The Three 4 Tens
Encyclopedia
The Three 4 Tens are an American
garage rock
band based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
on November 17, 1996, when the Quadrophenia
tour hit Philadelphia.
They have recorded one EP and three albums, starting in 1997 with Throw-Back-Move EP for the now-defunct Lounge Records. Their next release, the vinyl-only, non-album single "Magic Trip"/"Everyone's Girl" followed in 1998. Another non-album track, "I Feel Fine", appeared on the 1999 compilation Sounds From Psychedelphia. Their next album Change Is On Its Way followed in 2000. After Lounge folded, the band first self-released the album, but it was soon picked up and released by File 13 Records, and finally licensed and re-released in Europe by Rainbow Quartz. They released two more records on Rainbow Quartz, 2003's Taking Northern Liberties and 2007's Down The Way.
The group briefly disbanded in late 2001 when Mahon and Kois left to join Marah
. They participated in recording the album Float Away with the Friday Night Gods
and toured with the band in 2002. However, despite being produced by Owen Morris
(Oasis
, The Verve
), and featuring an appearance by Bruce Springsteen
on the title track, the album was a critical and commercial flop. Mahon & Kois soon left the band. Mahon returned to the Three 4 Tens, however Kois opted to not return. He was replaced by Mike Ambs (formerly of Burning Brides
). McNamara first left the band in 2000, and was replaced by guitarist–keyboardist Scott Rodgers (also formerly of Mondo Topless), but rejoined in 2003 after Rodgers left to rejoin Mondo Topless. McNamara soon left again after finishing Taking Northern Liberties, and moved to New York City
, where he formed the group Himalaya. The Three 4 Tens disbanded again in 2004, at which point Mahon joined Asteroid #4. The band reconvened in 2007 to record Down The Way as a three-piece with Mahon, Tagg and Ambs. The band soon added guitarist Joe Candidi for the accompanying live shows.
In December 2008, after nearly 6 months of inactivity, the band performed at a benefit concert in Wilmington, Delaware
with the lineup of Tagg, Mahon, Ambs, and newcomer Mike Kiker on guitar and keyboards. After that show, Tagg and Ambs quit the band. Mahon soldiered on as Three 4 Tens with Kiker and former House of Fire bassist Dave Reis, whilst going through a revolving door of drummers, including Adam Weaver of Asteroid #4. Reis soon amicably parted ways with The Three 4 Tens, to continue fronting his own group The Improbables. Deciding to carry on without a bass player, Mahon and Kiker soon found a permanent drummer in Jeff Castner. It was when Castner joined the group that they retired the name Three 4 Tens and began performing as St. James & The Apostles. In the meantime, Joe Tagg started the group, Soloram, with Pete Rydberg of Beretta76 on lead guitar, Shawn Kilroy on bass, and Jay Laughlin of Like A Fox on drums. They released their album Love and the Sweet Divine, on Rainbow Quartz in October 2010. They disbanded in March 2011.
The Three 4 Tens reconvened in June 2011 with the lineup of Joe Tagg, Jamie Mahon, Brian McNamara, Mike Kiker, and Jeff Castner to record a new album, due out some time in 2012.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
band based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
History
The Three 4 Tens formed in 1995 by bassist Jamie Mahon, guitarist Joe Tagg, guitarist Brian McNamara and drummer Jon Kois. They opened up for The WhoThe Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
on November 17, 1996, when the Quadrophenia
Quadrophenia
Quadrophenia is the sixth studio album by English rock band The Who. Released on 19 October 1973 by Track and Polydor in the UK, and Track and MCA in the US, it is a double album, and the group's second rock opera...
tour hit Philadelphia.
They have recorded one EP and three albums, starting in 1997 with Throw-Back-Move EP for the now-defunct Lounge Records. Their next release, the vinyl-only, non-album single "Magic Trip"/"Everyone's Girl" followed in 1998. Another non-album track, "I Feel Fine", appeared on the 1999 compilation Sounds From Psychedelphia. Their next album Change Is On Its Way followed in 2000. After Lounge folded, the band first self-released the album, but it was soon picked up and released by File 13 Records, and finally licensed and re-released in Europe by Rainbow Quartz. They released two more records on Rainbow Quartz, 2003's Taking Northern Liberties and 2007's Down The Way.
