Cobra Starship
Encyclopedia
Cobra Starship is an American synthpop
band created by former Midtown
bassist
and lead vocalist
Gabe Saporta
in 2003 in New York City
, New York
. After writing and recording the band's debut album While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets
as a solo project, Saporta enlisted guitarist Ryland Blackinton
, bassist Alex Suarez
, drummer Nate Novarro, and keytarist Victoria Asher
, all of whom provide backing vocals.
The group released its debut album, While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets in 2006, which contained the single "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)
". In 2007, ¡Viva la Cobra!
was released, which served as the band's first record featuring the complete lineup. Hot Mess
followed in 2009, reaching commercial success due to the single "Good Girls Go Bad
". The band's fourth studio album, Night Shades
was released August 29, 2011 featuring the first single "You Make Me Feel...
".
bassist Gabe Saporta
took a trip to the deserts of Arizona
. During this time, Saporta went on a "vision quest", spending time with Native American
tribes and smoking peyote
. He began to create his vision for a new band, a melodic style of music heavily influenced by synthpop
and hip-hop. Upon returning home, Saporta rented a house in the Catskill Mountains
and began writing what would become the band's debut album, While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets
. He posted a parody response to Gwen Stefani
's "Hollaback Girl
" titled "Hollaback Boy" on Myspace
. The song gained Saporta notoriety on the internet and he eventually signed to Fall Out Boy
bassist Pete Wentz's label, Decaydance Records
.
Midtown's management company soon set Saporta up with an opportunity to record a song for the soundtrack to the 2006 Snakes on a Plane
. Along with members of The Academy Is...
, Gym Class Heroes
, and The Sounds
, Saporta recorded "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)
", which became a minor hit. During the recording of While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets, Saporta began recruiting new members to complete the group's lineup. He first enlisted drummer Nate Novarro, whom he met on tour while Novarro sold merchandise for fellow touring act Hidden In Plain View
. After seeing Saporta in Entertainment Weekly
, guitarist Ryland Blackinton
and bassist Alex Suarez
, who lived in the same apartment building as Midtown drummer Rob Hitt, emailed Saporta asking to join the group. The lineup was completed by keytarist
Elisa Schwartz, who was later replaced by Victoria Asher.
While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets, was released October 10, 2006. It featured the single "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)", of which a video had been featured during the closing credits of the film Snakes on a Plane
earlier that summer.
, the group began writing music together for the first time. The members recorded their individual parts on their laptops in the band's bus. By the time Cobra Starship entered the studio to work on a new album, much of the material was already written. Recorded in twenty days at Mission Sound Studios in Brooklyn
, New York
, ¡Viva La Cobra!
was released on October 23, 2007. It was produced by Patrick Stump
, who was also credited as singing some backup vocals. The album has been described as "11 tracks of unabashed party jams, full of big hooky electropop, super-produced guitar crunch and the occasional T-Pain
-style vocoder thrown in for good measure."
The album has been toured heavily worldwide. Cobra headlined the Really Really Ridiculously Good Looking Tour with guests Metro Station
, The Cab
, and We The Kings
from January to March, 2008. They also played on Warped Tour 2008
and headlined the SassyBack tour, which toured from October 7 through November 30, 2008, with guests Forever the Sickest Kids
, Hit the Lights, and Sing It Loud
.
The album art for the ¡Viva La Cobra! album was used to promote the fourth generation Apple iPod
nano in purple.
's "I Kissed a Girl", Cobra Starship recorded their own cover version, "I Kissed a Boy", in summer 2008. The song was released on August 25, 2008, on Fall Out Boy
's Citizens For Our Betterment mixtape Welcome To The New Administration. Cobra Starship is one of 9 artists who participated in thetruth.com
’s Remix Project, where they remixed the Sunny Side song "Magical Amount".
Cobra Starship also began the Believers Never Die Tour Part Deux
tour in the beginning of April, opening for Fall Out Boy
, with other bands All Time Low
, Metro Station
, and Hey Monday
. They spent time performing many shows in the US mostly all in April and the beginning of May, however they also played a few shows in the UK at the end of May 2009, supported by Sing It Loud
, Cash Cash
, and UK band Mimi Soya.
In 2009, the band went to a cabin in Pennsylvania, in an attempt to produce new material. They broadcasted live throughout their stay on the live camera feed site Stickam
, thus creating the Shelf Kids. After their stay, a new album was announced with a tentative release in the summer. The band worked with Kara DioGuardi
, Kevin Rudolf
, KarateE! Mouse, S*A*M, Sluggo
, and song-writers Benny Blanco
and Patrick Stump
on Hot Mess. Gossip Girl
star Leighton Meester
is featured on the song "Good Girls Go Bad
", which is produced by Kevin Rudolf
and co-written by Rudolf and Kara DioGuardi
. The song is the album's first single, and was added on iTunes
on May 11 and available to listen to on the band's official MySpace
page. Other songs include "Pete Wentz Is the Only Reason We're Famous", which has been released on their YouTube
channel and Vevo page. On May 8, the album title was confirmed as Hot Mess, with a release date of August 11. It debuted on the US Billboard 200
at number four, becoming the band's highest charting album. Guitarist Ryland Blackinton
said of Hot Mess, "We just wanted to make music that was fun and kinda make people just forget about whatever shitty problem they might be having during the week."
