- My Vitriol
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My Vitriol 
My Vitriol live at KOKO, 24 November 2006.Background information Origin London, England Genres Alternative rock
Post-grunge
Nu gaze
ShoegazingYears active 1999–present Labels Euro: Infectious, Warner, PIAS
USA & Japan: EpicWebsite http://www.myvitriol.com Members Ravi Kesavaram
Seth Taylor
Laura Claire
Som WardnerPast members Carolyn Bannister My Vitriol are an alternative rock band from London, England. The band name, which is often misinterpreted[citation needed], is taken from the novel Brighton Rock by Graham Greene. The band is often credited with initiating a new wave of Shoegaze, sometimes referred to as Nu Gaze, which bears comparison to genres of 1990s rock music from both sides of the Atlantic; both by American grunge bands such as Nirvana and as well as Irish/British "shoegazing" bands like My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive.[1]
The band currently comprises Som Wardner (vocals, guitar and lyrics), Ravi Kesavaram (drums), Seth Taylor (guitar) and Laura Claire (bass). The band had success in the early 2000s with three Top 40 hit singles in the UK Singles Chart and a UK Top 40 album,[2] before announcing a hiatus at the height of their success. The group started releasing new material again in 2007.
Contents
Career
Beginnings (1998-1999)
Kesavaram and Wardner met at UCL in early 1998. They lived opposite each other in halls and were both were studying similar degrees; Wardner studying genetics and Kesavaram studying biochemistry.[3] They were both involved in the local music scene, but it was not for a year and a half until they played together. Wardner had written a few songs and a friend of theirs decided to help them record a demo as a project for his studio engineering course. Kesavaram played the drums, and Wardner played the rest of the instruments, and they put together an EP called "Delusions of Grandeur" in the space of two days.
About 250 CD-R copies of "Delusions Of Grandeur" were pressed but only about thirty actually worked, due to technical reasons. However, one was handed to BBC Radio 1 DJ Steve Lamacq at a gig. Within days, Lamacq had broadcast a track on the Session Unsigned slot, which led to publicity for the band in the form of the track' "Grounded" being used on the Organ Radio 5 compilation album.
The twosome met guitarist Seth Taylor (bassist of Mint 400) at a Mint 400 gig, and discovered Carolyn Bannister playing bass at another gig. The band soon released their début, double A-side single "Always: Your Way/Pieces", on Org Records on the 6 December 1999.
Finelines (2000)
In the last week of 1999, the band signed a recording contract with Infectious Records, home to other acts such as Ash and Garbage. Their first single under this new label was "Losing Touch", released in April 2000, and the second was "Cemented Shoes" which made number 65 in the UK Singles Chart in July that year.[2] Their third single, "Pieces", charted at number 56, but the fourth, "Always Your Way", was the first to reach the Top 40, peaking at number 31.[2] Soon after this, the band’s debut album, Finelines was released and it made number 24 in the UK Albums Chart in March 2001.[2] Almost every song on Finelines was recorded utilizing various unusual guitar tunings. The final single from the album, and their also their biggest hit was "Grounded" which peaked at number 29.[2] The video for "Grounded" starred Vincent Gallo. The single release included an unexpected cover version of Madonna's 1989 song "Oh Father".
They landed support slots with many major acts, including Muse, Deftones, A Perfect Circle, Feeder, Placebo, Ash and the Manic Street Preachers. My Vitriol appeared numerous times on television programmes such as Top of the Pops, as well as festival performances such as Glastonbury, V Festival, T in the Park and main stage Reading/Leeds to 40,000 people and a nighttime higher billing the following year.
The band headlined their first festival in the Netherlands on the mainstage in Rotterdam, and the indoor arena in Norway's Quart. They also performed across Europe at Roskilde in Denmark, Festimad in Spain, and to 20,000 people at Rock am Ring in Germany. At Summer Sonic in Japan, where Sony Music released their debut, they played to 18,000 people. Their first and only headline show in Tokyo sold out in hours, and the venue had to be upgraded twice.
