- We the Kings
-
We the Kings Origin Bradenton, Florida Genres Pop punk, alternative rock,[1] powerpop Years active 2005–present Labels S-Curve, Universal Republic Records Website Official website Members Travis Clark
Hunter Thomsen
Charles Trippy
Danny DuncanWe the Kings is an American powerpop band formed in 2005 from Bradenton, Florida, currently signed to record label S-Curve Records.[2] The group released their self-titled full-length debut album in 2007, which peaked at No. 151 on the Billboard 200. Their second full-length album, Smile Kid, was released in December 2009, and the band has since completed a variety of tours. The band released a new album on July 5, 2011 entitled Sunshine State of Mind, achieving minor commercial success. They have toured extensively, playing in music festivals as well as supporting other acts. We the Kings also host their own miniature series of webisodes, entitled "The King's Carriage", detailing life on their tour bus.
Contents
History
We the Kings started as the band "Broken Image" (IVY, Friendship Is A Touchy Subject), changed to "De Soto" (Between The Ink and Pen) and in 2005 was named "We The Kings". The members have been friends since childhood, and their band name is derived from the middle school (King Middle) where they all started playing music. Under the guidance of manager Bret Disend, the quartet, now five members (2011), placed a number of their songs on the social networking site Purevolume in 2007 to gain publicity. Shortly after, the group signed to S-Curve Records, a New York-based imprint of EMI Records.
On May 3, 2008, We the Kings appeared on CBS's The Early Show to perform their songs "Check Yes Juliet" and "Skyway Avenue."[3] Around this time they were also featured on MTV's Spring Break '08.[4] The band also performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live on June 27, 2008 and performed the single "Check Yes Juliet" [5]. They also hosted Radio Disney on August 20, 2008.[6] They also appeared on Friday Night Premiere on MTV. The song "Check Yes Juliet" is included in Lego Rock Band[7] In summer 2008, We the Kings were featured in Alternative Press. They were also featured on the cover of Substream Music Press magazine, issue 10, along with the band Alesana. They have also appeared in Kerrang! (Issue 1227) and UK magazine Black Velvet (issue 61). Their Black Velvet interview is based on the band's tweeting. On February 8, 2010, the group appeared as guests on the second season of MTV's Silent Library.
In November 2009, drummer Danny Duncan and bassist Drew Thomsen were interviewed on their tour bus by LiveStarringYou.com. When asked about his post-music plans, Danny said he wanted to "open a pizzeria that specializes in making guacamole on the spot."
On December 8, 2009, the band released their second full-length album entitled Smile Kid, with the singles "We'll Be a Dream" featuring Demi Lovato, and "Heaven Can Wait."
On November 5, 2010, the band announced that they would be entering the studio to record their third studio album. That record titled Sunshine State of Mind was released on July 12, 2011. It reached No. 45 on the Billboard 200. On April 8, 2011, the band premiered the record's first single, "Friday Is Forever", on AOL in a bus.
On September 21, 2011, it was confirmed via Travis Clark's twitter that bassist Drew Thomsen would be quiting the band. YouTuber, and former Suspense Thriller bassist Charles Trippy announced on his Facebook page that he will be temporarily filling in for Thomsen.
Tours
Live at Warped Tour.
We The Kings' first tour ever was with Don't Die Cindy in the summer of 2005 under the previous name "De Soto". A Heartwell Ending (now, "Call the Cops") supported for the final leg of the tour. While teaming with Bret Disend in Fall of 2005, We The Kings went on their first tour under that name as a five piece, with the then-unknown "Boys Like Girls" as they supported the new release of the "Great Escape" music video.
We the Kings played on their first headlining tour "Long Hair Don't Care" with Valencia, The Cab, Sing It Loud, and Charlotte Sometimes during late March and throughout April. In May and June, We the Kings supported Cute Is What We Aim For and Boys Like Girls on their UK tour.
For part of the fall of 2007, they played a tour called Tourzilla with headliner Boys Like Girls, All Time Low, and The Audition. They toured in support of Cobra Starship in early 2008 along with Metro Station and The Cab. We the Kings performed all dates of the Warped Tour 2008.[8]
On August 30, 2008 they were a part of The Rays Summer Concert Series, playing on the field after a Tampa Bay Rays game. They also toured the UK after the completion of the Warped Tour.
In February 2009, they headlined a tour called "The Secret Valentine Tour" with The Maine, The Cab, There for Tomorrow, and VersaEmerge.
In mid 2008, they toured the UK supporting The Academy Is... along with The Maine.
We the Kings played in the 2009 Bamboozle Roadshow Tour. It began on April 3 at Hoodwinked in California, touring the month of April across the states, and finished May 2 at The Bamboozle in East Rutherford, NJ. Bands also playing the Bamboozle Road Show tour included Forever The Sickest Kids, The Cab, NeverShoutNever!, and Mercy Mercedes.
On July 8, 2009, they began their tour as support for All Time Low along with Cartel and Days Difference. They also be performing at Warped Tour 2009. The band was on tour in Fall 2009, again supporting All Time Low on the Glamour Kills Tour, with Hey Monday and The Friday Night Boys.
In early 2010, the band headlined the Hot Topic Presents: Take Action Tour with There For Tomorrow, A Rocket To The Moon, Mayday Parade, and Stereo Skyline. We the Kings also played with New Found Glory at Fitchburg State College's annual spring concert.
