Dada (band)
Encyclopedia
Dada is a three piece rock band from California
(United States
). The band is made up of Michael Gurley
(guitar/co-lead vocals), Joie Calio (bass/co-lead vocals) and Phil Leavitt (drums).
The band's songs feature both Michael and Joie sharing the vocals on each song. The group write highly melodic, harmony laden tunes, and their constant touring with two and a half to three hour performances has won them a wide fanbase.
. The first single "Dizz Knee Land
" quickly became a staple of radio across the U.S. and reached as far as Australia
, where the song and the album went on high rotation on the national radio station 'Triple J
'. "Dizz Knee Land" reached number 5 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart, and it reached number 2 on the Billboard Alternative Rock Chart. Puzzle went on to sell more than half a million copies. They toured for the album with bands such as Crowded House
and Izzy Stradlin
& the Ju Ju Hounds, as well as Sting.
During several of their tours in the late 1990s, Dada performed with an additional musician, Gig McKell, who played rhythm guitar. However, for the past several years, Dada has returned to a 3 piece for live performances.
They released the follow-up in 1994, American Highway Flower. Though the first single from that album "All I Am" spent eight weeks in the modern rock charts their record label at the time (IRS
) began to collapse. By the release of their third album El Subliminoso in 1996, IRS had all but folded. In 1997 the band signed to MCA Records
and released their fourth CD, the self titled Dada. Their bad luck with record companies continued as the parent company of MCA was sold. They continued touring throughout the U.S. In 1999 the band decided to have a break and played their supposedly final show in Norfolk, Virginia
in front of 14,000 fans.
During their break Joie Calio worked as an A&R scout for MCA Records and wrote a book. Soon afterwards he released his debut solo album The Complications of Glitter. Michael Gurley and Phil Leavitt formed the band Butterfly Jones and they released the album Napalm Springs. Phil Leavitt also had a short stint with the Blue Man Group
during this time.
2003 saw the return of Dada. They began playing live shows again and recorded one of them in Santa Ana, California
. They released the show on CD, titled Dada Live: Official Bootleg (Vol. 1). They spent seven weeks touring the CD across the US. The next year Dada released their fifth album How to Be Found. They once again toured extensively across the US. Dada spent much of 2005 working on their next studio album, playing just three gigs during November. They played selected dates mainly on the East Coast of America during February - April 2006.
During much of the band's tenure, Michael Gurley has struggled with carpal tunnel syndrome
. In order to continue playing, Gurley was forced to make some changes - these included using light gauge strings and tuning the instrument down a half step, as well as icing his wrists frequently to help with the pain.
In November 2006 the band released an EP, A Friend of Pat Robertson
. They commenced 2007 with shows at the Whisky a Go Go
in Los Angeles followed by shows in Milwaukee, Chicago and Minneapolis in April.
In June 2008 Joie Calio's band X Levitation Cult released the CD Happiness in Hell.
On May 3, 2010 Joie Calio posted on his Facebook
profile that "Dada is actually recording a new record- really! Its sounding good too. We've decided to stay focused on the writing/recording of this new record for now and hold off on any big tour plans". The band began a club tour later in the year.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
(United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
). The band is made up of Michael Gurley
Michael Gurley
Michael Gurley is an American musician whose musical talents have been featured in many successful rock bands including dada and Butterfly Jones, although he is best known as the guitarist of the rock band dada. He also performs in Mike Gurley and the Nightcaps...
(guitar/co-lead vocals), Joie Calio (bass/co-lead vocals) and Phil Leavitt (drums).
The band's songs feature both Michael and Joie sharing the vocals on each song. The group write highly melodic, harmony laden tunes, and their constant touring with two and a half to three hour performances has won them a wide fanbase.
History
1992 saw the release of their debut album, PuzzlePuzzle (dada album)
Puzzle is the debut album of the alternative rock group dada, released in 1992, on I.R.S. Records. The album featured the hit single "Dizz Knee Land" and sold more than half a million copies.-Track listing:...
. The first single "Dizz Knee Land
Dizz Knee Land
"Dizz Knee Land" is the first single by Los Angeles-based group, dada, from their debut album, Puzzle."Dizz Knee Land" reached number 5 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart.- Meaning :...
