The Franchise
Encyclopedia
The Franchise is a Washington-DC based rock band. Their music has been described as "geek
rock", delving into the harrowing world of pet monitoring devices, comic books, and Middle Eastern food. Influences include what used to be called “college rock,” alternative rock, and New Wave—things along the lines of Talking Heads
, R.E.M., They Might Be Giants
, U2
, The Cure
, XTC
, Cake
, early The Police
.
Patrick Nolan played drums in the Jazz band Kurds and Whey from 1991–1993, and then released a solo album, Gone Astray in 2003.
David played guitar in the rock band The Sunmasons from 1989–1992, and released one cassette, It's OK, I'm with the BAND in 1991. He then went on to sing in the a cappella
group Makela along with Jerry Marzouk.
Noah and Jackson were both singers in the Spizzwinks(?).
Patrick and David started playing together in 2003, and in 2004 invited Jerry to join them as a keyboard player. They then asked their friend Anna London to join them as she learned to play bass.
song Message in a Bottle.
Cover art for Demolition was created by Patrick.
Shortly after releasing Demolition, Noah Kaye joined the band after attending one of the early performances.
The cover art was an homage to the Beatles album Let it Be
, featuring the band's pets.
Almost immediately after Figmental Records released The Sound and the Furry, Jerry left the band, and Noah took on primary vocal duties.
from attack by a giant squid.
Before the recording was finished, Anna left the band, and the other members took turns filling in for her on the CD. Jackson Maier replaced her shortly before the CD was released, but after the recording was finished.
Geek
The word geek is a slang term, with different meanings ranging from "a computer expert or enthusiast" to "a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts", with a general pejorative meaning of "a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp[ecially] one who is perceived to...
rock", delving into the harrowing world of pet monitoring devices, comic books, and Middle Eastern food. Influences include what used to be called “college rock,” alternative rock, and New Wave—things along the lines of Talking Heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
, R.E.M., They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
, U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
, The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
, XTC
XTC
XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
, Cake
Cake (band)
Cake is an American alternative rock band from Sacramento, California. Consisting of singer John McCrea, trumpeter Vince DiFiore, guitarist Xan McCurdy, bassist Gabe Nelson and drummer Paulo Baldi, the band has been noted for McCrea's sarcastic lyrics and deadpan voice, DiFiore's trumpet parts, and...
, early The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
.
Patrick Nolan played drums in the Jazz band Kurds and Whey from 1991–1993, and then released a solo album, Gone Astray in 2003.
David played guitar in the rock band The Sunmasons from 1989–1992, and released one cassette, It's OK, I'm with the BAND in 1991. He then went on to sing in the a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
group Makela along with Jerry Marzouk.
Noah and Jackson were both singers in the Spizzwinks(?).
Patrick and David started playing together in 2003, and in 2004 invited Jerry to join them as a keyboard player. They then asked their friend Anna London to join them as she learned to play bass.
Demolition
Shortly after forming, they recorded Demolition at Hit & Run Studios in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Demolition had three original songs, Aliyah L'Regel, Post-Apocalyptic Love Song, and Cyrano, and a cover of The PoliceThe Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
song Message in a Bottle.
Cover art for Demolition was created by Patrick.
Shortly after releasing Demolition, Noah Kaye joined the band after attending one of the early performances.
The Sound and the Furry
In early 2005, they recorded most of the tracks for The Sound and the Furry, live at Avalon Recording studios in Bethesda, Maryland. Two of the songs, Lojack and King of Falafel, were recorded at the Brass Monkey Saloon in Baltimore, Maryland, and Late Summer' was recorded at Umbrella Studios in Arlington, Virginia.The cover art was an homage to the Beatles album Let it Be
Let It Be (album)
Let It Be is the 12th and final studio album released by the English rock band The Beatles. It was released on 8 May 1970 by the band's Apple Records label shortly after the group announced their break-up....
, featuring the band's pets.
Almost immediately after Figmental Records released The Sound and the Furry, Jerry left the band, and Noah took on primary vocal duties.
To the Rescue!
In 2006, they decided to record another album with a more 'produced' sound, and returned to Hit & Run Studios to do so. DC comic artist Jake Warrenfelz was commissioned to design the cover, which envisioned the band defending the US CapitolUnited States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
from attack by a giant squid.
Before the recording was finished, Anna left the band, and the other members took turns filling in for her on the CD. Jackson Maier replaced her shortly before the CD was released, but after the recording was finished.