Basement (band) explained

Basement
Origin:Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Spinoffs:Fiddlehead
Years Active:2009–2012, 2014–2019, 2021–2022, 2023–present
Current Members:
  • Andrew Fisher
  • Alex Henery
  • Ronan Crix
  • Duncan Stewart
  • James Fisher

Basement are an English rock band formed in Ipswich, Suffolk, in 2009. Their debut studio album, I Wish I Could Stay Here, was released in 2011. The next year, Colourmeinkindness was released, charting on the US Billboard Top 200. After touring in support of Colourmeinkindness, the band went on hiatus in 2012.[1] In 2014, they reunited[2] to release the EP Further Sky. The next album, Promise Everything, charted in 2016 in Australia, the UK and the US. The band's fourth album, Beside Myself, was released in October 2018.

History

Basement formed in September 2009 in Ipswich, England, following the break-up of pop punk band In This for Fun.[3] In This for Fun released The Away from Home EP before they broke-up. The band picked Basement as a name simply because they "wanted a short name that didn't mean much."[4] On 17 May 2010, the band released their debut EP Songs About the Weather and in August, signed to Run for Cover.[5] [6]

They released their first full-length album, I Wish I Could Stay Here, through Run For Cover Records in 2011. The band promoted the release through several tours, including tours to Australia[7] and two American tours with label mates and friends from Daylight (now Superheaven).[8] [9]

Before the release of their second album Colourmeinkindness, the band announced a hiatus.[10] The group revealed that the break was "due to a number of personal commitments".[10] Colourmeinkindness was released on 23 October[11] and charted at number 188 on the US Billboard 200 chart.[12] In mid-November, the band played their final shows.[13] Guitarist Alex Henery later revealed it was due to vocalist Andrew Fisher wishing to become a certified teacher.[14] This required Fisher to return to school for a period of a year and a half.[14] Drummer James Fisher, Andrew's younger brother, was graduating from Kingston University, and the rest of the members were working on their respective careers.[14] Henery, meanwhile, was working as a videographer in Boston, Massachusetts for Run for Cover.[15]

On 29 January 2014 a tweet was posted on the band's Twitter account simply saying "Hi", and the dates "2008–2012" were removed from their Twitter and Facebook biographies, suggesting the band had returned from their hiatus. The band posted on Facebook later that day confirming that the hiatus was over as well as suggesting that there would be a summer tour.[2]

In June 2014, the band announced that they had recorded a new EP for release in July of that year, entitled Further Sky including two new songs, plus a cover of Suede's "Animal Nitrate".[16] The band toured across Australia, Japan and America between 26 July and 20 August.[17] For the latter, all of the tour dates had sold out.[18] The band then played a trio of shows (London, Leeds and Manchester) in the UK in late October with support from Cloakroom[19] and Newmoon.[20]

Guitarist Alex Henery noted in an August 2014 interview with The Aquarian that they were writing material for a new album.[18] On 29 January 2016, the band released Promise Everything.[21] On 3 February 2017, it was announced that the band had signed to major label Fueled by Ramen.[22]

In July 2018, Basement posted a teaser video on their social media accounts which featured footage of them recording in the studio. One week later, the band released a new single entitled "Disconnect." The song is the lead track from their fourth album, Beside Myself, which was released globally on 12 October.[23] A month before the album is set to be released, the band premiered a second single on Highsnobiety entitled "Stigmata".[24] A third single, "Be Here Now", was released on 2 October 2018.[25]

In October 2018, it was announced that the band would support Weezer and the Pixies on their spring 2019 tour of North America.[26] The band entered a hiatus following the tour, with Henery focusing on both playing in Fiddlehead (who released the album Between the Richness in 2021)[27] and his work as Turnstile's touring videographer and photographer.[28]

In 2021, it was announced that Basement would play at the second night of Outbreak Fest 2022, marking the band's first show in three years. The set was billed as celebrating 10 years of Colourmeinkindness and 11 years of I Wish I Could Stay Here.[29] The band also pressed a 10-year anniversary vinyl reissue of the former via Run For Cover later that year, which was released on October 21.[30] In December 2023, the band announced a show to again take place at the following year's Outbreak Fest.[31] The band officially reunited thereafter, announcing US tour dates as well as an appearance at the When We Were Young festival and their official re-signing to Run For Cover Records.[32]

