- Maldroid
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Maldroid Origin Oakland, California, USA Years active 2006–present Labels Fuzz Website Official website Members Ryan Divine - vocals
Todd Godley- guitar, vocals
A.J. Riot - keyboard, vocals
Jerry "Prince J" Yamashita - keyboards
Sean"The Talented Mr." Shippley - bass guitar
Brandon Bradshaw-drumsPast members Johnny Genius- guitar
Patti Botox- guitar
Mike O'Millions- drums
Hugo Barrientos Jr- drums
Chris Swimley-drumsMaldroid is an electropop band based in Oakland, California.
Contents
History
Lead singer Ryan Divine, born and raised in Santa Cruz, founded Maldroid in March 2006, hand-picking local musicians had worked with from now defunct local bands Solemite and "The K.G.B." (not to be confused with the Finnish group KGB). The band made its first EP later that year produced by guitarist Johnny Genius, the other core member. The production team of Divine Genius (Ryan Divine and Johnny Genius) first met Sean and Jerry during the production of the Soundboy record "Private Party". They produced several hits on the record including "Cold Blooded" and "Never My Love".
Their first video, "He Said, She Said," is a combination of simulated live performance, background subway scenes from the BART rail system, and graphic novel-style cartoons hand-animated over the course of several months by Divine. The video was inspired by Take on Me, a popular 1985 song and video by the Norwegian band a-ha. The live portion was surreptitiously filmed on borrowed cameras in abandoned warehouses.
The single became popular on local San Francisco modern rock station Live 105, after which the video went on to win YouTube's first-ever music contest, "The Youtube Underground." That earned them an appearance on Good Morning America and interest from various record labels.
On February 14, 2007, a 5,000-word cover story was published in a local alternative-weekly newspaper chronicling the group's roots, evolution, and rapid rise to become perhaps the first ever indie rock group launched solely on music videos. [1] Unlike OK Go, who was already signed to a major label by the time it was boosted to mainstream popularity through its viral music videos, Maldroid experienced music video fame before it had released a single song for sale or played a single live show.
Maldroid's first three videos are all animations created by lead singer Ryan Divine. Their EP was produced at a cost of $50, which the band claims was spent mostly on food and alcohol, at a studio where two band members work. The "Heck No" video is animated on a Lite-Brite art toy. In You Can Have It All a video, Ryan Divine takes apart a bluescreen jigsaw puzzle, which is played backwards. (He is also a jigsaw champion).
It was announced at the 2007 South By Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas that Maldroid was signed to a recording contract with the upstart San Francisco record label Fuzz Artists, Inc.
Maldroid opened at the Live 105 "Not so silent night" concert, on December 7, 2007, after winning a local band contest. The concert included similar, but more famously known bands Paramore, Spoon, Jimmy Eat World, Angels & Airwaves, and Modest Mouse.
Maldroid played Every Thursday Night In August and September at the Stork Club in Oakland, California
Former Smash Mouth/Cake/Bourgeois Tagg/Cracker drummer Michael Urbano has been filling in on various gigs for the band.
Reto Peter(Green Day, The Network, Modest Mouse) entered the studio to engineer and co-produce several songs for upcoming full length due out APRIL 2008.
Maldroid will embark on their first nationwide tour(April 15-may 30th) with Oakland's own The Phenomenauts and former Fueled by Ramen artist The A.K.A.s.
Maldroid goes through a massive line-up change. With the departure of both guitarists, Johnny Genius and Todd Brown, Maldroid brings ex River City Rebels guitar player Patti Botox in to the fold. Now with a 5 man line-up Maldroid begins recording their follow up record. New songs such as "Almost Pleasureable", "Get To You" and "Murder at The Disco" show a significant change in style.
Maldroid will embark on their fourth tour of their short career in October 2009 with Portland's Punk Group.
Due to a family emergency, Patti Botox is forced to move back to New York. Todd Brown returns to his original spot as lead guitar player. Maldroid begins their much anticipated follow up.
Ryan Divine shot a pilot for an unreleased VH1 show called "Shoot To Kill" which revolves around young video directors. Drew Barrymore and The Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti were producers for the show. They hand picked Ryan after viewing Maldroid's music videos. The episode has yet to air on VH1
Musical style and influences
Maldroid styles itself after British Invasion bands from the '60s and "Second British Invasion" bands of the '80s. They play straightforward, singable pop music with clear vocals, a strong beat, conventional arrangements (bass, keys, guitar, singers), and clever wordplay. It is clearly influenced by early music by The Beatles, although the music is harder edged, more personal, yet less experimental than late 'Beatles. The band also has New Wave and Indie rock overtones, and pays homage to Devo, The Hives, Daft Punk, Beck, and Iggy Pop. Recent recordings have shown a sudden change in style. Now adopting a more electropop approach Maldroid shows similarities with such bands as LCD Soundsystem, MGMT, Hot Chip and Friendly Fires.Maldroid has added a new drummer, Brandon Bradshaw from the band Varona.
Lead Guitarist Johnny Genius attended San Francisco School of the Arts, is currently attending culinary academy and is in two other bands. Bass Player Sean Shippley and Synth Player Prince J were also members of PopSmear Records band "Soundboy".
Discography
Albums
- Malfunction (EP) (November 29, 2006)
- Oakland Lads Club (EP) (September 20, 2007)
- "Nevermind (EP)" (February 21, 2008)
- Maldroid (April 15, 2008)
Singles
- He Said She Said (November 29, 2006)
- Heck No (I'll Never Listen to Techno) (November 29, 2006)
- Here We Go Again (November 29, 2006)
- You Can Have It All (November 29, 2006)
- You Wanna Touch It (November 29, 2006)
References
- February 14, 2007 East Bay Express cover story
- January 13, 2007 San Francisco Chronicle article
- December 19, 2006 Santa Cruz Sentinel article
- June 15, 2006 Owl Magazine article
External links
Categories:- American indie rock groups
- Musical groups from Oakland, California
- Music of the San Francisco Bay Area
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