The band began its tour to promote the new album on August 3. The tour, called Hot Mess Across The US Tour, has 21 stops and features guests such as Friday Night Boys and DJ Skeet Skeet. After Plasticines dropped off the tour, Cobra Starship listed a number of candidate bands for the fans to vote for online in a blog
; The Audition
won. On their official video podcast
(CobraCam.tv), the band released humorous tentative titles for the album (which parodies several other notable albums) "Griller
", "Tha Ryland III
", and variations of their ¡Viva La Cobra! album.
Cobra Starship played at a September 11, 2009 MTV Video Music Awards weekend competition and pre-party at The Fillmore at Irving Plaza. The competition was for The MTV "VMA Best Breakout New York City Artist Award", and took place before MTV Video Music Awards
performers and in between performances from MTV Video Music Awards artists.
Cobra Starship appeared at "Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2009
" along with Mexican star Paulina Rubio
performing "Good Girls Go Bad" and "Ni Rosas Ni Juguetes
". Cobra Starship and Paulina won an MTV Award for "Best Performance", for "Good Girls Go Bad" and "Ni Rosas Ni Juguetes" at the Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2009
, voted by the public, beating other artist such as Shakira
, Nelly Furtado
, and Wisin & Yandel
.
On February 4, 2010, Cobra Starship embarked on their first ever European tour named 'Hot Mess Across The EU-Niverse', which included the UK, Ireland, Germany, France and the Netherlands. When the tour ended on February 21, the band then travelled to Japan for a few shows, then onto Australia and New Zealand for the 'Wet Hot Australian Summer' Tour. The group also toured in Germany with I Heart Sharks and One Night Stand!. On February 5, 2010 it was announced that Cobra Starship and 3OH!3
would be embarking on a co-headlining tour called The Too Fast For Love Tour with opening acts Travis McCoy, The Lazarus Project and I Fight Dragons
. The tour ran from April 28 in Milwaukee, WI, until June 13 in Asbury Park, NJ.
Along 2010 the band collaborated with the UK singer Alexandra Burke
in one of the songs of her debut album's Deluxe Edition, "Overcome". The song is called "What Happens On The Dancefloor", and keeps the vibe of their previous single "Good Girls Go Bad".
and Kara DioGuardi
. Gabe Saporta released a song off of the album, "Don't Blame the World, It's the DJ's Fault", on his Tumblr. A video was released of an eggplant with sunglasses and headphones getting made into eggplant Parmesan. The video is supposed to represent the album title. Gabe later announced via Twitter that the new album will be called Night Shades
. The first single, "You Make Me Feel...
", was released on May 10, 2011. The song features American singer/songwriter and rapper Sabi
and was written and arranged by Kyle Howard.
The music video premiered on Tuesday, June 28 on MTV.
The band's official Twitter and Tumblr announced that the album will be out on August 30, 2011.
The group released Itunes Session - EP on August 23, containing four acoustic songs and an alternative version of "Fold Your Hands Child".
In promotion of the album, the band performed "You Make Me Feel..." on the MTV Video Music Awards pre-show with Sabi on August 28, 2011.
Night Shades was released on August 29, 2011 with the lead single "You Make Me Feel...
" and also the three promotional singles. The first promotional single "#1Nite (One Night)" was released on July 26, 2011, The second promotional single "Fool Like Me (Feat. Plastiscines
)" was released on August 9, 2011 and the third and final promotional single "Middle Finger (feat. Mac Miller
)" was released on August 23, 2011.
Cobra Starship has recently contributed a cover of Buddy Holly
's "Peggy Sue" for the Buddy Holly tribute album, Listen to Me: Buddy Holly (2011).
On September 9, 2011, Cobra Starship will be headlining the Fueled by Ramen 15th Anniversary show in New York's Terminal 5
, with VersaEmerge
, The Academy Is...
and A Rocket to the Moon
in support.
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
band created by former Midtown
Midtown (band)
Midtown was an American pop punk band from Springfield, New Jersey. Midtown was formed in November 1998 by three Rutgers University students, but soon became a quartet. The band took advantage of the fertile New Jersey punk scene to develop a sound that combined elements of pop punk and punk rock...
bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
and lead vocalist
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
Gabe Saporta
Gabe Saporta
Gabriel Eduardo "Gabe" Saporta is the lead singer and primary creative force behind the synthpop band Cobra Starship. He was previously the lead singer, bassist, and lyricist for the pop punk band Midtown....
in 2003 in 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...
, 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...
