Eisley
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Eisley | ||
|---|---|---|
 "Memories" video photo shoot.
(Left to right: Sherri, Chauntelle, Stacy, Weston, and Garron) |
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | Tyler, Texas, United States | |
| Genre(s) | Indie Rock, Indie Pop | |
| Years active | 1997 – present | |
| Label(s) | Reprise Records | |
| Website | www.eisley.com | |
| Members | ||
| Chauntelle DuPree Sherri DuPree Weston DuPree Stacy DuPree Garron DuPree |
||
| Former members | ||
| Jonathan Wilson Taylor Muse Amy Whittacker |
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Eisley is a band from Tyler, Texas, consisting of four siblings (Chauntelle, Sherri, Stacy, and Weston DuPree) and their cousin (Garron DuPree).
Contents |
[edit] Background
The band was formed in 1997 as Chauntelle and Sherri began working in their bedrooms on music together after being inspired by bands like the Beatles, Jeremy Enigk[1] and Radiohead.[2] Younger sister Stacy (who was then 8 years old) became frustrated over their insistance that she was too young to be a part and wrote her own song without their help. She was immediately inducted. Their brother Weston (who was 10 years old) soon joined the band as the drummer.[3][4]. The band has had a difficult time keeping bass players over the years; after friend, Amy Whittaker, left in 1998, Taylor Muse, filled in as a non-member, contributing to the band's first name, Moss Eisley but soon left to continue working with his other bands including Quiet Company.[5] Good friend Jonathan Wilson stepped in to become their bassist in late 2001 but decided to step down in July 2005 during their tour with Hot Hot Heat. Jon remains a good friend of the band and lives in Eisley's hometown, Tyler, Texas. He was replaced as bassist by Garron DuPree, the DuPrees' then fifteen year old cousin in 2005.[6]
The band's name changed several times in their early years. They began as The Towheads, before changing their name to Moss Eisley, named after Mos Eisley, a spaceport town in the Star Wars films, but when the band signed to Warner Bros. Records, there were worries of legal troubles with the name.[2] After considering "Neverland" and "Sinclair", they eventually decided just to drop the "Moss" portion of their name, and became simply "Eisley".
After burgeoning on the Dallas scene in 2001, playing hundreds of shows throughout Texas and garnering a fan base as an indie band, Eisley was signed to Warner Bros. Records (Reprise) in 2003, and soon after that they opened for Coldplay throughout their US tour of Rush of Blood to the Head and at the V Festival in England.[7] Eisley has also toured with Brand New, Snow Patrol, New Found Glory, Hot Hot Heat, Switchfoot and label-mates Taking Back Sunday in Australia and the UK. The band has also toured 3 times as a headlining act, completing their "Final Noise" tour in late Spring '06. Eisley also played a handful of shows at the South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin, TX in March 2007.
The band had some early radio success with the song "Telescope Eyes" from the Laughing City E.P.. It was ranked top 25th most played song on The Edge in Dallas, TX in 2003. Eisley has recorded videos for "Marvelous Things," "I Wasn't Prepared," "Telescope Eyes" (the version from Room Noises), and "Memories", which can be viewed on the official website but largely, the band's strong, steady, organic growth comes from touring and an aggressive online marketing approach.
[edit] Current status
Eisley has turned in their second album to Warner Brothers, and an official release date will be set within the week. The band will be touring with The Fray from July 10 until July 21, 2007.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Room Noises – (2005, Warner Bros. Records)
- Currently Untitled Release – (2007, Warner Bros. Records)
[edit] EPs
- Laughing City – (2003, Record Collection)
- Marvelous Things E.P. – (2003, Warner Bros. Records)
- Telescope Eyes E.P. – (2005, iTunes exclusive)
- Head Against The Sky E.P. – (2005, iTunes exclusive)
- Final Noise E.P. – (2006, iTunes exclusive)
[edit] Independent Recordings
Eisley's early independent recordings have been confusing for new fans. The track listings are:
- EP1 – "Pretender", "Dream For Me", "Blackened Crown"
- EP2 version 1 – "Telescope Eyes", "Over the Mountains We Go", "Head Against the Sky"
- EP2 version 2 – Version 1 plus "Dream for Me and "Blackened Crown"
- EP2 version 3 – Version 2 plus "Mister Pine" and "Laughing City"
Eisley simply added the best of each EP and carried them forward. None of these recordings were released officially but sold at hundreds of shows between 1999 and 2003. EP2 version 3 contains all of the songs from the previous versions, including EP1, except for "Pretender." All songs on the independent recordings are owned by Eisley and they have generously allowed their fans to offer them for download from various places on the web. [8]
[edit] Samples
- Marvelous Things (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- An excerpt of the 2005 Room Noises version of "Marvelous Things" by Eisley.
