The Best Thing Ever
Encyclopedia
The Best Thing Ever is a punk
band/performance art group formed by autistic singer/songwriter Noah Britton in the summer of 2003. The label "punk" is adequate to describe the band's influences and ethics, but the sound that they exhibited changed drastically from show to show.
, and Jennifer Page, and Emilyn Brodsky. Although the band officially consisted of four people, they played in various incarnations. Britton was the only constant member.
Emilyn landed the band big gigs opening for such acts as The Dresden Dolls
, The World/Inferno Friendship Society
, and The Gossip
, but when she was offered a spot opening for the Magnetic Fields
at New York University
(NYU), she decided to leave The Best Thing Ever to make it on her own.
All four original members of The Best Thing Ever played together for the last time in November 2004 at the home of Franz Nicolay
when Franz produced their unreleased 7", "Would You?"/"What I Want." One month after this recording session, The Best Thing Ever went on hiatus.
On May 1, 2006, Noah, Alex, and Jen officially revived The Best Thing Ever moniker before embarking on The Bathroom Tour. For twelve straight days, The Best Thing Ever invaded bathrooms across New England
to perform their music for unsuspecting audiences.
The Bathroom Tour DVD, which documents the events of the tour, was released by HIG Records, in April 2007.
In the summer of 2007, the band reunited for The Surprise Tour, playing exclusively unbooked shows all over the country with acts including Andrew Bird
and Gravy Train!!!!. A film documenting the tour will be released on April 1, 2011.
During the last week of June 2008, the band went on what they claimed would be their last tour, The Retirement Tour, a tour of retirement-related venues. However, in April, 2009, they played a surprise show at a donut shop in Allston, Massachusetts. They now claim that The Retirement Tour never happened, and that they will continue to perform occasionally.
In February 2010, the band went on The Animals Tour, performing exclusively for animals in the New York City area, including surprise shows at a zoo and an aquarium, and a booked show at a dog shelter.
DVDs
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band/performance art group formed by autistic singer/songwriter Noah Britton in the summer of 2003. The label "punk" is adequate to describe the band's influences and ethics, but the sound that they exhibited changed drastically from show to show.
Biography
The Best Thing Ever's original lineup consisted of Noah Britton, Alex BilligEskalators
The Eskalators are a Brooklyn-based vegan musical collective, puppeteering ensemble, and experimental street mime troupe formed by Eric Williams in the summer of 2007...
, and Jennifer Page, and Emilyn Brodsky. Although the band officially consisted of four people, they played in various incarnations. Britton was the only constant member.
Emilyn landed the band big gigs opening for such acts as The Dresden Dolls
The Dresden Dolls
The Dresden Dolls are an American musical duo from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 2000, the group consists of Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione...
, The World/Inferno Friendship Society
The World/Inferno Friendship Society
The World/Inferno Friendship Society is a band from Brooklyn, New York. Its style merges punk, soul, klezmer and jazz, while its collective membership features horns, piano and guitar. The ensemble has over 30 members, including a former member of Dexys Midnight Runners. About nine or ten members...
, and The Gossip
The Gossip
Gossip is a three-piece American indie rock band formed in 1999. The band consists of singer Beth Ditto, guitarist Brace Paine and drummer Hannah Blilie. After releasing several recordings, the band broke through with their 2006 studio album, Standing in the Way of Control . A follow-up, Music for...
, but when she was offered a spot opening for the Magnetic Fields
The Magnetic Fields
The Magnetic Fields is the principal creative outlet of singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt...
at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
(NYU), she decided to leave The Best Thing Ever to make it on her own.
All four original members of The Best Thing Ever played together for the last time in November 2004 at the home of Franz Nicolay
Franz Nicolay
Franz Nicolay is an American multi-instrumentalist and composer currently based in Brooklyn, New York. He is perhaps best known for playing the accordion and the piano in The World/Inferno Friendship Society and playing keyboards in The Hold Steady from 2005 to 2010...
when Franz produced their unreleased 7", "Would You?"/"What I Want." One month after this recording session, The Best Thing Ever went on hiatus.
On May 1, 2006, Noah, Alex, and Jen officially revived The Best Thing Ever moniker before embarking on The Bathroom Tour. For twelve straight days, The Best Thing Ever invaded bathrooms across New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
to perform their music for unsuspecting audiences.
The Bathroom Tour DVD, which documents the events of the tour, was released by HIG Records, in April 2007.
In the summer of 2007, the band reunited for The Surprise Tour, playing exclusively unbooked shows all over the country with acts including Andrew Bird
Andrew Bird
Andrew Bird is an American musician, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.- Early life and the Bowl of Fire :...
and Gravy Train!!!!. A film documenting the tour will be released on April 1, 2011.
During the last week of June 2008, the band went on what they claimed would be their last tour, The Retirement Tour, a tour of retirement-related venues. However, in April, 2009, they played a surprise show at a donut shop in Allston, Massachusetts. They now claim that The Retirement Tour never happened, and that they will continue to perform occasionally.
In February 2010, the band went on The Animals Tour, performing exclusively for animals in the New York City area, including surprise shows at a zoo and an aquarium, and a booked show at a dog shelter.
Discography
EPs| Year | Title | Label |
| 2004 | Would You?/What I Want 7" | HIG Records |
DVDs
| Year | Title | Label |
| 2007 | The Bathroom Tour DVD | HIG Records |
External links
- Tiny Mix Tapes interview
- Official Band Website
- HIG Records
- Emilyn Brodsky's Official Website
- "Why I Write" inspired by TBTE
- MLK Day Special: "Got MLK?" MP3
- Day 1 of The Bathroom Tour on YouTube