. After writing and recording the band's debut album While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets
While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets
While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets is the debut album from Cobra Starship. It was released on October 10, 2006 in the U.S., and on October 17, 2006 in Canada...
as a solo project, Saporta enlisted guitarist Ryland Blackinton
Ryland Blackinton
Ryland Blackinton is the lead guitarist for the band Cobra Starship. He is from Wilmington MA, but was born in South Kingstown Rhode Island on March 31, 1982. Before joining Cobra Starship, Ryland, along with high school best friend Alex Suarez formed the folk/pop duo This Is Ivy League...
, bassist Alex Suarez
Alex Suarez
Alex Suarez is the bass player and additional keyboardist and vocalist for Cobra Starship as well as co-founder of This is Ivy League, a band created with fellow Cobra Starship member and high school best friend Ryland Blackinton.-Early life:...
, drummer Nate Novarro, and keytarist Victoria Asher
Victoria Asher
Victoria Jane Asher , is known to Cobra Starship fans as Vicky-T, and can be seen in some of the music videos produced by the band, which she is the keytarist for. She is the daughter of producer/manager/musician Peter Asher of the hit band Peter & Gordon, who were part of the British Invasion...
, all of whom provide backing vocals.
The group released its debut album, While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets in 2006, which contained the single "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)
Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)
"Snakes on a Plane ", is the debut single of dance rock band Cobra Starship from the soundtrack album Snakes on a Plane: The Album...
". In 2007, ¡Viva la Cobra!
¡Viva la Cobra!
¡Viva la Cobra! is the second studio album by alternative dance band Cobra Starship. The album was released October 23, 2007. It was produced by Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump.- Background :...
was released, which served as the band's first record featuring the complete lineup. Hot Mess
Hot Mess
Hot Mess is the third studio album by American dance rock band Cobra Starship, released through Fueled by Ramen and Decaydance Records on August 11, 2009. The album is the follow-up to 2007's ¡Viva la Cobra!...
followed in 2009, reaching commercial success due to the single "Good Girls Go Bad
Good Girls Go Bad
"Good Girls Go Bad" is a song recorded by American pop punk band Cobra Starship with guest vocals by Leighton Meester. It was the first single released from their third studio album, Hot Mess. The song was released digitally through iTunes on May 11, 2009...
". The band's fourth studio album, Night Shades
Night Shades
Night Shades is the fourth studio album by American dance rock band Cobra Starship, being released through Fueled by Ramen and Decaydance Records on August 29, 2011. The album is the follow-up to 2009's Hot Mess....
was released August 29, 2011 featuring the first single "You Make Me Feel...
You Make Me Feel...
"You Make Me Feel..." is a song recorded by American synthpop band Cobra Starship with guest vocals by Sabi. It was the first single released from their fourth studio album, Night Shades. The song was released digitally through iTunes on May 10, 2011....
".
While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets (2006–2007)
Cobra Starship was formed in 2005 after MidtownMidtown (band)
Midtown was an American pop punk band from Springfield, New Jersey. Midtown was formed in November 1998 by three Rutgers University students, but soon became a quartet. The band took advantage of the fertile New Jersey punk scene to develop a sound that combined elements of pop punk and punk rock...
bassist Gabe Saporta
Gabe Saporta
Gabriel Eduardo "Gabe" Saporta is the lead singer and primary creative force behind the synthpop band Cobra Starship. He was previously the lead singer, bassist, and lyricist for the pop punk band Midtown....
took a trip to the deserts of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. During this time, Saporta went on a "vision quest", spending time with Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
tribes and smoking peyote
Peyote
Lophophora williamsii , better known by its common name Peyote , is a small, spineless cactus with psychoactive alkaloids, particularly mescaline.It is native to southwestern Texas and Mexico...
. He began to create his vision for a new band, a melodic style of music heavily influenced by synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
and hip-hop. Upon returning home, Saporta rented a house in the Catskill Mountains
Catskill Mountains
The Catskill Mountains, an area in New York State northwest of New York City and southwest of Albany, are a mature dissected plateau, an uplifted region that was subsequently eroded into sharp relief. They are an eastward continuation, and the highest representation, of the Allegheny Plateau...
and began writing what would become the band's debut album, While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets
While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets
While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets is the debut album from Cobra Starship. It was released on October 10, 2006 in the U.S., and on October 17, 2006 in Canada...
. He posted a parody response to Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
's "Hollaback Girl
Hollaback Girl
"Hollaback Girl" is a song by American recording artist Gwen Stefani from her debut solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. . As part of Stefani's vision of creating "a silly dance record", the song is influenced by 1980s dance and pop music...
" titled "Hollaback Boy" on 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....
. The song gained Saporta notoriety on the internet and he eventually signed to Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
bassist Pete Wentz's label, Decaydance Records
Decaydance Records
Decaydance Records is a record label based in New York City. Originally founded as an imprint of Fueled by Ramen, it is now an independent record label owned by Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy and partners. The first band Wentz signed to the label was Panic! at the Disco...
