We Were Promised Jetpacks
Encyclopedia
We Were Promised Jetpacks is an indie rock
band from Edinburgh
, Scotland
, comprising Adam Thompson (vocals, guitar), Michael Palmer (guitar), Sean Smith (bass) and Darren Lackie (drums). The band's debut album, These Four Walls
, was released on 15 June 2009 on Fat Cat Records
.
The band cites label mates Frightened Rabbit
and The Twilight Sad
as influences, alongside Biffy Clyro
's early material.
, in 2003. The band played their first gig at their school's 'battle of the bands' competition, which they won. The four-piece eventually relocated to Glasgow
:
In September 2008, the band supported Frightened Rabbit
during their tour for The Midnight Organ Fight
. The band signed to Fat Cat Records
after the label listened to some tracks on their MySpace following a recommendation from future label mates Frightened Rabbit. On 15 June 2009 the band released their debut album, These Four Walls
, and performed the album in full at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut
. The album reached #27 on the U.S. Billboard Heatseekers chart. In late 2009 and early 2010, the band toured America
, with support from Cincinnati-based band Bad Veins
. Their early 2010 tour also included support from Brooklyn-based band Bear Hands and Washington natives The Lonely Forest. In March 2010, the band released a new EP, entitled The Last Place You'll Look
. In October 2010 the band toured in North America to open for Jimmy Eat World
. On 15 October 2010, their song "Quiet Little Voices" was featured on the Persian-language
political satire show, Parazit
, on Voice of America
and their song "An Almighty Thud" was featured in the opening sequence in Sons of Anarchy
episode, "Turas", on 2 November 2010. On 7 December 2010, the single "It's Thunder and It's Lightning" from the album These Four Walls was played on season 8, episode 11, "Darkness on the Edge of Town" of the CW
network's successful television series, One Tree Hill
, and on season 1, episode 8 of the Showtime series, "Shameless". Their song "Quiet little voices" is also featured in the 2011 comedy Hall Pass
with Owen Wilson
.
The band's drummer, Darren Lackie, is known amongst the band as "Peter Quiznose".
Bassist Sean Smith is known to his friends as 'Goose' and features in the Youtube video 'Goose - 1 minute smile'.
In July 2011, the band announced their second full-length album, In the Pit of the Stomach and released the track "Act on Impulse". The album was released on October 4, 2011. It was met with general approval from music critic
s, and achieved an overall rating of 7.3/10 at AnyDecentMusic?
based on 23 reviews.
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 from Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, comprising Adam Thompson (vocals, guitar), Michael Palmer (guitar), Sean Smith (bass) and Darren Lackie (drums). The band's debut album, These Four Walls
These Four Walls (We Were Promised Jetpacks album)
These Four Walls is the debut studio album by Scottish indie rock band We Were Promised Jetpacks, released on 15 June 2009 in the UK, and on 7 July 2009 in the US by Fat Cat Records. The band recorded the album at Earth Studios in Odiham, Hampshire, England with producers Ken Thomas, Joylon Thomas,...
, was released on 15 June 2009 on Fat Cat Records
Fat Cat Records
Fat Cat Records is an independent label based in Brighton on England’s South Coast. Their output includes electronica, post rock, indie, downtempo, minimal techno, noise and punk-pop...
.
The band cites label mates Frightened Rabbit
Frightened Rabbit
Frightened Rabbit are a Scottish indie rock band from Selkirk, formed in 2003. The lineup consists of lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and lyricist Scott Hutchison, guitarist and bassist Billy Kennedy, guitarist Andy Monaghan, drummer Grant Hutchison and guitarist and keyboardist Gordon Skene...
and The Twilight Sad
The Twilight Sad
The Twilight Sad are an indie rock band from Kilsyth, Scotland, comprising James Graham , Andy MacFarlane and Mark Devine . The band are currently signed to Fat Cat Records and have released two full-length albums, as well as several EPs and singles...
as influences, alongside Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro are a Scottish rock band from Kilmarnock, comprising Simon Neil , James Johnston and Ben Johnston...
's early material.
History
We Were Promised Jetpacks formed in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, in 2003. The band played their first gig at their school's 'battle of the bands' competition, which they won. The four-piece eventually relocated to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
:
"There was a time when we first moved to Glasgow (we grew up and went to school in Edinburgh, then three of us moved to Glasgow and one of us to StirlingStirlingStirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
) and started playing proper gigs in proper venues. Playing in Edinburgh before was weird as we were underage, so ended up playing some odd nights. Which was cool, but when we moved to Glasgow we were of drinking age and we started playing places like Sleazy’s and whatnot. We felt like a proper band."
In September 2008, the band supported Frightened Rabbit
Frightened Rabbit
Frightened Rabbit are a Scottish indie rock band from Selkirk, formed in 2003. The lineup consists of lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and lyricist Scott Hutchison, guitarist and bassist Billy Kennedy, guitarist Andy Monaghan, drummer Grant Hutchison and guitarist and keyboardist Gordon Skene...
during their tour for The Midnight Organ Fight
The Midnight Organ Fight
-Critical response:The Midnight Organ Fight was met with widespread critical acclaim upon its release. Sampling sixteen reviews, the review aggregator website Metacritic awarded the album a weighted average of 80%, as well as a 9.3/10 rating based on 38 user votes.Josh Model of The A.V Club awarded...
