The Visible Men
Encyclopedia
The Visible Men are an American
piano rock
band formed in 1999, consisting of Dustin Lanker
(vocals, keyboards), Dan Schmid
(bass guitar), Jordan Glenn (drums) and later Jimi Russel (guitar).
members Dustin Lanker and Dan Schmid, both wanting to write and perform songs in a more experimental vein than what they had been doing with the Daddies. The band played their first show in November 2000, aided by Daddies drummer Tim Donahue
, who remained with the band until he left to tour with Yngwie Malmsteen the following year. The group recorded a few demos and played a number of shows both with and without drummers until they were eventually offered a deal by indie record label Leisure King Productions, who persuaded Lanker and Schmid to take on a full-time drummer, leading to the addition of Jordan Glenn.
The band's debut album, the minimalist acoustic and piano-driven In Socks Mode
, was released in 2002. Their second release, Love:30
, followed three years later. In contrast to In Socks Mode, Love:30 had a stronger psychedelic
slant, utilizing a fuller sound and more instruments, including organ, electric guitar and accordion.
The Visible Men toured extensively throughout 2005 and 2006, primarily in Oregon and Washington, though they also embarked on tours through California, the Southwest
and the majority of the Northwestern United States
. In February 2003, the group performed The Who Sell Out
at John Henry's in Eugene.
In 2006, the band recruited guitarist Jimi Russel and announced that they were working on new material that, according to Lanker, was "influenced by 70s and 80s rock, but [had] the same pop influence".
The Visible Men went on hiatus in 2007, and by 2009 the band's website had been disabled. Despite a one-off show on November 27, 2009 at John Henry's in Eugene, there has been no official announcement as to whether the group will continue recording or performing in the future.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
piano rock
Piano rock
Piano rock, sometimes referred to as piano pop, is a style of popular music that is based around the piano—and sometimes piano-related instruments such as keyboards–with piano typically replacing rhythm guitar as the rhythm instrument...
band formed in 1999, consisting of Dustin Lanker
Dustin Lanker
Dustin Ross Lanker is an American keyboardist, known for his work as a member of the ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, a touring member of the ska punk band the Mad Caddies and as the singer-songwriter for the piano rock trio The Visible Men.-Career:A pianist since childhood, Lanker...
(vocals, keyboards), Dan Schmid
Dan Schmid
Daniel Joseph Schmid is an American musician, known for his work as the bassist for the ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, of which he is a co-founder, and the piano rock trio The Visible Men.-Career:...
(bass guitar), Jordan Glenn (drums) and later Jimi Russel (guitar).
Biography
The Visible Men initially formed in the fall of 1999 as a side project for Cherry Poppin' DaddiesCherry Poppin' Daddies
The Cherry Poppin' Daddies are an American band established in Eugene, Oregon, in 1989. Formed by Steve Perry and Dan Schmid , the band has experienced many membership changes over the years, with only Perry, Schmid and Dana Heitman currently remaining from the original line-up.The Daddies' music...
members Dustin Lanker and Dan Schmid, both wanting to write and perform songs in a more experimental vein than what they had been doing with the Daddies. The band played their first show in November 2000, aided by Daddies drummer Tim Donahue
Tim Donahue (drummer)
-Career:Born in Oswego, New York, Donahue was raised in Oregon, where he began playing drums professionally in the early 1980s, serving in numerous bands including Lucy Crank, Road Kill, Flash Back, Zoo Gang, RMS McConnel, AKA and Intensity. In mid-1997, he joined Eugene band the Cherry Poppin'...
, who remained with the band until he left to tour with Yngwie Malmsteen the following year. The group recorded a few demos and played a number of shows both with and without drummers until they were eventually offered a deal by indie record label Leisure King Productions, who persuaded Lanker and Schmid to take on a full-time drummer, leading to the addition of Jordan Glenn.
The band's debut album, the minimalist acoustic and piano-driven In Socks Mode
In Socks Mode
In Socks Mode is the debut album by American band The Visible Men, released in 2002 on Leisure King Productions.-Overview:The instrumentation of In Socks Mode could be considered minimalist: most of the songs consist solely of piano and bass guitar, with slightly more than half of the tracks...
, was released in 2002. Their second release, Love:30
Love:30
Love:30 is the second studio album by American piano rock band The Visible Men, released in 2005 on Leisure King Productions.-Overview:In contrast to the minimalist approach heard on In Socks Mode, Love:30 is rooted more in psychedelic eclecticism, featuring a richer keyboard-driven sound and the...
, followed three years later. In contrast to In Socks Mode, Love:30 had a stronger psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
slant, utilizing a fuller sound and more instruments, including organ, electric guitar and accordion.
The Visible Men toured extensively throughout 2005 and 2006, primarily in Oregon and Washington, though they also embarked on tours through California, the Southwest
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
and the majority of the Northwestern United States
Northwestern United States
The Northwestern United States comprise the northwestern states up to the western Great Plains regions of the United States, and consistently include the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, to which part of southeast Alaska is also sometimes included...
. In February 2003, the group performed The Who Sell Out
The Who Sell Out
-Track listing:All songs written by Pete Townshend except where noted. The between song jingles apparently have no official titles and are not listed anywhere on the original album packaging, though they are listed in the inner booklet of the 1995 remaster.Side one...
at John Henry's in Eugene.
In 2006, the band recruited guitarist Jimi Russel and announced that they were working on new material that, according to Lanker, was "influenced by 70s and 80s rock, but [had] the same pop influence".
The Visible Men went on hiatus in 2007, and by 2009 the band's website had been disabled. Despite a one-off show on November 27, 2009 at John Henry's in Eugene, there has been no official announcement as to whether the group will continue recording or performing in the future.
Members
- Dustin LankerDustin LankerDustin Ross Lanker is an American keyboardist, known for his work as a member of the ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, a touring member of the ska punk band the Mad Caddies and as the singer-songwriter for the piano rock trio The Visible Men.-Career:A pianist since childhood, Lanker...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA 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...
/pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Dan SchmidDan SchmidDaniel Joseph Schmid is an American musician, known for his work as the bassist for the ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, of which he is a co-founder, and the piano rock trio The Visible Men.-Career:...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Jordan Glenn – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Jimi Russell – guitarGuitarThe 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...
(2006 - )
- Tim DonahueTim Donahue (drummer)-Career:Born in Oswego, New York, Donahue was raised in Oregon, where he began playing drums professionally in the early 1980s, serving in numerous bands including Lucy Crank, Road Kill, Flash Back, Zoo Gang, RMS McConnel, AKA and Intensity. In mid-1997, he joined Eugene band the Cherry Poppin'...
– drums (2000–2001, occasional studio recordings)
Discography
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | In Socks Mode In Socks Mode In Socks Mode is the debut album by American band The Visible Men, released in 2002 on Leisure King Productions.-Overview:The instrumentation of In Socks Mode could be considered minimalist: most of the songs consist solely of piano and bass guitar, with slightly more than half of the tracks... |
Leisure King Productions |
| 2005 | Love:30 Love:30 Love:30 is the second studio album by American piano rock band The Visible Men, released in 2005 on Leisure King Productions.-Overview:In contrast to the minimalist approach heard on In Socks Mode, Love:30 is rooted more in psychedelic eclecticism, featuring a richer keyboard-driven sound and the... |
Leisure King Productions |