Eisley
Encyclopedia
Eisley is a rock band from Tyler
, Texas, consisting of four siblings (Chauntelle
, Sherri
, Stacy
, and Weston DuPree) and their cousin (Garron DuPree), all of whom were born and live in Texas. Although the band's name translates to ice island in several Germanic languages, it was actually selected by the bandmates because of its link to the Star Wars
saga (i.e. Mos Eisley
).
, Jeremy Enigk
, and Radiohead
. Younger sister Stacy (who was then 8 years old) became frustrated over their insistence that she was too young to be a part of the band and wrote her own song without their help before she was inducted. Their brother Weston (who was then 10 years old) soon joined the band as the drummer. Jonathan Wilson, a family friend, was brought on to play bass.
, Midlake
, Waterdeep
, and others. The band played numerous weekend shows at the venue until they became too busy with other opportunities.
The band's name changed several times in their early years. They began as The Towheads, before changing their name to Moss Eisley, after Mos Eisley
, a town in the Star Wars
films. When the band signed in 2003, there were worries of legal troubles with the name. After considering "Neverland" and "Sinclair", they eventually decided just to drop the "Moss" portion of their name and became simply "Eisley." The only known printed reference to the band's Neverland name (which they officially used for approximately two weeks) can be found in an issue of the Dallas, Texas monthly music magazine Harder Beat.
in 2003. The band won 'Best New Artist' from the Dallas Observer
Music Awards in the same year. The band had some early radio success with the song "Telescope Eyes" from the Laughing City E.P.. It was ranked top 25th most played song on FM 102.1 ("The Edge
") in Dallas, Texas in 2003. Eisley has recorded videos for "Marvelous Things", "I Wasn't Prepared", "Telescope Eyes" (the version from Room Noises
), "Invasion", "Memories", and "Smarter", which can be viewed on the official website, but largely the band's strong, steady, organic growth comes from touring and an aggressive online marketing approach.
.
In June 2005, Eisley embarked on their first headlining tour, The Summer Scenic Tour, to support their debut Room Noises with Lovedrug
and Pilotdrift
as opening acts. On June 10, they performed a sold out show at The Troubadour in California. The recording of The Troubadour show was to be released as a live DVD, however, the band was not pleased with the footage or audio so nothing ever came of it.
The band went on to tour with Hot Hot Heat
in July. During this tour Eisley's then bassist, Jon Wilson, announced he was leaving the band. Jon remains a good friend of the band and lives in Eisley's hometown, Tyler, Texas. He was replaced as bassist by Garron DuPree, the DuPrees' then fifteen year old cousin in 2005. Since then Wilson now resides in Colorado and cites his personal religious practices as well as pressure from a major label as to why he left the band.
In August, after the Hot Hot Heat tour, the band went into the studio in Seattle for a day to track "Head Against The Sky." The song was later released in October of that year on the "Head Against The Sky E.P.
" with three songs from the cancelled Troubadour DVD.
In October and November 2005, Eisley went on tour with Switchfoot
as openers. Around this time, the band started playing new, unrecorded material for their second album.
In March 2006, the band did a small tour in Australia as main support for Taking Back Sunday
. Following that, Eisley headlined their last tour in support of Room Noises, The Final Noise Tour.
. The band finished recording the album in November 2006, but due to assumed conflicts with their label, the album was delayed. "Combinations" was finally released on August 14, 2007, and Eisley went on a special acoustic tour to promote the album. The band then made their national television debut on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
August 30, 2007, performing Combination's lead and only single "Invasion." In September 2007, Eisley went on tour to support MuteMath.
On December 18, 2007, the band released the "Like The Actors E.P.
" on iTunes. This EP contained the two B-sides for combinations as well as an unreleased track from Room Noises, titled "Sun Feet."
In spring of 2008, Eisley headlined the only main tour that would be done in support of Combinations.
During the recording process, the band did a few one off shows. Notably a benefit with the Seattle Symphony with Mateo Messina
in 2008 and headlining a show at Baylor University in spring of 2009, their first real show since the end of their Combinations tour.
During this time, Warner Brothers shifted Eisley from Reprise to Sire. Throughout most of the summer of 2009, the band worked on their 2007 follow up. They finished recording most of the album in August of that year, but complications with WB delayed the release. However, the band went on tour with Dupree-Bemis' husband's band Say Anything
that fall and released the Fire Kite E.P.
as a teaser for the upcoming album.
On February 9, 2010, the band officially announced that they had parted ways with WB right before the Say Anything tour. In an interview, Sherri said: "By the time our contract was up with them we were stoked to branch out on our own. I think we had been worn down slowly over the years; this would be the vessel to part ways on good terms. It was going to be a new life, with a renewed purpose, etc. And it is!"
Throughout most of 2010, Eisley shopped for a new label as well and tried to acquire the rights to release their third album. They played SXSW that year and in late spring and early summer, the band did a small headlining tour called The Mild Mild Midwest tour up to Cornerstone Music Festival. Fall of 2010, the band did another headlining tour called, The Over The River and Through The Wood tour, in anticipation for their third album.
On November 4, 2010, it was announced that the band had signed with Equal Vision Records
as well as acquired the rights from WB to release their third album. Following that, on December 10, 2010, it was announced that Eisley will be releasing their new album on March 1, 2011, titled "The Valley".