.
Midtown's management company soon set Saporta up with an opportunity to record a song for the soundtrack to the 2006 Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane is a 2006 American horror-action-thriller film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006 in North America...
. Along with members of The Academy Is...
The Academy Is...
The Academy Is... was an American rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 2003. Before dispersing, they were signed by the Decaydance imprint of the Fueled by Ramen label. They were originally known as "The Academy", but added the "Is..." in 2004 to avoid legal complications with other...
, Gym Class Heroes
Gym Class Heroes
Gym Class Heroes is an American hip hop rock band from Geneva, New York. They have collaborated with Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump on numerous occasions, notably for providing backing vocals on the song "Cupid's Chokehold." Stump also produced the majority of their album The Quilt.The group formed...
, and The Sounds
The Sounds
The Sounds are a Swedish Indie Rock band. Formed in Helsingborg in 1999, the group's musical style has been compared to New Wave acts such as Blondie, The Cars, the Epoxies and Missing Persons....
, Saporta recorded "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)
Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)
"Snakes on a Plane ", is the debut single of dance rock band Cobra Starship from the soundtrack album Snakes on a Plane: The Album...
", which became a minor hit. During the recording of While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets, Saporta began recruiting new members to complete the group's lineup. He first enlisted drummer Nate Novarro, whom he met on tour while Novarro sold merchandise for fellow touring act Hidden In Plain View
Hidden in Plain View
Hidden in Plain View was a five-piece Pop Punk band from northern New Jersey. They formed in 2000 and disbanded in 2007. During their six and a half year run, the group released records with four different record labels , including two full-length albums and three EPs...
. After seeing Saporta in Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
, guitarist Ryland Blackinton
Ryland Blackinton
Ryland Blackinton is the lead guitarist for the band Cobra Starship. He is from Wilmington MA, but was born in South Kingstown Rhode Island on March 31, 1982. Before joining Cobra Starship, Ryland, along with high school best friend Alex Suarez formed the folk/pop duo This Is Ivy League...
and bassist Alex Suarez
Alex Suarez
Alex Suarez is the bass player and additional keyboardist and vocalist for Cobra Starship as well as co-founder of This is Ivy League, a band created with fellow Cobra Starship member and high school best friend Ryland Blackinton.-Early life:...
, who lived in the same apartment building as Midtown drummer Rob Hitt, emailed Saporta asking to join the group. The lineup was completed by keytarist
Keytar
A keytar is a relatively lightweight keyboard that is supported by a strap around the neck and shoulders, similar to the way a guitar is supported by a strap. Keytars allow players a greater range of movement compared to conventional keyboards, which are placed on stands...
Elisa Schwartz, who was later replaced by Victoria Asher.
While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets, was released October 10, 2006. It featured the single "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)", of which a video had been featured during the closing credits of the film Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane is a 2006 American horror-action-thriller film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006 in North America...
earlier that summer.
¡Viva La Cobra! (2007–2008)
With the group's lineup solidified, Cobra Starship began touring across the United States. While on the 2007 Honda Civic TourHonda Civic Tour
The Honda Civic Tour is an annual concert tour, sponsored by Honda Motor Company which began in 2001. Each year, the headlining band or bands customize a Honda Civic for concert patrons to win in a raffle.-First Half:*Headliner: blink-182...
, the group began writing music together for the first time. The members recorded their individual parts on their laptops in the band's bus. By the time Cobra Starship entered the studio to work on a new album, much of the material was already written. Recorded in twenty days at Mission Sound Studios in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
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...
, ¡Viva La Cobra!
¡Viva La Cobra!
¡Viva la Cobra! is the second studio album by alternative dance band Cobra Starship. The album was released October 23, 2007. It was produced by Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump.- Background :...
was released on October 23, 2007. It was produced by Patrick Stump
Patrick Stump
Patrick Vaughn Stump is an American singer-songwriter, composer, record producer, and music critic. He is the composer, lead singer, and multi-instrumentalist of Fall Out Boy, an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, and is also a solo artist...
, who was also credited as singing some backup vocals. The album has been described as "11 tracks of unabashed party jams, full of big hooky electropop, super-produced guitar crunch and the occasional T-Pain
T-Pain
Faheem Rasheed Najm , better known by his stage name T-Pain, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor, currently signed to Young Money Entertainment. His debut album, Rappa Ternt Sanga, was released in 2005. In 2007, T-Pain released his second studio album Epiphany,...
-style vocoder thrown in for good measure."
The album has been toured heavily worldwide. Cobra headlined the Really Really Ridiculously Good Looking Tour with guests Metro Station
Metro Station (band)
Metro Station is an American pop rock band that formed in Los Angeles by Mason Musso and Trace Cyrus. In late 2006, the band signed a recording contract with Columbia/Red Ink. They are best known for their Top 10 Billboard hit single "Shake It" from their self-titled debut album...
