- Meet Me in St. Louis (band)
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Meet Me In St. Louis Origin Guildford, Surrey, England Genres Post-hardcore, Progressive rock, Indie rock, Math Rock Years active 2005 – 2008 Labels BSM Records / Function Records
Denovali Records (Germany)Website Official Website Members Benny Llewelyn (Guitar)
Toby Hayes (Vocals)
Oli Knowles (Guitar)
Paul Phillips (Drums)
Lewis Reynolds (Bass)Meet Me In St. Louis were a post-hardcore band from Guildford, Surrey. They were signed to Function Records & BSM Records in England and Denovali Records in Germany, the band's name originates from the 1944 film of the same name.
Their much-hyped first LP Variations on Swing received a nationwide release on 24 September 2007 following the release of two EPs, a split release with fellow labelmates Secondsmile and contributions in several compilations.
The band have been featured on and supported by several important British publications such as Drowned in Sound, Kerrang, Rock Sound and NME.[1]
On the 6 February 2008, the band confirmed that they are no more.[2] This comes after claims made by the band at their final show at the Queen Charlotte, Norwich the previous night (4 February 2008)
The first ever 'Meet Me In St Louis Day' - an unofficial bank holiday invented by the bands label, Big Scary Monsters Recording Company - took place on Wednesday 24 September 2008, with fans all over the world paying their respects. It is hoped this will become an annual event so that the bands memory may live on and future generations appreciate their musical brilliance.
Contents
Toby's departure
On October 30, 2007 the band announced through its official website that vocalist Toby Hayes had decided to leave Meet Me In St. Louis but assured that the rest of the band would find a new vocalist and continue going on strong.[3]
Film references
Every song title, including their debut album Variations on Swing, is a line from a film with the only exception being Corey Feldman off their first demo "Promise me that we'll never be like them. I don't want to wind Up Like That. Relax, Baby. We're Going to Wind Up Like Us..." (which itself is a line from Blow). Furthermore their first EP ("And with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high water mark where the wave hit the shore and rolled back") is a line from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
With the right kind of eyes...
- We need to act like we don't need this shit then they give us the shit for free (Swingers)
- The Kid who had his ear slapped by the druggist (It's a Wonderful Life)
- Why Thank you Suzie (Fight Club)
- What happened to you Dylan? You used to be someone I could trust (Predator)
- You said your finger was a gun (Field of Dreams)
Variations on Swing
- The Torso has been severed in mid-thorax (Jaws)
- Well you damn well should (Meet Joe Black)
- "Right This Way, You Maverick Renegade" – 5:29 (Team America: World Police)
- "I Am Champagne, You Are Shit" – 4:52 (Happiness)
- "I Beat Up the Bathroom, I'm Sorry" – 5:04 (Punch-Drunk Love)
- "Eins Zwei Drei Hasselhoff!" (Dodgeball)
- "All We Need is a Little Energon, and a Lot of Luck" – 3:44 (The Transformers: The Movie)
- "Come to New York, There Were Fewer Murders Last Year" – 5:31 (Crazy People)
- "I've Got Knives in My Eyes I'm Going Home Sick" – 4:35 (Brick)
- "You're Doomed" – 2:21 (Cannibal! The Musical)
Other projects
Bassist Lewis Reynolds went on to play in the Kingston "math-pop" band Colour (who played their final show 18 September 2009), whilst Toby Hayes has a solo project called Shoes and Socks Off. In early 2009 Oliver Knowles filled in for Daniel Neal, violinist of Yndi Halda on their American tour and featured on the Secondsmile album "Years".
It was announced as of 11 September 2009 that Reynolds and Knowles would join Paul Philips of Meet Me in St. Louis to play alongside former Bullet Union singer and guitar player Jodie Cox in their new band Tropics.
Meet Me in St Louis day
To mark the anniversary of the bands one and only album release, Big Scary Monsters Recording Company invented a new unofficial public holiday. Simply known as 'Meet Me In St Louis Day', it's a celebration of how sorely missed the band are and takes place on 24 September every year. Fans are urged to skip work and listen to the album loudly, remembering how important the five-piece was to them. More info can be found at [1]
Discography
Date of Release Title label 2005 Promise Me That We'll Never Be Like Them... 2006 And With The Right Kind of Eyes... Function Records September 24, 2007 Variations on Swing BSM Records / Denovali Records Videography
References
- ^ BSM - Bands - Meet Me In St Louis
- ^ BSM - News
- ^ http://www.meetmeinstlouis.co.uk/HDS/MMISL.nsf/MMISL?OpenForm&page=home
External links
Categories:- British post-hardcore musical groups
- Musical groups established in 2005
- Musical groups disestablished in 2008
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