In March 2010, We the Kings supported You Me at Six, an English pop rock band, on their UK headline tour along with Forever the Sickest Kids. The band has also played in Warped Tour 2010 from June 26 to August 2. After Warped Tour, the band plan on a world tour in 2011.[9]
In April 2010 the band performed a benefit concert with fellow pop punk band Voted Most Random at a local venue in New Haven, Connecticut. The event raised thousands of dollars for ClearWater Initiative and at the time was their biggest fundraiser to date.
In June 2010, We the Kings performed at "Kiss the Summer Hello", a concert in Buffalo, New York at the Coca-Cola Stadium. They performed with Cartel, Jaicko, Mayday Parade, New Boyz, Shontelle and Spose. They performed "Secret Valentine" along with a few other songs, and closed with one of their most popular songs "Check Yes, Juliet".
In February 2011, We the Kings toured the UK in 10 different cities from 4–15th. Manchester being one of the first nights to sell out. They were supported by Versaemerge, All Forgotten and I See Stars throughout the whole tour.
They toured Australia in early March 2011, including at the Soundwave festival. They also headlined two soldout sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne with The Maine and Nevershoutnever.
The band is out on their "Friday is Forever" tour in Summer 2011 in support of their latest release. The Summer Set, The Downtown Fiction, Hot Chelle Rae and Action Item provided support.
They will tour South America for the first time during early 2012, along with Taking Back Sunday.
Members
- Travis Randall Clark – Lead Vocals, Guitar, Piano
- Ryan Hunter Thomsen – Lead Guitar
- Daniel Lee Duncan – Drums
- Charles Trippy | Charles Paul Trippy III - Bass Guitar
Discography
Studio albums
Year Album details Peak chart positions US
[10]US Rock
[11]US Heat
[12]US Indie
[13]AUS 2007 We the Kings - Release date: October 2, 2007
- Label: S-Curve Records
151 — 3 — — 2009 Smile Kid - Release date: December 8, 2009
- Label: S-Curve Records
112 24 — 5 — 2011 Sunshine State of Mind - Release date: July 5, 2011
- Label: S-Curve Records
45 9 — — 95 "—" denotes releases that did not chart EPs
- Secret Valentine EP
Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)Album US
[14]US Pop
[15]US Heat
[16]AUS
[17]2007 "Skyway Avenue" — — — — We the Kings 2008 "Check Yes Juliet" 70 23 — 26 "Secret Valentine" — 33 — — 2009 "Heaven Can Wait" — 25 15 — Smile Kid 2010 "We'll Be a Dream" (featuring Demi Lovato) 76 21 3 — 2011 "Friday Is Forever" — — — — Sunshine State of Mind "Say You Like Me" — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart Awards
Year Award Category Work Result 2008 MTV Video Music Awards "Best New Artist" We The Kings Nominated 2008 Rock on Request Awards "Best Pop Punk Artist" We The Kings Won 2010 Teen Choice Awards "Choice Hook Up" (shared with Demi Lovato) We'll Be a Dream Nominated References
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p984436
- ^ EMI Music signs S-Curve Records to US distribution and global licensing agreement. EMIGroup.com, July 17, 2007. Accessed October 30, 2007.
- ^ "We The Kings on the The Early Show." Youtube. 3 May 2008. 29 Aug. 2008 Youtube.
- ^ "We The Kings." Youtube. 20 July 2008. 29 Aug. 2008 Youtube
- ^ "We The Kings "Check Yes Juliet" on Jimmy Kimmel Live 6-27-08." Youtube. 28 June 2008. 29 Aug. 2008 [1]
- ^ "Check Yes Juliet" (acoustic) by We the Kings live on Radio Disney." Youtube. 20 Aug. 2008. 29 Aug. 2008
- ^ Youtube
- ^ Warped Tour 2008
- ^ http://amplified.tv/2010/03/21/we-the-kings-interview/
- ^ "We the Kings Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/we-the-kings/chart-history/934036?f=305&g=Albums. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ "We the Kings Album & Song Chart History – Rock Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/we-the-kings/chart-history/934036?f=408&g=Albums. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ "We the Kings Album & Song Chart History – Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/we-the-kings/chart-history/934036?f=324&g=Albums. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ "We the Kings Album & Song Chart History – Independent Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/we-the-kings/chart-history/934036?f=326&g=Albums. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ "We the Kings Album & Song Chart History – Hot 100". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/we-the-kings/chart-history/934036?f=379&g=Singles. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ "We the Kings Album & Song Chart History – Pop Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/we-the-kings/chart-history/934036?f=381&g=Singles. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ "We the Kings Album & Song Chart History – Heatseekers Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/we-the-kings/chart-history/934036?f=887&g=Singles. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ "australian-charts.com – We the Kings singles chart history". Hung Medien. http://www.australian-charts.com/search.asp?search=We+the+Kings&cat=s. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
- ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2011 Singles". ARIA Charts. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.auSINGLEaccreds2011.htm. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
External links
- We the Kings, Video Premiere "Secret Valentine" on mtvU Premiered Tuesday Jan. 26th.
- Official Site
Categories:- Musical groups from Florida
- American pop punk musical groups
- American power pop groups
- Musical groups established in 2003
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