. The band signed to Fat Cat Records
Fat Cat Records
Fat Cat Records is an independent label based in Brighton on England’s South Coast. Their output includes electronica, post rock, indie, downtempo, minimal techno, noise and punk-pop...
after the label listened to some tracks on their MySpace following a recommendation from future label mates Frightened Rabbit. On 15 June 2009 the band released their debut album, These Four Walls
These Four Walls (We Were Promised Jetpacks album)
These Four Walls is the debut studio album by Scottish indie rock band We Were Promised Jetpacks, released on 15 June 2009 in the UK, and on 7 July 2009 in the US by Fat Cat Records. The band recorded the album at Earth Studios in Odiham, Hampshire, England with producers Ken Thomas, Joylon Thomas,...
, and performed the album in full at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut
King Tut's Wah Wah Hut
King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, also known as King Tut's, is a live music venue and bar in on St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland. It is owned and managed by Glasgow-based gig promoters DF Concerts...
. The album reached #27 on the U.S. Billboard Heatseekers chart. In late 2009 and early 2010, the band toured America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with support from Cincinnati-based band Bad Veins
Bad Veins
Bad Veins is an indie rock duo from Cincinnati, Ohio, composed of Benjamin Davis and Sebastien Schultz. Davis primarily writes the music, plays guitar and keyboard, and sings, while also recording backtracking music on a reel-to-reel tape player, nicknamed Irene. Schultz plays the drums...
. Their early 2010 tour also included support from Brooklyn-based band Bear Hands and Washington natives The Lonely Forest. In March 2010, the band released a new EP, entitled The Last Place You'll Look
The Last Place You'll Look
The Last Place You'll Look is an EP by Scottish indie rock band We Were Promised Jetpacks, released on 9 March 2010 in the US and Canada, and on 12 April 2010 in the UK and Europe by Fat Cat Records....
. In October 2010 the band toured in North America to open for Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....
. On 15 October 2010, their song "Quiet Little Voices" was featured on the Persian-language
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
political satire show, Parazit
Parazit
Parazit is a weekly half-hour Persian-language satirical television show broadcast on Voice of America's Persian service. The show pokes fun at Iranian politics and culture. Kambiz Hosseini and Saman Arbabi, Iranian expatriates living in Washington, DC, started the show as a 10-minute segment in...
, on Voice of America
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
and their song "An Almighty Thud" was featured in the opening sequence in Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy is an American television drama series created by Kurt Sutter about the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in Charming, a fictional town in Northern California...
episode, "Turas", on 2 November 2010. On 7 December 2010, the single "It's Thunder and It's Lightning" from the album These Four Walls was played on season 8, episode 11, "Darkness on the Edge of Town" of the CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
network's successful television series, One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
, and on season 1, episode 8 of the Showtime series, "Shameless". Their song "Quiet little voices" is also featured in the 2011 comedy Hall Pass
Hall pass
A hall pass is a pass or token used in American and Canadian public schools to show that a student has been authorized to be out of his/her classroom while lessons are in progress. They are commonly issued to students if they need to visit the Toilet, if they have been asked to run an errand for a...
with Owen Wilson
Owen Wilson
Owen Cunningham Wilson is an American actor and writer, known for his roles in the films The Haunting, The Royal Tenenbaums, Zoolander, Meet the Parents, Wedding Crashers, You, Me and Dupree, Bottle Rocket, the Cars series, The Darjeeling Limited, Marley & Me, Midnight in Paris, Shanghai Noon,...
.
The band's drummer, Darren Lackie, is known amongst the band as "Peter Quiznose".
Bassist Sean Smith is known to his friends as 'Goose' and features in the Youtube video 'Goose - 1 minute smile'.
In July 2011, the band announced their second full-length album, In the Pit of the Stomach and released the track "Act on Impulse". The album was released on October 4, 2011. It was met with general approval from music critic
Music criticism
See also Music journalism for reporting on classical and popular music in the media.The Oxford Companion to Music defines music criticism as 'the intellectual activity of formulating judgments on the value and degree of excellence of individual works of music, or whole groups or genres'. In this...
s, and achieved an overall rating of 7.3/10 at AnyDecentMusic?
AnyDecentMusic?
AnyDecentMusic? is a website that collates reviews of contemporary music albums, covering rock, pop, electronic, dance, folk, country, roots and urban...
based on 23 reviews.
Studio albums
- These Four WallsThese Four Walls (We Were Promised Jetpacks album)These Four Walls is the debut studio album by Scottish indie rock band We Were Promised Jetpacks, released on 15 June 2009 in the UK, and on 7 July 2009 in the US by Fat Cat Records. The band recorded the album at Earth Studios in Odiham, Hampshire, England with producers Ken Thomas, Joylon Thomas,...
(June 2009) - In the Pit of the StomachIn the Pit of the StomachIn the Pit of the Stomach is the second studio album by Scottish indie rock band We Were Promised Jetpacks, released on October 4, 2011 on Fat Cat Records.-Reception:-Track listing:All songs written by We Were Promised Jetpacks....
(October 2011) (UK chart peak: #167)
Singles
- "Quiet Little Voices"/ "Let's Call This a Map" (May 2009)
- "Roll Up Your Sleeves"/ "Back to the Bare Bones" (June 2009)
- "It's Thunder and It's Lightning"/"Ships With Holes Will Sink" (November 2009)
- "Medicine" / "Building Buildings" (August 2011)