Bad Books
Encyclopedia
Bad Books is an American indie rock
supergroup formed in early 2010, and is composed of folk
/indie
artist Kevin Devine
and members of indie rock
band Manchester Orchestra
. The collaboration began when Kevin toured along with Manchester Orchestra
in November–December 2008 in support of his EP I Could Be with Anyone
, and followed by the release of the split EP entitled I Could Be the Only One
in January 2010.
A self-titled full-length album
by the band was released digitally on October 19, 2010, and on a physical CD on November 9, 2010.
/indie
singer-songwriter Kevin Devine
and Manchester Orchestra
's Andy Hull
. Devine has toured with Manchester Orchestra
since signing with their label Favorite Gentlemen in 2007, and the two had a spot supporting Brand New
on their US spring tour in March– April 2007. Hull and Devine met again when they were co-headlining a tour in the US in November–December 2008, in support of Devine's latest EP I Could Be with Anyone
which featured songs from his then-upcoming fifth studio album Brother's Blood
.
Devine and Hull then started writing songs on the road when they met again, as Devine supported Manchester Orchestra
on their UK tour in July 2009, supporting their latest release Mean Everything to Nothing
. The two then continued to work together, and on January 26, 2010, they released together the split EP I Could Be the Only One
which was released on a 7" vinyl. The EP featured Kevin Devine
covering the Manchester Orchestra
song "The Only One", while Manchester Orchestra
covered the Kevin Devine song "I Could Be with Anyone", both doing very different and unique renditions to the known songs.
Following the release of the split EP, in an AbsolutePunk interview with Andy Hull
in January 2010, it was announced that Kevin Devine and Manchester Orchestra are set to release a currently untitled full-length album together, collaborating on 8 tracks with Kevin Devine writing four, and Andy Hull writing the other four.
On April 10, 2010, Alternative Press revealed that the Kevin Devine
/Manchester Orchestra
collaboration album will be released under the new band name Bad Books, and that it will contain 10 songs and not 8 as was said before by Kevin Devine himself.
On August 16, 2010, the band set an October 19, 2010, release date for their self-titled debut album
. The band also revealed 4 east coast
tour dates in support of the new release, including stops at New York City
, Philadelphia, Baltimore
and Cambridge between October 20–October 24, 2010. All dates are supported by Andy Hull
's solo side project Right Away, Great Captain
, Robert McDowell's solo side project Gobotron
, and Dead Confederate
' Hardy Morris' Hardello.
On August 25, 2010, The album's artwork and track list were revealed on the band's official website. The official track list is different than that previously given to Alternative Press, which was composed of working titles. The album's artwork was designed by band member Chris Freeman and Brian Manley. The same day, the band has also offered a free download of a song called "You Wouldn't Have to Ask" on their official website. It was the first song to be released by the new project. Later that day, the band uploaded another new song called "Please Move" for free listening on their Facebook
page. The physical CD release of the album was announced for November 9, 2010.
On October 8, 2010, it was announced that Kevin Devine
and Andy Hull
will embark on a short 5 date joint acoustic tour in December 2010, playing mostly Bad Books songs, as well as solo songs and Manchester Orchestra
songs. The tour is also in support of the band's self-titled debut release
, although the two frontmen won't be joined by the full band.
On October 18, 2010, the band uploaded the whole album for free streaming to their Myspace
and Facebook
pages. On October 20, 2010, the band streamed a live acoustic performance on their website.
On November 8, 2010, Bad Books released the music video for the official first single "You Wouldn't Have to Ask", on the Spin.com website. The video, which was shot in black and white, was directed by Jason Miller and is based on the Everly Brothers
' 1964 performance of the song "Gone, Gone, Gone" on the musical variety series
Shindig!
. On November 30, 2010, the music video was made available for purchase on iTunes
.
On November 10, 2010, the band has announced two new tour dates in support of the album, the band's first dates playing the west coast. The dates are January 16, 2011, at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, California
, and January 17, 2011, at Bottom of the Hill
in San Francisco, California
.
