The Firebird Band
Encyclopedia
The Firebird Band is an indie rock
band hailing from Chicago, Illinois. The band was created as a side project by Chris Broach
, of Braid
notoriety, and his brother Riley Broach in 1996. The band's first endeavor was the 7" titled New York under the name of The Firebird Suite which was released in 1998. The band became a full-time project for Chris Broach following Braid's disbandment in 1999.
The Firebird Band is currently Chris Broach
, Steve Znavor (of Life at Sea), & Mike Marsden (The New Constitution).
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 hailing from Chicago, Illinois. The band was created as a side project by Chris Broach
Chris Broach
Chris Broach was one of the guitarists/vocalists in the 90's emo band Braid. In August 1994, just before starting his freshman year at The University of Illinois , Broach went to see Braid play a show at The Red Herring, in Urbana, Illinois...
, of Braid
Braid (band)
Braid is an influential emo/post-hardcore band from Illinois that formed in 1993. After forming, the band went through several line-up changes but eventually settled on: Bob Nanna on guitar/vocals, Todd Bell on bass, Chris Broach on guitar/vocals and, Roy Ewing on drums. Roy was replaced in 1997 by...
notoriety, and his brother Riley Broach in 1996. The band's first endeavor was the 7" titled New York under the name of The Firebird Suite which was released in 1998. The band became a full-time project for Chris Broach following Braid's disbandment in 1999.
The Firebird Band is currently Chris Broach
Chris Broach
Chris Broach was one of the guitarists/vocalists in the 90's emo band Braid. In August 1994, just before starting his freshman year at The University of Illinois , Broach went to see Braid play a show at The Red Herring, in Urbana, Illinois...
, Steve Znavor (of Life at Sea), & Mike Marsden (The New Constitution).
The Firebird Band Bio
- In 2003, Broach met Znavor when they were both part of another band called Life at Sea. Broach joined as a guitarist and keyboardist, and Znavor was already the drummer.
- In 2004, Broach left Life at Sea to do a reunion tour for BraidBraidA braid is a complex structure or pattern formed by intertwining three or more strands of flexible material such as textile fibres, wire, or human hair...
, and then to begin to focus again on finishing The Firebird Band's newest album - The City at Night with John Isberg.
- In 2005, Znavor moved on and joined as a full-time member in time to play the Vans Warped Tour, CMJ Music MarathonCMJ Music MarathonCMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival is put on by CMJ Network. CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival 2010 is scheduled for October 19–23 and will be headquartered at New York University and other downtown NYC venues.- History :...
, and a few other high profile shows that year. At that time, The Firebird Band had just signed on with The Underground Management in NYC. The band remains with The Underground Management to this day.
- In 2006, as the band was going through a line-up change, Znavor suggested that they bring on Mike Marsden to complete the new line-up. Marsden (of Mathlete, and The New Constitution) joined the band and began immediatlely contributing to the writing process of the new album.
- Currently, the band is in the studio and rehearsing to record and finish a new album by the end of this year to be released on Lucid RecordsLucid RecordsLucid Records is an independent record label in Deerfield, Illinois, run by Chris Broach of Braid, The Firebird Band, & L' Spaerow.- About Lucid Records :The label was started in 2002 with The Blackouts' debut album Everyday is a Sunday Evening...
.
Awards
- In 2001, Alternative PressAlternative Press (music magazine)Alternative Press is an American music magazine based in Cleveland, Ohio. It generally provides readers with band interviews, photos, information on upcoming releases, and music charts. It was founded in 1985 by Mike Shea, who is the current president....
named The Firebird Band in the top 100 bands to know.
Studio albums
- The Firebird Suite - New York 7" (1998) - The Mintaka Conspiracy
- The Firebird Project - Feel Alright CD EP (1999) - The Mintaka Conspiracy
- The Firebird Band - The Setting Sun and Its Satellites (2000) - The Mintaka Conspiracy & Cargo/Headhunter
- The Firebird Band - The Drive EP (2001) - Cargo/Headhunter
- The Firebird Suite - Archives (December 1, 2003) - Lucid RecordsLucid RecordsLucid Records is an independent record label in Deerfield, Illinois, run by Chris Broach of Braid, The Firebird Band, & L' Spaerow.- About Lucid Records :The label was started in 2002 with The Blackouts' debut album Everyday is a Sunday Evening...