- Problems playing the files? See media help.
[edit] Influences
[edit] Trivia
- It was upon hearing OK Computer by Radiohead that the band immersed themselves in writing, creating and developing their own brand of music.
- They won 'Best New Artist' from the 2003 Dallas Observer Music Awards.[9]
- Chris Martin of Coldplay is said to have sung Eisley song "Tree Tops" in a haunting, minor chord during soundcheck on their 2003 arena tour; the band is a favorite of Coldplay. His wife, Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow, is similarly a fan and has been known to sport Eisley t-shirts in England and mentioned them on national TV in support of them.
- Previously managed by Coldplay's managers, Eisley is now managed by Rick DeVoe, who also managed Blink 182, and now currently manages Angels and Airwaves, New Found Glory and Eisley.[10]
- Sherri DuPree thanked author Ray Bradbury in the acknowledgements for Room Noises and is an avid sci-fi reader.
- Stacy DuPree shares her birthday with Thom Yorke of Radiohead, one of her favorite artists. [11]
- The band's tour manager, Boyd DuPree is a graphic designer - creating all things visual for the band: cd graphics, tour posters, web, merch, forums, myspace, tour journals, indie videos, etc. Boyd is father to the 4 siblings.
- Stacy DuPree is a vegetarian, but not a vegan.[12] She occasionally cheats to eat grilled chicken.
- The band members are avid fans of the Harry Potter series, the Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, The Gilmore Girls and LOST.
- Stacy and Sherri sang back-up for Head Automatica debut album Decadence on the track "Dance Party Plus." They also sang back-up on the Fair track, "Unglued," off of Fair's album The Best Worst-Case Scenario
- Stacy and Sherri contributed backing vocals on several tracks of New Found Glory's album Coming Home and most recently tracked background vocals for Bright Eyes new record while recording their own.
- Chauntelle DuPree became engaged to Adam Lazzara of Taking Back Sunday on February 14, 2007. [13]
- Sherri DuPree was married to Chad Gilbert of New Found Glory at The Villa in Tyler, Texas on February 17, 2007.
[edit] References
- ^ DuPree, Boyd (2006-11-25). We went to the Jeremy Enigk Show. Tales from Trolleywood, official Eisley weblog. Retrieved on February 22, 2007.
- ^ a b Leahey, Andrew. Quickies: Eisley. On Tap Magazine. Retrieved on February 22, 2007.
- ^ Downey, Ryan J.. MTV News: You Hear It First. MTV. Retrieved on February 22, 2007.
- ^ Eisley biography on Yahoo! Music. Yahoo! Music. Retrieved on February 22, 2007.
- ^ Quiet Company - 'Shine Honesty'. Northern Records (2006-03-20). Retrieved on February 22, 2007.
- ^ DuPree, Boyd (2005-07-23). Eisley Episodes. Repercussions of Epic Concern. Official Eisley forum. Retrieved on February 22, 2007.
- ^ Goldberg, Michael Alan (2005-04-06). Clan Destiny. Baltimore City Paper Online. Retrieved on February 22, 2007.
- ^ Orange Gold and Green. Retrieved on February 22, 2007.
- ^ Wilonsky, Robert; Crain, Zac Sutlief, Shannon Liles, Jeff Wood, Mikael and Martin, Merritt (2003-04-17). 2003 Dallas Observer Music Awards. Dallas Observer. Retrieved on February 22, 2007.
- ^ Leighton, Ken (2006-03-30). Blurt. San Diego Reader. Retrieved on February 22, 2007.
- ^ DuPree, Boyd (2006-10-07). Happy (18th) Birthday Stacy.. Tales from Trolleywood, official Eisley weblog. Retrieved on February 22, 2007.
- ^ Veg Out With Eisley. PETA2. Retrieved on February 22, 2007.
- ^ DuPree, Boyd (2007-02-15). Valentine Engagement. Tales from Trolleywood, official Eisley weblog. Retrieved on February 22, 2007.
