Roman Holiday (band)
Encyclopedia
Roman Holiday is an alternative rock
band from Seattle, Washington
. Formed in September 2008, the band comprises Shane Lance (lead vocals, guitar), Emerson Shotwell (drums, percussion), Daniel Collins (lead guitar, backing vocals), and Nick Howard (bass guitar, backing vocals). The Tacoma, WA newspaper, The Weekly Volcano
, noted "having been birthed in a recording studio means their sound was born running, and it really shows. They are the most radio-ready band in Tacoma, and to say that you should hurry and see them before they get big is no exaggeration."
In the local Seattle music scene, the band quickly became known for their groomed and "MTV
-ready sound, comparable to chart-topping arena-rockers Coldplay
and Kings of Leon
".
. They began playing in bands throughout their junior high and high school days. Nick Howard, a childhood friend of Lance’s, later joined the band to play bass. Originally a guitar player, Howard switched to bass to play in Roman Holiday. The trio, then nameless, played their first gig at a local coffeehouse
, which Daniel Collins attended. After the gig, the coffee shop’s manager suggested Collins as a potential lead guitar
player to the band. A week later, Collins joined the band and the lineup was complete.
During this time, Lance was working at a local recording studio
called Pacific Studios. He and studio owner Mark Simmons began talking about creating a pop-rock project. Simmons’ interest was peaked in the band when they showcased their music for him in the studio. Simmons’ later took up manager and producer
roles in the band. Roman Holiday has since accepted Simmons as the behind-the-scenes "5th member of the group".
The band finally settled on the name “Roman Holiday” which was suggested by Simmons. According to Lance, “it was only name the band didn’t hate.”
At this same time, Nigel Finley, also an employee at Pacific Studios, stepped in as keyboardist
for the band. The quintet
then began recording their debut EP
, released in May 2009. Shortly after the EP’s release, Finley left the band for personal reasons. While the EP’s sound is described as being refined and keyboard-driven, the departure of Finley essentially changed the band’s sound to a more focused, raw, and guitar-driven sound.
The departure of Finley also sparked an immense writing frenzy within the band. Within a month, the band had written nearly an album worth of songs. In August 2009, the band began recording for their debut full-length album at Pacific Studios. As the record went into production, the band tested their new sound by going on their first American west coast tour.
In January 2010, Roman Holiday locally released their debut full-length album, entitled “Paint This Town”, to a sold-out theater. The day after the release show, the band departed for their second, extended American west coast tour.
,
"The music is good. It drives, it grooves, it occasionally soars. It does the things that a good pop rock band needs to do, and that so many crappy pop rock bands don't get - things with melody and harmony and backing vocals and dynamics"
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 Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. Formed in September 2008, the band comprises Shane Lance (lead vocals, guitar), Emerson Shotwell (drums, percussion), Daniel Collins (lead guitar, backing vocals), and Nick Howard (bass guitar, backing vocals). The Tacoma, WA newspaper, The Weekly Volcano
Weekly Volcano
Weekly Volcano is a weekly entertainment newspaper in the South Puget Sound, based in Tacoma, Washington. The Weekly Volcano reports on film, theater, food, art and music in the South Sound as well as providing comprehensive arts and music calendars...
, noted "having been birthed in a recording studio means their sound was born running, and it really shows. They are the most radio-ready band in Tacoma, and to say that you should hurry and see them before they get big is no exaggeration."
In the local Seattle music scene, the band quickly became known for their groomed and "MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
-ready sound, comparable to chart-topping arena-rockers Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
and Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon is an American rock band that originated in Albion, Oklahoma but formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 1999. The band is composed of brothers Anthony Caleb Followill , Ivan Nathan Followill and Michael Jared Followill Kings of Leon is an American rock band that originated in Albion,...
".