Musical style and influences

Critics have categorised Basement as alternative rock,[33] emo, post-hardcore,[34] [35] and soft grunge.[36] [37] [38] On Songs About the Weather, Punknews.org reviewer Brian Shultz compared the band to the likes of Title Fight, Daylight (Superheaven) and Bearings.[39] The EP's sound has been described as pop punk.[40] I Wish I Could Stay Here has been described as emo,[41] pop punk[41] and post-hardcore.[41] Colourmeinkindness has been described as rock,[42] and alternative rock. Further Sky has been described as alternative rock[43] [44] and rock and roll.[45] Promise Everything has been described as alternative rock.[46] AllMusic biographer Matt Collar described the band's sound as influenced by "melodic hardcore punk".[47] Collar later described the band's sound as noise rock.[48]

Basement have cited numerous bands as influences, including the Ataris, the Promise Ring, Mineral, Braid, Smoking Popes, Jets to Brazil,[49] Jimmy Eat World, and Piebald.[50]

Band members

Discography

See main article: Basement discography.

Studio albums

References

Citations
Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Basement announce "indefinite hiatus" . Punknews.org . 20 July 2012 . 2013-03-23.
  2. Web site: Basement End Hiatus, Post Statement. . Run For Cover Records . 29 January 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140202213521/http://runforcoverrecords.com/blog/archives/2698 . 2 February 2014 . dmy .
  3. Web site: Interviews: Basement. Punknews.org. 10 May 2011 . 5 October 2018.
  4. Web site: Basement - 06.13.11. https://archive.today/20140412174738/http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2328041. AbsoutePunk. Ferreira, Linda. 17 June 2011. 12 April 2014 . 30 December 2016.
  5. Web site: Run For Cover in the Basement – News Article . AbsolutePunk.net . 2013-03-23 . dead . https://archive.today/20130221124548/http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?p=73866462 . 21 Feb 2013 . Alex . DiVincenzo . Aug 24, 2010.
  6. Web site: Run For Cover Records Signs UK's Basement . https://archive.today/20130204042819/http://thebeta.thepunksite.com/2011/05/23/run-for-cover-records-signs-uks-basement/ . dead . 2013-02-04 . ThePunkSite.com . Cole . Faulkner . 2011-05-23 . 2013-03-23 .
  7. Web site: Basement announce Australian tour | News . Kill Your Stereo . 2013-03-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120621020022/http://www.killyourstereo.com/news/13305/basement-announce-australia-tour . 21 June 2012 . dmy . 2012.
  8. Web site: Basement (Run For Cover) announce US tour with Dead End Path, Daylight and Soul Search . Alternative Press Magazine . 2013-03-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120810005935/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/basement_run_for_cover_announce_us_tour_with_dead_end_path_daylight_and_sou . Aug 10, 2012 . June 1, 2012 . Brian . Kraus.
  9. Web site: Basement & America Full Documentary . YouTube . 2012-02-08 . 2013-03-23.
  10. Web site: Basement To Go On Hiatus. Freeway Press Inc.. Rock Sound. 19 July 2012. 30 January 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160212150834/http://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/basement-to-go-on-hiatus. 12 February 2016. dmy-all.
  11. Web site: Basement - Colourmeinkindness Release Info. AllMusic. 30 January 2016.
  12. Web site: Basement - Chart history (Billboard 200). Billboard. 30 January 2016. 24 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160224191649/http://www.billboard.com/artist/1483383/basement/chart?f=305. dead.
  13. Web site: Basement Stream New Single 'Spoiled'. Rock Sound. 10 September 2012. 30 January 2016.
  14. Web site: Sailer. Ben. The Secret Is Out: Basement Has Returned with a Surprise EP, 'Further Sky'. Noisey.vice.com. 17 June 2014. 30 January 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160212194442/http://noisey.vice.com/en_uk/blog/basement-summers-colour-further-sky-premiere. 12 February 2016. dmy-all.
  15. Biddulph 2016, p. 77
  16. Web site: Basement - Further Sky . Run For Cover Records . 2014-06-17 . 2014-06-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714225447/http://www.runforcoverstore.com/index.php/artists/basement/basement-further-sky.html . July 14, 2014.
