Dance Gavin Dance
Encyclopedia
Dance Gavin Dance was an American post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...

 band formed in Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...

, California
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...

 in 2005. They released four full length studio albums and one EP. Their latest effort, Downtown Battle Mountain II
Downtown Battle Mountain II
Downtown Battle Mountain II is the fourth studio album by American post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance, released on March 8, 2011.The album is not a direct continuation of the band's first album Downtown Battle Mountain, but features the same line-up that recorded the first album as original...

was released on March 8, 2011.

Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean (2005–2007)

The name "Dance Gavin Dance" was derived by then lead singer Jonny Craig
Jonny Craig
Jonathan Monroe Craig is a Canadian-American singer. He is currently the lead vocalist for the band Dance Gavin Dance, and former vocalist of the bands Emarosa and Ghost Runner on Third. He has an eponymous solo project, with which he has released one studio album and a live album to date...

, who had planned to name his previous band (Ghost Runner on Third) by that title, said in an interview done by AbsolutePunk. Dance Gavin Dance released their first self-produced EP, Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean, in 2005, and was re-released on November 14, 2006 through Rise Records
Rise Records
-History:Rise was founded in 1991 by Craig Ericson in Roseburg, Oregon. He released a small number of 7" records before putting the label on hiatus to attend college. Ericson didn't release anything further until 1999, after moving to Portland, Oregon. He began issuing small-print 7" records, and...

. The same line-up then began writing and prepped to record their full-length debut Downtown Battle Mountain
Downtown Battle Mountain
Downtown Battle Mountain is the debut studio album by American post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance, released on May 15, 2007. It was produced by Kris Crummett, who mastered their EP Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean...

.

Downtown Battle Mountain (2007–2008)

They entered the studio in January 2007 with producer Kris Crummet and released their debut full-length album, Downtown Battle Mountain
Downtown Battle Mountain
Downtown Battle Mountain is the debut studio album by American post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance, released on May 15, 2007. It was produced by Kris Crummett, who mastered their EP Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean...

on May 15, 2007 on Rise Records
Rise Records
-History:Rise was founded in 1991 by Craig Ericson in Roseburg, Oregon. He released a small number of 7" records before putting the label on hiatus to attend college. Ericson didn't release anything further until 1999, after moving to Portland, Oregon. He began issuing small-print 7" records, and...

.

In August 2007, guitarist Sean O'Sullivan quit the band due to personal conflicts between himself, Jonny Craig and Matt Mingus. Will Swan confirmed in an interview that Mingus urinated on O'Sullivan during a cross-country trip in 2007 which resulted in an altercation between the two and a broken nose for Mingus. In addition to this Jonny Craig is believed to have antagonized Sean about his religious beliefs, as he was the only Christian member in the band. O'Sullivan went on to play for bands Consider the Thief and Early States. Sean was replaced by Zac Garren who prior to joining the band, was their merch guy.

In November 2007, singer Jonny Craig
Jonny Craig
Jonathan Monroe Craig is a Canadian-American singer. He is currently the lead vocalist for the band Dance Gavin Dance, and former vocalist of the bands Emarosa and Ghost Runner on Third. He has an eponymous solo project, with which he has released one studio album and a live album to date...

 quit the band, and was not allowed to rejoin when he asked to, due to extreme tensions and personal conflicts with the other band members, as stated by the band in an interview conducted by Submergemag.com. The band posted a long bulletin on their MySpace page which detailed Jonny's dependency on drugs and alcohol. Immediately after his departure with Dance Gavin Dance, Jonny Craig filled in as the lead vocalist for A Skylit Drive
A Skylit Drive
A Skylit Drive is an American post-hardcore band from Lodi, California. The band released one DVD, one EP and three studio albums: Wires...and the Concept of Breathing on May 20, 2008, Adelphia on June 9, 2009, and most recently Identity On Fire on February 15, 2011. Michael Jagmin has provided...

