The Nice Device
Encyclopedia
The Nice Device was a four-piece, female-fronted Indie rock
band from Detroit, Michigan
formed in 2001. Their musical style is primarily edgy pop influenced indie rock with some electronic overtones. The group is often compared to acts such as The Pixies, Blondie
, The Buzzcocks and Metric
to name a few.
) and Matt Aljian (The Mood Elevator), to come to the studio and play on the recordings. Rehearsals started with a bass player from Ann Arbor named Rich Griffith. That same month, she met guitarist Matt Lannoo at a party. During the fall of 2000 the three wrote and rehearsed while auditioning drummers eventually finding Nick Gerhardt. A handful of new songs were written and in early 2001 they booked their first show at The Gold Dollar in Detroit's Cass Corridor
under the name The Nice Device. A few months later, Griffith was replaced on bass with Zach Shipps.
In 2002 The Nice Device entered Ghetto Recorders Studio with producer Jim Diamond
(White Stripes, The Mooney Suzuki
) and recorded three songs for their first release, a 7" vinyl single. 2004 saw the band recording their next batch of songs at Grand Studios with Brendan Benson
. Zach Shipps left the band to join Brendan's Wellfed Boys and Matt Hatch (The Sights
) took over on Bass. They released the EP titled Birth of a Lover later that year (produced by Zach Shipps and engineered by Brendan Benson) and instantly garnered a slew of favorable reviews, as well as a publishing deal with Pure Tone Music
. In 2005 they began writing songs for their first full length release eventually titled Let The Nightlife Down. Steve Champine was added on keyboards and recording with began at 12ax7 in Hamtramck and Big Sky in Ann Arbor. Yet another lineup change, Matt Hatch left and was replaced by Jeff Alber on bass in June 2005. The video for "Innocent" was shot by Lucky Airlines in early 2006 and by May the record was released and a US tour followed. In January 2007, Steve Champine was replaced on keyboards with Thomas Smak until June 2008 at which time they became a four-piece again.
In the summer of 2007 Alicia and Matt began rehearsing with former Sire Records
artists The Von Bondies
who were about to release a new record and begin touring again. They took a several month hiatus from The Nice Device to tour with the Von Bondies throughout the US, CA, UK, and Europe - eventually leaving the band in April 2008.
In the fall of 2008, The Nice Device released a new EP titled Sorry We Killed You. It was recorded at The Loft in Saline, MI and produced by Tim Patalan.
While finishing a planned final album, the band unofficially disbanded in 2010.
Past:
Compilations:
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band from Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
formed in 2001. Their musical style is primarily edgy pop influenced indie rock with some electronic overtones. The group is often compared to acts such as The Pixies, Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
, The Buzzcocks and Metric
Metric (band)
Metric is a Canadian indie rock and New Wave band founded in 1998 in Toronto. The band has also at various times been based in Montreal, London, New York City and Los Angeles...
to name a few.
History
During the summer of 2000, songwriter Alicia Gbur, inspired by the thriving local rock scene wrote three power pop songs with the intent to record and start a new band. As a returned favor for shooting photos, she asked her friends from another local band called The Atomic Numbers, Zach Shipps (Electric SixElectric Six
Electric Six is a six-piece metro Detroit-based band that plays what has been described as a brand of rock music infused with elements of "garage, disco, punk, new wave, and metal." The band met recognition in 2003 with the singles "Danger! High Voltage" and "Gay Bar", and subsequently recorded...
) and Matt Aljian (The Mood Elevator), to come to the studio and play on the recordings. Rehearsals started with a bass player from Ann Arbor named Rich Griffith. That same month, she met guitarist Matt Lannoo at a party. During the fall of 2000 the three wrote and rehearsed while auditioning drummers eventually finding Nick Gerhardt. A handful of new songs were written and in early 2001 they booked their first show at The Gold Dollar in Detroit's Cass Corridor
Cass corridor
The Cass Corridor, in Detroit, Michigan contains the Cass Park Historic Districtand the Cass-Davenport Historic District. The corridor's main street is Cass Avenue, which runs parallel with Woodward Avenue, a main Detroit artery running north towards suburban neighborhoods...
under the name The Nice Device. A few months later, Griffith was replaced on bass with Zach Shipps.
In 2002 The Nice Device entered Ghetto Recorders Studio with producer Jim Diamond
Jim Diamond (music producer)
Jim Diamond is a music producer, studio engineer, and bass guitar player based in Detroit, Michigan. He worked on the first two White Stripes albums and played bass with The Dirtbombs.- Background :...
(White Stripes, The Mooney Suzuki
The Mooney Suzuki
The Mooney Suzuki is an American garage rock band that formed in New York City in 1996. Originally comprising vocalist and guitarist Sammy James, Jr., guitarist Graham Tyler, bassist John Paul Ribas and drummer Will Rockwell-Scott, the band has released four studio albums – People Get Ready ,...
) and recorded three songs for their first release, a 7" vinyl single. 2004 saw the band recording their next batch of songs at Grand Studios with Brendan Benson
Brendan Benson
Brendan Benson is an American musician and songwriter. He sings and plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, and drums. He has released four solo albums and is a member of the band The Raconteurs....
