The Broken West
Encyclopedia
The Broken West was an American
power pop
band, formed in Los Angeles
, California
in 2004, and now signed to Merge Records
. The members are Ross Flournoy (guitar
, vocals), Dan Iead (guitar, backing vocals), Brian Whelan (bass
, backing vocals), Rob McCorkindale (drums, percussion
), and Scott Claassen (keys
, backing vocals). Drummer Rob McCorkindale was later replaced by Sean McDonald on drums. Jeff Howell (Dan Iead's high school friend from Connecticut) joined the Broken West as their touring keyboardist, playing synth, organ and piano.
Initially named The Brokedown, they changed their name in 2006 because of legal concerns with a Chicago band with a similar name. Their debut full-length release is I Can't Go On, I'll Go On, referencing a Samuel Beckett quote
.
Their single "Down in the Valley" was featured in an episode of Grey's Anatomy.
They have played the Austin City Limits Music Festival
, and toured the U.S. and Canada with Fountains of Wayne
and with The National
.
None of the band members are originally from Los Angeles. Frontman Ross Flournoy was born in Memphis, Tennessee
and moved with his family to Santa Barbara, California
when he was 11 years old. His musical pleasures growing up included Big Star, Teenage Fanclub
, and The Beatles
. Dan Iead and Jeff Howell grew up in Branford, CT. Brian Whelan split time between Seattle and Northern California.
The band's second album Now or Heaven was released in 2008 through Merge Records
.
The band has broken up and Ross Flournoy released his first record as Apex Manor
on January 25, 2011, also on Merge Records
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
band, formed in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 2004, and now signed to Merge Records
Merge Records
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
. The members are Ross Flournoy (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals), Dan Iead (guitar, backing vocals), Brian Whelan (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals), Rob McCorkindale (drums, percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
), and Scott Claassen (keys
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, backing vocals). Drummer Rob McCorkindale was later replaced by Sean McDonald on drums. Jeff Howell (Dan Iead's high school friend from Connecticut) joined the Broken West as their touring keyboardist, playing synth, organ and piano.
Initially named The Brokedown, they changed their name in 2006 because of legal concerns with a Chicago band with a similar name. Their debut full-length release is I Can't Go On, I'll Go On, referencing a Samuel Beckett quote
The Unnamable (novel)
The Unnamable is a 1953 novel by Samuel Beckett. It is the third and final entry in Beckett's "Trilogy" of novels, which begins with Molloy followed by Malone Dies. It was originally published in French as L'Innommable and later adapted by the author into English...
.
Their single "Down in the Valley" was featured in an episode of Grey's Anatomy.
They have played the Austin City Limits Music Festival
Austin City Limits Music Festival
The Austin City Limits Music Festival is an annual three-day American music festival that takes place in Austin, Texas at the city's central public park, Zilker Park...
, and toured the U.S. and Canada with Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne is an American power pop band that formed in New York City in 1996. The band consists of members Chris Collingwood, Adam Schlesinger, Jody Porter and Brian Young.-Early years:...
and with The National
The National (band)
The National is an indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1999 and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The band's lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger, a baritone...
.
None of the band members are originally from Los Angeles. Frontman Ross Flournoy was born in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
and moved with his family to Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
when he was 11 years old. His musical pleasures growing up included Big Star, Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub are an alternative rock band from Bellshill, Scotland. The band is composed of Norman Blake , Raymond McGinley , Gerard Love and Francis MacDonald , with songwriting duties shared equally among Blake, McGinley and Love...
, and The Beatles
The 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...
. Dan Iead and Jeff Howell grew up in Branford, CT. Brian Whelan split time between Seattle and Northern California.
The band's second album Now or Heaven was released in 2008 through Merge Records
Merge Records
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
.
The band has broken up and Ross Flournoy released his first record as Apex Manor
Apex Manor
Apex Manor is an American indie rock band, formed in Pasadena, California in 2010.Ross Flournoy of The Broken West wrote the band's first songs during an online songwriting contest at NPR. Their debut LP, The Year of Magical Drinking, was released on January 25, 2011 on Merge records.- External...
on January 25, 2011, also on Merge Records
Merge Records
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
.
Discography
- 2005: The Dutchman's Gold EP (as The Brokedown)
- 2007: I Can't Go On, I'll Go On
- 2008: Now or Heaven
External links
- The Broken West at Merge Records
- The Broken West Blog at Blogger