" quickly became a staple of radio across the U.S. and reached as far as Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where the song and the album went on high rotation on the national radio station 'Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
'. "Dizz Knee Land" reached number 5 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart, and it reached number 2 on the Billboard Alternative Rock Chart. Puzzle went on to sell more than half a million copies. They toured for the album with bands such as Crowded House
Crowded House
Crowded House are a rock band, formed in Melbourne, Australia and led by New Zealand singer-songwriter Neil Finn. Finn is the primary songwriter and creative director of the band, having led it through several incarnations, drawing members from New Zealand , Australia and the United States...
and Izzy Stradlin
Izzy Stradlin
Jeffrey Dean Isbell , known by his stage name Izzy Stradlin, is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the co-founder and former rhythm guitarist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, which he left at the height of its fame in 1991. Following his departure, he led his own band Izzy...
& the Ju Ju Hounds, as well as Sting.
During several of their tours in the late 1990s, Dada performed with an additional musician, Gig McKell, who played rhythm guitar. However, for the past several years, Dada has returned to a 3 piece for live performances.
They released the follow-up in 1994, American Highway Flower. Though the first single from that album "All I Am" spent eight weeks in the modern rock charts their record label at the time (IRS
I.R.S. Records
I.R.S. Records was a record label, started in the United States in 1979 by Miles Copeland III along with Jay Boberg and Carl Grasso. Miles was also the manager of Wishbone Ash, The Police, and later, Sting, as well as other bands. I.R.S. was the sister label of Copeland's Illegal Records .I.R.S...
) began to collapse. By the release of their third album El Subliminoso in 1996, IRS had all but folded. In 1997 the band signed to MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
and released their fourth CD, the self titled Dada. Their bad luck with record companies continued as the parent company of MCA was sold. They continued touring throughout the U.S. In 1999 the band decided to have a break and played their supposedly final show in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
in front of 14,000 fans.
During their break Joie Calio worked as an A&R scout for MCA Records and wrote a book. Soon afterwards he released his debut solo album The Complications of Glitter. Michael Gurley and Phil Leavitt formed the band Butterfly Jones and they released the album Napalm Springs. Phil Leavitt also had a short stint with the Blue Man Group
Blue Man Group
Blue Man Group is an organization founded by Chris Wink, Matt Goldman and Phil Stanton. The organization produces theatrical shows and concerts featuring popular music, comedy and multimedia; recorded music and scores for film and television; television appearances for shows such as The Tonight...
during this time.
2003 saw the return of Dada. They began playing live shows again and recorded one of them in Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
. They released the show on CD, titled Dada Live: Official Bootleg (Vol. 1). They spent seven weeks touring the CD across the US. The next year Dada released their fifth album How to Be Found. They once again toured extensively across the US. Dada spent much of 2005 working on their next studio album, playing just three gigs during November. They played selected dates mainly on the East Coast of America during February - April 2006.
During much of the band's tenure, Michael Gurley has struggled with carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is an entrapment idiopathic median neuropathy, causing paresthesia, pain, and other symptoms in the distribution of the median nerve due to its compression at the wrist in the carpal tunnel. The pathophysiology is not completely understood but can be considered compression...
. In order to continue playing, Gurley was forced to make some changes - these included using light gauge strings and tuning the instrument down a half step, as well as icing his wrists frequently to help with the pain.
In November 2006 the band released an EP, A Friend of Pat Robertson
Pat Robertson
Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson is a media mogul, television evangelist, ex-Baptist minister and businessman who is politically aligned with the Christian Right in the United States....
. They commenced 2007 with shows at the Whisky a Go Go
Whisky a Go Go
The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...
in Los Angeles followed by shows in Milwaukee, Chicago and Minneapolis in April.
In June 2008 Joie Calio's band X Levitation Cult released the CD Happiness in Hell.
On May 3, 2010 Joie Calio posted on his 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...
profile that "Dada is actually recording a new record- really! Its sounding good too. We've decided to stay focused on the writing/recording of this new record for now and hold off on any big tour plans". The band began a club tour later in the year.
Discography
- PuzzlePuzzle (dada album)Puzzle is the debut album of the alternative rock group dada, released in 1992, on I.R.S. Records. The album featured the hit single "Dizz Knee Land" and sold more than half a million copies.-Track listing:...
(I.R.S. RecordsI.R.S. RecordsI.R.S. Records was a record label, started in the United States in 1979 by Miles Copeland III along with Jay Boberg and Carl Grasso. Miles was also the manager of Wishbone Ash, The Police, and later, Sting, as well as other bands. I.R.S. was the sister label of Copeland's Illegal Records .I.R.S...
, 1992) - American Highway Flower (I.R.S., 1994)
- El Subliminoso (I.R.S., 1996)
- Dada (MCA RecordsMCA RecordsMCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
, 1997) - Dada Live: Official Bootleg (Vol. 1) (2003)
- How to Be Found (2004)
- A Friend of Pat Robertson EP (2006)