. On this tour, the band debuted several more new songs in anticipation for "The Valley". A week before release, the band streamed the full album on Spin.com. Finally on March 1, The Valley was released.
The Valley was met with generally positive reviews. Sputnikmusic and, to the band's surprise, Absolute Punk both gave the album a rating of 90, commenting on the band's vocal style and the instrumentation being different from previous albums. All Music Guide, Alternative Press, and The Onion A.V. club also praised the album as well. However, Under The Radar had mixed reviews, but commented on the tunes being enjoyable as well as the Dupree sister's voices being thrilling. The Austin Chronicle gave the album a negative review, criticizing the album's focus to love and broken relationships as opposed to the whimsical style and fantastical imagery found on the bands 2005 debut "Room Noises" and the EPs before.
In June 2011, after finishing their first headlining tour for The Valley, the band announced plans on Twitter and tumblr of recording a new EP in August. Also, according to online posts from tumblr and instagram, there will be a limited edition of the EP which will possibly include a bio, original lyrics, rare and never before seen photos, past tour memorabilia, various posters, old album artwork dating back to the Moss Eisley days, and possibly more.
Throughout August 2011, the band recorded the EP. Originally the EP was going to contain a few b-sides from The Valley, but the band ultimately decided to record mostly new songs. Following the completion of the EP, Eisley recorded a music video for their next single, The Valley. Though, the band initially stated the new EP would be released in the fall, they decided on a January 2012 date instead. The reasons being they needed the EP to close out The Valley and point to LP4. According to posts and tweets by the band, they plan to start recording their next album sometime in 2012 after one more tour for The Valley.
Eisley's first major tour was support for Coldplay
's Rush of Blood to the Head tour in the US and at the V Festival
in England. Over the years, Eisley has also toured with Dave Matthews Band
, Brand New
, Snow Patrol
, New Found Glory
, Hot Hot Heat
, Switchfoot
, Taking Back Sunday
, The Fray
, Bleach
and Mutemath. The band has also toured several times as a headlining act. Their first headlining tour, "Winter West" was in early 2005 with The Elected
and The Colour. This was followed by the "Summer Scenic" tour with Pilotdrift
and Lovedrug
in mid 2005. Their third major headlining tour, titled "Final Noise," was opened by Simon Dawes
and Brighten
in Spring 2006. Eisley also performed on a special acoustic tour with Wesley Jensen during the Summer of 2007. They spent a couple months in late 2007 opening accounts for Mutemath around the country and then in the Spring and early Summer of 2008 they headlined their own cross-continent finance tour in support of their latest release, Combinations, with openers including The Envy Corps
(who had to leave mid-tour due to a European tour), Vedera
and The Myriad
.
Eisley has also played a number of individual shows. They played a handful of shows at the South by Southwest
music festival in Austin, Texas in March 2007. In August 2007, they performed at the Carling Weekend Festival, held in Reading and Leeds, England. They performed at Brewtones on December 15, 2007.
They made their national television debut on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
August 30, 2007, performing "Invasion."
have been confusing for new fans. The track listings are:
Eisley simply added the best of each EP and carried them forward. None of these recordings was released officially but sold at hundreds of shows between 1999 and 2003. EP2 version 3 contains all of the songs from the previous versions, including EP1, except for "Pretender." All songs on the independent recordings are owned by Eisley and they have generously allowed their fans to offer them for download from various places on the web.
Some Eisley songs have had difficulty being released. A song titled "Sun Feet" was supposed to be released on Atticus: ...dragging the lake, Vol. 4, but the compilation album's release date has since passed with no sign of the CD; Boyd DuPree has said that the CD will no longer happen. A version of the song was released on August 14 on a limited edition EP sold at various indie record stores along with Combinations, but this version was not approved by the band and is not the version produced by Rob Schnapf
or Mike Mogis
. The "proper version" of Sunfeet was finally released on December 18, 2007, on the Like the Actors E.P..
In 2006, a group of songs, collectively known as "The Baby", was placed onto the internet by an unknown person who acquired them through illicit means. These songs were not finished and were never intended to be released. The band has asked its fans not to share these songs.
Eisley has also been known to release songs to their fans during the holidays. Currently these songs include covers of Walking In Air, O Come Emmanuel, Oh Holy Night, White Christmas, and sherri's alternate arrangement of White Christmas known as White Christmas Nightmare.
's debut album, Decadence
, on the track "Dance Party Plus". They also sang back-up on the Fair
track "Unglued", from Fair's album The Best Worst-Case Scenario
.
Stacy, Sherri, Chauntelle and, their younger sister Christie DuPree
contributed backing vocals on several tracks of New Found Glory
's album Coming Home
and tracked background vocals for Bright Eyes' record Cassadaga
(while recording their own). Sherri also contributed backing vocals for New Found Glory
's cover of "It Ain't Me Babe
" from their latest LP, From the Screen to Your Stereo Part II
, while Stacy performed on another track. Stacy and Sherri did backing vocals for The Maine
's EP ...And a Happy New Year, Ho, Ho Hopefully. Most recently, Sherri appeared on two tracks from Say Anything
's self-titled album
.
Tyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
, Texas, consisting of four siblings (Chauntelle
Chauntelle DuPree
Chauntelle Annette DuPree is the lead guitarist for the band Eisley. She is the eldest of six children. Three of her siblings, Sherri, Stacy, and Weston are also members of Eisley, along with their cousin Garron DuPree. She started playing guitar when she was 16 and formed the band with her...
, Sherri
Sherri DuPree
Sherri Kay DuPree-Bemis is a vocalist, guitarist and lyricist for the band Eisley.-Career:Three of her siblings, Chauntelle, Stacy and Weston are also members of Eisley, along with her cousin, Garron. Her youngest sister Christie has performed with them live as well...
, Stacy
Stacy DuPree
Stacy Lynn DuPree is the keyboardist and one of the lead vocalists in the indie pop band Eisley. She is also credited the writing of the band's lyrics along with her sister Sherri.-Biography:...
, and Weston DuPree) and their cousin (Garron DuPree), all of whom were born and live in Texas. Although the band's name translates to ice island in several Germanic languages, it was actually selected by the bandmates because of its link to the Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
saga (i.e. Mos Eisley
Mos Eisley
Mos Eisley is a setting in the fictional Star Wars universe. It is introduced as a spaceport town on the planet Tatooine. In Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Obi-Wan Kenobi describes Mos Eisley as a "wretched hive of scum and villainy." It is the home of the Mos Eisley Cantina and Figrin D'an...
).
Formation
The band was formed in 1997 when Chauntelle and Sherri began creating music together after having been inspired by bands like the BeatlesThe Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, Jeremy Enigk
Jeremy Enigk
Jeremy Enigk is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist known for being the front man of the Seattle band Sunny Day Real Estate.-Biography:...
, and Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
. Younger sister Stacy (who was then 8 years old) became frustrated over their insistence that she was too young to be a part of the band and wrote her own song without their help before she was inducted. Their brother Weston (who was then 10 years old) soon joined the band as the drummer. Jonathan Wilson, a family friend, was brought on to play bass.
Early years
Boyd and Kim Dupree, parents of the four DuPree siblings, ran a venue called Brewtones Coffee Galaxy by occupying the space of their church on days when it was not in use. Eisley, then known as the Towheads, began years of service as the house band, giving them their first exposure. At Brewtones, the band played with many other acts such as Ester DrangEster Drang
Ester Drang is an experimental, post rock musical group from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The band was formed in 1995, with guitarist Bryce Chambers recruiting drummer James McAlister and bass player Kyle Winner....
, Midlake
Midlake
Midlake is an American rock band from Denton, Texas. The band first gained popularity in Europe, signing to Bella Union Records and playing at festivals such as Les Inrockuptibles, Wintercase, End Of The Road Festival and South by Southwest.-History:...
, Waterdeep
Waterdeep (band)
Waterdeep is an independent Christian band from Kansas City, Missouri made up of husband and wife Don and Lori Chaffer.Waterdeep was formed in 1995 following the break-up of Hey Ruth...
, and others. The band played numerous weekend shows at the venue until they became too busy with other opportunities.
The band's name changed several times in their early years. They began as The Towheads, before changing their name to Moss Eisley, after Mos Eisley
Mos Eisley
Mos Eisley is a setting in the fictional Star Wars universe. It is introduced as a spaceport town on the planet Tatooine. In Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Obi-Wan Kenobi describes Mos Eisley as a "wretched hive of scum and villainy." It is the home of the Mos Eisley Cantina and Figrin D'an...
, a town in the Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
films. When the band signed in 2003, there were worries of legal troubles with the name. After considering "Neverland" and "Sinclair", they eventually decided just to drop the "Moss" portion of their name and became simply "Eisley." The only known printed reference to the band's Neverland name (which they officially used for approximately two weeks) can be found in an issue of the Dallas, Texas monthly music magazine Harder Beat.
Signing
After emerging on the Dallas scene in 2001, playing hundreds of shows throughout Texas and garnering a fan base as an indie band, Eisley was signed to Warner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
in 2003. The band won 'Best New Artist' from the Dallas Observer
Dallas Observer
The Dallas Observer is a free alternative weekly newspaper distributed around the Dallas, Texas . At its inception, it was conceived as a weekly local arts and cinema review publication, with the credo "Advocate for Excellence in the Arts" on the cover. For a time during the early years, the paper...
Music Awards in the same year. The band had some early radio success with the song "Telescope Eyes" from the Laughing City E.P.. It was ranked top 25th most played song on FM 102.1 ("The Edge
KDGE-FM
KDGE is a Dallas, Texas, based radio station operating on FM frequency 102.1. It is owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications and plays 'alternative rock.'...
") in Dallas, Texas in 2003. Eisley has recorded videos for "Marvelous Things", "I Wasn't Prepared", "Telescope Eyes" (the version from Room Noises
Room Noises
Room Noises is the first full-length album of the band Eisley. It was released on February 8, 2005 on Reprise Records. The album was placed at #9 among Paste magazine's top albums of 2005. The album had three singles – "Memories", "Telescope Eyes", and "I Wasn't Prepared"...
), "Invasion", "Memories", and "Smarter", which can be viewed on the official website, but largely the band's strong, steady, organic growth comes from touring and an aggressive online marketing approach.
