The Ernies

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Ernies


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Origin = Richmond, VA, U.S.
Genre = Alternative Rock
Years_active = 1994 - 2001
Label = Bob, Mojo
Associated_acts =
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members = Will Hummel, Matt Goves, Hayes Smith, Mike Hughes, Chris Bondi, Stefan Demetriadis, Steve Bider

The Ernies were a popular American Alternative rock band from Richmond, Virginia. [cite web |url=http://www.richmond.com/printer.cfm?article=4770 |title=Freedy Friday |accessdate=2007-07-28 |last=Leitch |first=Catherine |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=November 4, 1999 |year=1999 |month=11|format=html |work=richmond.com |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] They released two albums on an independent label before signing to Mojo Records and releasing their third album entitled "Meson Ray".

History

The Ernies were formed in 1994 [Citation
last = Johnson
first = Heather
author-link =
title = Ernies rock with hip hop, humor
newspaper = The Cavalier Daily
pages =
year = 1999
date = September 14, 1999
url = http://www.cavalierdaily.com/news/1999/sep/14/ernies-rock-with-hip-hop-humor/ ] by three students of Virginia Commonwealth University: Will Hummel, Matt Goves, and Hayes Smith. Hayes majored in music education, learning the saxophone and the bassoon, and Matt majored in music performance, focusing on percussion. Will studied English, and was especially influenced by the Modernists of the early 20th century. [cite web |url=http://www.inmusicwetrust.com/articles/21f02.html |title=The Ernies |accessdate=2007-07-26 |last=Jenison |first=David |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=July 1999 |year=1999 |format=html |work=In Music We Trust: Issue Twenty-One ]

The Ernies released their self-titled debut album on October 1, 1995. This album featured a three-piece horn section consisting of Steve Bider on alto saxophone, Stefan Demetriadis on trombone, and Hayes Smith on the baritone saxophone. In 1995, bassist Mike Hughes joined the band. cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:f9frxqqhldhe~T1 |title=allmusic ((( The Ernies ))) |accessdate=2007-07-28 |last=Proefrock |first=Stacia |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work=All Music Guide |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

On May 12, 1997, The Ernies released their second album, "Dropping Science". This album diverged from the pure ska style present on their previous album. The first track, "Jive" addresses the style change with lyrics like "We're not ska-core or reggae, jazz or funk, we're not hip-hop or rock or pop" and "to pacify those of you who need a label, call it what you want, we know you'll kick it if you're able". Without Steve Bider in the band, the horn section on "Dropping Science" consisted only of Stefan Demetriadis on trombone, and Hayes Smith on the baritone saxophone.

Mojo Records and beyond

Chris Bondi joined the band in 1997, playing the turntables and theramin. While playing a show in Los Angeles during a tour across the United States, The Ernies were discovered by a record excecutive and signed to Mojo Records. [cite web |url=http://www.richmond.com/printer.cfm?article=559288 |title=Our weekly online concert series continues with an exclusive show by The Ernies |accessdate=2007-07-28 |format= |work=richmond.com |date=1999-12-22 |year=1999 ] "Meson Ray" was released on Mojo Records on April 20, 1999. With trombonist Stefan Demetriadis no longer in the band, the only horn section remaining for this release was Hayes Smith on a variety of saxophones.

A remix of the song "Motivate" appeared during a scene in the movie BASEketball. This version of the song also appeared on the BASEketball soundtrack, released by Mojo Records. The song "Here and Now" was featured in the video game "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater" in 1999, [cite video game|title=Tony Hawk Pro Skater |developer=Activision |publisher=Neversoft |date=2000 |platform=Playstation |version= |level= |language=English |isolang= |quote= ] [cite news
last = Scarry Larry
first =
coauthors =
title = Tony Hawk thrashes the PlayStation with Pro Skater
work = CNN.com
publisher =
date = October 28, 1999
url = http://www.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9910/28/hawk.pro.skater.idg/
accessdate = 2007-07-28 ] [cite web |url=http://gamespot.com+%2B%22The+Ernies%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us |title=Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Hands-On Impressions |accessdate=2007-07-28 |last=Gerstmann |first=Jeff |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2003-08-12 |year= |month= |format= |work=GameSpot |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] and has also been featured on various television commercials, including an advertisement for the American television show "",Fact|date=July 2007 the Australian television series "Dangerous",Fact|date=July 2007 and a U.S. trailer of " (Knockin' on Heaven's Door)" in 2003. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au1AO1xaEts YouTube - Cowboy Bebop The Movie Trailer] ] In the summer of 2006, the "WWE" featured the song "Polarized" as the theme for the one time special "WWE vs. ECW: Head to Head episode". [ [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1oxfk_wwe-vs-ecw-head-to-head-intro Dailymotion - WWE vs ECW: Head to Head Polarized intro] ] They also used "Here and Now" as the theme song to the DVD version of WWE Survivor Series 2003.The songs "Here and Now" and "Polarized" are also featured in a number of promotional training videos for the 2007 comedy Balls of Fury; [ [http://www.fandango.com/videos_1_127896/v337884 Balls of Fury Trailer and Videos ] ] specifically the "Backhand Punch" and "Forehand Block" videos.

Hayes Smith was a guest saxophonist, recording with The Pietasters on their 2002 album entitled Turbo. [cite web |url=Pietasters Discography |title=http://www.pietasters.net/disc-turbo.shtmlaccessdate=2007-07-29 |format=html |work=Pietasters Official Website ] He is now playing bass and sax for a Dallas, Texas based band called Roy Bennett. [Citation
last = Smyers
first =Darryl
author-link =
title = Misdirection and Irony
newspaper = Dallas Observer
pages =
year =2007
date =2007-07-19
url =http://www.dallasobserver.com/2007-07-19/music/misdirection-and-irony/ ]

Band members

*Will Hummel (Lead vocals/Guitar)
*Matt Goves (Drums, Percussion)
*Hayes Smith (Saxophone, Backup Vocals)
*Mike Hughes (Bass)
*Chris Bondi (Turntables, Theramin)
*Stefan Demetriadis (Trombone) [ [http://www.suncoast.com/Dropping-Science-Front-Page_stcVVproductId6101900VVcatId455365VVviewprod.htm SunCoast: Alternative Pop/Rock - Dropping Science Ernies / CD / 1997] - Stefan Demetriadis listed in album credits] cite album-notes
title = The Ernies
albumlink =
bandname = The Ernies
year = 1995
notestitle =
url =
first =
last =
pages =
format = CD liner
publisher = Bob Records
publisherid =
location = Richmond, VA
mbid = ]
*Steve Bider (Alto Saxophone) [ [http://www.mysimon.com/Rock-and-Pop/9015-11123_8-2002141753.html Compare The Ernies by The Ernies Prices - Shop for Music at mySimon] - Steve Bider listed in album credits]

Discography

Albums

References