White Light Riot
Encyclopedia
White Light Riot is an American
indie rock
group based in Minneapolis, Minnesota
. Members include brothers Mike Schwandt (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Mark Schwandt (drums), Dan Larsen (bass), Randy Tomes (Keyboards) and Zack Caroll (Guitar). White Light Riot is sometimes abbreviated as WLR.
, Mike was studying abroad in England and Mark took on the task of finding additional band members. He recruited Dan Larsen, a bassist in their jazz band and invited another classmate, guitarist Joe Christenson to join the ensemble.
White Light Riot was formerly named ‘The Evening Glow’ but changed their name almost immediately.
) on October 30, 2005. In early 2010, "Bitter Beginning" and "Out of Sight" were featured in the Destineer Games title Triple Crown Snowboarding for Nintendo Wii.
, a Minneapolis-based independent record label. “Atomism," the sole album they released on 50 Records, was recorded at Pachyderm Studio
in Cannon Falls, MN; produced/co-engineered by Brent Sigmeth(Grant Hart
, They Might Be Giants
, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott), co-engineered by Paul Marino
(The New Congress, Desdemona) and mastered by Bob Ludwig
. It was released nationally on August 21, 2007 by RED Distribution
. The CD release party was held on June 23, 2007 at the Fine Line Music Café in Minneapolis, MN.
In 2009 lead singer Mike Schwandt posted on the band's Myspace and Facebook Pages that they ended their contract with 50 Records
. Schwandt explains we "finally broke free from their grasp.". Around this time, guitarist Joe Christenson left the group and was replaced by Zack Carroll, who previously played with This World Fair
and Catchpenny
.
In January 2010, the song "Forever in the West" was featured on the season finale of the VH1
program Secrets of Aspen.
at Urness Hall at St. Olaf College
, Fuzzy Slippers Studio, and The Terrarium. The album will be released on May 2, 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
indie rock
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...
group based in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. Members include brothers Mike Schwandt (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Mark Schwandt (drums), Dan Larsen (bass), Randy Tomes (Keyboards) and Zack Caroll (Guitar). White Light Riot is sometimes abbreviated as WLR.
History
In early 2005, brothers Mike and Mark Schwandt formed the band. During their junior year in high school at Robbinsdale Armstrong High SchoolRobbinsdale Armstrong High School
Robbinsdale Armstrong High School is a high school located in Plymouth, Minnesota, a second-tier suburb of Minneapolis...
, Mike was studying abroad in England and Mark took on the task of finding additional band members. He recruited Dan Larsen, a bassist in their jazz band and invited another classmate, guitarist Joe Christenson to join the ensemble.
White Light Riot was formerly named ‘The Evening Glow’ but changed their name almost immediately.
Early Years
In late 2005, White Light Riot released their first EP “The Dark Is Light Enough”, produced by Erik Appelwick (Tapes 'n TapesTapes 'n Tapes
-History:Formed in the winter of 2003 at Carleton College, the band has released four albums. First came the self-released Tapes 'n Tapes EP in 2004, followed by the full-length release, The Loon, on Ibid Records in 2005. The band signed to XL Recordings and re-released The Loon on July 25, 2006...
) on October 30, 2005. In early 2010, "Bitter Beginning" and "Out of Sight" were featured in the Destineer Games title Triple Crown Snowboarding for Nintendo Wii.
Atomism
In 2006, the band signed with 50 Records50 Records
50 Records is a Minneapolis based record label which was co-founded in 2006 by Drew Pearson, Dylan Ohm, and CEO Deb Ward-Ingstad, who also owns several radio stations in the South. Artists on their roster include White light riot and Elevation...
, a Minneapolis-based independent record label. “Atomism," the sole album they released on 50 Records, was recorded at Pachyderm Studio
Pachyderm Studio
Pachyderm Recording Studio is a residential recording studio located in rural Cannon Falls, Minnesota, United States, 35.8 mi southeast of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. It is located in a secluded old-growth forest with a vibrant trout stream. The studio was founded in 1988...
in Cannon Falls, MN; produced/co-engineered by Brent Sigmeth(Grant Hart
Grant Hart
Grant Hart is an American musician, best known as the drummer and co-songwriter for the influential alternative rock and hardcore punk band Hüsker Dü. After the band's breakup in 1987, Hart formed the alternative rock trio Nova Mob, where he moved to vocals and guitar...
, They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott), co-engineered by Paul Marino
Paul Marino
Paul Marino is a film director, producer, animator, voice actor, and author currently focused on machinima, the art of using engines from video games to create films. He is a co-founder and the executive director of the Academy of Machinima Arts & Sciences , a non-profit organization formed in...
(The New Congress, Desdemona) and mastered by Bob Ludwig
Bob Ludwig
Bob Ludwig is an American mastering engineer.He is a well known and respected figure within the music industry. His name is credited on the covers of albums released across the world, and he has won numerous awards....
. It was released nationally on August 21, 2007 by RED Distribution
RED Distribution
RED - An Artist Development Company is a Sony Music Entertainment-owned sales and marketing division that handles releases for over sixty independent record labels....
. The CD release party was held on June 23, 2007 at the Fine Line Music Café in Minneapolis, MN.
In 2009 lead singer Mike Schwandt posted on the band's Myspace and Facebook Pages that they ended their contract with 50 Records
50 Records
50 Records is a Minneapolis based record label which was co-founded in 2006 by Drew Pearson, Dylan Ohm, and CEO Deb Ward-Ingstad, who also owns several radio stations in the South. Artists on their roster include White light riot and Elevation...
. Schwandt explains we "finally broke free from their grasp.". Around this time, guitarist Joe Christenson left the group and was replaced by Zack Carroll, who previously played with This World Fair
This World Fair
This World Fair was a rock act based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The line-up included the singer-songwriter Chris Kalgren , along with a touring band consisting of Alexander Young and Matt Lennander . This World Fair internationally released their first full-length album, self-titled This...
and Catchpenny
Catchpenny
Catchpenny is an American rock/pop band. The group released its first album, Chance For A Lifetime in December 2005. Tommy Stinson, Michael Bland, Phil Solem, Tommy Barbarella , John Fields, and Jim Anton have also worked with Catchpenny....
.
In January 2010, the song "Forever in the West" was featured on the season finale of the VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
program Secrets of Aspen.
Self-Titled LP
After parting ways with their record label, the band spent 2010 recording their self-titled followup album with Paul MarinoPaul Marino
Paul Marino is a film director, producer, animator, voice actor, and author currently focused on machinima, the art of using engines from video games to create films. He is a co-founder and the executive director of the Academy of Machinima Arts & Sciences , a non-profit organization formed in...
at Urness Hall at St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
, Fuzzy Slippers Studio, and The Terrarium. The album will be released on May 2, 2011.
Albums
| Year | Album | Label Record label In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,... |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Dark is Light Enough | Independent |
| 2007 | Atomism Atomism Atomism is a natural philosophy that developed in several ancient traditions. The atomists theorized that the natural world consists of two fundamental parts: indivisible atoms and empty void.According to Aristotle, atoms are indestructible and immutable and there are an infinite variety of shapes... |
50 Records 50 Records 50 Records is a Minneapolis based record label which was co-founded in 2006 by Drew Pearson, Dylan Ohm, and CEO Deb Ward-Ingstad, who also owns several radio stations in the South. Artists on their roster include White light riot and Elevation... |
| 2011 | White Light Riot | Independent |