, though only temporarily. Craig soon afterwards joined bands Emarosa
Emarosa
Emarosa is an American rock band from Lexington, Kentucky. Formed in 2006, they released one EP in 2007 titled This Is Your Way Out, and shortly after, the group underwent significant lineup and sound changes, dropping their heavy metal influence and leaning toward a soul inspiration...

, Isles & Glaciers
Isles & Glaciers
Isles & Glaciers was an American rock supergroup formed in 2008. The band consisted of members from Chiodos, Emarosa, Pierce the Veil, Cinematic Sunrise, The Receiving End of Sirens, Underminded, and former members of The Sound of Animals Fighting and Boys Night Out...

, and began a solo project with Rise Records
Rise Records
-History:Rise was founded in 1991 by Craig Ericson in Roseburg, Oregon. He released a small number of 7" records before putting the label on hiatus to attend college. Ericson didn't release anything further until 1999, after moving to Portland, Oregon. He began issuing small-print 7" records, and...

.

Shortly after Craig's departure, the band held auditions for a new vocalist. Hundreds of potential vocalists tried out and, at one point, Nic Newsham of Gatsby's American Dream was flown in from Washington for an audition. Though Newsham opted not to join the group, they did develop a friendship. This resulted in Nic's guest appearance on the song "Uneasy Hearts Weigh The Most" which features on their self titled 2008 album
Dance Gavin Dance (album)
-Personnel:Dance Gavin Dance*Kurt Travis - clean vocals*Jon Mess - screamed vocals*Will Swan - guitars*Zac Garren - guitars*Eric Lodge - bass guitar*Matt Mingus - drums, percussionAdditional personnel...

. Kurt Travis
Kurt Travis
Kurt Thomas Travis is an American singer, and former vocalist of the band Dance Gavin Dance. He is currently the lead vocalist for the band A Lot Like Birds, as well as the former vocalist of the bands Five Minute Ride, O! The Joy, and No Not Constant. Travis joined current band A Lot Like Birds...

, formerly of Five Minute Ride, O! The Joy, and No Not Constant became the band's new lead vocalist.

Self-titled album (2008–2009)

On April 20, 2008, Dance Gavin Dance entered the studio to record Dance Gavin Dance
Dance Gavin Dance (album)
-Personnel:Dance Gavin Dance*Kurt Travis - clean vocals*Jon Mess - screamed vocals*Will Swan - guitars*Zac Garren - guitars*Eric Lodge - bass guitar*Matt Mingus - drums, percussionAdditional personnel...

with Kris Crummett
Kris Crummett
Kris Crummett is a Portland, OR based record producer who is largely associated with the label Rise Records. He is the owner and operator of Interlace Audio studio....

 helming the role of producer once more. It was released on August 19, 2008.

Before the album was released, but after it had been recorded, two original members Jonathan Mess and Eric Lodge left Dance Gavin Dance. No official statements were made by the band or the departees regarding the departure. Jon Mess had recorded the album knowing that he was going to leave the band. It is generally accepted that Mess, in addition to suffering from Lyme disease, was tired of constant touring, and Lodge simply followed suit, as the two were best friends.

Following their departure, Will Swan took up screaming duties alongside playing guitar, and Jason Ellis (formerly of Five Minute Ride) replaced Eric on bass. The band filmed a music video for the song "Me and Zoloft Get Along Just Fine" with director Robby Starbuck
Robby Starbuck
Robby Starbuck is an American Music Video director from Los Angeles, California. In 2010 he was named to OC METRO's Top 40 under 40.SUBSTREAM Magazine ran a cover story on Robby Starbuck in 2010 as well.-Career:...

 which was released November 18, 2008.

Happiness (2009)

In February 2009, the band went into the studio as a five piece to record the follow-up to their self titled album yet again with producer Kris Crummett
Kris Crummett
Kris Crummett is a Portland, OR based record producer who is largely associated with the label Rise Records. He is the owner and operator of Interlace Audio studio....

. The resulting album, Happiness
Happiness (Dance Gavin Dance album)
Happiness is the third full-length album from post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance. It was released by Rise Records on June 9, 2009. The band went into the studio with Kris Crummett to record the album on February 14, 2009. On April 10, they uploaded new artwork and a recording of the new song...