On January 11, 2011, the band released a free MP3 download of their cover of Built to Spill
's "The Plan" on their official website, a song that has been a part of all of their live shows. The version released is a live recording from one of the band's first shows in October 2010, and it was released along with an accompanying live video as well, professionally shot by ApK Media. On April 16, 2011, Manchester Orchestra
released the live recording of "The Plan" (credited to Manchester Orchestra
feat. Kevin Devine
) as the b-side to the Record Store Day
2011 exclusive 7" single of their song "Simple Math."
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...
supergroup formed in early 2010, and is composed of folk
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
/indie
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...
artist Kevin Devine
Kevin Devine
Kevin Devine is an American songwriter and musician from Brooklyn, New York, who is known for alternately introspective and political lyrics and melodic acoustic guitar songs...
and members of 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...
band Manchester Orchestra
Manchester orchestra
Manchester Orchestra is an American indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 2005. The group is currently composed of rhythm guitarist-singer-songwriter Andy Hull, lead guitarist Robert McDowell, keyboardist and percussionist Chris Freeman, bassist Jonathan Corley, and drummer Tim Very...
. The collaboration began when Kevin toured along with Manchester Orchestra
Manchester orchestra
Manchester Orchestra is an American indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 2005. The group is currently composed of rhythm guitarist-singer-songwriter Andy Hull, lead guitarist Robert McDowell, keyboardist and percussionist Chris Freeman, bassist Jonathan Corley, and drummer Tim Very...
in November–December 2008 in support of his EP I Could Be with Anyone
I Could Be With Anyone
I Could Be With Anyone is an EP released by Kevin Devine in support of his fifth album, Brother's Blood, and his winter 2008 tour with Manchester Orchestra. The title track is featured on Brother's Blood, while the other 3 tracks are exclusive to the EP...
, and followed by the release of the split EP entitled I Could Be the Only One
I Could Be the Only One
I Could Be the Only One is a split EP released as a digital single by Manchester Orchestra and Kevin Devine on January 26, 2010. The EP features the artists covering each other's songs, with Manchester Orchestra covering "I Could Be With Anyone" and Devine covering "The Only One".The songs featured...
in January 2010.
A self-titled full-length album
Bad Books (album)
Bad Books is the debut self-titled album from the folk/indie rock collaboration project by folk artist Kevin Devine and members of indie rock band Manchester Orchestra. It was released digitally on October 19, 2010, and with a physical CD copy following on November 9, 2010 through Manchester...
by the band was released digitally on October 19, 2010, and on a physical CD on November 9, 2010.
History
Bad Books started as a collaboration between folkFolk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
/indie
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...
singer-songwriter Kevin Devine
Kevin Devine
Kevin Devine is an American songwriter and musician from Brooklyn, New York, who is known for alternately introspective and political lyrics and melodic acoustic guitar songs...
and Manchester Orchestra
Manchester orchestra
Manchester Orchestra is an American indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 2005. The group is currently composed of rhythm guitarist-singer-songwriter Andy Hull, lead guitarist Robert McDowell, keyboardist and percussionist Chris Freeman, bassist Jonathan Corley, and drummer Tim Very...
's Andy Hull
Andy Hull
Andy Hull is an American singer, guitarist and song writer for the indie rock band Manchester Orchestra. He also has a side project Right Away, Great Captain, as well as co-founder of a side project with friend and folk musician Kevin Devine by the name of Bad Books.Hull was born in Atlanta, Georgia...
