Peachcake
Encyclopedia
Peachcake is an American
indie pop
group
from Carefree
, Arizona
, formed in December 2003. Peachcake are known for their high energy live shows along with their heavy interaction and crowd participation with their audiences. The group has been named "Best Stage Show" by the Phoenix New Times and are frequently praised for their live performances in several print and online publications.
Peachcake released their first EP, titled Chain Letter EP, in 2004 and garnered lots of success locally in Arizona, including the cover feature of the Phoenix New Times and playing with several large national acts including Explosions in the Sky
, Of Montreal
, and The Go! Team
. The band started touring in mid-2005 all throughout the West Coast, the South and the Mid-west. Some on their own and some with other indie bands and friends Femme Fatality, Less Pain Forever, and Adam Panic.
In the latter part of the 2006, Peachcake joined forces with Jim Adkins' label, Western Tread Recordings, to release a split EP along with local Arizona band Less Pain Forever. In October, the band landed an opening slot on Hellogoodbye
's national headlining tour. During the tour, the band signed to indie record label, Sidecho Records
, to release their debut full length, What Year Will You Have The World?..
Though the band was scheduled to release their full length in the mid-2007, the release date was pushed back several times throughout the year due to several extensions to finish the album and their continuous touring schedule. Upon completion of What Year Will You Have The World?.. in early 2008, the band parted ways with Sidecho Records and later released the album with the help of Warner Music Group/ADA and Los Angeles based production company, Subtractive, through their own imprint label called The Planet Awesome! on November 18, 2008. The group toured in the beginning of 2009 to support the album playing shows with MC Lars
, Danger Radio
, The Scene Aesthetic
, Young The Giant
, Get Back Loretta
and Dear and the Headlights
, as well as appearances at Daytrotter
, Canadian Music Week
and Bamboozle Left
.
On March 20, 2009, Peachcake were made honorary members of the International Peace Bureau
for their efforts to promote tolerance, peace and love through music and live performance.
, Cleveland's Ingenuity Fest, Norway's Slottsfjell Festival, Arizona's Fall Frenzy and Phoenix Comicon
.
In May 2010, Peachcake contributed a new song called "The Soundtrack Of A Revolution!" to the Phoenix New Times
compilation, A Line In The Sand: A Compilation Of SB 1070 Protest Songs, which featured local Arizona artists that opposed the Arizona SB 1070 immigration bill.
After a year of writing new songs, the band entered the studio with producer/engineer Jalipaz at Audioconfusion in Mesa, AZ in June 2010 to record a new album, which would later be titled Unbelievable Souls. After finishing recording in July 2010, the album was sent off to New York City to be mixed by mixing engineer Alex Aldi
and mastered by Greg Calbi, senior mastering engineer at Sterling Sound. Unbelievable Souls is projected to be released sometime in 2011.
On April 12, 2011, "Were We Ever Really Right?", a new song to be featured on Unbelievable Souls, was selected by the International Peace Bureau
and Demilitarize.org as the official song for the Global Day of Action on Military Spending, a worldwide event to support demilitarization across the globe.
On May 3, 2011, Peachcake released a 5 song EP titled This Wasn't Our Plan that included 3 songs from Unbelievable Souls, a demo of a new song and a remix done by DJ Semuta. The single "You Matter" was released a week prior on their website.
"You Matter" was featured during the TNT television show, HawthoRNe
, during the episode, "A Fair To Remember". The episode aired on July 5th, 2011.
Since the release of This Wasn't Our Plan, Peachcake has performed with and supported many national acts both locally in Arizona and on tour in the past few months, including shows with Peter Murphy
, She Wants Revenge
, Washed Out
, Neon Trees
, Future Islands, T. Mills
, Japanther
, and The White Panda
.
Live Players & Contributing Members
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
indie pop
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
group
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
from Carefree
Carefree, Arizona
Carefree is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 3,799.-History:...
, 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 December 2003. Peachcake are known for their high energy live shows along with their heavy interaction and crowd participation with their audiences. The group has been named "Best Stage Show" by the Phoenix New Times and are frequently praised for their live performances in several print and online publications.
Early Years
Originally conceived by Stefan Pruett and John O'Keefe as an informal project with the aim of experimenting with electronic music, Peachcake developed into a national touring band. They originally did not plan to last longer than three shows, including a dismal first show at a small night club where the band was gated off from the audience.Peachcake released their first EP, titled Chain Letter EP, in 2004 and garnered lots of success locally in Arizona, including the cover feature of the Phoenix New Times and playing with several large national acts including Explosions in the Sky
Explosions in the Sky
Explosions in the Sky is an American post-rock band from Texas. The band has garnered popularity beyond the post-rock scene for their elaborately developed guitar work, narratively styled instrumentals, what they refer to as "cathartic mini-symphonies," and their enthusiastic and emotional live shows...
, Of Montreal
Of Montreal
Of Montreal is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. It was founded by frontman Kevin Barnes in 1996, named after a failed romance with a woman "of Montreal." The band is one of the bands of the Elephant 6 collective...