, was released on June 9, 2009. Bassist Jason Ellis appears on Happiness, but left the band before its release. He was replaced by Tim Feerick. The album marked a slight change in the band's sound, the album features far fewer screaming vocals than the self-titled album, and is more in the vein of experimental rock than traditional post-hardcore. All Music stated in their review, "[Happiness] bristles with the kind of overachiever eclecticism that's as impressive as it is divisive". A music video for the track "Tree Village" was released shortly after the album. The band embarked on tours with Emarosa
Emarosa
Emarosa is an American rock band from Lexington, Kentucky. Formed in 2006, they released one EP in 2007 titled This Is Your Way Out, and shortly after, the group underwent significant lineup and sound changes, dropping their heavy metal influence and leaning toward a soul inspiration...

, Closure in Moscow
Closure In Moscow
Closure in Moscow are an Australian progressive rock band that formed in Melbourne, Victoria in 2006. The group is currently composed of guitarist-singer Mansur Zennelli, lead guitarist Michael Barrett, drummer Salvatore Aidone and lead singer Christopher de Cinque...

, Scary Kids Scaring Kids
Scary Kids Scaring Kids
Scary Kids Scaring Kids was an American post-hardcore band formed in Gilbert, Arizona in 2002. The band's name comes from the Cap'n Jazz song of the same name...

, and others in support of the album.

Lineup changes, Downtown Battle Mountain Part II, and indefinite hiatus (2010–present)

On February 10, 2010, guitarist Zachary Garren was kicked out of Dance Gavin Dance due to personal conflicts with Will Swan. They played the Soundwave festival as scheduled as a four-piece (a first for the originally six-piece band) with Swan handling all guitar duties and Kurt Travis
Kurt Travis
Kurt Thomas Travis is an American singer, and former vocalist of the band Dance Gavin Dance. He is currently the lead vocalist for the band A Lot Like Birds, as well as the former vocalist of the bands Five Minute Ride, O! The Joy, and No Not Constant. Travis joined current band A Lot Like Birds...

 playing keyboards. Shortly afterwards Garren was replaced by Dan Snook. His first show was on March 12, 2010 in Dance Gavin Dance's hometown at The Boardwalk. Several months later however, Snook and bassist Tim Feerick abruptly left Dance Gavin Dance to create their own band.

After multiple members leaving and rumors of the band breaking up, Jon Mess and Eric Lodge officially rejoined the band in mid 2010. Josh Benton, former guitarist and band mate of Kurt Travis
Kurt Travis
Kurt Thomas Travis is an American singer, and former vocalist of the band Dance Gavin Dance. He is currently the lead vocalist for the band A Lot Like Birds, as well as the former vocalist of the bands Five Minute Ride, O! The Joy, and No Not Constant. Travis joined current band A Lot Like Birds...

 in No Not Constant, took up guitar duties. The band was rumored to be working on a new album with this line-up, but in August Alternative Press released an article saying that vocalist Kurt Travis
Kurt Travis
Kurt Thomas Travis is an American singer, and former vocalist of the band Dance Gavin Dance. He is currently the lead vocalist for the band A Lot Like Birds, as well as the former vocalist of the bands Five Minute Ride, O! The Joy, and No Not Constant. Travis joined current band A Lot Like Birds...

 and Dance Gavin Dance had officially parted ways and Jonny Craig had rejoined the band. It was assumed that Jonny would manage vocal duties for both Dance Gavin Dance and Emarosa, until he was kicked out of Emarosa in in early 2011. Former guitarist Sean O'Sullivan rejoined the band for several home shows towards the end of 2010, returning the band to their Downtown Battle Mountain
Downtown Battle Mountain
Downtown Battle Mountain is the debut studio album by American post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance, released on May 15, 2007. It was produced by Kris Crummett, who mastered their EP Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean...

 line-up. In September Dance Gavin Dance posted on their Twitter that they will be recording their new album Downtown Battle Mountain Two later in the year. Shortly afterwards their official Myspace page was updated, stating 'Downtown Battle Mountain Pt. II coming April 2011'. On January 24, 2011, the first single from Downtown Battle Mountain II was released, titled "Heat Seeking Ghost of Sex." Later that same week, Alternative Press released a second track, "The Robot With Human Hair Part 2 1/2."