, The Cab
The Cab
The Cab is an American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada. Their debut album, Whisper War, was released on April 29, 2008. They have been called "The Band You Need to Know 2008" by Alternative Press magazine...
, and We The Kings
We the Kings
We the Kings is an American powerpop band formed in 2005 from Bradenton, Florida, currently signed to record label S-Curve Records. 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...
from January to March, 2008. They also played on Warped Tour 2008
Warped Tour 2008
Warped Tour 2008 was the 2008 installment of the annual Summer Warped Tour music festival. Vans Shoes was again the tour's primary sponsor.-Main stage:*The Academy Is...*Against Me! *All That Remains...
and headlined the SassyBack tour, which toured from October 7 through November 30, 2008, with guests Forever the Sickest Kids
Forever the Sickest Kids
Forever the Sickest Kids is an American pop punk band from Dallas, Texas, who have yet to be signed to a new label after the closure of Universal Motown Records. In issue 228 of Alternative Press, the group was named the number one underground band in the "22 Best Underground Bands". Their first...
, Hit the Lights, and Sing It Loud
Sing it Loud
-History:Sing it Loud grew out of a friendship between cousins vocalist Pat Brown and guitarist Kieren Smith, who founded the group together and added members whom they met locally in the Minneapolis music scene. Brown officially brought the group together after his previous band called it quits....
.
The album art for the ¡Viva La Cobra! album was used to promote the fourth generation Apple iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
nano in purple.
Hot Mess (2009–2010)
Following the success of Katy PerryKaty Perry
Katy Perry is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Santa Barbara, California, and raised by Christian pastor parents, Perry grew up listening to only gospel music and sang in her local church as a child. After earning a GED during her first year of high school, she began to pursue a...
's "I Kissed a Girl", Cobra Starship recorded their own cover version, "I Kissed a Boy", in summer 2008. The song was released on August 25, 2008, on Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
's Citizens For Our Betterment mixtape Welcome To The New Administration. Cobra Starship is one of 9 artists who participated in thetruth.com
TheTruth.com
TheTruth.com is an anti-smoking campaign in the United States. The campaign is run by the American Legacy Foundation, which was founded under the terms of the Master Settlement Agreement, between the US tobacco companies and 46 US states and 5 territories...
’s Remix Project, where they remixed the Sunny Side song "Magical Amount".
Cobra Starship also began the Believers Never Die Tour Part Deux
Believers Never Die Tour Part Deux
The Believers Never Die Tour Part Deux was a two-month concert tour that was headlined by American rock band Fall Out Boy in 2009 to support the release of their 2008 album Folie à Deux. Starting on April 3 and finishing on May 17, the opening acts were Cobra Starship, All Time Low, Metro Station,...
tour in the beginning of April, opening for Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
, with other bands All Time Low
All Time Low
All Time Low is an American pop punk band from Baltimore, Maryland, formed in 2003.The band consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Alexander Gaskarth, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Jack Barakat, bassist and backing vocalist Zachary Merrick, and drummer Rian Dawson...
, Metro Station
Metro Station (band)
Metro Station is an American pop rock band that formed in Los Angeles by Mason Musso and Trace Cyrus. In late 2006, the band signed a recording contract with Columbia/Red Ink. They are best known for their Top 10 Billboard hit single "Shake It" from their self-titled debut album...
, and Hey Monday
Hey Monday
Hey Monday is an American rock band from West Palm Beach, Florida, formed in 2008. They released their debut album Hold on Tight in 2008 which produced notable singles "Homecoming" and "How You Love Me Now". The album was followed up with their 2010 EP Beneath It All, which achieved moderate...
. They spent time performing many shows in the US mostly all in April and the beginning of May, however they also played a few shows in the UK at the end of May 2009, supported by Sing It Loud
Sing it Loud
-History:Sing it Loud grew out of a friendship between cousins vocalist Pat Brown and guitarist Kieren Smith, who founded the group together and added members whom they met locally in the Minneapolis music scene. Brown officially brought the group together after his previous band called it quits....
, Cash Cash
Cash Cash
Cash Cash is an American band from Roseland, New Jersey.Cash Cash consists of Jean Paul Makhlouf, Alexander Luke Makhlouf, Sam Frisch, and Anthony Villacari.-History:...
, and UK band Mimi Soya.
In 2009, the band went to a cabin in Pennsylvania, in an attempt to produce new material. They broadcasted live throughout their stay on the live camera feed site Stickam
Stickam
Stickam is a website devoted to live-streaming video, featuring both professional and user-generated content. The site launched in 2005. Stickam features user-submitted pictures, audio, video, and most prominently, live streaming video chat...
, thus creating the Shelf Kids. After their stay, a new album was announced with a tentative release in the summer. The band worked with Kara DioGuardi
Kara DioGuardi
Kara Elizabeth DioGuardi is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, music publisher, A&R executive, composer and TV personality. She writes music primarily in the light pop-rock, dance, and R&B genres. DioGuardi has worked with many popular artists; her songs have appeared on more than 159...
