Street To Nowhere
Encyclopedia
Street to Nowhere was an indie
/alternative rock
band from Oakland, California
.
, the original members of the band went their separate ways, leaving Dave Smallen without a band.
This, however, did not stop him from playing shows; still using the name Street to Nowhere, he continued to play solo acoustic shows, including Live 105's Battle of the Bands in 2004, which won him a spot on the local stage at Live 105's BFD that year. Since then Street to Nowhere has shared the stage with bands such as The Format
, Gomez
, Jack's Mannequin
, Two Gallants
, OK GO
, Maxeen
, Reel Big Fish
, The Matches
, and in 2007 returned to the BFD local stage as headliners.
Street to Nowhere has since re-filled the vacancies in the band with drummer Joey Bustos
(Link 80
)/(Desa
), lead guitarist Will Hauser, and bassist Bryce Freeman. On occasion Street to Nowhere is joined on stage by violinist Anton Patzner of Judgement Day
, Audrye Sessions
, and Bright Eyes.
In November 2005, Street to Nowhere released their first full length album, Charmingly Awkward
, at a sold out show at San Francisco's
Bottom of the Hill
. The album was a bit of a collaborative project with other members of Bay Area bands (including Desa, The Matches, and Push To Talk) who provided vocals for the drunken hollering and singing at the end of the song Tipsy. Anton Patzner (Audrye Sessions, Judgement Day, Bright Eyes) plays the violin in the songs Screamin', Boxcars Boxcars and You Can't Go to Sleep.
They released a 7" EP
in July 2006 through Agent Records featuring the songs "Hallelujah" (a cover of Leonard Cohen
's original) and "It's Not Me".
Street to Nowhere was signed to Capitol Records
in June 2006.
In 2008, singer/guitarist Dave Smallen announced that Street to Nowhere had been disbanded, and he would now perform under his own name. Since then, Dave has released several songs through his website.
For more up-to-date touring information visit the group's Myspace Page
Indie (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....
/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 from Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
.
History
Since its birth, Street to Nowhere has gone through many changes. Founded in 2001 by Singer/Songwriter Dave Smallen, Bassist/Backing Vocals Spenser Russell-Snyder and Drummer Stefan Litrownik, the band began as a pop-punk trio and ended up becoming one of the mainstays of the L3 concert series in Oakland http://www.live105.com/pages/399397.php. During 2002 the band recorded The Oakland EP and a number of demos, but after high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, the original members of the band went their separate ways, leaving Dave Smallen without a band.
This, however, did not stop him from playing shows; still using the name Street to Nowhere, he continued to play solo acoustic shows, including Live 105's Battle of the Bands in 2004, which won him a spot on the local stage at Live 105's BFD that year. Since then Street to Nowhere has shared the stage with bands such as The Format
The Format
The Format was an American indie rock band formed by Arizona natives Nate Ruess and Sam Means. The band announced a hiatus on February 4, 2008. Their style can be considered a mixture of indie, alternative, punk and folk music, with elements of 1960s and 1970s pop music...
, Gomez
Gomez (band)
Gomez are an English indie rock band from Southport, comprising Ian Ball , Paul "Blackie" Blackburn , Tom Gray , Ben Ottewell and Olly Peacock . The band is distinguished for having three singers and four songwriters, employing traditional and electronic instruments...
, Jack's Mannequin
Jack's Mannequin
Jack's Mannequin is an American rock band formed in 2004, originally hailing from Orange County, California. The band began as a side project of Andrew McMahon, the frontman for Something Corporate, and is composed of guitarist Bobby Anderson, bassist Mikey "The Kid" Wagner, and drummer Jay...
, Two Gallants
Two Gallants (band)
Two Gallants is a folk rock duo from San Francisco, California. The name comes from the title of a story by James Joyce in Dubliners.-History:Two Gallants are made up of Adam Stephens on guitar, harmonica and vocals and Tyson Vogel Two Gallants is a folk rock duo from San Francisco, California....
, OK GO
OK Go
OK Go is a rock band originally from Chicago, Illinois, USA, now residing in Los Angeles, California, USA. The band is composed of Damian Kulash , Tim Nordwind , Dan Konopka and Andy Ross , who joined them in 2005, replacing Andy Duncan...
, Maxeen
Maxeen
Maxeen was a three-piece rock band based out of Long Beach, California.Signed to SideOneDummy Records in 2003, Maxeen released their debut eponymous album which was on an enhanced CD containing a photo slideshow with images by Leah Klinge and Jay Matsueda. In 2004, they signed to Warner Bros...
, Reel Big Fish
Reel Big Fish
Reel Big Fish is an American ska punk band from Huntington Beach, California, best known for the 1997 hit "Sell Out". The band gained mainstream recognition in the mid-to-late 1990s, during the third wave of ska with the release of the gold certified album Turn the Radio Off. Soon after, the band...