In March 2011 the band began their US tour with Iwrestledabearonce
Iwrestledabearonce
Iwrestledabearonce is an American heavy metal band formed in 2007 in Shreveport, Louisiana, and currently based in Birmingham, Alabama. They have released one EP and two full-length albums, and have toured with acts such as August Burns Red, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Dance Gavin Dance, The Human...

, In Fear And Faith
In Fear and Faith
In Fear and Faith is an American rock band from San Diego, California. Formed in 2006, the group is currently signed to Rise Records and have released two studio albums and two EPs. Their debut full-length, Your World on Fire, being released nearly a year after the band's signing to Rise in 2008,...

, and Just Like Vinyl, followed by a small European tour, culminating in 2 shows in London playing Downtown Battle Mountain Pt. I
Downtown Battle Mountain
Downtown Battle Mountain is the debut studio album by American post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance, released on May 15, 2007. It was produced by Kris Crummett, who mastered their EP Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean...

in full on the first night and Downtown Battle Mountain Pt. II in full on the second night. The band has been also confirmed for the 2011 Vans Warped Tour
Warped Tour 2011
Warped Tour 2011 is the 17th annual Summer Warped Tour festival. Vans Shoes is again the tour's primary sponsor. The tour dates were announced on November 22, 2010, with the first official band announcement on December 8...

.

On January 16, 2011, Jonny Craig tweeted, "I'm sorry everyone but I'm going to be taking a very very very long hiatus. All my tours and CDs are canceled. Thank you and goodnight" later clarifying that he "will be playing out the tours with DGD and Emarosa
Emarosa
Emarosa is an American rock band from Lexington, Kentucky. Formed in 2006, they released one EP in 2007 titled This Is Your Way Out, and shortly after, the group underwent significant lineup and sound changes, dropping their heavy metal influence and leaning toward a soul inspiration...

". Soon afterwards he checked into a detox facility for drug addiction, following a scandal wherein the singer was caught stealing money from fans. Former Tides of Man
Tides of Man
Tides of Man is an American progressive rock band formed in Tampa, Florida in 2008. They signed to Rise Records March 4, 2009 and have released two full length albums thus far, Empire Theory in 2009 , and Dreamhouse in 2010.- History :In December 2007 Pearson, Gill, Sene, Jaye and Gould convened on...

 vocalist Tilian Pearson filled in for Craig on Emarosa's Spring 2011 tour with Chiodos, while all Dance Gavin Dance shows went on as planned. In April Craig announced his departure from Emarosa and stated on Twitter he would be recording two songs with Dance Gavin Dance in the upcoming week.

Drummer Matt Mingus said in an interview with Mind Equals Blown that Dance Gavin Dance plans to release another album with the current, reunited lineup.

As of September 1st, 2011 - Dance Gavin Dance has posted a side-project without Jonny Craig. They have released 4 songs on YouTube streaming now, posted with the band name 'Secret Band'

On October 19th, 2011, Dance Gavin Dance announced that they were going on hiatus. This announcement came shortly after the cancellation of their tour with I Set My Friends On Fire and A Lot Like Birds. Guitarist Will Swan later attributed the cancellation and subsequent hiatus of the band to unspecified issues with Jonny Craig, stating "DGD is on hiatus until Jonny can get his life together. Tour is not the environment for that. That is all.". It was later discovered that Jonny had been arrested for drug-related offenses. Craig was spared a prison sentence, as he was granted a deferred entry of judgment and ordered by the state of California to complete time in drug rehabilitation. His next court hearing is set for April 30, 2012.