, Kevin Rudolf
Kevin Rudolf
Kevin Rudolf is an American singer-songwriter and record producer signed to Cash Money Records. Rudolf is mostly known for singing and producing rock/pop music...
, KarateE! Mouse, S*A*M, Sluggo
Sluggo
Sluggo may refer to one of the following:*Sluggo Smith, a character in the comic strip Nancy*Sluggo , a character in the "Mr...
, and song-writers Benny Blanco
Benny Blanco
Benjamin Levin , better known as Benny Blanco, is an American songwriter and producer from Reston, Virginia. He first came to the attention of Internet blogosphere producing a collaborative EP with Spank Rock. Working with producer Dr...
and Patrick Stump
Patrick Stump
Patrick Vaughn Stump is an American singer-songwriter, composer, record producer, and music critic. He is the composer, lead singer, and multi-instrumentalist of Fall Out Boy, an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, and is also a solo artist...
on Hot Mess. Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl (TV series)
Gossip Girl is an American teen drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007...
star Leighton Meester
Leighton Meester
Leighton Marissa Meester is an American actress and singer. Meester first garnered attention for playing Blair Waldorf in the CW television series Gossip Girl...
is featured on the song "Good Girls Go Bad
Good Girls Go Bad
"Good Girls Go Bad" is a song recorded by American pop punk band Cobra Starship with guest vocals by Leighton Meester. It was the first single released from their third studio album, Hot Mess. The song was released digitally through iTunes on May 11, 2009...
", which is produced by Kevin Rudolf
Kevin Rudolf
Kevin Rudolf is an American singer-songwriter and record producer signed to Cash Money Records. Rudolf is mostly known for singing and producing rock/pop music...
and co-written by Rudolf and Kara DioGuardi
Kara DioGuardi
Kara Elizabeth DioGuardi is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, music publisher, A&R executive, composer and TV personality. She writes music primarily in the light pop-rock, dance, and R&B genres. DioGuardi has worked with many popular artists; her songs have appeared on more than 159...
. The song is the album's first single, and was added 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 May 11 and available to listen to on the band's official 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....
page. Other songs include "Pete Wentz Is the Only Reason We're Famous", which has been released on their YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
channel and Vevo page. On May 8, the album title was confirmed as Hot Mess, with a release date of August 11. It debuted on the US Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
at number four, becoming the band's highest charting album. Guitarist Ryland Blackinton
Ryland Blackinton
Ryland Blackinton is the lead guitarist for the band Cobra Starship. He is from Wilmington MA, but was born in South Kingstown Rhode Island on March 31, 1982. Before joining Cobra Starship, Ryland, along with high school best friend Alex Suarez formed the folk/pop duo This Is Ivy League...
said of Hot Mess, "We just wanted to make music that was fun and kinda make people just forget about whatever shitty problem they might be having during the week."
The band began its tour to promote the new album on August 3. The tour, called Hot Mess Across The US Tour, has 21 stops and features guests such as Friday Night Boys and DJ Skeet Skeet. After Plasticines dropped off the tour, Cobra Starship listed a number of candidate bands for the fans to vote for online in a blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
; The Audition
The Audition (band)
The Audition is a pop/rock band from Chicago, Illinois. The band is composed of singer Danny Stevens, drummer Ryan O'Connor, guitarists Jimmy Lopez and Timmy Klepek and bassist Joe Lussa and are based in Detroit, Michigan. The band's first release was a six track EP entitled All In Your Head...
won. On their official video podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
(CobraCam.tv), the band released humorous tentative titles for the album (which parodies several other notable albums) "Griller
Thriller (album)
Thriller is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was released on November 30, 1982, by Epic Records as the follow-up to Jackson's critically and commercially successful 1979 album Off the Wall...
", "Tha Ryland III
Tha Carter III
Tha Carter III is the sixth studio album by American rapper Lil Wayne, released June 10, 2008 on Cash Money Records. It follows a long string of mixtape releases and guest appearances on other hip hop and R&B artists records, helping to increase his exposure in the mainstream...
", and variations of their ¡Viva La Cobra! album.
Cobra Starship played at a September 11, 2009 MTV Video Music Awards weekend competition and pre-party at The Fillmore at Irving Plaza. The competition was for The MTV "VMA Best Breakout New York City Artist Award", and took place before MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
performers and in between performances from MTV Video Music Awards artists.
Cobra Starship appeared at "Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2009
Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2009
The eighth annual Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2009 took place on October 15, 2009 in Bogotá, Colombia at Corferias, at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, United States, Mexico City, Mexico and Buenos Aires, Argentina....