2004-2006 (Room Noises era)
During the majority of 2004 the band spent most of their time recording their debut album. During the first part of 2005, the band tour extensively with New Found GloryNew Found Glory
New Found Glory is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida. Formed in the summer of 1997, founding members were lead vocalist Jordan Pundik, guitarists Chad Gilbert and Steve Klein, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Joe Marino...
.
In June 2005, Eisley embarked on their first headlining tour, The Summer Scenic Tour, to support their debut Room Noises with Lovedrug
Lovedrug
Lovedrug is an indie rock band from Canton, Ohio that formed in 2001. The band’s name is something of a word play; singer Michael Shepard initially left music to attend film school but his first ‘love’ of the music medium ‘dragged’ him back .- History :Lovedrug released their first EP, the...
and Pilotdrift
Pilotdrift
-Background:The band was formed in 2004 by Kelly Carr, Micah Dorsey, Jay Budzilowski, Ben Rice, and Eric Russell. After touring in and around Texarkana, Tyler, and Dallas, their self-released album, Iter Facere, was discovered by Tim DeLaughter and Julie Doyle of The Polyphonic Spree. Pilotdrift...
as opening acts. On June 10, they performed a sold out show at The Troubadour in California. The recording of The Troubadour show was to be released as a live DVD, however, the band was not pleased with the footage or audio so nothing ever came of it.
The band went on to tour with Hot Hot Heat
Hot Hot Heat
Hot Hot Heat is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 1999 from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.-Career:Dustin Hawthorne and Steve Bays had been in many different bands together since 1995 and met Hawley in 1998. In 1999, Hawley bought a Juno 6 keyboard and asked Bays to try playing it, as no one...
in July. During this tour Eisley's then bassist, Jon Wilson, announced he was leaving the band. Jon remains a good friend of the band and lives in Eisley's hometown, Tyler, Texas. He was replaced as bassist by Garron DuPree, the DuPrees' then fifteen year old cousin in 2005. Since then Wilson now resides in Colorado and cites his personal religious practices as well as pressure from a major label as to why he left the band.
In August, after the Hot Hot Heat tour, the band went into the studio in Seattle for a day to track "Head Against The Sky." The song was later released in October of that year on the "Head Against The Sky E.P.
Head Against The Sky E.P.
Head Against the Sky E.P. is an EP of the band Eisley released October 25, 2005 on Reprise Records. The title song was recorded in Seattle, WA and was the last song recorded with the original bass player Jonathan Wilson. The song was fan revived after the band received several requests to play it...
" with three songs from the cancelled Troubadour DVD.
In October and November 2005, Eisley went on tour with Switchfoot
Switchfoot
Switchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman , Tim Foreman , Chad Butler , Jerome Fontamillas , and Drew Shirley .After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream...
as openers. Around this time, the band started playing new, unrecorded material for their second album.
In March 2006, the band did a small tour in Australia as main support for Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday is a rock band from Long Island, NY, formed in 1999 by guitarist Eddie Reyes. Current members of the band are Adam Lazzara , John Nolan , Eddie Reyes , Shaun Cooper and Mark O'Connell ....
. Following that, Eisley headlined their last tour in support of Room Noises, The Final Noise Tour.
2006-2008 (Combinations era)
In September 2006, Eisley headed back to the studio to record their follow up to Room Noises. While tracking for their second album, Sherri and Stacy also recorded vocals for Bright Eyes's album CassadagaCassadaga (album)
Cassadaga is the seventh studio album by Bright Eyes, released on April 10, 2007. Around 25 to 30 songs were recorded in 2006, with 13 of these appearing on the final track list...
. The band finished recording the album in November 2006, but due to assumed conflicts with their label, the album was delayed. "Combinations" was finally released on August 14, 2007, and Eisley went on a special acoustic tour to promote the album. The band then made their national television debut on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
August 30, 2007, performing Combination's lead and only single "Invasion." In September 2007, Eisley went on tour to support MuteMath.
On December 18, 2007, the band released the "Like The Actors E.P.
Like the Actors E.P.
"Like the Actors E.P." is an EP of the band Eisley released December 18, 2007 on Reprise Records. The EP contains the proper version of "Sun Feet", as well as B-Sides from Combinations.-Track listing:# "Many Funerals " – 2:51...
" on iTunes. This EP contained the two B-sides for combinations as well as an unreleased track from Room Noises, titled "Sun Feet."
In spring of 2008, Eisley headlined the only main tour that would be done in support of Combinations.
2008-2010
After the Combinations tour, the band originally planned to take a break before starting work on their third album. At this time, relationships with their label was not at the best, and the bands personal lives were getting back into control. However, at the urging of their good friend and A&R, Eisley went back into the studio in later 2008 to record their third album. Recording of the album was delayed due to issues in the band's personal lives.During the recording process, the band did a few one off shows. Notably a benefit with the Seattle Symphony with Mateo Messina
Mateo Messina
Mateo "Matt" Messina is an American soundtrack composer perhaps best known for working on the soundtrack to the 2007 film Juno.-Career and Life:Mateo Messina’s style of songwriting and composition has earned him accolades...
in 2008 and headlining a show at Baylor University in spring of 2009, their first real show since the end of their Combinations tour.