The group briefly disbanded in late 2001 when Mahon and Kois left to join Marah
Marah (band)
Marah is an American country band that formed in the early 1990s and is closely associated with the cities of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Brooklyn, New York...
. They participated in recording the album Float Away with the Friday Night Gods
Float Away With the Friday Night Gods
Float Away With the Friday Night Gods is an album by the band Marah, released in 2002.The Bielanko Brothers were joined by Jamie Mahon and Jon Kois of The Three 4 Tens....
and toured with the band in 2002. However, despite being produced by Owen Morris
Owen Morris
Owen Morris is a music producer who has worked with rock bands such as Oasis, The Fratellis, The View and The Verve.He started working in the music industry as a sound engineer at Spaceward Studio in Cambridge when he was 16. He continued as an engineer until 1994 when he started producing some...
(Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
, The Verve
The Verve
The Verve were an English rock band formed in 1989 in Wigan by lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones, and drummer Peter Salisbury. Guitarist and keyboardist Simon Tong later became a member. Beginning with a psychedelic sound indebted to shoegazing and space...
), and featuring an appearance by Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
on the title track, the album was a critical and commercial flop. Mahon & Kois soon left the band. Mahon returned to the Three 4 Tens, however Kois opted to not return. He was replaced by Mike Ambs (formerly of Burning Brides
Burning Brides
Burning Brides is an American hard rock band. They are partially known for their live performances, such as in 2000 playing selected dates as the opening band for The White Stripes...
). McNamara first left the band in 2000, and was replaced by guitarist–keyboardist Scott Rodgers (also formerly of Mondo Topless), but rejoined in 2003 after Rodgers left to rejoin Mondo Topless. McNamara soon left again after finishing Taking Northern Liberties, and moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he formed the group Himalaya. The Three 4 Tens disbanded again in 2004, at which point Mahon joined Asteroid #4. The band reconvened in 2007 to record Down The Way as a three-piece with Mahon, Tagg and Ambs. The band soon added guitarist Joe Candidi for the accompanying live shows.
In December 2008, after nearly 6 months of inactivity, the band performed at a benefit concert in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
with the lineup of Tagg, Mahon, Ambs, and newcomer Mike Kiker on guitar and keyboards. After that show, Tagg and Ambs quit the band. Mahon soldiered on as Three 4 Tens with Kiker and former House of Fire bassist Dave Reis, whilst going through a revolving door of drummers, including Adam Weaver of Asteroid #4. Reis soon amicably parted ways with The Three 4 Tens, to continue fronting his own group The Improbables. Deciding to carry on without a bass player, Mahon and Kiker soon found a permanent drummer in Jeff Castner. It was when Castner joined the group that they retired the name Three 4 Tens and began performing as St. James & The Apostles. In the meantime, Joe Tagg started the group, Soloram, with Pete Rydberg of Beretta76 on lead guitar, Shawn Kilroy on bass, and Jay Laughlin of Like A Fox on drums. They released their album Love and the Sweet Divine, on Rainbow Quartz in October 2010. They disbanded in March 2011.
The Three 4 Tens reconvened in June 2011 with the lineup of Joe Tagg, Jamie Mahon, Brian McNamara, Mike Kiker, and Jeff Castner to record a new album, due out some time in 2012.
Discography
- Throw-Back-Move EP (1997)
- Sounds from Psychedelphia compilation (1999) (one song)
- Change Is On Its Way (2000)
- Taking Northern Liberties (2003)
- Down The Way (2007)
Current members
- Joe Tagg - guitar, vocals (1995-2001, 2003-2004, 2006-2008, 2011-present)
- Jamie Mahon - bass guitar, vocals (1995-2001, 2003-2004, 2006-2010, 2011-present)
- Brian McNamara - guitar, vocals (1995-2000, 2003-2004, 2011-present)
- Mike Kiker - guitar, keyboards, percussion, vocals (2008-2010, 2011-present)
- Jeff Castner - drums, percussion, vocals (2011-present)
Former members
- Jon Kois - drums, percussion (1995-2001)
- Scott Rodgers - guitar, keys, vocals (2000-2002)
- Mike Ambs - drums, percussion (2003-2008)
- Joe Candidi - guitar (2007-2008)
- Dave Reis - bass guitar, guitar, vocals (2009-2010)