Formation
Shane Lance and Emerson Shotwell first met during elementary schoolElementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
. They began playing in bands throughout their junior high and high school days. Nick Howard, a childhood friend of Lance’s, later joined the band to play bass. Originally a guitar player, Howard switched to bass to play in Roman Holiday. The trio, then nameless, played their first gig at a local coffeehouse
Coffeehouse
A coffeehouse or coffee shop is an establishment which primarily serves prepared coffee or other hot beverages. It shares some of the characteristics of a bar, and some of the characteristics of a restaurant, but it is different from a cafeteria. As the name suggests, coffeehouses focus on...
, which Daniel Collins attended. After the gig, the coffee shop’s manager suggested Collins as a potential lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
player to the band. A week later, Collins joined the band and the lineup was complete.
During this time, Lance was working at a local recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
called Pacific Studios. He and studio owner Mark Simmons began talking about creating a pop-rock project. Simmons’ interest was peaked in the band when they showcased their music for him in the studio. Simmons’ later took up manager and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
roles in the band. Roman Holiday has since accepted Simmons as the behind-the-scenes "5th member of the group".
The band finally settled on the name “Roman Holiday” which was suggested by Simmons. According to Lance, “it was only name the band didn’t hate.”
At this same time, Nigel Finley, also an employee at Pacific Studios, stepped in as keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
for the band. The quintet
Quintet
A quintet is a group containing five members.It is commonly associated with musical groups, such as a string quintet, or a group of five singers, but can be applied to any situation where five similar or related objects are considered a single unit....
then began recording their debut 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...
, released in May 2009. Shortly after the EP’s release, Finley left the band for personal reasons. While the EP’s sound is described as being refined and keyboard-driven, the departure of Finley essentially changed the band’s sound to a more focused, raw, and guitar-driven sound.
The departure of Finley also sparked an immense writing frenzy within the band. Within a month, the band had written nearly an album worth of songs. In August 2009, the band began recording for their debut full-length album at Pacific Studios. As the record went into production, the band tested their new sound by going on their first American west coast tour.
In January 2010, Roman Holiday locally released their debut full-length album, entitled “Paint This Town”, to a sold-out theater. The day after the release show, the band departed for their second, extended American west coast tour.
Live
The band's live show has had nothing but good reviews. According to the live review's section of the Weekly VolcanoWeekly Volcano
Weekly Volcano is a weekly entertainment newspaper in the South Puget Sound, based in Tacoma, Washington. The Weekly Volcano reports on film, theater, food, art and music in the South Sound as well as providing comprehensive arts and music calendars...
,
"The music is good. It drives, it grooves, it occasionally soars. It does the things that a good pop rock band needs to do, and that so many crappy pop rock bands don't get - things with melody and harmony and backing vocals and dynamics"
Roman Holiday - EP
Released in May 2009. All songs written by Roman Holiday and Nigel Finley.- "I'll Be Here" - 4:07
- "Show Your Face" - 4:24
- "Broken Masterpiece" - 5:10
- "Your Velvet Soul" - 4:37
- "Devil" - 6:15
- "Get It Back" - 3:42
Roman Holiday - Limited Edition Acoustic EP
Locally released in July 2009. Only 200 copies were produced. All songs, except "I Try", are also featured on Roman Holiday's album "Paint This Town". All songs written by Roman Holiday and Nigel Finley.- "I Try" - 6:48
- "Anchor" - 4:55
- "Your Velvet Soul" - 5:20
- "Don't Come Around" - 3:01
Paint This Town
Internationally released on May 18, 2010. Roman Holiday's debut full-length album. All songs written by Roman Holiday.- "Don't Come Around" - 3:12
- "I Think It's Her" - 3:11
- "Touch Your Coat" - 3:29
- "Filthy Hands" - 3:54
- "Anchor" - 4:25
- "You Know He Knows" - 3:44
- "Your Velvet Soul" - 3:46
- "The Crown" - 3:00
- "Pendulum" - 4:43
- "Under The Ocean" - 4:59