Greenwheel
Encyclopedia
Greenwheel is an American
alternative rock
band formed by friends Ryan Jordan, Brandon Armstrong, Andrew Dwiggins, Douglas Randall, and Marc Wanninger in November 1998. The band was formed in St. Charles, Missouri in a local record shop. This group of high school bandmates were originally called Hindsight before changing their name to Soma Holiday. They released a self titled album that same year which garnered them local attention. After this brief period, they went underground, performing only occasionally.
signed Greenwheel as a result of the demo and their performances in New York.
Greenwheel returned to Nashville with Greenwheel, and they completed recording on their major label debut album in 2001. The debut album, Soma Holiday, was released in May 2002. Their track "Shelter" earned a spot on the 2002 soundtrack album Music from and Inspired by Spider-Man
.
In 2001 Greenwheel began an aggressive touring schedule. They spent the summer of 2001 on tour with Flickerstick
and Rubyhorse
. In June and July 2002 Greenwheel played 10 shows alongside Injected
and Default
. The band opened 20 shows for Our Lady Peace
in July and August 2002. Following the tour with Our Lady Peace, Greenwheel toured as the opening act for Blindside
and Hoobastank
.
Melissa Etheridge covered Greenwheel's "Breathe", and the song was selected as the first single off her 2004 release, Lucky. Their single "Breathe" earned regular airplay on alternative radio stations around the country, and the video for "Breathe" could be seen on MTV2
. Etheridge's cover version
of "Breathe" went on to reach the Top 10 on the radio charts in three different formats, as well as earn a Grammy Award
nomination for the Greenwheel cover.
. The tentative name of the record was Electric Blanket, but the album was never released since the band parted ways with Island Records in 2004. Greenwheel was not permitted to release tracks from the Electric Blanket sessions for sale, but the band made the unreleased tracks available through a media player on their official website. The band expressed interest at their shows that fans distribute the CD amongst themselves if they don't have a copy, and the band provided burned copies of the disc for free at their shows.
After parting ways with Island, the band remixed and remastered their first independent self-titled release, and they re-released it to the public in 2005. While it shared the same name as their first major-label release, it actually consisted of a completely different track lineup with the exception of "Drowning Man" and "Louder Than Words," which appear on both releases.
In addition to parting ways with Island, the band also parted ways with long-time drummer Doug Randall, and Drew Bailey joined the band to fill the vacant spot behind the drum kit. Long-time guitarist Marc Wanninger also departed the band, resulting in the current four-member lineup.
On March 28, 2006, the band released a brand new five song EP
entitled Bridges For Burning. The new release was accompanied by Greenwheel's five month long "Bridges for Burning Tour".
In 2007, the band announced that they were changing their name to Go Van Gogh and releasing a new album Ruby and the Starlight Ballroom. In August 2008 both Greenwheel and Go Van Gogh played a show at the Family Arena
in St. Charles, Missouri, along with Building Rome
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band formed by friends Ryan Jordan, Brandon Armstrong, Andrew Dwiggins, Douglas Randall, and Marc Wanninger in November 1998. The band was formed in St. Charles, Missouri in a local record shop. This group of high school bandmates were originally called Hindsight before changing their name to Soma Holiday. They released a self titled album that same year which garnered them local attention. After this brief period, they went underground, performing only occasionally.
Major Label Success
One night at a local club, vocalist Ryan Jordan passed a copy of their self-produced CD to producer Malcolm Springer. Springer was impressed by the album and took the band to Memphis, Tennessee for pre-production work on a four track demo CD that he later recorded with the band in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2000, the group renamed themselves Greenwheel began performing at various venues in New York City in support of the new Springer-produced demo CD. Island RecordsIsland Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
signed Greenwheel as a result of the demo and their performances in New York.
Greenwheel returned to Nashville with Greenwheel, and they completed recording on their major label debut album in 2001. The debut album, Soma Holiday, was released in May 2002. Their track "Shelter" earned a spot on the 2002 soundtrack album Music from and Inspired by Spider-Man
Music from and Inspired by Spider-Man
Asian Edition Bonus Track- Use in other works :As a tribute to the film, "Weird Al" Yankovic's album Poodle Hat contains the song "Ode to a Superhero"; in which he takes the plot of this film but recites it to the tune of Billy Joel's "Piano Man"....
.
In 2001 Greenwheel began an aggressive touring schedule. They spent the summer of 2001 on tour with Flickerstick
Flickerstick
Flickerstick was a Ft. Worth, TX rock band who gained national attention after winning VH1's acclaimed and Emmy-nominated talent/reality show Bands on the Run.-Birth and local fame:...
and Rubyhorse
Rubyhorse
Rubyhorse were an Irish rock band from Cork, Ireland. Their debut album, A Lifetime In One Day, was released in Ireland on 2 June 1995. In 1997 the band moved to Boston, Massachusetts, and all of their subsequent albums were released in the United States....