" along with Mexican star Paulina Rubio
Paulina Rubio
Paulina Susana Rubio Rue is a Mexican singer and actress. Rubio achieved international stardom with her fifth studio album, Paulina...
performing "Good Girls Go Bad" and "Ni Rosas Ni Juguetes
Ni Rosas Ni Juguetes
"" is a song performed by Latin pop singer Paulina Rubio. The song was recorded for her ninth studio album Gran City Pop, and was released as the second single. Ni Rosas Ni Juguetes was produced by Cachorro López and written by Claudia Brant, Noel Schajris and Gianmarco Zignago. It was announced...
". Cobra Starship and Paulina won an MTV Award for "Best Performance", for "Good Girls Go Bad" and "Ni Rosas Ni Juguetes" at the Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2009
Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2009
The eighth annual Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2009 took place on October 15, 2009 in Bogotá, Colombia at Corferias, at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, United States, Mexico City, Mexico and Buenos Aires, Argentina....
, voted by the public, beating other artist such as Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
, Nelly Furtado
Nelly Furtado
Nelly Kim Furtado is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Furtado grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.Furtado first gained fame with her debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, and its single "I'm Like a Bird", which won a 2001 Juno Award for Single of the Year and a 2002 Grammy...
, and Wisin & Yandel
Wisin & Yandel
Wisin & Yandel are a Puerto Rican reggaeton Duo, consisting of Juan Luis Morera Luna and Llandel Veguilla Malavé Salazar . They started their career in 1998 and have been together since, winning several awards during that time....
.
On February 4, 2010, Cobra Starship embarked on their first ever European tour named 'Hot Mess Across The EU-Niverse', which included the UK, Ireland, Germany, France and the Netherlands. When the tour ended on February 21, the band then travelled to Japan for a few shows, then onto Australia and New Zealand for the 'Wet Hot Australian Summer' Tour. The group also toured in Germany with I Heart Sharks and One Night Stand!. On February 5, 2010 it was announced that Cobra Starship and 3OH!3
3OH!3
3OH!3 is an American electro hop duo from Boulder, Colorado, made up of Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte. They are best known for their single "Don't Trust Me" from their album Want, which reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100...
would be embarking on a co-headlining tour called The Too Fast For Love Tour with opening acts Travis McCoy, The Lazarus Project and I Fight Dragons
I Fight Dragons
I Fight Dragons is a rock band from Chicago. Their music combines pop/rock songs with original electronic sounds made using Nintendo Game Boys and Nintendo Entertainment Systems. They have released 2 EPs, 2009's Cool Is Just a Number and 2010's Welcome to the Breakdown, and they released their...
. The tour ran from April 28 in Milwaukee, WI, until June 13 in Asbury Park, NJ.
Along 2010 the band collaborated with the UK singer Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Imelda Cecelia Ewen Burke is a British R&B and pop recording artist who rose to fame after winning the fifth series of British television series The X Factor in 2008...
in one of the songs of her debut album's Deluxe Edition, "Overcome". The song is called "What Happens On The Dancefloor", and keeps the vibe of their previous single "Good Girls Go Bad".
Night Shades (2010–present)
Cobra Starship cancelled their 2011 Australian tour to finish up their fourth album, which they have been working on with Ryan TedderRyan Tedder
Ryan Benjamin Tedder is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the frontman of the pop rock band, OneRepublic, though he has an independent career as songwriter and producer for various artists such as Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson, Far East Movement, Jordin Sparks, Leona...
and Kara DioGuardi
Kara DioGuardi
Kara Elizabeth DioGuardi is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, music publisher, A&R executive, composer and TV personality. She writes music primarily in the light pop-rock, dance, and R&B genres. DioGuardi has worked with many popular artists; her songs have appeared on more than 159...
. Gabe Saporta released a song off of the album, "Don't Blame the World, It's the DJ's Fault", on his Tumblr. A video was released of an eggplant with sunglasses and headphones getting made into eggplant Parmesan. The video is supposed to represent the album title. Gabe later announced via Twitter that the new album will be called Night Shades
Night Shades
Night Shades is the fourth studio album by American dance rock band Cobra Starship, being released through Fueled by Ramen and Decaydance Records on August 29, 2011. The album is the follow-up to 2009's Hot Mess....
. The first single, "You Make Me Feel...
You Make Me Feel...
"You Make Me Feel..." is a song recorded by American synthpop band Cobra Starship with guest vocals by Sabi. It was the first single released from their fourth studio album, Night Shades. The song was released digitally through iTunes on May 10, 2011....
", was released on May 10, 2011. The song features American singer/songwriter and rapper Sabi
Sabi (singer)
Jenice Dena "Sab-bion" Portlock , also known as Sabi, is an American pop singer-songwriter, dancer and actress from Los Angeles, California. She was formerly known in the late 2000s as the lead singer of the Hip hop girl group The Bangz that split in early 2010...
and was written and arranged by Kyle Howard.
The music video premiered on Tuesday, June 28 on MTV.
The band's official Twitter and Tumblr announced that the album will be out on August 30, 2011.
The group released Itunes Session - EP on August 23, containing four acoustic songs and an alternative version of "Fold Your Hands Child".
