Ambulance LTD
Encyclopedia
Ambulance LTD is an indie rock
group formed in Spanish Harlem
, New York
in 2000. The band was founded by singer and guitarist Michael Di Liberto and Dave Longstreth of Ohio. They were joined by Marcus Congleton, who brought in Andrew Haskell (keyboards), Aaron Nevezie (bass), and Darren Beckett (drums). After Haskell and Nevezie left the band, they were replaced by Benji Lysaght (guitar) and later Matthew Dublin (bass). They signed to TVT Records
after getting positive reviews from their live shows and recorded their debut album LP
in 2004.
The band mixes the genres of dream pop
, indie rock
and the British shoegazing
movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Their influences range from The Beatles
and The Rolling Stones
to Spiritualized
, My Bloody Valentine, and Elliott Smith
. The band has said that "their niche is not sticking to any particular niche" and that they don't want to be stuck in any sub-genre of rock.
An EP titled New English EP
was released in March 2006.
Benji Lysaght, Matthew Dublin, and Darren Beckett left Ambulance LTD to form a band called The Red Romance
with the addition of Adam Chilensk on bass, leaving Congleton as the only remaining member. He legally acquired ownership of the band name Ambulance LTD, and in 2007, Congleton was working with The Velvet Underground
's John Cale
in Los Angeles writing new material, none of which has officially surfaced.
In 2008, Ambulance LTD hired a backing band consisting of Ian Fenger on guitar, Xander McMahon on keyboards, and Jeremy Kay on bass. They went on tour with their first performance at Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge, Massachusetts
on April 2, 2008. Ambulance LTD were prevented from releasing new material after TVT Records filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. TVT also attempted to sell artists' back catalog, resulting in Congleton, along with labelmates The Polyphonic Spree
, to file a lawsuit against the label and its parent company Universal Music Group
in June 2008.
Former members
Former touring
In 2008, their song "Heavy Lifting" was featured in a scene of the film Forgetting Sarah Marshall
. In 2010, their song "Sugar Pill" was featured in a scene of the film Takers
.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
group formed in Spanish Harlem
Spanish Harlem
East Harlem, also known as Spanish Harlem and El Barrio, is a section of Harlem in the northeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. East Harlem is one of the largest predominantly Latino communities in New York City. It includes the area formerly known as Italian Harlem, in which...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 2000. The band was founded by singer and guitarist Michael Di Liberto and Dave Longstreth of Ohio. They were joined by Marcus Congleton, who brought in Andrew Haskell (keyboards), Aaron Nevezie (bass), and Darren Beckett (drums). After Haskell and Nevezie left the band, they were replaced by Benji Lysaght (guitar) and later Matthew Dublin (bass). They signed to TVT Records
TVT Records
TVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
after getting positive reviews from their live shows and recorded their debut album LP
LP (Ambulance LTD album)
LP is the debut album by the band Ambulance LTD. The album was released on March 23, 2004 in the US and March 14, 2005 in the UK via TVT Records.-Track listing:# "Yoga Means Union" – 4:54# "Primitive " – 3:58# "Anecdote" – 3:16...
in 2004.
The band mixes the genres of dream pop
Dream pop
Dream pop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid-1980s, when bands like The Passions, Dif Juz, Lowlife and A.R. Kane began fusing post-punk and ethereal experiments with bittersweet pop melodies into dreamy, sensual soundscapes. The term was almost...
, indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
and the British shoegazing
Shoegazing
Shoegazing is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged from the United Kingdom in the late 1980s. It lasted there until the mid 1990s, with a critical zenith reached in 1990 and 1991...
movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Their influences range from The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
to Spiritualized
Spiritualized
Spiritualized are an English space rock band formed in 1990 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Jason Pierce after the demise of his previous outfit, space-rockers Spacemen 3...
, My Bloody Valentine, and Elliott Smith
Elliott Smith
Steven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and resided for a significant portion of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity...
. The band has said that "their niche is not sticking to any particular niche" and that they don't want to be stuck in any sub-genre of rock.
