relient k

Relient K is a Christian rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio and named after guitarist Matt Hoopes's Plymouth Reliant K car.

Members

Current members

• Matt Thiessen – lead vocals, guitar, piano (1998–present)
• Matt Hoopes – guitar, backing vocals (1998–present)
• Dave Douglas – drums, backing vocals (2000-present)
• John Warne – bass, backing vocals (2004–present)
• Jon Schneck – guitar, banjo, bells, backing vocals (2005–present)

Former members

• Todd Frescone – drums (1998)
• Stephen Cushman – drums, backing vocals (1998–2000)
• Jared Byers – drums (2000)
• Brian Pittman – bass (1998–2004)

Band History

Line-up changes

Relient K was founded in 1998 by Matt Thiessen and Matt Hoopes on guitar, and Brian Pittman on bass. Todd Frescone joined for a short time on the drums in 1998. After All Work and No Play, Todd Frescone was replaced by Stephen Cushman. Cushman played drums on the 2000 A.D.D., and on the self-titled album in 2000, but left later that year. Jared Byers, drummer of Bleach, filled in as the temporary drummer, until Dave Douglas joined in December of 2000. This lineup remained static from the release of The Creepy EP and The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek in 2001, through the release of Mmhmm in 2004, after which Brian Pittman left to start a landscaping company. Pittman nows plays bass for the Christian metal band Inhale Exhale. John Warne, lead singer and guitarist of Ace Troubleshooter, filled in as bassist for the remainder of 2004. He became full-time bassist in 2005. Also in 2005, Jon Schneck joined as a third guitarist, as well as a banjo and bell player, to create a fuller, more distinctive sound.

Evolution of sound

1998–2002: Beginnings

Relient K's demo, All Work and No Play, caught the attention of dc Talk's Toby McKeehan. After he signed the band to his label, Gotee Records, Relient K released their debut EP entitled 2000 A.D.D. EP in 2000. Later that year, they released Relient K, their first full-length and self-titled CD. It was distinctly Christian rock and featured lyrics with a wide range of pop-culture references.

In 2001, the band released their sophomore album, The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek. This album launched both Relient K and their sound to a whole new level. There were still plenty of pop-culture references on this album, which was evident in the song "Sadie Hawkins Dance." It contained many more softer songs and slightly lighter guitars. They would continue chords through tracks in order to fluidly transition in between songs, a trend that continued on their later albums.

2002–2005: Rising popularity and mainstream success

Anatomy landed them in the Christian rock limelight, as they were then asked to do their rendition of the popular VeggieTales song "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" for the 2002 VeggieTales movie Jonah. The song was released on two different albums (both in single form). The first version also including their song "Breakdown" being sung by Larry the Cucumber. There was also a promotional version which included the original version of Breakdown. This song mixes the sounds of The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek and their third album, Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do.

In 2003, Relient K released Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do. The album had multiple different covers of different colors, each depicting a car in some kind of wreck. As pop-culture references became less specific, sound and vocals became far more defined. Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do (often called Two Lefts by fans) combined the soft, meaningful songs of The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek and threw in fast-paced songs with deep lyrics. It was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Christian Modern Rock Album.

During this time, Relient K also released a limited edition red vinyl EP entitled The Vinyl Countdown. There were only 1500 printings of the album which included two versions of the song, "Five Iron Frenzy is Either Dead or Dying." The same year, Relient K made a special appearance at the final Five Iron Frenzy concert at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, Colorado where they performed, for the very last time, "Five Iron Frenzy is Either Dead or Dying." The album was also dedicated to Jesse Alkaire. Hence "Here's to Jesse Alkaire"

Since Two Lefts was released in March of 2003, Relient K released a bonus disc for Christmas, entitled Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand. The album was packaged with Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do from November 2003 to December 2003.

In late 2004, the group released their long-expected fourth album, Mmhmm. Pop-culture references were even less specific than on their third album, if not nonexistent. The album was significantly more on the serious side with very few of the silly songs the band was known for. The album is much more piano-driven in parts (including an entire song, "Let It All Out"), but more hardrock in others ("Which to Bury, Us or the Hatchet"). In July 2005, the album was certified gold for shipping over 500,000 copies. Also, driven by newfound recognition from Mmhmm, Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do was also certified gold in spring 2005. It has been announced that their second record, The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek, recently reached the Gold as well. It is awaiting certification by the RIAA.

Mmhmm features two top 40 hits which both made it on MTV's Top Ten. The track "Be My Escape," which can be found on Mmhmm, is the band's most popular mainstream song to date. Its music video entered MTV's Top Ten, and landed them an appearance on The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live. "Be My Escape" is also featured on Now! 19, a popular secular and quasi-annual compilation series. It was classified as a platinum single in November of 2005. The music video for "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been," also from Mmhmm, has also made its way onto the TRL countdown, many top 40 radio stations, and was included on Now! 21.

In early June 2005, the band was featured on MTV's 10 Spot Drop, which gave the band a boost in its popularity, as did their Spring 2005 tour opening for Simple Plan and Good Charlotte and having the main stage slot on the 2005 Van's Warped Tour.

In November 2005 Relient K released their first EP on Capital Records: Apathetic EP. The EP featured three new songs and three acoustic versions of other Relient K songs. It also featured the song "The Thief" by Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes. "The Truth", found on Apathetic EP, although not released as a single, has received numerous airplay on Christian and mainstream stations including a #1 berth on the CCM charts for 7 weeks. The EP was dedicated to their friend, Aaron Marrs, who died at sea in January of that year. He had been on the cover of the band's previous EP, the Employee of the Month EP.