. Devine has toured with Manchester Orchestra
Manchester orchestra
Manchester Orchestra is an American indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 2005. The group is currently composed of rhythm guitarist-singer-songwriter Andy Hull, lead guitarist Robert McDowell, keyboardist and percussionist Chris Freeman, bassist Jonathan Corley, and drummer Tim Very...
since signing with their label Favorite Gentlemen in 2007, and the two had a spot supporting Brand New
Brand New
Brand New is an American rock band from Long Island, New York. Formed in 2000, the band currently consists of vocalist/guitarist/lyricist Jesse Lacey, guitarist/vocalist/lyricist Vincent Accardi, bassist Garrett Tierney, drummer Brian Lane, and guitarist/keyboardist Derrick Sherman.In the late...
on their US spring tour in March– April 2007. Hull and Devine met again when they were co-headlining a tour in the US in November–December 2008, in support of Devine's latest EP I Could Be with Anyone
I Could Be With Anyone
I Could Be With Anyone is an EP released by Kevin Devine in support of his fifth album, Brother's Blood, and his winter 2008 tour with Manchester Orchestra. The title track is featured on Brother's Blood, while the other 3 tracks are exclusive to the EP...
which featured songs from his then-upcoming fifth studio album Brother's Blood
Brother's Blood
-B-Sides:The I Could Be with Anyone E.P. features 2 b-sides, "The Weather Is Wonderful" and "What's Keeping Us Young", along with a demo for "She Stayed As Steam"....
.
Devine and Hull then started writing songs on the road when they met again, as Devine supported Manchester Orchestra
Manchester orchestra
Manchester Orchestra is an American indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 2005. The group is currently composed of rhythm guitarist-singer-songwriter Andy Hull, lead guitarist Robert McDowell, keyboardist and percussionist Chris Freeman, bassist Jonathan Corley, and drummer Tim Very...
on their UK tour in July 2009, supporting their latest release Mean Everything to Nothing
Mean Everything to Nothing
Mean Everything To Nothing is the second studio album by the Atlanta-based indie rock band Manchester Orchestra. It was released on April 21, 2009 through independent record label Favorite Gentlemen Recordings and produced by Joe Chiccarelli and Dan Hannon....
. The two then continued to work together, and on January 26, 2010, they released together the split EP I Could Be the Only One
I Could Be the Only One
I Could Be the Only One is a split EP released as a digital single by Manchester Orchestra and Kevin Devine on January 26, 2010. The EP features the artists covering each other's songs, with Manchester Orchestra covering "I Could Be With Anyone" and Devine covering "The Only One".The songs featured...
which was released on a 7" vinyl. The EP featured Kevin Devine
Kevin Devine
Kevin Devine is an American songwriter and musician from Brooklyn, New York, who is known for alternately introspective and political lyrics and melodic acoustic guitar songs...
covering the Manchester Orchestra
Manchester orchestra
Manchester Orchestra is an American indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 2005. The group is currently composed of rhythm guitarist-singer-songwriter Andy Hull, lead guitarist Robert McDowell, keyboardist and percussionist Chris Freeman, bassist Jonathan Corley, and drummer Tim Very...
song "The Only One", while Manchester Orchestra
Manchester orchestra
Manchester Orchestra is an American indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 2005. The group is currently composed of rhythm guitarist-singer-songwriter Andy Hull, lead guitarist Robert McDowell, keyboardist and percussionist Chris Freeman, bassist Jonathan Corley, and drummer Tim Very...
covered the Kevin Devine song "I Could Be with Anyone", both doing very different and unique renditions to the known songs.
Following the release of the split EP, in an AbsolutePunk interview with Andy Hull
Andy Hull
Andy Hull is an American singer, guitarist and song writer for the indie rock band Manchester Orchestra. He also has a side project Right Away, Great Captain, as well as co-founder of a side project with friend and folk musician Kevin Devine by the name of Bad Books.Hull was born in Atlanta, Georgia...
in January 2010, it was announced that Kevin Devine and Manchester Orchestra are set to release a currently untitled full-length album together, collaborating on 8 tracks with Kevin Devine writing four, and Andy Hull writing the other four.
On April 10, 2010, Alternative Press revealed that the Kevin Devine
Kevin Devine
Kevin Devine is an American songwriter and musician from Brooklyn, New York, who is known for alternately introspective and political lyrics and melodic acoustic guitar songs...
