Meese (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Meese


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Origin = Denver, Colorado, United States
Genre = Piano rock
Alternative rock
Indie rock
Years_active = 2004–present
Label = Atlantic Records
Associated_acts = For the Holiday
The Patrick Meese Band
URL = Meesemusic [http://www.meesemusic.com]
Current_members = Patrick Meese
Nathan Meese
Mike Ayars
Ben Haley
Past_members = David Vanderhamm
Ben Comerci

Meese [http://www.meesemusic.com] is a four piece rock band based in Denver Colorado currently signed to Atlantic Records. [http://www.atlanticrecords.com/meese] [Information on the currently signed bands to Atlantic can be viewed on their web site. For the Meese artist information on Atlantic see http://www.atlanticrecords.com/meese] The name Meese is taken from the last name of band founders and brothers, Patrick and Nathan Meese. They are joined by friends Ben Haley and Mike Ayars.
Meese has shared the stage and toured with bands such as The Fray, Straylight Run, Paramore, Phantom Planet, Dropping Daylight, and many others. They have also played venues such as Paramount Theatre (Denver, Colorado), Red Rocks Amphitheatre "The Gothic" and "The Fox Theater."

As of June 2008 they are in the recording process working with producer Sean Beavan to release their first full length major label release.

History

Formation and Early Years

The band began under the name "Patrick Meese" also releasing two e.p.'s entitled "Patrick Meese" and "B-Sides" featuring Patrick Meese in a mostly acoustic style performance in which he played and recorded almost all the instruments himself. Reportedly after sending his brother a copy of the song "I Don't Buy It" Nathan Meese dropped out of school at Ohio Unviersity and moved out to Denver to join Patrick's band. Following this the band shortened their name to simply "Meese." During these first few months and shows Meese was joined by various friends who played alongside him. While originally Patrick stated that the band only consisted of him and his brother and that friends occasionally played with them, the band now has a solid four members which has been made apparent through their live shows over the past two years and recent signing with Atlantic.
Meese began playing several small venues around the denver area in 2005 playing the Walnut Room and Bluebird theater with friends "for the holiday." After the band "for the holiday" went their separate ways Meese found a place for the assimilation of two of the members, Mike Ayars (guitar) and Ben Haley (Drums). Now having added this key element the band found themselves with a stronger lineup and stage presence.
Meese found great support in the local scene with help from friends The Fray opening for them at their cd release party at the Paramount Theatre (Denver, Colorado). Meese continued to play around denver with popular local bands which would lead to their independent release "Our Album Year" [http://payplay.fm/meese] . 2006 was a good year for Meese gaining a stronger local following and opening more opportunities to again play with The Fray at a sold out show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. cite article| subject= Red Rocks,| Contributor= Colorado Christian University | title= The Fray and Meese Play Red Rocks Amphitheater | program= yourhub.com| month = October | year = 2006| url= http://denver.yourhub.com/Lakewood/Stories/Entertainment/Music/Story~139733.aspx | accessdate= 2008-06-25] , October 19th, 2006. These key shows coupled with support by local radio station KTCL 93.3 [http://www.ktcl.com] gave Meese the attention and recognition they had been working so hard to gain.
They continued to play around the Denver area until joining the fray on part of their summer 2007 tour. [Meese Joined part of the Fray tour as the tour had been broken up into three different stages where the opening bands shifted depending on the dates. http://www.cinemablend.com/music/By-Popular-Demand-The-Fray-Extends-Summer-Tour-3012.html] On October 21st, 2007 Meese announced on KTCL 93.3 that they had signed with Atlantic Records. [See radio station archives for October 21st, 2007 announcement can also be seen on the bands myspace blog page]

Discography

The Oh No E.P. - 2005
Our Album Year - 2006
Winter Recordings E.P. - 2007 (iTunes release)
The Start of It E.P. - 2008 (only available in denver area in CD form, digitally available everywhere)

Band members

Current Members

Patrick Meese (lead vocals, keyboards, guitar and programming) 2004 - present
Nathan Meese (lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals) 2005 - present
Mike Ayars (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals) 2006 - present
Ben Haley (drums) 2006 - present

Former or associated Members

David Vanderhamm (bass) 2004 - 2007
Ben Comerci (drums) 2004 - 2006

References

External Links

[http://www.meesemusic.com / Official Website] [http://www.myspace.com/meese / Official Myspace Band Page] [http://www.atlanticrecords.com/meese / Atlantic Artist Page]