The Submarines
Encyclopedia
Band history
Working as solo artists in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, the two members of the band, John Dragonetti and Blake Hazard, were introduced through a mutual friend, Joe Klompus. Dragonetti and Hazard became partners and soon toured Europe together as members of the band. The relationship lasted for four years, but ended in the fall of 2004 when the pair moved to L.A. After the break-up, both Hazard and Dragonetti continued writing songs, and because Hazard still recorded her music in Dragonetti's home studio, the pair quickly discovered the songs they had written were about each other and their sadness in having broken up. Knowing this, the duo decided to work on a few songs together and eventually got back together. The songs that they had worked on together were mastered for the couple as a wedding present, and those tracks eventually became their first album. Hazard, has said of the relationship, "It’s hard, definitely hard. Luckily we are like-minded aesthetically and musically." Declare a New State!, The Submarines' first album was released in 2006 on the Nettwerk
Nettwerk
The Nettwerk Music Group is the umbrella company for Nettwerk Management, Nettwerk Records, Nettwerk One Publishing, Nutone Records, and Artwerk. With over 150 employees, the Vancouver-based company has offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Boston, Nashville, and Hamburg...
label.
Blake Hazard
Blake Hazard is from Burlington, VT. Her real name is Eleanor Blake Hazard, although she prefers and uses her middle name, Blake, as her first. She attended the Putney School in southern Vermont, south of her hometown Burlington. She is also a graduate of Harvard University and is the great-granddaughter of American writer F. Scott FitzgeraldF. Scott Fitzgerald
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was an American author of novels and short stories, whose works are the paradigm writings of the Jazz Age, a term he coined himself. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Fitzgerald is considered a member of the "Lost...
,
Blake has released a solo album of her own titled "Little Airplane" (2002) just two years previous to her breakup with John on California's election night in 2004. "Little Airplane" was recorded by John in his studio and was released on Boston-based independent record label Kimchee Records. The album can still be obtained on Kimchee's website or through The Submarines web store.
She is also an avid runner and has run numerous marathons and races for many causes, research and fund raisers. These marathons have taken place in Boston, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. Her next race is in Berlin for the Pablove Foundation. Which is a foundation for children fighting cancer. She asks "if you only have one extra minute to spare, visit this page: http://pablove.org/about-kids-cancer/pediatric-cancer-facts/ ." Her personal foundation page can be located at http://www.stayclassy.org/fundraise/pablove?fcid=118152
John Dragonetti
John attended the The American School of Dubai. Originally from Jackson, Michigan. His family moved to Dubai when he was young. Upon arriving in Boston, he briefly attended college at the Berklee School of Music.To support himself, John worked as a bike messenger in the city of Boston and played in several Boston-area bands before going solo. Jack Drag was his moniker for music he recorded at his apartment home studio, which he called Space 67. Much of the recorded material was done on a 4-track cassette recorder. Several singles and a self-titled, full-length album, "The Red Record," or "cataloged as Pop Spelled Backwards" (as dubbed by his friends and bandmates) were released. The first single, "Velour," was released by Dave Gibbs
Dave Gibbs
Dave Gibbs, born August 22, 1965, is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his work in the Boston-based power-pop band, Gigolo Aunts....
(of the Gigolo Aunts
Gigolo Aunts
-Early history:The band was formed by middle school students Steve Hurley, Dave Gibbs, Phil Hurley and Paul Brouwer in 1981 in Potsdam, New York, originally known as Sniper...
), on his label called Sumerville Records. The second single was put out by John's record label, called Devil's Weed, Inc. A third single was released on Hepcat Records. As a result of these recordings, John was signed to A&M Records. When A&M was acquired by Universal Music, Jack Drag was dropped from the label and he continued recording independently in Space 67. Vowing to keep releasing his music, he rolled up his sleeves and released more albums with Shifty Disco, Scientific Records and Sugar Free Records. This eventually led to a project with his old friend Peter DuCharme (AKA: Master Cylinder
Master cylinder
The master cylinder is a control device that converts non-hydraulic pressure into hydraulic pressure, in order to move other device which are located at the other end of the hydraulic system, such as one or more slave cylinders...