During this time, Warner Brothers shifted Eisley from Reprise to Sire. Throughout most of the summer of 2009, the band worked on their 2007 follow up. They finished recording most of the album in August of that year, but complications with WB delayed the release. However, the band went on tour with Dupree-Bemis' husband's band Say Anything
Say Anything (band)
Say Anything is an American indie-punk band from Los Angeles, California, fronted by Max Bemis. The band was formed in 2000 with Bemis and four of his friends. Within two years, they self-released two EPs, Junior Varsity and In Your Dreams, and the full-length Baseball: An Album by Sayanything.In...
that fall and released the Fire Kite E.P.
Fire Kite E.P.
Fire Kite is an EP of the band Eisley released in anticipation of their third full-length album and to promote their fall/winter 2009 tour. It was released October 13, 2009 on Sire Records. There are two versions of the EP...
as a teaser for the upcoming album.
On February 9, 2010, the band officially announced that they had parted ways with WB right before the Say Anything tour. In an interview, Sherri said: "By the time our contract was up with them we were stoked to branch out on our own. I think we had been worn down slowly over the years; this would be the vessel to part ways on good terms. It was going to be a new life, with a renewed purpose, etc. And it is!"
Throughout most of 2010, Eisley shopped for a new label as well and tried to acquire the rights to release their third album. They played SXSW that year and in late spring and early summer, the band did a small headlining tour called The Mild Mild Midwest tour up to Cornerstone Music Festival. Fall of 2010, the band did another headlining tour called, The Over The River and Through The Wood tour, in anticipation for their third album.
On November 4, 2010, it was announced that the band had signed with Equal Vision Records
Equal Vision Records
Equal Vision Records is a record label based in Albany, New York, which has a focus in metal or punk-based rock genres. Equal Vision Records was founded in the early 1990s by Ray Cappo ....
as well as acquired the rights from WB to release their third album. Following that, on December 10, 2010, it was announced that Eisley will be releasing their new album on March 1, 2011, titled "The Valley".
2011-present (The Valley era)
In February 2011, Eisley went on tour as main support for RooneyRooney (band)
Rooney is an American rock band from Los Angeles, currently self-produced and formerly signed to Geffen Records. The band is now composed of Robert Schwartzman , Louie Stephens , Taylor Locke , Ned Brower , and Brandon Schwartzel...
. On this tour, the band debuted several more new songs in anticipation for "The Valley". A week before release, the band streamed the full album on Spin.com. Finally on March 1, The Valley was released.
The Valley was met with generally positive reviews. Sputnikmusic and, to the band's surprise, Absolute Punk both gave the album a rating of 90, commenting on the band's vocal style and the instrumentation being different from previous albums. All Music Guide, Alternative Press, and The Onion A.V. club also praised the album as well. However, Under The Radar had mixed reviews, but commented on the tunes being enjoyable as well as the Dupree sister's voices being thrilling. The Austin Chronicle gave the album a negative review, criticizing the album's focus to love and broken relationships as opposed to the whimsical style and fantastical imagery found on the bands 2005 debut "Room Noises" and the EPs before.
In June 2011, after finishing their first headlining tour for The Valley, the band announced plans on Twitter and tumblr of recording a new EP in August. Also, according to online posts from tumblr and instagram, there will be a limited edition of the EP which will possibly include a bio, original lyrics, rare and never before seen photos, past tour memorabilia, various posters, old album artwork dating back to the Moss Eisley days, and possibly more.
Throughout August 2011, the band recorded the EP. Originally the EP was going to contain a few b-sides from The Valley, but the band ultimately decided to record mostly new songs. Following the completion of the EP, Eisley recorded a music video for their next single, The Valley. Though, the band initially stated the new EP would be released in the fall, they decided on a January 2012 date instead. The reasons being they needed the EP to close out The Valley and point to LP4. According to posts and tweets by the band, they plan to start recording their next album sometime in 2012 after one more tour for The Valley.
Performances
Eisley performed as an unsigned indie band for many years between 1998 and 2003 – mostly clubs in Texas.Eisley's first major tour was support for Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
's Rush of Blood to the Head tour in the US and at the V Festival
V Festival
The V Festival is an annual music festival held in England during the penultimate weekend in August. The event is held at two parks simultaneously which share the same bill; artists perform at one location on Saturday and then swap on Sunday. The sites are located at Hylands Park in Chelmsford and...
in England. Over the years, Eisley has also toured with Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
, 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...
, Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
, New Found Glory
New Found Glory
New Found Glory is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida. Formed in the summer of 1997, founding members were lead vocalist Jordan Pundik, guitarists Chad Gilbert and Steve Klein, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Joe Marino...
, Hot Hot Heat
Hot Hot Heat
Hot Hot Heat is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 1999 from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.-Career:Dustin Hawthorne and Steve Bays had been in many different bands together since 1995 and met Hawley in 1998. In 1999, Hawley bought a Juno 6 keyboard and asked Bays to try playing it, as no one...
, Switchfoot
Switchfoot
Switchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman , Tim Foreman , Chad Butler , Jerome Fontamillas , and Drew Shirley .After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream...
, Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday is a rock band from Long Island, NY, formed in 1999 by guitarist Eddie Reyes. Current members of the band are Adam Lazzara , John Nolan , Eddie Reyes , Shaun Cooper and Mark O'Connell ....