/Manchester Orchestra
Manchester orchestra
Manchester Orchestra is an American indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 2005. The group is currently composed of rhythm guitarist-singer-songwriter Andy Hull, lead guitarist Robert McDowell, keyboardist and percussionist Chris Freeman, bassist Jonathan Corley, and drummer Tim Very...
collaboration album will be released under the new band name Bad Books, and that it will contain 10 songs and not 8 as was said before by Kevin Devine himself.
On August 16, 2010, the band set an October 19, 2010, release date for their self-titled debut album
Bad Books (album)
Bad Books is the debut self-titled album from the folk/indie rock collaboration project by folk artist Kevin Devine and members of indie rock band Manchester Orchestra. It was released digitally on October 19, 2010, and with a physical CD copy following on November 9, 2010 through Manchester...
. The band also revealed 4 east coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
tour dates in support of the new release, including stops at New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Philadelphia, Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
and Cambridge between October 20–October 24, 2010. All dates are supported by Andy Hull
Andy Hull
Andy Hull is an American singer, guitarist and song writer for the indie rock band Manchester Orchestra. He also has a side project Right Away, Great Captain, as well as co-founder of a side project with friend and folk musician Kevin Devine by the name of Bad Books.Hull was born in Atlanta, Georgia...
's solo side project Right Away, Great Captain
Right Away, Great Captain
Right Away, Great Captain! is the solo side project of Manchester Orchestra's lead singer, Andy Hull. Debut album The Bitter End was released on January 14, 2007 via Favorite Gentlemen Recordings and is available on the band's . The follow-up, The Eventually Home, was released on Tuesday November...
, Robert McDowell's solo side project Gobotron
Gobotron
Gobotron is the solo side project of Manchester Orchestra's lead guitarist and backing vocalist, Charles Robert "Robot" McDowell. His debut album On Your Mark, Get Set... was released on January 19, 2010, through Manchester Orchestra's own label Favorite Gentlemen Recordings.-History:Upon returning...
, and Dead Confederate
Dead Confederate
Dead Confederate is an American alternative rock band formed in Augusta, Georgia and based in Athens, Georgia.The band's sound has been described as a mix of alternative country and grunge and has drawn comparisons to Nirvana and My Morning Jacket.-History:...
' Hardy Morris' Hardello.
On August 25, 2010, The album's artwork and track list were revealed on the band's official website. The official track list is different than that previously given to Alternative Press, which was composed of working titles. The album's artwork was designed by band member Chris Freeman and Brian Manley. The same day, the band has also offered a free download of a song called "You Wouldn't Have to Ask" on their official website. It was the first song to be released by the new project. Later that day, the band uploaded another new song called "Please Move" for free listening on their Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page. The physical CD release of the album was announced for November 9, 2010.
On October 8, 2010, it was announced that Kevin Devine
Kevin Devine
Kevin Devine is an American songwriter and musician from Brooklyn, New York, who is known for alternately introspective and political lyrics and melodic acoustic guitar songs...
and Andy Hull
Andy Hull
Andy Hull is an American singer, guitarist and song writer for the indie rock band Manchester Orchestra. He also has a side project Right Away, Great Captain, as well as co-founder of a side project with friend and folk musician Kevin Devine by the name of Bad Books.Hull was born in Atlanta, Georgia...
will embark on a short 5 date joint acoustic tour in December 2010, playing mostly Bad Books songs, as well as solo songs and Manchester Orchestra
Manchester orchestra
Manchester Orchestra is an American indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 2005. The group is currently composed of rhythm guitarist-singer-songwriter Andy Hull, lead guitarist Robert McDowell, keyboardist and percussionist Chris Freeman, bassist Jonathan Corley, and drummer Tim Very...
songs. The tour is also in support of the band's self-titled debut release
Bad Books (album)
Bad Books is the debut self-titled album from the folk/indie rock collaboration project by folk artist Kevin Devine and members of indie rock band Manchester Orchestra. It was released digitally on October 19, 2010, and with a physical CD copy following on November 9, 2010 through Manchester...