- The Firebird Band - The City at Night (October, 2004) - Lucid Records/Bifocal Media
- The Firebird Band - Say Hello 7" EP (2010) - Mind Over Matter Records
- The Firebird Band - Say Hello EP digital (2010) - City at Night Records
- The Firebird Band - Green EP (2011) - This Year is Better Music
Digital only releases
- The Firebird Band - Another Incarnation (2006) - City at Night Records (unreleased as of now)
- The Firebird Band - The Setting Sun and Its Satellites Reissue and Remastered (2010) - City at Night Records
- The Firebird Band - The Drive CD EP Remastered (2010) - City at Night Records
Previous Members
- Riley Broach - (of I am the Earth Made for Man) played on the New York 7" and The Firebird Band Archives.
- Chris Wilson - (of Ted Leo and the PharmacistsTed Leo and the PharmacistsTed Leo and the Pharmacists are an American rock band formed in 1999 in Washington, D.C. and currently recording for Matador Records. They have released six full-length studio albums and have toured internationally...
) played on the New York 7" and The Firebird Project and The Firebird Band Archives. - Pablo Gammeri - (of Runner) played on The Firebird Project.
- Todd Finkel - played drums on tracks 1-11 of the The Setting Sun and Its Satellites.
- Andy Hawthorne - (of SacHead, and Pilot On Hiatus) played on The Drive and played guitar on tracks 2, 8-11 on The Setting Sun and Its Satellites
- Sebastian Paquet - played on The Drive.
- Erik Bocek - (of Joan of ArcJoan of ArcSaint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the...
, Ghosts and VodkaGhosts and VodkaGhosts and Vodka was an instrumental math rock band from Chicago The band was made up of two guitarists, Victor Villareal and Sam Zurick, bassist Erik Bocek and drummer Scott Shellhamer....
) bass on tracks 2, 8-11 on The Setting Sun and Its Satellites. - Steve Lamos - (of American FootballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
) played drum with The Firebird Band in 2000 and recorded on Another Incarnation. - Ben Wilson - (of Back of Dave) played bass with The Firebird Band in 2000 and recorded on Another Incarnation.
- John Isberg - (of The International Theatre of War, and The Blackouts) co-wrote, played bass, keyboards, sequencers, and even some backing vocals on The City at Night.
- Jess Gronewold - (of Mania TV) played keyboards and sang backups on tour with The Firebird Band in 2004 and 2005, and though a full time member, never made it onto any recordings.
- Chris Camden - (of Liar's Academy and Cross My HeartCross My HeartCross My Heart may refer to:*""Cross My Heart" , a 2010 song by Skepta*Cross My Heart: An Introduction to Phil Ochs, a compilation album of songs by Phil Ochs*"Cross My Heart" , a 1967 song by Phil Ochs...
) toured with The Firebird Band in 2005 and recorded bass on demos of 3 of the songs (unreleased) from the upcoming album this FALL 2007. - Robert Bock - (of Monday's Hero and Of The Opera) toured with The Firebird Band in 2005/2006 and recorded guitars and keyboards on demos of 3 of the songs (unreleased) from the upcoming album this FALL 2007.
Other People Involved
- Rob Kellenberger (of Duvall, TuesdayTuesday (band)Tuesday was a pop punk/emo band formed by three ex-members of influential Chicago ska punk band Slapstick after the latter's 1996 breakup. Dan Andriano , Matt Stamps , and Rob Kellenberger released their first EP Early Summer on Asian Man Records in 1997...
, and SlapstickSlapstick (band)Slapstick was a punk-ska fusion band formed in Chicago by a group of friends from the Elgin area. The group took some cues from the seminal ska/punk outfit Operation Ivy and the guttural punk vocals of Crimpshrine, but developed their own unique style. The group was active from 1993 to 1996 on...
) - plays live drums on The City At Night. - Chris Common - (of These Arms ar Snakes) played live drums on "Wake Up" from The City At Night.
- Roy Ewing (of BraidBraid (band)Braid is an influential emo/post-hardcore band from Illinois that formed in 1993. After forming, the band went through several line-up changes but eventually settled on: Bob Nanna on guitar/vocals, Todd Bell on bass, Chris Broach on guitar/vocals and, Roy Ewing on drums. Roy was replaced in 1997 by...
and Very Secretary) - played live drums on "The Runway" and "Distance" from The Drive. - Aaron Barr - (of You In Midair and The Love And The Debt) composed the bass lines and played bass on "The Drive", "The Runaway", and "Distance" from The Drive.
- Elizabeth Black (aka Suzy Broach) - vocals on "The Deeper I Go, the Darker It Gets", "Dangerous", and "Can't Stop" from The City At Night.
- JB and Urban Myth (of Kerbloki) - perform and rhyme on "Wake Up" from The City At Night.
- Seth Fein* (of Absinthe Blind) - touring drummer summer 2001