, The Fray
The Fray
-Literature:*Fray, a phenomenon in Terry Pratchett's The Carpet People*Fray , a comic book series by Joss Whedon**Melaka Fray, titular character of the comic book series-Music:*"Fray", a song from the album 14 Shades of Grey by Staind...
, Bleach
Bleach
Bleach refers to a number of chemicals that remove color, whiten, or disinfect, often via oxidation. Common chemical bleaches include household chlorine bleach , lye, oxygen bleach , and bleaching powder...
and Mutemath. The band has also toured several times as a headlining act. Their first headlining tour, "Winter West" was in early 2005 with The Elected
The Elected
The Elected are a Los Angeles-based indie rock band. The Elected have released two albums with Sub Pop: Me First in 2004, and Sun, Sun, Sun in 2006...
and The Colour. This was followed by the "Summer Scenic" tour with Pilotdrift
Pilotdrift
-Background:The band was formed in 2004 by Kelly Carr, Micah Dorsey, Jay Budzilowski, Ben Rice, and Eric Russell. After touring in and around Texarkana, Tyler, and Dallas, their self-released album, Iter Facere, was discovered by Tim DeLaughter and Julie Doyle of The Polyphonic Spree. Pilotdrift...
and Lovedrug
Lovedrug
Lovedrug is an indie rock band from Canton, Ohio that formed in 2001. The band’s name is something of a word play; singer Michael Shepard initially left music to attend film school but his first ‘love’ of the music medium ‘dragged’ him back .- History :Lovedrug released their first EP, the...
in mid 2005. Their third major headlining tour, titled "Final Noise," was opened by Simon Dawes
Simon Dawes
Simon Dawes was a rock band originally from Malibu, California. The band was signed with Record Collection and released their debut full-length, Carnivore, in September 2006. They have two previously released EPs. Blake Mills left the band shortly after Carnivore's release. The band's current...
and Brighten
Brighten
Brighten is a pop rock band from Chico, California, consisting of brothers Justin and Jimmy Richards, and Alex Draper . The band has recently been on tour with This Providence, Cute Is What We Aim For, Eisley, and All Time Low. In 2007, their debut album, King vs...
in Spring 2006. Eisley also performed on a special acoustic tour with Wesley Jensen during the Summer of 2007. They spent a couple months in late 2007 opening accounts for Mutemath around the country and then in the Spring and early Summer of 2008 they headlined their own cross-continent finance tour in support of their latest release, Combinations, with openers including The Envy Corps
The Envy Corps
The Envy Corps are an American indie rock band from Ames, Iowa. The band are known for their atmospheric-meets-pop sound, attracting comparisons to Radiohead, Doves, New Order, Dinosaur Jr., and Modest Mouse...
(who had to leave mid-tour due to a European tour), Vedera
Vedera
Vedera is a pop/rock band from Kansas City, Missouri.- History :Kristen May grew up in the Kansas City suburb of Blue Springs, as did the rest of her bandmates. Her entire family was musical; her mother was a singer who loved Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Jim Croce. “I listened to those artists,...
and The Myriad
The Myriad
The Myriad is a Seattle-based band. They were selected as 2007's MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout champions. Their newest album, With Arrows, With Poise, was released on May 13, 2008....
.
Eisley has also played a number of individual shows. They played a handful of shows at the South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
music festival in Austin, Texas in March 2007. In August 2007, they performed at the Carling Weekend Festival, held in Reading and Leeds, England. They performed at Brewtones on December 15, 2007.
They made their national television debut on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
August 30, 2007, performing "Invasion."
Line-up
- Stacy DuPreeStacy DuPreeStacy Lynn DuPree is the keyboardist and one of the lead vocalists in the indie pop band Eisley. She is also credited the writing of the band's lyrics along with her sister Sherri.-Biography:...
– vocals, keyboard, guitar - Sherri DuPree-BemisSherri DuPreeSherri Kay DuPree-Bemis is a vocalist, guitarist and lyricist for the band Eisley.-Career:Three of her siblings, Chauntelle, Stacy and Weston are also members of Eisley, along with her cousin, Garron. Her youngest sister Christie has performed with them live as well...
– vocals, rhythm guitar - Chauntelle DuPreeChauntelle DuPreeChauntelle Annette DuPree is the lead guitarist for the band Eisley. She is the eldest of six children. Three of her siblings, Sherri, Stacy, and Weston are also members of Eisley, along with their cousin Garron DuPree. She started playing guitar when she was 16 and formed the band with her...
– lead guitar, vocals (on occasion) - Garron DuPree – bass
- Weston DuPree – drums
Albums
- Room NoisesRoom NoisesRoom Noises is the first full-length album of the band Eisley. It was released on February 8, 2005 on Reprise Records. The album was placed at #9 among Paste magazine's top albums of 2005. The album had three singles – "Memories", "Telescope Eyes", and "I Wasn't Prepared"...
(2005, Reprise RecordsReprise RecordsReprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
) #189 US - CombinationsCombinations (album)Combinations is the second full length album by the band Eisley. It was released on August 14, 2007.The first single for Combinations was "Invasion". Two music videos were intended to be shot for the single...
(2007, Reprise Records) #70 US - The Valley (2011, Equal Vision RecordsEqual Vision RecordsEqual Vision Records is a record label based in Albany, New York, which has a focus in metal or punk-based rock genres. Equal Vision Records was founded in the early 1990s by Ray Cappo ....
