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Lydia (band)
Encyclopedia
Lydia is an indie rock
band from Gilbert
, Arizona
, formed in 2003.
Their first taste of fame was when a friend entered a demo of theirs into a contest which they won and were able to get a song on the Atticus: ...Dragging the Lake, Vol. 3
compilation CD.
Lydia was signed to the Arizona
based record label HourZero, through which they released their debut album This December; It's One More and I'm Free
. Since then, they have toured extensively throughout the country and participated in the Zumiez Couch Tour, Vans Warped Tour, and The Bamboozle
festival. They also played on the first annual Bamboozle Roadshow with Saves The Day
, Armor For Sleep
, Set Your Goals
and Metro Station
in 2008.
They released their second album, Illuminate
on March 18, 2008.
They went on a late summer tour with The Dear Hunter
, Eye Alaska and You, Me, and Everyone We Know
. It was announced on August 25, 2008 that the band had signed to Low Altitude Records
and re-released Illuminate on October 21, 2008. They went on tour with Copeland
, Lovedrug
, and Lights
in November.
They shot a video for the song "I Woke Up Near The Sea
" in December and released it online on February 24.
The band went on their first headlining tour, called the "Illuminate Yourself Tour" in February with Black Gold and also did a West Coast headlining tour with PlayRadioPlay!, Eye Alaska
and Brave Citizens
.
On October 12, 2009 they released a tour only EP titled Hotel Sessions
which features 4 acoustically re-recorded songs off their first album.
The band finished recording in the studio with producer Matt Malpass for their next release which was given a tentative release date of July 2010
She explained her leaving in an interview a couple months later:
Leighton later commented on her departure:
On May 11, 2010 a version of "We Clean Up So Well" was posted on their Myspace page with a note announcing that the band will break up after a nationwide tour in July. The tour was titled "The Lydia Finale: A Goodbye & Farewell Tour".
In an later interview, Leighton explained the breakup a little bit more:
They released a new song off their final album, Assailants
entitled "Empty Out Your Stomach" on May 27, 2010. Assailants
was released to online retailers on July 20, 2010. The album stayed in the Top 15 albums sold spot for over two days.
It was announced on July 12, 2010 that guitarist Steve McGraw had decided to leave the band and would not be playing on their final tour.
On September 15, 2010 a trailer was released for their first ever DVD, Lydia: A Goodbye and Farewell. It was announced on December 22 that all of the footage for the DVD was lost in a hard drive crash.
On September 30, they made announced plans to take their farewell tour to Australia in late November. The band also released a music video for their song, "I've Never Seen A Witch".
Craig explained some more:
They released a new song called "Dragging Your Feet in the Mud" on September 26, 2011. The band released their latest album, Paint it Golden
on October, 4 2011.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band from Gilbert
Gilbert, Arizona
-Demographics:As of July 1, 2009, Maricopa Association of Governments, Census 2000. United States Census Bureau. there were 217,521 people, 74,147 housing units, and 3.01 persons per household....
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, formed in 2003.
Biography
Leighton Antelman and Steve McGraw started writing music and booking shows when they were both in 7th grade. The band really got their start as Rolo 15 while attending Greenfield Jr. High. They then went on to change the name to Nextabest. At that time, the band consisted of Leighton Antleman, Tim Whitlock, William Bradford and Steve Mcgraw. After that band broke up, Antelman and McGraw continued to write and play music. They then soon added drummer Loren Briton and bassist Dustin Forsgren. The band came up with their name right before one of their first shows. Former member Mindy White explains the reasoning:"Steve said they were about to go on one night and didn’t even have a name and the guy said “well give me…something, anything” so he said Lydia."
Their first taste of fame was when a friend entered a demo of theirs into a contest which they won and were able to get a song on the Atticus: ...Dragging the Lake, Vol. 3
Atticus: ...dragging the lake, Vol. 3
Atticus: ...Dragging the Lake, Vol. 3 was the third in the series of compilation albums created by Atticus Clothing.-Track listing:# Gratitude - "This Is the Part"# Blink-182 - "Not Now"# Taking Back Sunday - "Number Five With a Bullet"...
compilation CD.