) called the Junior Communist Club. Several tracks left over from the Jack Drag A&M sessions were used for the project, and a few staple commercials resulted from the release.
To this date, there have been no plans to release any new material by Jr. Communist Club. John has stated that "Although encouraged to, we never did put together a live show. I'm sure we'll collaborate again but whether it will be under the Jr.Commy moniker remains to be seen." As for his moniker Jack Drag, he states on the Jack Drag web site, "It's all about The Submarines now!"
The Band
Jason Stare and Scott Barber are part of the touring band. (As an inside joke, John has said that when the Subs play live with some computer tracks, the band is called The Robots). The Submarines have toured the country and world, sometimes as a duo, and sometimes as a full band. Many shows in the beginning, for the band's first tour, consisted of just Blake and John. For the band's second release, Honeysuckle WeeksHoneysuckle Weeks (album)
Honeysuckle Weeks is the second full length studio album by Indie pop band The Submarines. It was released through iTunes on April 15, 2008, and was released physically on May 13, 2008. As with previous albums, Honeysuckle Weeks was released through the Canadian label Nettwerk...
, Jason joined to play drums for their live shows. Jason has been the band's live set drummer since the release of Honeysuckle Weeks
Honeysuckle Weeks (album)
Honeysuckle Weeks is the second full length studio album by Indie pop band The Submarines. It was released through iTunes on April 15, 2008, and was released physically on May 13, 2008. As with previous albums, Honeysuckle Weeks was released through the Canadian label Nettwerk...
, and is featured in Apple' commercials for the iPhone 3G
IPhone 3G
The iPhone 3G is the second generation of iPhone designed and marketed by Apple Inc.. It was the successor to the original iPhone, and is succeeded by the iPhone 3GS. Introduced on June 9, 2008 at the WWDC 2008 at the Moscone Center, San Francisco...
and iPhone 3GS
IPhone 3GS
-Camera:The iPhone 3GS features an improved 3 megapixel camera manufactured by OmniVision. In addition to the higher megapixel count, it also features auto-focus, auto white balance and auto macro and is capable of capturing VGA video...
. He is an artist, a college graduate and is from Long Island, NY. On bringing him on tour, John has stated, "I saw him live and I liked his playing. But seriously, just look at him. He's looks cool!" For the first leg of the 2011 Love Notes/Letter Bombs
Love Notes/Letter Bombs
-Video:* Love Notes/Letter Bombs - External links :* *...
tour, The Submarines brought on Scott Barber to play Bass for live performances. Also, Jason and Scott also have a side project together.
Contributors
- Joe Klompus Bass - Declare a New State!.
- Peter AdamsPeter AdamsWilliam Peter Adams, PC is a Canadian politician, and a former Liberal Member of Canada's House of Commons. He was a Member of Parliament from 1993 until 2006, representing the riding of Peterborough in eastern Ontario...
- Wurli & Chamberlain on "The Good Night" on the Declare a New State! release.
Peter also sits in on a Beatles cover "For No One" done in John's home studio in Eaglerock, CA in a home shot video recorded by The Voice Project. The video is on Vimeo and Peter plays organ for the song.
- David Michael Curry – Viola - Declare a New State!.
- Jim EnoJim EnoJim Eno is the drummer and one of the founding members of the Austin, Texas band Spoon. He is also a record producer and a semiconductor chip designer.-Overview:Eno was born in Rhode Island...
- Drums - Spoon
John traveled to Austin, TX to work with Jim in his studio and contributed drum tracks for the Love Notes/Letter Bombs
Love Notes/Letter Bombs
-Video:* Love Notes/Letter Bombs - External links :* *...
release. Jim's studio is called Public Hi-Fi and is based in Austin, TX. The studio has a rare Neve
Neve
Neve Electronics was a manufacturer of music recording and broadcast mixing consoles and hardware. It was originally founded as Neve Electronics in 1961 by Rupert Neve, the man credited with creating the modern mixing console.-Company formation:...
8036 Console (marked as #A41) with Uptown Automated Faders, 22 1064 mic/lin input modules and 2 1081 mic/line input modules in the board. The studio runs on both analog and digital. Which runs a Pro Tools HD2 system and a Studer 827 2" 24 track analog tape machine in the facility.