, The Matches
The Matches
The Matches are a United States-based band formed in 1997 in Oakland, California. It currently is composed of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Shawn Harris, lead guitarist and backup vocalist Jonathan Devoto, bassist and backup vocalist Dylan Rowe, and drummer Matt Whalen...
, and in 2007 returned to the BFD local stage as headliners.
Street to Nowhere has since re-filled the vacancies in the band with drummer Joey Bustos
Joey Bustos
Joey Bustos was one of the founding members and the drummer of the influential punk band Link 80. The members changed the musical direction of the band and subsequently changed the name of the band to Desa...
(Link 80
Link 80
-Band history:Link 80 started in late 1993 in the East Bay of California. In the beginning, original members played around town as Drano, The Rag-Tags, and Mr...
)/(Desa
Desa (band)
Desa is a rock band from Oakland, California. The band is currently signed to and released its second album in 2006. The band recently completed a two-month US tour with labelmates Rx Bandits to help promote the new album...
), lead guitarist Will Hauser, and bassist Bryce Freeman. On occasion Street to Nowhere is joined on stage by violinist Anton Patzner of Judgement Day
Judgement Day (band)
Judgement Day is a three piece "string metal" band from Oakland, California.-Beginnings :Brothers Anton and Lewis Patzner started off playing metal violin and cello duets on the streets in Berkeley, California in 2002. They quickly released a seven-song acoustic EP and began playing rock shows as...
, Audrye Sessions
Audrye Sessions
Audrye Sessions was an indie rock band from Oakland, California.-History:Audrye Sessions was founded in 2002 by singer Ryan Karazija and Alicia Marie Campbell. Soon after Michael Knox joined the band through a Craigslist ad...
, and Bright Eyes.
In November 2005, Street to Nowhere released their first full length album, Charmingly Awkward
Charmingly Awkward
Charmingly Awkward is the debut album of the band Street To Nowhere.The album was re-released in August 2006 on Capitol Records.-Track listing:#"Screamin" - 3:12#"Boxcars Boxcars Boxcars" – 4:30...
, at a sold out show at San Francisco's
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
Bottom of the Hill
Bottom of the Hill
Bottom of the Hill is a concert venue located in San Francisco, California, in the Potrero Hill district. As a venue, it is one of the most active in the city, usually holding shows seven nights a week...
. The album was a bit of a collaborative project with other members of Bay Area bands (including Desa, The Matches, and Push To Talk) who provided vocals for the drunken hollering and singing at the end of the song Tipsy. Anton Patzner (Audrye Sessions, Judgement Day, Bright Eyes) plays the violin in the songs Screamin', Boxcars Boxcars and You Can't Go to Sleep.
They released a 7" 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...
in July 2006 through Agent Records featuring the songs "Hallelujah" (a cover of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
's original) and "It's Not Me".
Street to Nowhere was signed to Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
in June 2006.
In 2008, singer/guitarist Dave Smallen announced that Street to Nowhere had been disbanded, and he would now perform under his own name. Since then, Dave has released several songs through his website.
Tours and festivals
- June 2004 - Opener on Live 105's BFD's local stage
- June 2006 - Headliner on BFD's local stage
- Summer 2006 - Street to Nowhere's First nationwide tour, opening for The FormatThe FormatThe Format was an American indie rock band formed by Arizona natives Nate Ruess and Sam Means. The band announced a hiatus on February 4, 2008. Their style can be considered a mixture of indie, alternative, punk and folk music, with elements of 1960s and 1970s pop music...
. - September 2006 - Austin City LimitsAustin City LimitsAustin City Limits is an American public television music program recorded live in Austin, Texas by Public Broadcasting Service Public television member station KLRU, and broadcast on many PBS stations around the United States...
Festival - Fall 2006 - Touring the east coast with Lostprophets
For more up-to-date touring information visit the group's Myspace Page
Discography
- Vinyl 7" (2006) Agent Records
- Charmingly AwkwardCharmingly AwkwardCharmingly Awkward is the debut album of the band Street To Nowhere.The album was re-released in August 2006 on Capitol Records.-Track listing:#"Screamin" - 3:12#"Boxcars Boxcars Boxcars" – 4:30...
(2005) Re-released in August 2006 on Capitol RecordsCapitol RecordsCapitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine... - Agent Records Presents The NorCal Compilation 2004 (2004)
- Agent Records Presents The NorCal Compilation 2003 (2003)
- The Oakland EP (2002)
External links
- Official Street to Nowhere website
- Dave Smallen official website
- Street to Nowhere on Myspace
- Street to Nowhere on PureVolume
- Street to Nowhere's Fan/Street Team Myspace (message or follow instructions from the normal myspace blog to be added, or sign up on their mailing list for the "secret" lastname)