Lydia was signed to the Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
based record label HourZero, through which they released their debut album This December; It's One More and I'm Free
This December; It's One More and I'm Free
This December; It's One More and I'm Free is the debut album by Lydia. It was released on September 27, 2005. It was also re-released in 2009 while the band was on tour.-Track listing:#"Smile, You've Won" - 4:11#"It’s in Your Blood" - 5:04...
. Since then, they have toured extensively throughout the country and participated in the Zumiez Couch Tour, Vans Warped Tour, and The Bamboozle
The Bamboozle
The Bamboozle is an annual rain-or-shine, three-day music festival held in New Jersey. Every year, new bands compete for spots during the two days. The event evolved out of the Skate and Surf Festival.- The Characters:...
festival. They also played on the first annual Bamboozle Roadshow with Saves The Day
Saves the Day
Saves the Day is an American rock band from Princeton, New Jersey, formed in 1994. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Conley, guitarist Arun Bali, bassist Rodrigo Palma, and drummer Claudio Rivera....
, Armor For Sleep
Armor for Sleep
Armor for Sleep was an American rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001 and disbanded in 2009. The final lineup consisted of lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Ben Jorgensen, lead guitarist PJ DeCicco, bassist Anthony DiIonno and drummer Nash Breen....
, Set Your Goals
Set Your Goals
Set Your Goals is the debut album of the punk rock band CIV. It was released in October 1995 on Lava Records. The album is best known for the hit single "Can't Wait One Minute More"...
and Metro Station
Metro Station (band)
Metro Station is an American pop rock band that formed in Los Angeles by Mason Musso and Trace Cyrus. In late 2006, the band signed a recording contract with Columbia/Red Ink. They are best known for their Top 10 Billboard hit single "Shake It" from their self-titled debut album...
in 2008.
They released their second album, Illuminate
Illuminate (Lydia album)
Illuminate is the second studio album by Lydia. It was released on March 18, 2008, and re-released on October 21, 2008 on Low Altitude Records.-Track listing:# "This Is Twice Now" - 3:01# "A Fine Evening for a Rogue" - 3:38...
on March 18, 2008.
They went on a late summer tour with The Dear Hunter
The Dear Hunter
The Dear Hunter is an indie rock band originating in Providence, Rhode Island. It began as a side project of Casey Crescenzo, formerly of post-hardcore band The Receiving End of Sirens...
, Eye Alaska and You, Me, and Everyone We Know
You, Me, and Everyone We Know
You, Me, and Everyone We Know was a pop rock band from Washington, D.C., fronted by singer-songwriter Ben Liebsch. They released their debut EP Party for the Grown and Sexy in 2006...
. It was announced on August 25, 2008 that the band had signed to Low Altitude Records
Universal Motown Records Group
Universal Motown Republic Group, also abbreviated as UMRG, was an umbrella label founded in 1999 by Universal Music Group to oversee the labels assigned to it's unit...
and re-released Illuminate on October 21, 2008. They went on tour with Copeland
Copeland (band)
Copeland was an indie rock band, originally formed in 2001 by singer Aaron Marsh with his friend, bassist and backup singer James Likeness, in the city of Lakeland, Florida.-Inception:...
, Lovedrug
Lovedrug
Lovedrug is an indie rock band from Canton, Ohio that formed in 2001. The band’s name is something of a word play; singer Michael Shepard initially left music to attend film school but his first ‘love’ of the music medium ‘dragged’ him back .- History :Lovedrug released their first EP, the...
, and Lights
Lights (singer)
Lights Valerie Poxleitner is a Canadian electronic musician, signed to her own personal label, Lights Music. Her most notable singles include "Ice", "Second Go" and "Toes". In 2009, she was awarded the Juno Award for "Best New Artist".-Early life:Lights was born in Timmins, Ontario. Her parents...
in November.
They shot a video for the song "I Woke Up Near The Sea
I Woke Up Near The Sea
"I Woke Up Near the Sea" is the third track from Lydia's 2008 album Illuminate with a length of 3 minutes and 22 seconds. The song was officially released online on November 18, 2008....
" in December and released it online on February 24.