. In June and July 2002 Greenwheel played 10 shows alongside Injected
Injected (band)
Injected is an Atlanta hard rock band inspired by acts such as Helmet, Metallica and Mötley Crüe.-History:After forming in the mid-90's by a group of high school friends and spending years gathering a strong following on the Atlanta rock scene, Injected released its major label debut, Burn It...
and Default
Default (band)
Default is a Canadian post-grunge/alternative rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia. Since forming in 1999 they have released four albums, and have sold more than a million records...
. The band opened 20 shows for Our Lady Peace
Our Lady Peace
Our Lady Peace is a Canadian alternative rock band that formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1992. Headed by lead vocalist Raine Maida since its formation, the band additionally consists of Jeremy Taggart on percussion, Duncan Coutts on bass, and Steve Mazur as lead guitarist...
in July and August 2002. Following the tour with Our Lady Peace, Greenwheel toured as the opening act for Blindside
Blindside
Blindside is a post-hardcore band from Tumba, Sweden. They formed in 1994 as Underfree and kept that name for two years before releasing their debut EP in 1996.-A Thought Crushed My Mind:...
and Hoobastank
Hoobastank
Hoobastank is an American rock band, best known for their 2004 hit "The Reason" and other hits "Crawling in the Dark" and "Running Away". They formed in 1994 in Agoura Hills, California, with singer Doug Robb, guitarist Dan Estrin, drummer Chris Hesse, and original bassist Markku Lappalainen. They...
.
Melissa Etheridge covered Greenwheel's "Breathe", and the song was selected as the first single off her 2004 release, Lucky. Their single "Breathe" earned regular airplay on alternative radio stations around the country, and the video for "Breathe" could be seen on MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
. Etheridge's cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Breathe" went on to reach the Top 10 on the radio charts in three different formats, as well as earn a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nomination for the Greenwheel cover.
Post-Island Records Work
Greenwheel worked with producer Jim Wirt in early 2004 on 16 new songs for a second full-length release on Island RecordsIsland Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
. The tentative name of the record was Electric Blanket, but the album was never released since the band parted ways with Island Records in 2004. Greenwheel was not permitted to release tracks from the Electric Blanket sessions for sale, but the band made the unreleased tracks available through a media player on their official website. The band expressed interest at their shows that fans distribute the CD amongst themselves if they don't have a copy, and the band provided burned copies of the disc for free at their shows.
After parting ways with Island, the band remixed and remastered their first independent self-titled release, and they re-released it to the public in 2005. While it shared the same name as their first major-label release, it actually consisted of a completely different track lineup with the exception of "Drowning Man" and "Louder Than Words," which appear on both releases.
In addition to parting ways with Island, the band also parted ways with long-time drummer Doug Randall, and Drew Bailey joined the band to fill the vacant spot behind the drum kit. Long-time guitarist Marc Wanninger also departed the band, resulting in the current four-member lineup.
On March 28, 2006, the band released a brand new five song EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
entitled Bridges For Burning. The new release was accompanied by Greenwheel's five month long "Bridges for Burning Tour".
In 2007, the band announced that they were changing their name to Go Van Gogh and releasing a new album Ruby and the Starlight Ballroom. In August 2008 both Greenwheel and Go Van Gogh played a show at the Family Arena
Family Arena
The Family Arena is a multi-purpose arena in St. Charles, Missouri, built in 1999. The arena seats 9,643 for hockey, 9,755 for football, 10,467 for basketball, 6,339 for half-house concerts and up to 11,522 for end-stage concerts...
in St. Charles, Missouri, along with Building Rome
Building Rome
Building Rome is an independent American alternative rock band from St. Louis, Missouri.-History:Building Rome has recorded four albums, the first being Something Left of Nothing, released August 25, 2005, featured fifteen tracks including the first release of "Miss You More," Building Rome's first...
.
Discography
| Year | Title | Type | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Soma Holiday | full-length CD | none/independent |
| 2001 | Hello | EP | Island Records Island Records Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group... |
| 2002 | Shelter | CD single | Island Records Island Records Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group... |
| 2002 | Shelter | 3" CD single | Island Records Island Records Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group... |
| 2002 | Soma Holiday Soma Holiday (album) Soma Holiday is the first full-length major label release by the band Greenwheel.-Track listing:# Shelter# Sustain You# Breathe# Louder Than Words# Strong# Drowning Man# Faces# Identity# Disappear# Dim Halo# Radiance# The End... |
full-length CD | Island Records Island Records Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group... |
| 2002 | Soma Holiday Soma Holiday (album) Soma Holiday is the first full-length major label release by the band Greenwheel.-Track listing:# Shelter# Sustain You# Breathe# Louder Than Words# Strong# Drowning Man# Faces# Identity# Disappear# Dim Halo# Radiance# The End... |
full-length JAP CD (includes "Flood" bonus track) | Island Records Island Records Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group... |
| 2002 | Breathe | CD single | Island Records Island Records Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group... |
| 2004 | Electric Blanket | full-length CD (never officially released) | Island Records Island Records Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group... |
| 2005 | Soma Holiday | full-length CD (re-release of 2000 indie version) | none/independent |
| 2006 | Bridges for Burning | EP | none/independent |