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Gem (band)
Encyclopedia
GEM is a band from Utrecht
, The Netherlands. The five-piece, founded in 2003, plays energetic rock, mixing grit with melody. GEM has released two albums of which Escapades (2006) is the newest.
When word gets out that The Libertines
are to play in the Melkweg
in Amsterdam
, Westerik on a longshot sends a link to some of their MP3s and asks if the band could play as opening act. The programmers at the Melkweg concur, obviously liking the songs of the inexperienced band. Not only does GEM open before The Libertines, they even give a much more exiting performance than their British colleagues. The buzz around the band’s performance in Amsterdam spreads. Soon the band receives a feature story in 3voor12, an important webplatform for alternative music. The band also lands a spot on a compilation record in the Unsigned Series, an initiative of the Dutch Pop Institute. GEM fits in well with the other bands on the record which is called College Radio: Alternative Rock Songs. With two new band members, Jeroen Kikkert (bass) and Ilco Slikker (drums), the band enters the studio of producer Frans Hagenaars. Two tracks are recorded for the album. In addition to recording, GEM also tours for the Unsigned project. Together with Eleven, zZz
and others the band plays in the big Dutch music venues (Nighttown, 013, Paradiso
), steadily building a solid live reputation.
. Thus, the word about GEM’s excellence started spreading. Frans Hagenaars and Excelsior Recordings notice and are so taken with the songs and performances of GEM that offer the band a contract. To focus solely on the music, the members quit their studies and turn their fulltime jobs into parttime. Right before the band enters the studio with Hagenaars the band decides to replace Simon Bonner with former member Vincent Lemmen. Together with him the band records its debut album ‘’Tell Me What’s New’’. The record showcases the raw energy of the band, it is received very well by the press. In June the band plays its first international gig at the goNORTH festival in Aberdeen
, Scotland
. Later that summer the band also plays several festivals in the Netherlands, such as Music In My Head, Metropolis and Lowlands. Germany is also paid a visit at the Haldern Pop Festival. In September the band plays a short Dutch tour with labelmates zZz
. The song This Is Your Life is featured on the soundtrack of Dutch movie De Dominee (‘The Pastor’). In early October GEM is one of several Dutch bands. Several Sub Pop
representatives attend the band’s performance.
In January 2005 GEM returns to the stage at the Noorderslag festival. The German TV station WDR records the band’s performance. The show, together with and an interview, is aired in February on the channel’s Rockpalast
show. Consecutively Tell Me What’s New is released on the German Haldern Pop Records, it bears a new cover. After a performance in German club Frannz the band sets out on a full blown German tour with shows in Keulen, Hamburg
, Frankfurt
and many other big cities.
Just before the release of the band’s second release Escapades the band plays three set at the Noorderslag weekend in early 2006. Following these performances GEM plays at SXSW in Austin, Texas. British booking office ITB (Editors, We Are Scientists) signs the band while at this US festival.
In February the band’s second album Escapades is released. It is a success with the critics as well as the public and performs well in the Dutch charts. The album sounds more polished than the debut but still manages to capture the energy of the band. ITB arranges for several UK performances, including a show at The Great Escape in Brighton
. In addition to this GEM supported Editors
in the Ambassador Theatre in Dublin, Ireland
.
In December drummer Ilco Slikker and guitarist Bas de Graaff decided to leave the band, citing personal reasons.
And new drummer is found in Wouter Rentema.
GEM will record the new album as a four-piece!
Singles
Vincent Lemmen – guitar
Jeroen Kikkert – bass
Wouter Rentema - Drums
Bas de Graaff - Guitar
Tony van Best – drums
Simon Bonner – guitar
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
, The Netherlands. The five-piece, founded in 2003, plays energetic rock, mixing grit with melody. GEM has released two albums of which Escapades (2006) is the newest.
Biography
The story of GEM starts in 2003 when singer Maurits Westerik joins forces with guitarist Bas de Graaff and bassist Vincent Lemmen. With the addition of second guitarist Simon Bonner the band records its first demo in Studio Moskou in Utrecht. Tony van Best drums on the tracks.When word gets out that The Libertines
The Libertines
The Libertines were an English rock band, formed in London in 1997 by frontmen Carl Barât and Pete Doherty . The band, centred on the song-writing partnership of Barat and Doherty, also included John Hassall and Gary Powell for most of its recording career...
are to play in the Melkweg
Melkweg
The Melkweg is a popular music venue and cultural center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It is located on the Lijnbaansgracht, near the Leidseplein, a prime nightlife center of Amsterdam. It is housed in a former warehouse and is divided into a number of spaces of varying sizes...
in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Westerik on a longshot sends a link to some of their MP3s and asks if the band could play as opening act. The programmers at the Melkweg concur, obviously liking the songs of the inexperienced band. Not only does GEM open before The Libertines, they even give a much more exiting performance than their British colleagues. The buzz around the band’s performance in Amsterdam spreads. Soon the band receives a feature story in 3voor12, an important webplatform for alternative music. The band also lands a spot on a compilation record in the Unsigned Series, an initiative of the Dutch Pop Institute. GEM fits in well with the other bands on the record which is called College Radio: Alternative Rock Songs. With two new band members, Jeroen Kikkert (bass) and Ilco Slikker (drums), the band enters the studio of producer Frans Hagenaars. Two tracks are recorded for the album. In addition to recording, GEM also tours for the Unsigned project. Together with Eleven, zZz
ZZz
Juan Manuel Silveyra zZz is a Dutch band from Amsterdam, founded in 2001, formed by Björn Ottenheim and Daan Schinkel. On their first album, the instruments of the band only consisted of an organ and a drumkit. They have since incorporated other electronic and live elements into their sound. The...
and others the band plays in the big Dutch music venues (Nighttown, 013, Paradiso
Paradiso (Amsterdam)
Paradiso is an iconic rock music venue and cultural center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.-History:It is housed in a converted former church building that dates from the nineteenth century and that was used until 1965 as the meeting hall for a liberal Dutch religious group known as the "Vrije...