2006–present

In early 2006, the band recorded a cover of "Between You and Me" by dc Talk, for the compilation album Freaked!. They were one of many bands to contribute to the album, which was meant as a tribute to dc Talk's album Jesus Freak. Both Matt Thiessen and Dave Douglas also recorded new music for their own side projects, which was included on Mono Vs Stereo Record's My Other Band, Vol. 1.

Recording for a new album started (according to Thiessen at the Ichthus Music Festival 2006) on June 18, 2006 and continued for parts of July and August. Some tracks on the album were produced by Howard Benson (All-American Rejects, My Chemical Romance, P.O.D.). While the band hoped for a November 2006 release, the official release date has now been announced as February 6th, 2007. The band has begun to perform songs from their upcoming album at their shows, such as "Bite My Tongue"[1] and "Devastation." At the 2006 Uprising Festival, the band announced that their new album will be titled Five Score and Seven Years Ago, and this was also confirmed by the band's manager. [2] [3]

In addition to their new album, the band's manager recently announced that there will be Gold Editions of both The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek and Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do released in October. The albums will be remixed and have remastered sound, so that they will be on par with the band's fourth album, Mmhmm. Whether the albums will have any other new additions has not been announced.

Relient K is one of the major performing groups at their Nintendo Fusion Tour for 2006, along with Hawthorne Heights, Emery, Plain White T's and The Sleeping.[4] The band chose just a single new song to play, which is titled "Devastation."

Discography

Albums

EPs

Other

Singles

Single Rankings

Music Videos

Compilations

Tribute Albums

Other projects

The Complex Infrastructure Known as the Female Mind

In 2004, Relient K released a book entitled The Complex Infrastructure Known as the Female Mind. The book clues in the confused male Relient K fans, such as Chris Douglas, on some of the inner works of the female species. The band gives advice on the opposite sex through personal experience, stereotypes (including Rocker and Vanilla Pudding), and Biblical advice—presented in the fun attitude found in their music. The title of the book is taken from the last line of the song "Mood Rings," which is found on their third album, Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do.

Woodland Forest

In June 2006, Relient K released the first episode of their own flash cartoon. The cartoon features all five band members, and takes place in a fictional land known as Woodland Forest. It is animated by bassist John Warne. Episodes will continue to be released on a regular basis, and can be found on the band's MySpace[5].

Trivia

• Relient K had a large plastic buffalo, dubbed Dermike Mabado, which crowd surfed at shows. The band found it in a dumpster in Buffalo, New York. It may have been an homage to fellow Christian punk crossover band MxPx's 1998 album Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo. Dermike's name was inspired by NBA player Dikembe Mutombo Some time before the band's major-label debut, Dermike was removed from appearing at shows. Another mascot, Twinkie Sean, replaced it for a short period of time. It is said that Dermike now resides in Matt Thiessen's garage.
• During the Matt Hoopes Birthday Tour in 2006, Jon Schneck recorded podcasts for the band, featuring recaps of the day and interviews with members of the band. There were also interviews with the bands that were on tour with them.
• The band's name was intentionally misspelled to avoid trademark infringement over the Reliant name. When they later found out that the trademark wouldn't be an issue, they kept the name, as they found the misspelling funny.
• Three of the five band members have tattoos. Jon Schneck has the most of the band members (the most well-known one being the cross on his right wrist), John Warne has a phoenix on his upper right arm, and Dave Douglas has the word "Innocence" down the back of his left arm.
• Matt Thiessen, Matt Hoopes, and former bass player Brian Pittman have known each other since they were in second grade.
• The chords beginning "In Love with the 80's" are the same as in the chorus of "Mood Rings," both from Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do. Additionally, the acoustic guitar intro on "High of 75" is a faster version of the intro of "Be My Escape," both from Mmhmm. Other similar chords include the end of "Wake Up Call," and parts of "Failure to Excommunicate."
• Not only does Matt Hoopes still have his old Plymouth Reliant, but Matt Thiessen has also said that after the band started, he bought his own Reliant K.
• Both Matt Thiessen and Dave Douglas each have two of their own side projects, respectively. Matt Thiessen has Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes, a soft and emotional project that primarily features the piano, and The Makeout Girls, a less serious side project that features his friend, Kevan Pedan. Dave Douglas has Agnes, a solo rock project that features the sound of Relient K's earlier music, and Gypsy Parade[6], a softer project that he started with his wife.
• Relient K, along with Hawthorne Heights, Emery, Plain White T's, and The Sleeping, will be playing in the 2006 Nintendo Fusion Tour.
• The oldest songs that Relient K still performs at concerts are "Softer to Me," "Pressing On," "Sadie Hawkins Dance," and "Failure to Excommunicate." Of the four of these, "Sadie Hawkins Dance" is the only one that is still performed in its entirety.
• As a homage to their own song, the band used to encourage fans to bring Skittles and Combos to shows. While they no longer encourage it, fans still do, and often throw packages to the band. In addition, small packages of each are sometimes placed on the stage by the crew prior to performances.
• The band's song "Be My Escape" has recently been featured in the 2006 Men's U.S. Open Tennis Championship, with the song's opening guitar solo playing as the event headed into a commercial.
• Before Relient K announced the title of their new album, Five Score and Seven Years Ago, many rumored titles appeared. Audio Irrelevance was the most popular of these, but Guitarist Jon Schneck soon clarified that the title was false shortly after the rumors began. At Purple Door 2006, Matt Thiessen asked fans to write ideas on paper airplanes, and fly them up to the stage.

External links

• Official band website
• Relient K on MySpace
• Relient K lyrics
• Relient K on Yahoo! Music
• Band of the Day's 10 Questions with Relient K
• Relient K guitar tabs
• Nintendo Fusion Tour '06
• Relient K Lyrics