Despite being essentially an alternative act, the band's music eventually worked its way through to various mainstream television programmes such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and they were offered Hollywood movie roles, and modelling assignments from Ralph Lauren, and Next. Concerning this, "we thought it would be better to stick to what we knew best!" drummer Ravi Kesavaram joked.[4]
Betweenthelines (2001)
Despite having only played outside of Europe in Japan, "Grounded" was a hit in South Africa and the band starting to gain interest from Asia and South America. This was partly due to the circulation of the "Delusions of Grandeur" EP. This led to the band signing the US release rights of the record to Sony/Epics for a reported $400,000 (£300,000 at the exchange rate at the time). Part of the deal was to remix the album with Guns N' Roses/Metallica producer Steve Thompson.
On hearing the US mixes, Infectious Records made the decision to re-release this version in the UK as a double album format, including B-sides and rarities, forming the complete works of My Vitriol to date.
Hiatus (2002-2006)
At the end of 2002, after three years of touring, lead singer Som Wardner announced My Vitriol's touring hiatus at Kerrang Festival, saying "We won't be around for a while. We're going to take a break and write a new record. Thanks for supporting us from the beginning."[4] Their song "Always Your Way" was voted in 2002 as one of the best alternative songs written by Xfm listeners.[5] The band recorded a cover of Elliott Smith's "Bottle Up & Explode!", upon hearing of the singer-songwriter's death in October 2003.
Post hiatus (2007-present)
Despite their "hiatus", My Vitriol's popularity has persisted since the release of their debut record due to their loyal cult following. An unannounced "secret" show in Islington in January 2005 sold out all 1000 tickets months before the show.
A second sold out show followed place at the 1500 capacity KOKO, Camden, London, on 24 November 2006, which debuted newer material. To date My Vitriol are yet to play a London show which has not sold out.
March 2007 saw the release of the single "This Time" under the pseudonym of 'A Secret Society' via Org Records, limited to 1000 copies. The single also featured a cover version of The Lemonheads' "It's a Shame About Ray". "A Pyrrhic Victory EP" was released via Xtra Mile Records as limited release of 1500 in July 2007.
Since 2007 My Vitriol have performed more frequently, appearing at music festivals in the UK such as Download Festival, Guilfest and headlining Offset Festival. Sold-out UK tours in 2008 and 2009, were followed by shows in France, Belgium and Luxembourg, and two headline shows in Tokyo, Japan in 2009.
The BBC reported that My Vitriol were the last band to play at the London Astoria, on the 14 January 2009, before the venue was closed due to the Crossrail development.[6]
Discography
Albums
Date of
ReleaseTitle Label 2001 Finelines Infectious Records 2002 Between the Lines Infectious Records Singles & EPs
Date of
ReleaseTitle Label 1999 "Always" / "Pieces" Org Records 2000 "Losing Touch" Infectious Records 2000 "Cemented Shoes" Infectious Records 2000 "Pieces" Infectious Records 2001 "Always: Your Way" Infectious Records 2001 "Grounded" Infectious Records 2002 "Moodswings" / "The Gentle Art Of Choking" Infectious Records 2007 "This Time" (Used band-name moniker 'A Secret Society') Org Records 2007 "A Pyrrhic Victory EP" Xtra Mile Records Live recordings
Date of
ReleaseTitle Label 2006 Cast in Amber www.myvitriolfanclub.co.uk See also
References
- ^ Rogers, Jude (July 27, 2007). "Nu=Gaze". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2007/jul/27/popandrock. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 385. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Phase 9 interview". http://www.phase9.tv/musicinterviews/myvitriol-a.shtml. Retrieved December 1, 2006.
- ^ a b "My Vitriol MySpace". http://www.myspace.com/myvitriol. Retrieved December 1, 2006.
- ^ "XFM X-List 2002". http://www.xfm.co.uk/article.asp?id=4920. Retrieved December 3, 2006.
- ^ "BBC Radio 4". BBC News. January 16, 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7832000/7832651.stm. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
External links
Categories:- English rock music groups
- Musical groups from London
- Musical groups established in 1999
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