Tonic (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Tonic


Img_capt = Current line-up: Hart, Lavery and Russo
Img_size = 200
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Los Angeles
Genre = Alternative rock
Years_active = 1993-2004, 2008
Label = Polydor/A&M/Universal
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.tonic-online.com/ tonic-online.com]
Current_members = Emerson Hart
Jeff Russo
Dan Lavery
Past_members = Dan Rothchild
Kevin Shepard
Notable_instruments =

Tonic is a Grammy-nominated American post-grunge rock band formed in 1993 by Emerson Hart, Jeff Russo, Dan Rothchild, and Kevin Shepard. They were signed to Polydor Records in 1995.

History

They released the debut album "Lemon Parade" in 1996. Singles for the songs "Open Up Your Eyes" and "If You Could Only See", were released in 1996 and 1997 respectively. "If You Could Only See" received the honor of being Rock Radio's most played song of 1997. In that same year, the band recorded a song for the "Scream 2" soundtrack.

Dan Lavery replaced Rothchild on bass in December 1996. With Lavery in tow, the band released the now out-of-print EP, "Live and Enhanced". Also in 1998, they recorded songs for the soundtracks to "" and "Clay Pigeons" as well as a live version of the song "Open Up Your Eyes" for the charitable album "Live in the X Lounge".

The band returned to the studio to finish and release the second album "Sugar" in 1999. "Knock Down Walls" and "You Wanted More" were charting singles released off that record, with the latter having first appeared on the soundtrack to the movie "American Pie".

"Sugar" was put together as a three-piece, as Shepard was no longer a part of the band. The drummer for the album was Peter Maloney although Joey Waronker filled in for the single "You Wanted More".

Tonic returned to the charts with their third official release, "Head on Straight", and the single "Take Me as I Am". Still billed as a three-piece band, the drums on "Head On Straight" were played this time by Joey Waronker. The band also enlisted the help of Keyboardist Will Holis. Hart and Russo both also played piano and Rhodes synth respectively on the record. In 2001, the band again recorded a track for the charitable album "Live in the X Lounge", this time lending a performance of "Mean To Me" to the cause.

In 2003 the band received two Grammy nominations, one for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "Take Me As I Am", and one for Best Rock Album.

In 2004, the band took a break from touring and recording together.

In 2005, all three members were working on solo/other projects. Russo is working on an album where he is playing everything himself. It is not known yet if it will be released with a backing band, or if it will be left as an album with just Jeff. A full-length release from Hart was planned to be released in June 2007. Lavery had been writing songs for numerous projects including feature-length movies, such as "The Passion of the Christ" and "Elektra".

Lead guitarist Jeff Russo's new band Low Stars has a self-titled CD available at all Starbucks locations and their first single, "Calling All Friends" was the theme song to the ABC TV show "What About Brian". According to the bands Myspace page and web site, it is also available at iTunes.

According to a biography posted on the Myspace page of singer/guitarist Emerson Hart, he has officially parted ways with the band, saying, "I’m proud of the work and I’m thankful that we had the opportunity to create those songs, but I’m not making records with Tonic anymore." Hart's solo album "Cigarettes and Gasoline" was released on July 17, 2007 through EMI-Manhattan.

Since March 2007, Dan Lavery has been playing bass on tour for The Fray.

In a turn of events, Hart announced at a Sixthman Event in Atlanta that a new Tonic record and reunion was in the works.

Tonic will play their first show in over two years on September 13, 2008 at [http://www.blarneyisland.com/events.php Blarney Island] in Antioch, IL.

Current Personnel

*Emerson Hart - Lead and Backing Vocals, Rhythm acoustic and Electric Guitars.
*Jeff Russo - Lead and Rhythm electric and acoustic Guitars, Backing Vocals, Rhodes, String machine, and Slide Guitar.
*Dan Lavery - Bass Guitars, Backing Vocals, Rhodes, Piano.

Discography

*"Lemon Parade" (1996) Platinum
*"Live and Enhanced" (1999)
*"Sugar" (1999)
*"Head on Straight" (2002)

ingles

External links

* [http://www.tonic-online.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/tonicband Official Myspace Page]
*Dino Merlin, Bosnian singer-songwriter has recorded an interesting version of "If You Could Only See" (entitled "Kad Si Rekla Da Me Voliš")

*amg|id = 11:1q62mpvd9f8o | label = Tonic