The Early November, Hellogoodbye, et Man Man

Formed by frontman Arthur Enders, guitarist Jim Sacco, bassist Sergio Anello, and drummer Jeff Hummer in the blueberry capital of the world Hammonton, New Jersey, The Early November’s earliest output was a five-track demo recorded in 2001. The band then sent the demo to Californian label Drive-Thru Records and Drive-Thru Records only, who ultimately signed the band after representative Richard Reines paid them a visit in their hometown. Guitarist Sacco departed the group during this time and was initially replaced by Steve Nakovich, and subsequently Joe Marro.

With very little stage presence and a limited number of songs The Early November were thrown into the deep end and put on the bill on 2002’s Skate and Surf Fest and Warped Tour. In November 2002 the band released their debut EP “For All of This” aided by the summer’s touring success, which introduced the Early November’s style of post-hardcore grittiness to a wider audience. The EP paved the way for another “The Acoustic EP” later in 2002, featuring acoustic covers crafted by Enders of songs from their debut.

After the departure of Marro who was replaced by John Dubitsky, the band issued their full-length debut “Room’s Too Cold” in October 2003. Complete with string and ballad accoutrements and a strong vocal performance by Enders, the album earned strong reviews and peaked at No. 107 on the Billboard 200. A year later frontman Enders recorded his eponymous debut solo effort under the moniker I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody’s Business.

With the addition of guitarist Bill Lugg, the Early November recorded and released a split EP with the band I Am the Avalanche in 2005, before issuing their triple-disc sophomore album “The Mother, the Mechanic, and the Path” in 2006. The album which showcased three different sides of the band debuted at No. 31 on the Billboard 200, making it the Early November’s most successful album. After the release and subsequent tour alongside The Rocket Summer and Mêlée, the group announced an indefinite hiatus in May 2007, which lasted until June 2011.

After a stream of sold-out comeback gigs across the U.S., the band signed with Rise Records who issued their third full-length album “In Currents” in 2012. The album was debuted at No. 43 on the Billboard 200 and was supported by an extensive touring schedule including slots on the 2013 Vans Warped Tour and an anniversary show at Bowery Ballroom in New York City, U.S.

Truth be told, trying to get laid has led to the creation of great art long before Hellogoodbye came along. Trace everything from the Venus De Milo to “Yeezus” back and you’re almost certainly going to find elements that are there because its creator was trying to bed someone with only their artistic talent to rely on. Hellogoodbye trump the others as they’re a band with three studio albums, five E.P’s and a single that went into the top 15 of the Billboard Hot 100, who formed for exactly that reason. In the unlikely event that they hadn’t succeeded in that plan, we can all be sure that Hellogoodbye’s successes in every other medium more than makes up for it.

The band began as a recording project between Forrest Kline and Jesse Kurvink, who met while studying at Huntington Beach High School. The dup wrote songs and then recorded them onto Kline’s computer at home, and due to his interest in web design Kline was even able to set up a website for the duo while posting their demos onto sites like MP3.com. As the duo continued to write and record their demos their interest in being a band grew and grew, alongside everyone elses interest in their band for that matter. Inspired by the reaction they were getting, they decided to make a proper go of being a band and start performing live.

The band spent two years honing their live show all over their home state and making their first tentative touring steps to New Mexico and Texas before they were signed to Drive-Thru Records in 2003. While signed the band went through some line-up troubles but within a year they had released their self-titled debut E.P, which was rapturously received and sent the band out on many more headlining tours. So much touring that on the night of October 22nd 2004, the bands van was being driven by bassist Marcus Cole through Pennsylvania, who flipped and totalled their van and trailer after dozing off at the wheel.

If you want a good barometer as to how legit this band is, then the fact that they kept touring almost immediately afterwards works as well as anything else. By 2005 their E.P had made them such a name that they released their first DVD “OMG HGB DVD ROTFL” before their debut album was released. Finally, their debut album proper was released in 2006, and “Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!” was a hit straight off the bat, going straight in at number 13 on the Billboard 200 and at number 17 in the U.K.

Their imperial phase was cemented by the astonishing success of “Here (In Your Arms)”, the albums lead single that eventually climbed to number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 2007, number four on the U.K singles chart and went platinum in the U.S the very same year. Ever since then the band have been carving out their own little niche far away from the tastemakers and fads of the world. In recent years they’ve been touring with the likes of Paramore and Metric and they continue to release stellar albums to their devoted fan-base. They’re a true cult act, and they come highly recommended.

Consisting of Honus Honus (vocals, synthesiser, guitars, electric organ), Pow Pow (drums, percussion, programming, samples), Shono Murphy (guitar, trumpet, percussion, vocals) and Brown Sugar (Schatzaphone, bass, saxophone, keyboards, vocals), Man Man came together in 2003, releasing their debut album, "The Man in a Blue Turban with a Face," on Ace Fu Records in 2004. It was not until after their sophomore release, "Six Demon Bag," in 2006 that Man Man began to tour extensively, boosted by the positive critical response the album received.

In 2007, they gained a high profile support slot with indie stalwarts, Modest Mouse, performing as their opening act on several dates of their US tour. Sportswear giants Nike then used "10 lb Mustache" for a series of commercials that featured Rainn Wilson, exposing their music to a whole new audience. This new exposure was bolstered by the television show, "Weeds," using several songs in one episode

In 2008, their third album, "Rabbit Habits," was released on ANTI- records, embarking on a North American tour shortly after alongside Yeasayer and Tim Fite. Man Man also became frequent performers upon the festival circuit, frequenting Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, All Tomorrow's Parties, Primavera Sound and Voodoo Experience. They have gone on to play with an eclectic mix of artists, including Cat Power, Aereogramme and Bardo Pond.

"Rabbit Habits" and their subsequent releases, 2011's "Life Fantastic" and 2013's "On Oni Pond," moved towards a more standard indie-pop sound. However, they still maintained their off-beat aesthetic which has continued to make them an original, exciting act. Their 2013 single, "Head On (Hold On To Your Heart," achieved their biggest chart success, reaching number 32 on Billboards Alternative Songs Chart.