- The Section QuartetThe Section QuartetThe Section Quartet is a string quartet that is based in Los Angeles, California. Emerging in 1998, Section features Eric Gorfain and Daphne Chen on violin, Lauren Chipman on viola, and Richard Dodd on cello. It specializes in turning popular rock songs into classical quartet pieces...
This is not your ordinary string quartet. .. This is not your ordinary rock band..... .. The Section Quartet.. ..is.. .. The Loudest String Quartet on the Planet! - Jason Stare - Drums on "Anymore" - Love Notes/Letter BombsLove Notes/Letter Bombs-Video:* Love Notes/Letter Bombs - External links :* *...
826LA ‘Chickens In Love’ Compilation
In 2010, The Submarines donated their time and efforts to teach children of the 826LA Organization the art of songwriting and how to creatively express themselves. 826LA held a workshop titled "Songwriting With The Submarines".The results of the workshop were released as a compilation. The compilation includes Los Angeles local bands (She and Him, Cold War KidsCold War Kids
Cold War Kids are an American indie rock band from Long Beach, California. Band members are Nathan Willett , Jonnie Russell , Matt Maust , and Matt Aveiro .-History:...
, Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple McAfee Maggart is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. Apple met international acclaim for her 1996 debut album, Tidal, which was a critical and commercial success...
and Dum Dum Girls
Dum Dum Girls
Dum Dum Girls are an American indie pop band from California that formed in 2008. Their name comes from both The Vaselines' album Dum Dum and the Iggy Pop song "Dum Dum Boys"...
among others) covering songs written by children in the Submarines' workshop. To celebrate the workshop and the children who participated in the songwriting. 826LA
826LA
826LA is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills and helping teachers inspire their students to write. Programs are structured around the beliefs that great leaps in learning can happen with...
held a Mini Festival on March 6th, 2010 which featured performances by The Submarines, The Happy Hollows and The Growlers
The Growlers
The Growlers is a Californian band, formed in Long Beach, in 2006, though their hometown is originally Costa Mesa, Orange County. The band consists of Brooks Nielsen , Patrick Palomo , Matt Taylor , Scott Montoya and Kyle Straka . Their first album, Are You in or Out, was released in 2009...
.
Awards
- Winner of the 9th Annual Independent Music Awards: Best Film/TV Song "You Me and the Bourgeoisie", used in Apple's iPhone 3GS ad.
In popular media
- The songs You, Me and the Bourgeoisie and Submarine Symphonika were used in Apple commercials for the iPhone 3GIPhone 3GThe iPhone 3G is the second generation of iPhone designed and marketed by Apple Inc.. It was the successor to the original iPhone, and is succeeded by the iPhone 3GS. Introduced on June 9, 2008 at the WWDC 2008 at the Moscone Center, San Francisco...
and iPhone 3GSIPhone 3GS-Camera:The iPhone 3GS features an improved 3 megapixel camera manufactured by OmniVision. In addition to the higher megapixel count, it also features auto-focus, auto white balance and auto macro and is capable of capturing VGA video...
. - The group's song Xavia was featured on the soundtrack for the film Nick and Norah's Infinite PlaylistNick and Norah's Infinite PlaylistNick & Norah's Infinite Playlist is a 2008 romantic comedy film directed by Peter Sollett and starring Michael Cera and Kat Dennings. Written by Lorene Scafaria and based on the novel of the same name by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, the story tells of teenagers Nick and Norah , who meet when...
. - In season 4 finale of Nip/TuckNip/TuckNip/Tuck is an American drama series created by Ryan Murphy, which aired on FX in the United States. The series focuses on McNamara/Troy, a plastic surgery practice, and follows its founders, Sean McNamara and Christian Troy...
, the song Brighter Discontent was lip synced by the lead actors of the show. - The duo recorded a cover version of Little BoxesLittle Boxes"Little Boxes" is a song written by Malvina Reynolds in 1962, which became a hit for her friend Pete Seeger in 1963.The song is a political satire about the development of suburbia and associated conformist middle-class attitudes...
for the second season of Weeds. - The Submarines contributed a version of My Darling Clementine to the Nettwerk compilation For The Kids Three! released October 2, 2007.