, and The Go! Team
The Go! Team
The Go! Team are a six-piece band from Brighton, England. They combine indie rock and garage rock with a mixture of blaxploitation and Bollywood soundtracks, double dutch chants, old school hip hop and distorted guitars similar to the style of Sonic Youth. Their songs are a mix of live...
. The band started touring in mid-2005 all throughout the West Coast, the South and the Mid-west. Some on their own and some with other indie bands and friends Femme Fatality, Less Pain Forever, and Adam Panic.
In the latter part of the 2006, Peachcake joined forces with Jim Adkins' label, Western Tread Recordings, to release a split EP along with local Arizona band Less Pain Forever. In October, the band landed an opening slot on Hellogoodbye
Hellogoodbye
Hellogoodbye is a power pop band that was formed in Huntington Beach, California in 2001 by singer Forrest Kline. They were signed to Drive-Thru Records and released their first full-length album Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! in 2006, in addition to their previously released EP Hellogoodbye...
's national headlining tour. During the tour, the band signed to indie record label, Sidecho Records
SideCho Records
SideCho Records is an independent record label based in Long Beach, California. It has been around since at least 2003, but doesn't list a history on its website.-Artists:* Those Mockingbirds* Peachcake* Charlemagne* Neva Dinova* The Pale Pacific...
, to release their debut full length, What Year Will You Have The World?..
Though the band was scheduled to release their full length in the mid-2007, the release date was pushed back several times throughout the year due to several extensions to finish the album and their continuous touring schedule. Upon completion of What Year Will You Have The World?.. in early 2008, the band parted ways with Sidecho Records and later released the album with the help of Warner Music Group/ADA and Los Angeles based production company, Subtractive, through their own imprint label called The Planet Awesome! on November 18, 2008. The group toured in the beginning of 2009 to support the album playing shows with MC Lars
MC Lars
Andrew Robert MacFarlane Nielsen is an American rapper, known by his stage name MC Lars. He is the self-proclaimed originator of "post-punk laptop rap". He was one of the first underground rappers to sample and reference post-punk and emo bands...
, Danger Radio
Danger Radio
Danger Radio is an American rock band from Edmonds, Washington.-Formation:Danger Radio's lead vocalist and drummer met as middle schoolers, soon after adding Marvin Kunkel as bassist for talent shows and school gigs...
, The Scene Aesthetic
The Scene Aesthetic
The Scene Aesthetic is an American two-piece acoustic/indie pop band based in Seattle, Washington, featuring Andrew de Torres of Danger Radio and Eric Bowley.-History:...
, Young The Giant
Young the Giant
Young the Giant is an American alternative rock band that formed in Irvine, California, in 2004. The band's line-up is Sameer Gadhia , Jacob Tilley , Eric Cannata , Payam Doostzadeh , and François Comtois...
, Get Back Loretta
Get Back Loretta
Get Back Loretta is a Nickelback tribute band from San Diego, California. The band consists of Steven Bradford ; Kevin Martin ; Isaac Cass ; Joey Bradford ; and Chris Wilson ; John Fransz ; Josh Cass ; Santino Romeri ; Dalton Harmon ; Benjamin Johnston ; TJ Something ; Jeremiah Zimmerman...
and Dear and the Headlights
Dear and the Headlights
Dear and the Headlights was an indie rock band from Phoenix, Arizona. They released two widely known demos, recorded by future bassist Chuckie Duff, before their debut album was released. These demos included five songs re-recorded for the album. The most notable change to the songs upon...
, as well as appearances at Daytrotter
Daytrotter
Daytrotter is a website for the recording studio Horseshack, which hosts recording sessions with many popular and typically upcoming indie music acts, although it works with local bands in the Illinois area as well. The sessions can be compared to that of a radio station's lounge recordings, where...
, Canadian Music Week
Canadian Music Week
Canadian Music Week is an industry conference and music festival held over four days in various venues throughout Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
and Bamboozle Left
Bamboozle Left
-2006:*October 15 and October 16.*Dashboard Confessional and Brand New headlined.*Held at the Cal Poly Pomona Athletic Field in Pomona, CA.*Hosted 68 Bands on 5 stages.*Bands performed include:-October 15:...
.
On March 20, 2009, Peachcake were made honorary members of the International Peace Bureau
International Peace Bureau
International Peace Bureau is the world's oldest international peace federation. It was founded in 1891, and awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1910....
for their efforts to promote tolerance, peace and love through music and live performance.
Unbelievable Souls (2009-present)
In April 2009, longtime member John O'Keefe left the group to pursue other endeavors. Shortly after his leaving, Pruett along with guitarist Mike McHale started writing new material with Phoenix-based songwriter and beat producer, David Jackman. The three continued writing songs throughout the rest of 2009 and the first half of 2010. During that time, Peachcake expanded the live band with various live players to experiment with their live show including performances at Vans Warped TourWarped 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...
, Cleveland's Ingenuity Fest, Norway's Slottsfjell Festival, Arizona's Fall Frenzy and Phoenix Comicon
Phoenix ComiCon
Phoenix Comicon is an annual comic book convention held in Phoenix, Arizona. started in June 2002, PCC has held comic related panels, programming events, art contests, and autograph signings for all ages. The first Phoenix Comicon was held in June 2002. It was a one day only convention for six...