. Zach Shipps left the band to join Brendan's Wellfed Boys and Matt Hatch (The Sights
The Sights
The Sights are a rock and roll band from Detroit, Michigan, formed in 1998. Members include Eddie Baranek , Dave Tick Talkin Lawson , Gordon Smith and Skip Denomme . Former members include Mike Trombley, Mark Leahey, Nate Cavalieri, Matt Hatch, Bobby Emmett and Dave Knepp...
) took over on Bass. They released the EP titled Birth of a Lover later that year (produced by Zach Shipps and engineered by Brendan Benson) and instantly garnered a slew of favorable reviews, as well as a publishing deal with Pure Tone Music
Pure Tone Music
is an A&R consulting firm formed in late 2003 by major label A&R veteran Pete Ganbarg. Based in Westwood, New Jersey, Pure Tone works with its different major label and artist clients to help conceive, construct and oversee all creative aspects of the record making process.Since its inception,...
. In 2005 they began writing songs for their first full length release eventually titled Let The Nightlife Down. Steve Champine was added on keyboards and recording with began at 12ax7 in Hamtramck and Big Sky in Ann Arbor. Yet another lineup change, Matt Hatch left and was replaced by Jeff Alber on bass in June 2005. The video for "Innocent" was shot by Lucky Airlines in early 2006 and by May the record was released and a US tour followed. In January 2007, Steve Champine was replaced on keyboards with Thomas Smak until June 2008 at which time they became a four-piece again.
In the summer of 2007 Alicia and Matt began rehearsing with former Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
artists The Von Bondies
The Von Bondies
The Von Bondies were an American alternative rock band. The group disbanded in July 2011. Its most recent members were Jason Stollsteimer on vocals and lead guitar, Christy Hunt on rhythm guitar and Leann Banks on bass guitar...
who were about to release a new record and begin touring again. They took a several month hiatus from The Nice Device to tour with the Von Bondies throughout the US, CA, UK, and Europe - eventually leaving the band in April 2008.
In the fall of 2008, The Nice Device released a new EP titled Sorry We Killed You. It was recorded at The Loft in Saline, MI and produced by Tim Patalan.
While finishing a planned final album, the band unofficially disbanded in 2010.
Members
- Alicia Gbur - vocals, guitar
- Matt Lannoo - guitar, vocals
- Nick Gerhardt - drums
Past:
- Rich Griffith - bass
- Zach Shipps - bass
- Matt Hatch - bass
- Steve Champine - keyboards/synth
- Thomas Smak - keyboards/synth
- Jeff Alber - bass, vocals
Discography
- "Gotta Get It" (2003) single on 7" vinyl b/w "My Little Birdie" and "Bittersweet" (self-released)
- Birth Of A Lover (2004) seven song EP on enhanced CD (self-released)
- Let The Nightlife Down (2006) 12 song full-length album (self-released)
- Sorry We Killed You (2008) five song EP (self-released)
Compilations:
- "Innocent" featured on the Maybelline NY/Jane Magazine - Pure Talent Reader CD #5 (2007)
- "Under Control" featured on the MC2 - Best of Motor City Music Conference (2005)
- "My Little Birdie" featured on the Pure Tone Music Publishing Compilation Volume 1 (2004)
- "Under Control" featured on the Detroit Breakdown - The Rocked Out Motor City Music Sampler (2004)
Videography
- "My Little Birdie" (2004) shot by 3alarm Carnival (directed by Kevin Leeser) at the historic Michigan Theater in downtown Detroit - November 2003
- "Innocent" shot by Lucky Airlines, directed by Nick Hill, edited by Sarah Fisher (2006)
Miscellaneous
- Five songs from their album Let The Nightlife Down are featured in a documentary called Racer Girls filmed in London, U.K. - airing in 80 countries.
- A 45 minute live performance and interviews were filmed at The Magic Stick in Detroit - January 2007 for CanYouHearMeTV.com's Episode 6.
- The song "My Little Birdie" is used in the film Bachelor Party VegasBachelor Party VegasBachelor Party Vegas is a comedy film that was released in 2006 starring Kal Penn, Jonathan Bennett, Charlie Spiller, Diora Baird and Donald Faison...
(2006) and the TV shows Life with DerekLife with DerekLife with Derek is a Canadian television sitcom that aired on Family and VRAK.TV in Canada and on Disney Channel in the United States. The series premiered on Family on September 18, 2005 and ran for four seasons ending on March 25, 2009. The series starred Michael Seater and Ashley Leggat as the...
, Degrassi: The Next GenerationDegrassi: The Next GenerationDegrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian teen drama television series set in the Degrassi universe, which was created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood in 1979. Degrassi is the fourth fictional series in the Degrassi franchise, and follows The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High, and...
and Radio Free RoscoeRadio Free RoscoeRadio Free Roscoe was a Canadian television series filmed in Toronto, Ontario. The show was produced by Decode Entertainment, and it first aired on 1 August 2003 on Family, in Canada. It has also been dubbed in French in the province of Quebec and aired on VRAK.TV...
airing on The N television network for teens.
External links
- BMI Artist Profile
- Maybelline NY/Jane Magazine Reader CD 2007
- [ Allmusic Artist Profile]
- Lucky Airlines
- Ghetto Recorders
- The Gold Dollar