I Voted for Kodos

Infobox musical artist
Name = I Voted for Kodos


Img_capt = I Voted for Kodos' pre-split line-up
Img_size = <220px>
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias = IV4K
Origin = Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Genre = Ska, pop punk, rock
Years_active = 1999–2007
Label = Snapdragon Records (US)
Kick Rock Music (Japan)
Associated_acts = (firefight), Remember the Maine
URL = [http://www.iv4k.com/ IV4K.com]
Current_members =
Past_members = Rick Bisenius
Lee Gordon
Tyler Christensen
Chris Holoyda
Ross Gilliland
Troy Riechenberger
Nick Rydell

I Voted for Kodos (often abbreviated IV4K) was a ska and pop punk band, signed to Snapdragon Records.

History

They were founded in Madison, Wisconsin in 1999, after singer-trombonist Rick Bisenius met guitarist Chris Holoyda at a Reel Big Fish concert.cite news| last =Kassulke| first =Natasha| title =I Voted for Kodos close enough for ska| page =22| publisher ="Wisconsin State Journal"| date =2001-01-25| ] They began playing together when the members were in high school/college. [cite news| last =Beal| first =Jim| title =Ayala left mark on local music scene| page =4G| publisher ="San Antonio Express-News"| date =2005-06-29| ] Their name comes from an episode of "The Simpsons", "Treehouse of Horror VII", in which Homer Simpson says, "Don't blame me—"I" voted for Kodos." [cite news| last =Leonard| first =John| title =Things That Go Clunk in the Night| pages =98–99| publisher ="New York"| date =2006-10-20| url =http://nymag.com/arts/tv/reviews/23149/| accessdate =2008-01-28 ] Although known for their tongue-in-cheek material (they have noted that celery is the band's official vegetable), their song lyrics have also tackled serious issues such as murder and teenage depression. Their first album, "Close Enough for Ska", is considered the success story of a small independent record label, Close to Nothing, which was founded by three teenagers. [cite news| last =Barnett| first =Samuel| title =Despite its name, this independent record label built by three Valparaiso teenagers could soon become ... really something| page =D1| publisher ="Post-Tribune"| date =2001-03-12| ]

The band members would begin shows with informal instruction on how to skank so that the audience would appreciate the style of dance associated with ska music. They toured nationally in 2004, and placed number 7 in PureVolume's top ten unsigned bands in the US. [cite news| last =Thomas| first =Rob| title =Kodos wins the vote at battle of the bands| page =2| publisher ="Wisconsin State Journal"| date =2004-09-16| ] The band played the 2004–2006 Vans Warped Tours, and music critic Joe Lynch described their 2006 performance as "freewheeling and energetic". [cite news| last =Lynch| first =Joe| title =Music lovers of all kinds unite on Warped Tour| page =D1| publisher ="Wisconsin State Journal"| date =2006-06-21| ] During a separate national tour in early 2006, one music journalist wrote that the band "uses a hot horn section, plenty of guitar and on-the-mark lyrics to fuel a high-energy show." [cite news| title =Night after night| page =17H| publisher ="San Antonio Express-News"| date =2006-02-10| ]

The band stopped working together in 2007, although Bisenius and Holyda continued to collaborate on a new band, Firefight, and Bisenius began a solo project, The Faster We Fall. [cite news| title =Break-ups: I Voted for Kodos (2003–2007)| publisher =Punknews.org| date =2007-03-17| url =http://www.punknews.org/article/22786| accessdate =2008-01-29 ]

Past members

* Rick Bisenius – lead vocals, trombone, Moog
* Lee Gordon – guitar, mellophone, backing vocals
* Tyler Christensen – guitar, backing vocals
* David Gage – drums
*Andrew Anderson - Keyboards, Trumpet

Discography

Albums

* 2001: "Close Enough For Ska" (Close to Nothing)
* 2006: "My New Obsession" (Snapdragon Records)

EPs

* 2003: "Not Penis Cream"

Compilations

* 2003: "Kicked Squat in the Nuts" (Danger Zone Records)
* 2006: "Best of Minnesota Punk & Ska Compilation"
* 2007: "If You Can't Make It Big.....Just Give Up!" (Snapdragon Records)

References

External links

* [http://www.iv4k.com I Voted for Kodos] official site
* [http://www.myspace.com/iv4k I Voted for Kodos] on MySpace