) #80 US
EPs
- Laughing CityLaughing CityLaughing City is the first EP of the band Eisley released after signing with Warner Bros. Records. It was released May 20, 2003 on Record Collection Music.-Track listing:All songs written by Eisley.#"I Wasn't Prepared" – 3:33#"Telescope Eyes" – 3:36...
(2003, Record CollectionRecord CollectionRecord Collection is a Venice, CA based music entertainment and production company, owned by Jordan Tappis and David Sardy. Record Collection is home to a diverse catalog which includes music from artists such as former Red Hot Chili Peppers' guitarist John Frusciante, The Walkmen, Murs, Blake...
) - Marvelous ThingsMarvelous Things E.P.Marvelous Things is the second EP of the band Eisley released after signing with Warner Bros. Records. It was released December 9, 2003 on Reprise Records. A video for the track "Marvelous Things" was released along with the EP.-Track listing:...
(2003, Reprise Records) - Telescope Eyes E.P.Telescope Eyes E.P.Telescope Eyes E.P. is an EP of the band Eisley released January 25, 2005 on Reprise Records.-Track listing:All songs written by Eisley.#"Telescope Eyes" – 3:03#"Vintage People " – 2:54#"Tree Tops " – 5:20...
(2005, Reprise Records) - Head Against The Sky E.P.Head Against The Sky E.P.Head Against the Sky E.P. is an EP of the band Eisley released October 25, 2005 on Reprise Records. The title song was recorded in Seattle, WA and was the last song recorded with the original bass player Jonathan Wilson. The song was fan revived after the band received several requests to play it...
(2005, Reprise Records) - Final Noise E.P.Final Noise E.P.Final Noise E.P. is an EP of the band Eisley released March 21, 2006 on Reprise Records. Though the EP is labeled under Eisley, it also contains songs by artists Simon Dawes and Timmy Curran.-Track listing:#Eisley - "Escaping Song" – 3:28...
(2006, Reprise Records) - Like the Actors E.P.Like the Actors E.P."Like the Actors E.P." is an EP of the band Eisley released December 18, 2007 on Reprise Records. The EP contains the proper version of "Sun Feet", as well as B-Sides from Combinations.-Track listing:# "Many Funerals " – 2:51...
(December 18, 2007, Reprise Records) - Fire Kite E.P.Fire Kite E.P.Fire Kite is an EP of the band Eisley released in anticipation of their third full-length album and to promote their fall/winter 2009 tour. It was released October 13, 2009 on Sire Records. There are two versions of the EP...
(October 13, 2009, Sire Records)
Independent recordings
Eisley's early independent recordingsIndie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
have been confusing for new fans. The track listings are:
- EP1 – "Pretender", "Dream for Me", "Blackened Crown"
- EP2 version 1 – "Telescope Eyes", "Over the Mountains We Go", "Head Against the Sky"
- EP2 version 2 – Version 1 plus "Dream for Me" and "Blackened Crown"
- EP2 version 3 – Version 2 plus "Mister Pine" and "Laughing City"
Eisley simply added the best of each EP and carried them forward. None of these recordings was released officially but sold at hundreds of shows between 1999 and 2003. EP2 version 3 contains all of the songs from the previous versions, including EP1, except for "Pretender." All songs on the independent recordings are owned by Eisley and they have generously allowed their fans to offer them for download from various places on the web.
Other songs
Like most bands, Eisley has recorded many old songs and B-sides that have yet to make it onto any of their CDs. Many live recordings of these are available on fan websites. Some have been re-recorded and released on the iTunes Exclusive EPs. Still others are only available via fan websites and file sharing networks.Some Eisley songs have had difficulty being released. A song titled "Sun Feet" was supposed to be released on Atticus: ...dragging the lake, Vol. 4, but the compilation album's release date has since passed with no sign of the CD; Boyd DuPree has said that the CD will no longer happen. A version of the song was released on August 14 on a limited edition EP sold at various indie record stores along with Combinations, but this version was not approved by the band and is not the version produced by Rob Schnapf
Rob Schnapf
Rob Schnapf is an American record producer and musician. He was the co-producer of Elliott Smith's albums Either/Or, XO , Figure 8 and From a Basement on the Hill, for which he was recruited by Smith's family to complete after Smith's death.Schnapf, along with Rothrock and partner...
or Mike Mogis
Mike Mogis
Mike Mogis is a Nebraskan producer/engineer and multi-instrumentalist who, along with his brother A.J. Mogis, founded Presto! Recording Studios ....
. The "proper version" of Sunfeet was finally released on December 18, 2007, on the Like the Actors E.P..
In 2006, a group of songs, collectively known as "The Baby", was placed onto the internet by an unknown person who acquired them through illicit means. These songs were not finished and were never intended to be released. The band has asked its fans not to share these songs.
Eisley has also been known to release songs to their fans during the holidays. Currently these songs include covers of Walking In Air, O Come Emmanuel, Oh Holy Night, White Christmas, and sherri's alternate arrangement of White Christmas known as White Christmas Nightmare.
Contributions
- Maybe This Christmas Too?Maybe This Christmas Too?Maybe This Christmas Too? is a holiday compilation album released in October 2003 through Nettwerk Records featuring contemporary musicians performing both classic and original Christmas songs. The compilation served as a sequel to Maybe This Christmas and preceded Maybe This Christmas Tree...