An EP titled New English EP
New English EP
New English EP is an EP released by Ambulance LTD on March 14, 2006 containing new songs, old demos from their first album, LP, and a cover of a Pink Floyd song...
was released in March 2006.
Benji Lysaght, Matthew Dublin, and Darren Beckett left Ambulance LTD to form a band called The Red Romance
The Red Romance
-History:The Red Romance is a critically lauded, independently released act, that has earned critical praise for their unique blend of Motown-oriented grooves and a literate and lyrical moodiness....
with the addition of Adam Chilensk on bass, leaving Congleton as the only remaining member. He legally acquired ownership of the band name Ambulance LTD, and in 2007, Congleton was working with The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
's John Cale
John Cale
John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
in Los Angeles writing new material, none of which has officially surfaced.
In 2008, Ambulance LTD hired a backing band consisting of Ian Fenger on guitar, Xander McMahon on keyboards, and Jeremy Kay on bass. They went on tour with their first performance at Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
on April 2, 2008. Ambulance LTD were prevented from releasing new material after TVT Records filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. TVT also attempted to sell artists' back catalog, resulting in Congleton, along with labelmates The Polyphonic Spree
The Polyphonic Spree
The Polyphonic Spree is a choral symphonic pop rock band from Dallas, Texas that was formed in 2000 by Tim DeLaughter. The band's sound relies on a variety of vocal and instrumental color by featuring a choir, flute, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, cello, percussion, piano, guitars, bass, drums,...
, to file a lawsuit against the label and its parent company Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
in June 2008.
Band members
Current members- Marcus Congleton – vocals, guitar, songwriter
Former members
- Michael Di Liberto – founder, guitar, bass, vocals
- Dave Longstreth – co-founder, guitar, vocals
- Matthew Dublin – bass, backing vocals
- Darren Beckett – drums
- Andrew Haskell – keyboards
- Benji Lysaght – guitar
Former touring
- Ian Fenger – guitar
- Jeremy Kay – bass
- Kevin Congleton – drums
- Ezra Oklan – drums
- Xander McMahon – keyboards
- Erick Ronick - keyboards
EPs
- Ambulance LTDAmbulance LTD (EP)Ambulance LTD is the self-titled debut EP by American indie rock group Ambulance LTD, released in 2003. The EP features the original versions of "Primitive ," "Heavy Lifting," "Young Urban" and "Stay Where You Are," which would be re-recorded for the band's debut album LP.-Track listing:# "Stay...
(June 17, 2003) - New English EPNew English EPNew English EP is an EP released by Ambulance LTD on March 14, 2006 containing new songs, old demos from their first album, LP, and a cover of a Pink Floyd song...
(March 14, 2006)
Singles
- "Heavy Lifting" (December 13, 2004)
- "Stay Where You Are" (February 28, 2005) - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#67 - "Primitive (The Way I Treat You)" (June 13, 2005) - UK #72
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | "Primitive (The Way I Treat You)" | Wendy Morgan | YouTube |
| "Heavy Lifting" | Shannon Hartman | YouTube | |
| 2005 | "Stay Where You Are" | Moh Azima | YouTube |
Song appearances in film and television
In 2004, their song "Stay Tuned" was used in the opening credits of the film P.S.P.S.
p.s. is a 2004 drama film directed by Dylan Kidd. The screenplay by Kidd and Helen Schulman is based on Schulman's 2001 novel P.S. I Love You So Damn Much. The film stars Laura Linney and Topher Grace.-Plot synopsis:...
In 2008, their song "Heavy Lifting" was featured in a scene of the film Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a 2008 American romantic comedy film directed by Nicholas Stoller and starring Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis and Russell Brand...
. In 2010, their song "Sugar Pill" was featured in a scene of the film Takers
Takers
Takers is a 2010 crime film directed by John Luessenhop from a story and screenplay written by Luessenhop, Gabriel Casseus, Peter Allen, John Rogers, and Avery Duff. It features an ensemble cast that includes Matt Dillon, Chris Brown, Idris Elba, T.I., Jay Hernandez, Paul Walker, Hayden...
.
External links
- Ambulance LTD on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- LP reviews
- Interview about The Red Romance on BYT