, although the two frontmen won't be joined by the full band.
On October 18, 2010, the band uploaded the whole album for free streaming to their Myspace
Myspace
Myspace 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....
and Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
pages. On October 20, 2010, the band streamed a live acoustic performance on their website.
On November 8, 2010, Bad Books released the music video for the official first single "You Wouldn't Have to Ask", on the Spin.com website. The video, which was shot in black and white, was directed by Jason Miller and is based on the Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers are country-influenced rock and roll performers, known for steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singing...
' 1964 performance of the song "Gone, Gone, Gone" on the musical variety series
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
Shindig!
Shindig!
Shindig! was an American musical variety series which aired on ABC from September 16, 1964 to January 8, 1966. The show was hosted by Jimmy O'Neill, a disc jockey in Los Angeles at the time who also created the show along with his wife Sharon Sheeley and production executive Art Stolnitz....
. On November 30, 2010, the music video was made available for purchase on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
.
On November 10, 2010, the band has announced two new tour dates in support of the album, the band's first dates playing the west coast. The dates are January 16, 2011, at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, and January 17, 2011, at Bottom of the Hill
Bottom of the Hill
Bottom of the Hill is a concert venue located in San Francisco, California, in the Potrero Hill district. As a venue, it is one of the most active in the city, usually holding shows seven nights a week...
in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
.
On January 11, 2011, the band released a free MP3 download of their cover of Built to Spill
Built to Spill
Built to Spill is an American indie rock band based in Boise, Idaho. The band has released seven full-length albums. Their most recent album, There Is No Enemy, was released on October 6, 2009.-History:...
's "The Plan" on their official website, a song that has been a part of all of their live shows. The version released is a live recording from one of the band's first shows in October 2010, and it was released along with an accompanying live video as well, professionally shot by ApK Media. On April 16, 2011, Manchester Orchestra
Manchester orchestra
Manchester Orchestra is an American indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 2005. The group is currently composed of rhythm guitarist-singer-songwriter Andy Hull, lead guitarist Robert McDowell, keyboardist and percussionist Chris Freeman, bassist Jonathan Corley, and drummer Tim Very...
released the live recording of "The Plan" (credited to Manchester Orchestra
Manchester orchestra
Manchester Orchestra is an American indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 2005. The group is currently composed of rhythm guitarist-singer-songwriter Andy Hull, lead guitarist Robert McDowell, keyboardist and percussionist Chris Freeman, bassist Jonathan Corley, and drummer Tim Very...
feat. Kevin Devine
Kevin Devine
Kevin Devine is an American songwriter and musician from Brooklyn, New York, who is known for alternately introspective and political lyrics and melodic acoustic guitar songs...
) as the b-side to the Record Store Day
Record Store Day
Record Store Day is an internationally celebrated day observed the third Saturday of April each year. Its purpose, as conceived by independent record store employee Chris Brown, is to celebrate the art of music...
2011 exclusive 7" single of their song "Simple Math."
Band members
- Kevin DevineKevin DevineKevin Devine is an American songwriter and musician from Brooklyn, New York, who is known for alternately introspective and political lyrics and melodic acoustic guitar songs...
- lead vocals, guitar, piano (2010–present) - Andy HullAndy HullAndy Hull is an American singer, guitarist and song writer for the indie rock band Manchester Orchestra. He also has a side project Right Away, Great Captain, as well as co-founder of a side project with friend and folk musician Kevin Devine by the name of Bad Books.Hull was born in Atlanta, Georgia...
- lead vocals, guitar, piano (2010–present) - Robert McDowell - lead guitar, backing vocals (2010–present)
- Chris Freeman - keyboards, backing vocals (2010–present)
- Jonathan Corley - bass (2010–present)
- Ben Homola - drums, percussion (2010–present)