(2003, NettwerkNettwerkThe Nettwerk Music Group is the umbrella company for Nettwerk Management, Nettwerk Records, Nettwerk One Publishing, Nutone Records, and Artwerk. With over 150 employees, the Vancouver-based company has offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Boston, Nashville, and Hamburg...
) – "The Winter Song" - Happy Christmas Vol. 4Happy Christmas Vol. 4Happy Christmas Volume 4 is the fourth album in the Happy Christmas series started by BEC Records in 1998. This is the first one released by Tooth & Nail, BEC's mother label.-Track listing:-Awards:...
(2005, Tooth & NailTooth & Nail RecordsTooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
) – "The Winter Song"
Backing vocals
Stacy and Sherri sang back-up for Head AutomaticaHead Automatica
Head Automatica is a Dance Rock band, formed by Glassjaw frontman Daryl Palumbo with Jarvis Holden, formerly of Give Up the Ghost or American Nightmare, Jim Greer, and Brandon Arnovick.-History:...
's debut album, Decadence
Decadence (album)
Decadence is the debut album by Dance punk group Head Automatica. The album was released by Warner Bros. Records in 2004, and was produced by Dan 'The Automator' Nakamura. Head Automatica is fronted by Glassjaw singer Daryl Palumbo....
, on the track "Dance Party Plus". They also sang back-up on the Fair
Fair (band)
Fair is an alternative rock band that features musician and producer Aaron Sprinkle; they are currently signed to Tooth & Nail Records. Sprinkle was formerly the guitarist for Christian alternative band Poor Old Lu in the 1990s. After Poor Old Lu broke up, Sprinkle released several albums, both as...
track "Unglued", from Fair's album The Best Worst-Case Scenario
The Best Worst-Case Scenario
The Best Worst-Case Scenario is the first album released by Tooth & Nail Records alternative rock band Fair, which features notable musician and record producer Aaron Sprinkle...
.
Stacy, Sherri, Chauntelle and, their younger sister Christie DuPree
Christie DuPree
Christie DuPree is a singer-songwriter from Texas.She is the younger sister of Chauntelle, Sherri, Stacy, and Weston DuPree and the cousin of Garron DuPree - all of whom are members of the band Eisley. She is known for her angelic voice.DuPree is currently working on her own solo projects...
contributed backing vocals on several tracks of New Found Glory
New Found Glory
New Found Glory is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida. Formed in the summer of 1997, founding members were lead vocalist Jordan Pundik, guitarists Chad Gilbert and Steve Klein, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Joe Marino...
's album Coming Home
Coming Home (New Found Glory album)
Coming Home is the fifth studio album by American rock band New Found Glory. It was produced by Thom Panunzio and released on September 19, 2006 through Geffen Records. Written and demoed at the Morning View Mansion in Malibu during 2005, Coming Home is a concept album unified by a lyrical theme of...
and tracked background vocals for Bright Eyes' record Cassadaga
Cassadaga (album)
Cassadaga is the seventh studio album by Bright Eyes, released on April 10, 2007. Around 25 to 30 songs were recorded in 2006, with 13 of these appearing on the final track list...
(while recording their own). Sherri also contributed backing vocals for New Found Glory
New Found Glory
New Found Glory is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida. Formed in the summer of 1997, founding members were lead vocalist Jordan Pundik, guitarists Chad Gilbert and Steve Klein, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Joe Marino...
's cover of "It Ain't Me Babe
It Ain't Me Babe
"It Ain't Me Babe" is the title of a 1964 song by Bob Dylan, first included on his album Another Side of Bob Dylan. The song's opening line is allegedly influenced by musicologist/folk-singer John Jacob Niles' composition "Go 'Way From My Window." Niles is referred to by Dylan as an early...
" from their latest LP, From the Screen to Your Stereo Part II
From the Screen to Your Stereo Part II
-Release history:-Credits:Band* Jordan Pundik – Vocals* Chad Gilbert – Guitar* Steve Klein – Guitar* Ian Grushka – Bass* Cyrus Bolooki – Drums / PercussionAdditional Musicians* Michael Bethancourt – KeyboardsGuest Appearances...
, while Stacy performed on another track. Stacy and Sherri did backing vocals for The Maine
The Maine (band)
The Maine is an American rock band from Tempe, Arizona. They were formed in January 21st, 2007, they released EP Stay Up, Get Down in the same year. On December 11 2007, The Maine made their debut with a five song EP called The Way We Talk produced by Matt Grabe...
's EP ...And a Happy New Year, Ho, Ho Hopefully. Most recently, Sherri appeared on two tracks from Say Anything
Say Anything (band)
Say Anything is an American indie-punk band from Los Angeles, California, fronted by Max Bemis. The band was formed in 2000 with Bemis and four of his friends. Within two years, they self-released two EPs, Junior Varsity and In Your Dreams, and the full-length Baseball: An Album by Sayanything.In...
's self-titled album
Say Anything (album)
Say Anything is the fourth full-length and self-titled studio album by American rock band Say Anything, after originally being scheduled to be released through RCA Records on October 13, 2009, it was delayed to November 3...
.