer*Matt Palermo - Drums*Marshall Fanciullo- BassProduction*Jimmy Callahan - Producer, Engineer, Mixing...
and Broken Bride
Broken Bride
- Stage Adaptation :In November 2006, Broken Bride was produced for the first time ever as a fully staged theater piece by University Theater at the University of Chicago...
would be re-released on September 29, 2009. Ludo also undertook a short tour to promote the re-release of "Broken Bride" by playing the EP in its entirety. On the tour's off-dates, members Tim Ferrell, Tim Convy, Matt Palermo and Adam Brooks toured as a side project, "The New Heathers."
Ludo's third full-length album titled Prepare the Preparations
Prepare the Preparations
-Members:Band*Andrew Volpe - Vocals, Guitar*Tim Ferrell - Guitar, Backing Vocals*Tim Convy - Moog, Backing Vocals*Matt Palermo - Drums, Backing VocalsAdditional Musicians*Tommy Cantillon - Bass Guitar*Matt Bowen - Violin, programming...
was released September 7, 2010. The lead single from the album was "Whipped Cream." Topics on the new album include "skeletons, pirates, cyborgs, robots, leprechauns, witches, curses, Bonnie and Clyde and 1950s R&B." Volpe said of the new album, "I like to write from my imagination, so there are songs about skeletons, grave robbing lovers, a cyclops and of course love and all that stuff." The band headlined a 29 city tour of the United States in support of the album.
In May 2011, Ludo announced their summer tour, titled "Space Dracula's Basketball Expo." So far, they have announced 19 dates in the United States, beginning in July. They will be headlining the tour, but will also have other bands performing with them, such as Sparks the Rescue
Sparks The Rescue
Sparks the Rescue is a five-member American rock band from Maine. They formed when members of three high school bands Pozer, Short of April and Two Girls Later converged. Their debut EP Stumbling Skyward was released independently in 2005 with McAllister and O'Connell sharing main vocal duties. The...
, Tommy & the High Pilots, Stamps, and Without a Face. The website and trailer for the tour can be viewed here.
Members
- Andrew Volpe - Lead vocals, guitar
- Tim Ferrell - Lead Guitar, back up vocals
- Tim Convy - Moog/synth back up vocals
- Matt Palermo - Drums, back up vocals
- Tom Cantillon - Bass, back up vocals (touring member)
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 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... |
HEAT Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
||
| 2004 | Ludo Ludo (Ludo album) -Personnel:Band*Andrew Volpe - Vocals, Guitar*Tim Ferrell - Guitar, Vocals*Tim Convy - Vocals, Moog Synthesizer*Matt Palermo - Drums*Marshall Fanciullo- BassProduction*Jimmy Callahan - Producer, Engineer, Mixing...
|
– | – |
| 2005 | Broken Bride Broken Bride - Stage Adaptation :In November 2006, Broken Bride was produced for the first time ever as a fully staged theater piece by University Theater at the University of Chicago... |
- | - |
| 2008 | You're Awful, I Love You You're Awful, I Love You *The album also contains a hidden track in the pregap of the album entitled "Goodbye Bear".-Members:Band*Andrew Volpe - Vocals, Guitar*Tim Ferrell - Guitar, Backing Vocals*Tim Convy - Moog, Backing Vocals*Marshall Fanciullo - Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals... |
166 | 5 |
| 2010 | Prepare the Preparations Prepare the Preparations -Members:Band*Andrew Volpe - Vocals, Guitar*Tim Ferrell - Guitar, Backing Vocals*Tim Convy - Moog, Backing Vocals*Matt Palermo - Drums, Backing VocalsAdditional Musicians*Tommy Cantillon - Bass Guitar*Matt Bowen - Violin, programming... |
72 | - |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Modern | ||||||
| 2008 | "Love Me Dead" | 8 | You're Awful, I Love You You're Awful, I Love You *The album also contains a hidden track in the pregap of the album entitled "Goodbye Bear".-Members:Band*Andrew Volpe - Vocals, Guitar*Tim Ferrell - Guitar, Backing Vocals*Tim Convy - Moog, Backing Vocals*Marshall Fanciullo - Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals... |
|||
| "Go-Getter Greg" | — | |||||
| 2010 | "Whipped Cream" | — | Prepare the Preparations Prepare the Preparations -Members:Band*Andrew Volpe - Vocals, Guitar*Tim Ferrell - Guitar, Backing Vocals*Tim Convy - Moog, Backing Vocals*Matt Palermo - Drums, Backing VocalsAdditional Musicians*Tommy Cantillon - Bass Guitar*Matt Bowen - Violin, programming... |
|||
| "—" denotes singles that did not chart. | ||||||
Videos
- "Hum Along"
- "Good Will Hunting By Myself"
- "Love Me Dead (Official)"
- "Love Me Dead (Fan Toothbrush Video)"
- "A Very Ludo Christmas"
- "Go-Getter Greg"
- "Save Our City"
- "Whipped Cream"