- “Brightest Hour” from Honeysuckle Weeks also appeared on Grey's AnatomyGrey's AnatomyGrey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
Season 4 Episode 14 - The Becoming during a scene in which Derek asks Meredith whether or not she wants him to stay with her to watch a patient over night rather than go home with Rose. - “Wake Up Song” from Honeysuckle Weeks was featured in the second season of the CW series Gossip GirlGossip Girl (TV series)Gossip Girl is an American teen drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007...
. - An instrumental version of Modern Inventions from the album Declare a New State! was used for the end credits of the documentary The Pixar Story. Portions of the album version of this song appear in the credits to episode #441 of This American LifeThis American LifeThis American Life is a weekly hour-long radio program produced by WBEZ and hosted by Ira Glass. It is distributed by Public Radio International on PRI affiliate stations and is also available as a free weekly podcast. Primarily a journalistic non-fiction program, it has also featured essays,...
, When Patents Attack (podcast release date July 24/2011). - The Submarine's song You Me And The Bourgeoisie is featured as one of the available free tracks for download on the iPhone app Tap Tap Revenge 3.
- Their song Modern Inventions was used in the Mozilla Seabird concept video, created by Billy May.
- The Submarines covered The CureThe CureThe Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
's Boys Don't Cry for American Laundromat RecordsAmerican Laundromat RecordsAmerican Laundromat Records is an indie label based in Mystic, CT.The label has produced several tribute albums, including Dig For Fire - a tribute to PIXIES, Cinnamon Girl - Women Artists Cover Neil Young, and High School Reunion - A Tribute to Those Great 80's Films...
tribute compilation Just Like Heaven - a tribute to The Cure. - The Submarines covered The Jesus and Mary ChainThe Jesus and Mary ChainThe Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride, Glasgow in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid...
's song Just Like Honey on their Love Notes/Letter BombsLove Notes/Letter Bombs-Video:* Love Notes/Letter Bombs - External links :* *...
release as a bonus track. (Nettwerk, 2011)
Albums
- Declare a New State! (Nettwerk, 2006)
- Honeysuckle WeeksHoneysuckle Weeks (album)Honeysuckle Weeks is the second full length studio album by Indie pop band The Submarines. It was released through iTunes on April 15, 2008, and was released physically on May 13, 2008. As with previous albums, Honeysuckle Weeks was released through the Canadian label Nettwerk...
(Nettwerk, 2008) - Love Notes/Letter BombsLove Notes/Letter Bombs-Video:* Love Notes/Letter Bombs - External links :* *...
(Nettwerk, 2011)
Compilations
- For the Kids Three! Compilation (Nettwerk, 2007)
- Just Like Heaven - A Tribute to The Cure Compilation (American Laundromat, 2008)
Video
- The Submarines - Peace & Hate (Official Video) Declare a New State! (Nettwerk, 2006)
- The Submarines - Submarine Symphonika (Official Video) Honeysuckle WeeksHoneysuckle Weeks (album)Honeysuckle Weeks is the second full length studio album by Indie pop band The Submarines. It was released through iTunes on April 15, 2008, and was released physically on May 13, 2008. As with previous albums, Honeysuckle Weeks was released through the Canadian label Nettwerk...
(Nettwerk, 2008) - The Submarines - You, Me, and the Bourgeoisie (Official Video) Honeysuckle WeeksHoneysuckle Weeks (album)Honeysuckle Weeks is the second full length studio album by Indie pop band The Submarines. It was released through iTunes on April 15, 2008, and was released physically on May 13, 2008. As with previous albums, Honeysuckle Weeks was released through the Canadian label Nettwerk...
(Nettwerk, 2008) - The Submarines - Fire (Official Video) Love Notes/Letter BombsLove Notes/Letter Bombs-Video:* Love Notes/Letter Bombs - External links :* *...
(Nettwerk, 2011)
External links
- Myspace
- Extensive audio interview on public radio program The Sound of Young AmericaThe Sound of Young AmericaThe Sound of Young America is a public radio program and podcast based in Los Angeles, California and distributed by Public Radio International...