Band members

Final line-up
  • Jonny Craig
    Jonny Craig
    Jonathan Monroe Craig is a Canadian-American singer. He is currently the lead vocalist for the band Dance Gavin Dance, and former vocalist of the bands Emarosa and Ghost Runner on Third. He has an eponymous solo project, with which he has released one studio album and a live album to date...

     - clean vocals
    Singing
    Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...

     (2005–2007; 2010–2011)
  • Jon Mess - unclean vocals
    Screaming (music)
    Screaming is a vocal technique that is most popular in subgenres of heavy metal, punk and hard rock, including metalcore, deathcore, post-hardcore, groove metal, black metal, and grindcore...

     (2005–2008; 2010–2011)
  • Will Swan - guitar
    Guitar
    The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...

    s, vocals
    Rapping
    Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...

     (2005–2011); unclean vocals (2008–2010)
  • Eric Lodge - bass guitar
    Bass guitar
    The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....

     (2005–2008; 2010–2011)
  • Matt Mingus - drums
    Drum kit
    A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....

    , percussion (2005–2011)


Former members
  • Alvaro Alcala - guitars (2005)
  • Sean O'Sullivan - guitars (2006–2007; 2010)
  • Jason Ellis - bass guitar (2008–2009)
  • Zachary Garren - guitars (2007–2010)
  • Tim Feerick - bass guitar (2009–2010)
  • Dan Snook - guitars (2010)
  • Kurt Travis
    Kurt Travis
    Kurt Thomas Travis is an American singer, and former vocalist of the band Dance Gavin Dance. He is currently the lead vocalist for the band A Lot Like Birds, as well as the former vocalist of the bands Five Minute Ride, O! The Joy, and No Not Constant. Travis joined current band A Lot Like Birds...

     - clean vocals (2007–2010)

Touring members
  • Josh Benton - guitars (2010–2011)
  • Jordan McCoy - bass guitar (2011)
  • Tony Marks - bass guitar (2010)

Album appearances

Member Album
Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean Downtown Battle Mountain Dance Gavin Dance Happiness Downtown Battle Mountain 2
Will Swan
(guitars, screams on album 'Happiness',raps on song 'Powder to the People,'
raps on album 'Downtown Battle Mountain 2' screams with jon at end of song 'People You Knew')
Matt Mingus (drums)
Jon Mess (screamed vocals)
Eric Lodge (bass)
Jonny Craig (clean vocals)
Sean O'Sullivan (guitar)
Zachary Garren (guitar)
Kurt Travis (clean vocals)
Jason Ellis (bass)

Discography

Studio albums
  • Downtown Battle Mountain
    Downtown Battle Mountain
    Downtown Battle Mountain is the debut studio album by American post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance, released on May 15, 2007. It was produced by Kris Crummett, who mastered their EP Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean...

    (2007)
  • Dance Gavin Dance
    Dance Gavin Dance (album)
    -Personnel:Dance Gavin Dance*Kurt Travis - clean vocals*Jon Mess - screamed vocals*Will Swan - guitars*Zac Garren - guitars*Eric Lodge - bass guitar*Matt Mingus - drums, percussionAdditional personnel...

    (2008)
  • Happiness
    Happiness (Dance Gavin Dance album)
    Happiness is the third full-length album from post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance. It was released by Rise Records on June 9, 2009. The band went into the studio with Kris Crummett to record the album on February 14, 2009. On April 10, they uploaded new artwork and a recording of the new song...

    (2009)
  • Downtown Battle Mountain II
    Downtown Battle Mountain II
    Downtown Battle Mountain II is the fourth studio album by American post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance, released on March 8, 2011.The album is not a direct continuation of the band's first album Downtown Battle Mountain, but features the same line-up that recorded the first album as original...

    (2011)


EPs
  • Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean (2006)


Live albums
  • Live at Bamboozle 2010 (Live Nation
    Live Nation
    Live Nation is a live-events company based in Beverly Hills, California, focused on concert promotions. Live Nation formed in 2005 as a spin-off from Clear Channel Communications, which then merged with Ticketmaster in 2010 to become Live Nation Entertainment....

    Studios, 2010)
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