.
In May 2010, Peachcake contributed a new song called "The Soundtrack Of A Revolution!" to the Phoenix New Times
Phoenix New Times
The Phoenix New Times is a free, weekly Phoenix, Arizona newspaper, put out every Thursday. It is the founding publication of the New Times Media , but The Village Voice is now the flagship publication of that company....
compilation, A Line In The Sand: A Compilation Of SB 1070 Protest Songs, which featured local Arizona artists that opposed the Arizona SB 1070 immigration bill.
After a year of writing new songs, the band entered the studio with producer/engineer Jalipaz at Audioconfusion in Mesa, AZ in June 2010 to record a new album, which would later be titled Unbelievable Souls. After finishing recording in July 2010, the album was sent off to New York City to be mixed by mixing engineer Alex Aldi
Alex Aldi
Alex Aldi is a New York-based recording + mixing engineer who has worked with indie and major-label bands such as Passion Pit, The Rakes, Les Savy Fav, and White Rabbits.-2010:*Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost! - Mixing, Engineer...
and mastered by Greg Calbi, senior mastering engineer at Sterling Sound. Unbelievable Souls is projected to be released sometime in 2011.
On April 12, 2011, "Were We Ever Really Right?", a new song to be featured on Unbelievable Souls, was selected by the International Peace Bureau
International Peace Bureau
International Peace Bureau is the world's oldest international peace federation. It was founded in 1891, and awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1910....
and Demilitarize.org as the official song for the Global Day of Action on Military Spending, a worldwide event to support demilitarization across the globe.
On May 3, 2011, Peachcake released a 5 song EP titled This Wasn't Our Plan that included 3 songs from Unbelievable Souls, a demo of a new song and a remix done by DJ Semuta. The single "You Matter" was released a week prior on their website.
"You Matter" was featured during the TNT television show, HawthoRNe
Hawthorne (TV series)
Hawthorne is an hour-long medical drama on the TNT television network starring Jada Pinkett Smith and Michael Vartan. It premiered on June 16, 2009. On Thursday, September 16, 2010 it was announced that Hawthorne has been renewed for a third season consisting of 10 episodes...
, during the episode, "A Fair To Remember". The episode aired on July 5th, 2011.
Since the release of This Wasn't Our Plan, Peachcake has performed with and supported many national acts both locally in Arizona and on tour in the past few months, including shows with Peter Murphy
Peter Murphy (musician)
Peter John Murphy is an English rock vocalist. He was the vocalist of the rock group Bauhaus, and later went on to release a number of solo albums, such as Deep and Love Hysteria...
, She Wants Revenge
She Wants Revenge
She Wants Revenge is an American musical duo, based in San Fernando Valley, California. The group's debut album She Wants Revenge was released in early 2006, with three singles to follow...
, Washed Out
Washed Out
Washed Out is the stage name of the American chillwave musician Ernest Greene .-Career:In June 2009, Greene graduated with a Master of Library and Information Science degree from the University of South Carolina and was unable to find a job as a librarian...
, Neon Trees
Neon Trees
Neon Trees is an American alternative rock band from Provo, Utah, with origins in Murrieta, California. The band received nationwide exposure in late 2008 when they opened several North American tour dates for the rock band The Killers. Not long after, the band was signed by Mercury Records and...
, Future Islands, T. Mills
T. Mills
Travis Tatum Mills , better known by his stage-name T. Mills, is an American hip hop artist based in Riverside, California....
, Japanther
Japanther
Japanther is an art project, established by Matt Reilly and Ian Vanek, then students at Pratt Institute. Japanther was featured in the 2006 Whitney Biennial and the 2011 Venice Biennale, and has collaborated with a diverse pool of artists such as gelitin, Penny Rimbaud, Gee Vaucher, Dan Graham,...
, and The White Panda
The White Panda
The White Panda is a mashup duo made up of Tom Evans and Dan Griffith based out of Chicago. According to the about section of their website, "The White Panda formed when two boyhood friends discovered they had independently embarked on mashup careers in college...
.
Current members
- Stefan Pruett - creator, songwriter, lead vocals, percussion, drums
- Mike McHale - songwriter, guitar, synthesizers, percussion, backing vocals
- David Jackman - songwriter, programming, beats, production, soft synths, vocals
Live Players & Contributing Members
- Harry Farrar - beats, live electronics, effects, live sound
- Archie Children - bass guitar, bass synthesizer, percussion, backing vocals
- Michael Kraft - live visuals, theremin, glockenspiel, backing vocals
Past members
- John O’Keefe - vocals, beats, programming, guitar, bass, synthesizers, melodica, piano, keytar
Studio albums
- What Year Will You Have the World?..What Year Will You Have The World?.. (album)What Year Will You Have The World?.. is the debut studio album by American electronic group Peachcake.-Tracklisting:-Personnel/Contributing Artists:* Stefan Pruett - vocals, percussion...
(2008)
EPs
- Chain Letter (2004)
- We Should've Never Released This (2006)
- This Wasn't Our Plan (2011)