In promotion of the album, the band performed "You Make Me Feel..." on the MTV Video Music Awards pre-show with Sabi on August 28, 2011.
Night Shades was released on August 29, 2011 with the lead single "You Make Me Feel...
You Make Me Feel...
"You Make Me Feel..." is a song recorded by American synthpop band Cobra Starship with guest vocals by Sabi. It was the first single released from their fourth studio album, Night Shades. The song was released digitally through iTunes on May 10, 2011....
" and also the three promotional singles. The first promotional single "#1Nite (One Night)" was released on July 26, 2011, The second promotional single "Fool Like Me (Feat. Plastiscines
Plastiscines
The Plastiscines are an all-female French rock band who perform mostly in English. Their song "Barcelona" was featured on the NYLON Summer Playlist.-Formation and discovery:...
)" was released on August 9, 2011 and the third and final promotional single "Middle Finger (feat. Mac Miller
Mac Miller
Malcolm McCormick , known by his stage name Mac Miller , is an American rapper from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
)" was released on August 23, 2011.
Cobra Starship has recently contributed a cover of Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
's "Peggy Sue" for the Buddy Holly tribute album, Listen to Me: Buddy Holly (2011).
On September 9, 2011, Cobra Starship will be headlining the Fueled by Ramen 15th Anniversary show in New York's Terminal 5
Terminal 5
Terminal 5 may refer to*London Heathrow Terminal 5, a passenger terminal at London Heathrow Airport, England*London Heathrow Terminal 5 station, a rail station serving London Heathrow Terminal 5*Terminal 5 , a venue in New York City....
, with VersaEmerge
VersaEmerge
VersaEmerge is an American rock band consisting of Sierra Kusterbeck and Blake Harnage, originating from Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA, currently signed to the label Fueled by Ramen. They have three EPs - Cities Built on Sand, Perceptions, and the self-titled release. Their debut album, Fixed at...
, The Academy Is...
The Academy Is...
The Academy Is... was an American rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 2003. Before dispersing, they were signed by the Decaydance imprint of the Fueled by Ramen label. They were originally known as "The Academy", but added the "Is..." in 2004 to avoid legal complications with other...
and A Rocket to the Moon
A Rocket to the Moon
A Rocket to the Moon is an American rock band. The band was founded during 2006 in Braintree, Massachusetts by Nick Santino, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist...
in support.
Discography
- While the City Sleeps, We Rule the StreetsWhile the City Sleeps, We Rule the StreetsWhile the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets is the debut album from Cobra Starship. It was released on October 10, 2006 in the U.S., and on October 17, 2006 in Canada...
(2006) - ¡Viva la Cobra!¡Viva la Cobra!¡Viva la Cobra! is the second studio album by alternative dance band Cobra Starship. The album was released October 23, 2007. It was produced by Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump.- Background :...
(2007) - Hot MessHot MessHot Mess is the third studio album by American dance rock band Cobra Starship, released through Fueled by Ramen and Decaydance Records on August 11, 2009. The album is the follow-up to 2007's ¡Viva la Cobra!...
(2009) - Night ShadesNight ShadesNight Shades is the fourth studio album by American dance rock band Cobra Starship, being released through Fueled by Ramen and Decaydance Records on August 29, 2011. The album is the follow-up to 2009's Hot Mess....
(2011)
Album appearances
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Snakes on a Plane: The Album |
| 2007 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Music From the Motion Picture Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Music from the Motion Picture Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Music from the Motion Picture is the licensed soundtrack to the 2007 Warner Bros. film TMNT. It was released by Atlantic Records on March 20, 2007.-Album information:... |
| 2008 | Warped Tour 2008 Tour Compilation Warped Tour 2008 Tour Compilation The Warped Tour 2008 Tour Compilation is the thirteenth installment in the annual compilation series accompanying the Warped Tour. The cover is a photograph of Underoath singer Spencer Chamberlain. The 2008 Warped Tour Compilation was produced by Jon Pebsworth and Mike Pelak.- Track listing :... |
| Welcome to the New Administration | |
| 2009 | Jennifer's Body Jennifer's Body Jennifer's Body is a 2009 black comedy horror film written by Diablo Cody and directed by Karyn Kusama. The film stars Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, and Adam Brody. Fox portrays a newly-possessed teenage serial killer specializing in killing her male classmates as her best friend... |
| Now That's What I Call Music! 32 Now That's What I Call Music! 32 (U.S. series) -Downloadable content:Until November 4, 2010, Now! 32 offers free downloadable MP3s for those purchasing the CD. Included in this volume are the following artists and songs:# The Cataracs – "Club Love"# Tyrone Wells – "More"... |
|
| 2010 | Overcome Overcome (Alexandra Burke album) Overcome is the debut studio album by British pop/R&B singer Alexandra Burke, released October 19, 2009 on Syco Music. The release of the album came a year after Burke won the British talent show, The X Factor, with the recording process taking place between 2008 and 2009... |