The band went on their first headlining tour, called the "Illuminate Yourself Tour" in February with Black Gold and also did a West Coast headlining tour with PlayRadioPlay!, Eye Alaska
Eye Alaska
Eye Alaska was an American alternative rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 2006. Two members, Brandon Wronski and Cameron Trowbridge, were former members of "Dead Letter Diaries"....
and Brave Citizens
Brave Citizens
Brave Citizens are an American rock band based in Los Angeles, California, formed in 2007. The band began as a studio recording project between vocalist/guitarist Andrew Capra and guitarist/keyboardist Adam Bialik...
.
On October 12, 2009 they released a tour only EP titled Hotel Sessions
Hotel Sessions
Hotel Sessions is a limited edition tour EP released by Lydia. It features 4 songs acoustically re-recorded from their first album This December; It's One More and I'm Free.- Release :Singer Mindy White posted a blog detailing the making of the EP:...
which features 4 acoustically re-recorded songs off their first album.
Beginning of the farewell
It was announced on March 10, 2010 that Mindy White had decided to leave the band.The band finished recording in the studio with producer Matt Malpass for their next release which was given a tentative release date of July 2010
She explained her leaving in an interview a couple months later:
"It was kind of a long time coming. There were a lot of differences in the band, and I know that if you’re in something that has no heart in it besides your own, you’re in the wrong place. I stayed in it just to be doing what I love, which is singing and playing music. I hated the thought of the fans being upset about it, even though I would still be playing music; I just hoped they could understand. It came to the point where I had to make the plunge to leave and start my own band for my own safety and sanity."
Leighton later commented on her departure:
"The band parting ways with Mindy was totally civil. There wasn’t any bad blood; I still talk to her all the time and we’re still good friends."
On May 11, 2010 a version of "We Clean Up So Well" was posted on their Myspace page with a note announcing that the band will break up after a nationwide tour in July. The tour was titled "The Lydia Finale: A Goodbye & Farewell Tour".
"I am anxious to say this, in that I do not like disappointing anyone. But I do need to get this off my chest. The new music that is set to come out this July 2010, under the name Lydia, is going to be the last recordings ever put out by the band. We are very grateful to have been able to put out as much music as we have and to reach so many people. I assure you this is not something I’ve decided over a few months, but more so in the past year. This has been something I’ve been thinking about for quite some time now and it’s just the right place and time for me to move on to other things and projects."
In an later interview, Leighton explained the breakup a little bit more:
"It's quite simple, the two original band members don't want to put out music together anymore. Simple as that."
"Right before we went on the farewell tour, about a week before we went, it kind of just came to heads with me and Steve, the two dudes that started the band. And so that was a little bit not what I wanted the band to end like, but shit happens and I’m sure every band has some bad turmoil that happens. Overall, I don’t have any regrets about it at all."
They released a new song off their final album, Assailants
Assailants (Lydia album)
Assailants is the third album by Lydia. It was released on July 20, 2010. The record was self released by the band after their record label passed on releasing it.-History:...
entitled "Empty Out Your Stomach" on May 27, 2010. Assailants
Assailants (Lydia album)
Assailants is the third album by Lydia. It was released on July 20, 2010. The record was self released by the band after their record label passed on releasing it.-History:...
was released to online retailers on July 20, 2010. The album stayed in the Top 15 albums sold spot for over two days.
It was announced on July 12, 2010 that guitarist Steve McGraw had decided to leave the band and would not be playing on their final tour.
On September 15, 2010 a trailer was released for their first ever DVD, Lydia: A Goodbye and Farewell. It was announced on December 22 that all of the footage for the DVD was lost in a hard drive crash.
On September 30, they made announced plans to take their farewell tour to Australia in late November. The band also released a music video for their song, "I've Never Seen A Witch".
Return from Hiatus
On May 17, it was announced that Leighton and Craig will bring out the band from hiatus to record a new album this summer under the name Lydia. Leighton explained a little bit more on what brought him to bring Lydia back:"I was pretty convinced that I was just going to do my own thing and just put it out under my own name. I was pretty set on that for a little while, but Craig was the one that convinced me to put it out under Lydia because we had come all these years with it and it would be a real shame just to let it die because of one person, which was the sole reason, if I’m being honest, that Lydia had to do a farewell tour and break up."
Craig explained some more:
"Honestly, it was an obvious thing, for me, at least. Me and Leighton were going to keep making music regardless, and I just felt like there was no reason to waste this whole name we already have established. I guess the reunion, if you call it that came from us being like, we really enjoyed doing that."