), steadily building a solid live reputation.
Tell Me What’s New
GEM is invited by 3voor12.nl to play in their programme during the Noorderslag festival in 2004. The week before this performance, a two-page article is published in national newspaper de VolkskrantDe Volkskrant
de Volkskrant is a national daily Dutch morning newspaper, the leading centre-left broadsheet, although now in tabloid size.-History:...
. Thus, the word about GEM’s excellence started spreading. Frans Hagenaars and Excelsior Recordings notice and are so taken with the songs and performances of GEM that offer the band a contract. To focus solely on the music, the members quit their studies and turn their fulltime jobs into parttime. Right before the band enters the studio with Hagenaars the band decides to replace Simon Bonner with former member Vincent Lemmen. Together with him the band records its debut album ‘’Tell Me What’s New’’. The record showcases the raw energy of the band, it is received very well by the press. In June the band plays its first international gig at the goNORTH festival in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Later that summer the band also plays several festivals in the Netherlands, such as Music In My Head, Metropolis and Lowlands. Germany is also paid a visit at the Haldern Pop Festival. In September the band plays a short Dutch tour with labelmates zZz
ZZz
Juan Manuel Silveyra zZz is a Dutch band from Amsterdam, founded in 2001, formed by Björn Ottenheim and Daan Schinkel. On their first album, the instruments of the band only consisted of an organ and a drumkit. They have since incorporated other electronic and live elements into their sound. The...
. The song This Is Your Life is featured on the soundtrack of Dutch movie De Dominee (‘The Pastor’). In early October GEM is one of several Dutch bands. Several Sub Pop
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
representatives attend the band’s performance.
In January 2005 GEM returns to the stage at the Noorderslag festival. The German TV station WDR records the band’s performance. The show, together with and an interview, is aired in February on the channel’s Rockpalast
Rockpalast
Rockpalast is a German music television show that broadcasts live on German television station Westdeutscher Rundfunk . Rockpalast started in 1974 and continues to this day. Hundreds of rock and jazz bands have performed on Rockpalast...
show. Consecutively Tell Me What’s New is released on the German Haldern Pop Records, it bears a new cover. After a performance in German club Frannz the band sets out on a full blown German tour with shows in Keulen, Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
and many other big cities.
Escapades
Throughout the summer of ‘05 the band starts working on their second release. The song ‘Good To Know You’ is the backdrop of a high rotation TV commercial. Written by external songwriters Billinger and Marsman the track turns out to be the band’s first hit single. Together with Spider Rico a split single is released which is only for sale at several concert dates. In December and January GEM tours Germany again.Just before the release of the band’s second release Escapades the band plays three set at the Noorderslag weekend in early 2006. Following these performances GEM plays at SXSW in Austin, Texas. British booking office ITB (Editors, We Are Scientists) signs the band while at this US festival.
In February the band’s second album Escapades is released. It is a success with the critics as well as the public and performs well in the Dutch charts. The album sounds more polished than the debut but still manages to capture the energy of the band. ITB arranges for several UK performances, including a show at The Great Escape in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
. In addition to this GEM supported Editors
Editors
Editors are a British indie rock band based in Birmingham, who formed in 2002. Previously known as Pilot, The Pride and Snowfield, the band consists of Tom Smith , Chris Urbanowicz , Russell Leetch and Ed Lay .Editors have so far released two platinum studio...
in the Ambassador Theatre in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
In December drummer Ilco Slikker and guitarist Bas de Graaff decided to leave the band, citing personal reasons.
And new drummer is found in Wouter Rentema.
GEM will record the new album as a four-piece!
Discography
Albums- Tell me what's new (2004)
- Escapades (2006)
- New (2008)
- GEMUnited (4CD Box) (2009)
Singles
- Tonight (1 Track Radio Promo) (June 2004)
- Rise & Fall / The Blitz (Limited 2 Track 7" Vinyl) (December 2004)
- Good To Know You / All We Have Is Now / Rise & Fall (Live) (3 Track Single) (September 2005)
- Go! / High-Low / Rush For You (3 Track Single) (February 2006)
- The Subterranean Parade (1 Track Promo CD Single) (August 2006)
- The Subterranean Parade (3 Track CD Single) (August 2006)
- The Subterranean Parade / All I Want For Christmas is You (Split Limited 4 Track 7" Single With Spider Rico)(December 2006)
- Look (1 Track Single) (March 2008)
- Blisters (1 Track Single) (July 2008)
- She Said Oh Oh Oh I Said Yeah Yeah Yeah (2 Track 7" Vinyl Single) (October 2008)
- Gimme (1 Track Single) (June 2009)
Current members
Maurits Westerik – vocalsVincent Lemmen – guitar
Jeroen Kikkert – bass
Wouter Rentema - Drums
Former members
Ilco Slikker – drumsBas de Graaff - Guitar
Tony van Best – drums
Simon Bonner – guitar