They released a new song called "Dragging Your Feet in the Mud" on September 26, 2011. The band released their latest album, Paint it Golden
Paint it Golden (Lydia album)
Paint it Golden is the fourth album by Lydia. It is their first album after coming back from hiatus and was released on October 4, 2011. -History:...
on October, 4 2011.
Related bands
- Mindy White started a band with Bryan and Stephen Laurenson (formerly of the band CopelandCopeland (band)Copeland was an indie rock band, originally formed in 2001 by singer Aaron Marsh with his friend, bassist and backup singer James Likeness, in the city of Lakeland, Florida.-Inception:...
) called States. Their first release, the Line 'em Up EP was released on October 12, 2010. States released their first full length album, Room to Run on October 18, 2011.
- Leighton Antelman and producer Matt Malpass have created a new project called The Cinema. They released their debut album, My Blood is Full of Airplanes on September 13, 2011.
- Ethan Koozer is currently playing guitar for the New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
-based band Gates which contains former members of Bears & Bright Lights. Their debut EP, The Sun Will Rise and Lead Me Home was released on January 25, 2011.
- Steve McGraw has formed a new band called The Saturn Hands. They released their first song "Silver Spoon-Fed Sleep Part 1" on January 11. On March 30, they released another new song titled "Junk Brain Pie".
- Maria Sais de Sicilia joined the band Bears of Manitou with former touring member Matt Funderburk.
- Tour manager/touring member Jim Petosa joined the band The Monday Mornings which includes Andrew Forsman of The Fall of TroyThe Fall of TroyThe Fall of Troy was an American progressive math rock trio from Mukilteo, Washington. The trio consisted of Thomas Erak , Andrew Forsman and Frank Ene...
.
- Loren Brinton has played drums for A Rocket to the MoonA Rocket to the MoonA Rocket to the Moon is an American rock band. The band was founded during 2006 in Braintree, Massachusetts by Nick Santino, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist...
, BrightenBrightenBrighten is a pop rock band from Chico, California, consisting of brothers Justin and Jimmy Richards, and Alex Draper . The band has recently been on tour with This Providence, Cute Is What We Aim For, Eisley, and All Time Low. In 2007, their debut album, King vs...
and Austin Gibbs and the StatesAustin GibbsAustin Gibbs is an American musician. He was born in Houston, TX on December 17, 1986 and spent much of his childhood in Southern California. After a move to Mesa, AZ in 2001 he began playing live shows with a group of friends and collectively they were known as Austin Gibbs and The States...
.
Band members
- Leighton Antelman - Vocals, GuitarGuitarThe 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...
- Craig Taylor - DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(formerly Guitar)
Touring members
- Jim Petosa - GuitarGuitarThe 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...
- Sagan Jacobson - GuitarGuitarThe 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...
- Matt Funderburk - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Matt Keller - KeyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
- Justin Camacho - GuitarGuitarThe 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...
Former members
- Dustin Forsgren - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Maria Sais De Sicilia - VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, KeyboardElectronic keyboardAn electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:... - Loren Brinton - DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Evan Aranbul - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Ethan Koozer - Rhythm GuitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
- Jed Dunning - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Mindy White - VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, KeyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Steve McGraw - GuitarGuitarThe 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...
Discography
- This December; It's One More and I'm FreeThis December; It's One More and I'm FreeThis December; It's One More and I'm Free is the debut album by Lydia. It was released on September 27, 2005. It was also re-released in 2009 while the band was on tour.-Track listing:#"Smile, You've Won" - 4:11#"It’s in Your Blood" - 5:04...
(2005) - IlluminateIlluminate (Lydia album)Illuminate is the second studio album by Lydia. It was released on March 18, 2008, and re-released on October 21, 2008 on Low Altitude Records.-Track listing:# "This Is Twice Now" - 3:01# "A Fine Evening for a Rogue" - 3:38...
(2008) - AssailantsAssailants (Lydia album)Assailants is the third album by Lydia. It was released on July 20, 2010. The record was self released by the band after their record label passed on releasing it.-History:...
(2010) - Paint it GoldenPaint it Golden (Lydia album)Paint it Golden is the fourth album by Lydia. It is their first album after coming back from hiatus and was released on October 4, 2011. -History:...
(2011)