  17. Web site: Basement announce summer dates in U.S., Japan. Alternative Press. Obenschain, Philip . 19 February 2014. 30 January 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160203051733/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/basement_announce_summer_dates_in_u.s._japan . Feb 3, 2016.
  18. Web site: Interview with Basement: Wish I Could Stay Here. Diane Casazza, Chris Farinas. The Aquarian Weekly. McGrath, Ryan . 6 August 2014. 30 January 2016.
  19. Web site: Basement Have Finally (Finally!) Announced Some UK Headline Shows. Freeway Press Inc.. Rock Sound. 26 August 2014. 30 January 2016.
  20. Web site: Newmoon Perform "Aria" Live + Tour Dates w/ Basement. AbsolutePunk. SpinMedia. Beringer, Drew . 3 October 2014. 30 January 2016.
  21. Web site: Basement stream upcoming album's title track, "Promise Everything". Alternative Press. Leak, Brian. 28 October 2015. 30 January 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160112183929/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/basement_stream_upcoming_albums_title_track_promise_everything . Jan 12, 2016.
  22. Web site: Basement sign to Fueled by Ramen, announce deluxe release of 'Promise Everything'—listen. Alternative Press . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170203192339/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/basement_sign_to_fueled_by_ramen_announce_deluxe_release_of_promise_everyth . 3 February 2017 . Toney, Jordan. 3 February 2017. 3 February 2017.
  23. Web site: Renshaw . David . U.K. band Basement announce new album, share "Disconnect" . The FADER . Aug 1, 2018 . 2 August 2018.
  24. News: Let Basement Energize Your High Lows With "Stigmata". Gore. Sydney. 2018-09-07. Highsnobiety. 2018-09-13. en-US . dead . https://archive.today/20180907150911/https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/basement-stigmata-premiere/ . 7 Sep 2018.
  25. Basement Premieres Infectious 'Be Here Now' Ahead Of Major Label Debut LP: Exclusive. Billboard . 5 October 2018 . 2018 . Chris . Payne.
  26. Web site: weezer . Can't stop, won't stop. Excited to have @basementuk jumping on the spring tour with us + @PIXIES! See you there . Twitter . 2018-10-29 . 2020-05-31.
  27. Web site: Cohen . Ian . Fiddlehead: Between the Richness Album Review . Pitchfork . 16 April 2023 . May 26, 2021 .
  28. Web site: Lennox . Will . Turnstile is inspiring a new era of hardcore . GQ Magazine . 16 April 2023 . 27 Feb 2023.
  29. Web site: Richards . Will . Turnstile, Show Me The Body and more for Outbreak Fest 2022 . NME . BandLab Technologies . 16 April 2023 . 2 July 2021.
  30. Web site: BASEMENT 'COLOURMEINKINDNESS' DELUXE ANNIVERSARY 2LP (Limited Edition – Only 300 made, Purple & Black Galaxy Swirl Vinyl) . Brookyln Vegan . 16 April 2023.
  31. Web site: Wilkes . Emma . JPEGMAFIA, Basement, Flatbush Zombies and more announced for Outbreak Festival 2024 . NME . BandLab Technologies . 21 December 2023.
  32. Web site: Breihan . Tom . Basement Announce First US Headlining Shows In Five Years . Stereogum . Stereogum Media . 14 July 2024.
  33. Web site: Connick . Tom . Basement – 'Beside Myself' review . . 9 October 2018 . 25 October 2023.
  34. Web site: Sacher . Andrew . Basement's 'Colourmeinkindness' gets 10th anniversary reissue w/ bonus tracks (exclusive vinyl) . 26 September 2022 . 25 October 2023.
  35. Web site: Cabello . Joaquin . PHOTOS: Basement sets the Rickshaw Stop ablaze . 16 October 2018 . 25 October 2023.
  36. Web site: Cohen . Ian . As You Please Citizen . . 25 October 2023.
  37. Web site: Enis . Eli . A Glaring Lack of Grunge in the Grunge Revival . 12 October 2022 . 22 October 2023.
  38. Web site: Enis . Eli . 12 albums where a band did something totally unexpected . . 16 April 2021 . 25 October 2023.
  39. Web site: Basement - Songs About the Weather [7-inch] ]. Punknews.org. 27 August 2010 . 5 October 2018.
  40. Web site: Album Review: Basement - Songs About The Weather. Alter The Press!. 5 October 2018.
  41. Web site: Album Review: Basement - I Wish I Could Stay Here. Alter The Press!. Goodchild, Chantelle. 1 July 2011.
  42. Web site: Colourmeinkindness - Basement Songs, Reviews, Credits . AllMusic. Collar, Matt . 19 October 2015.
  43. Web site: Basement - Further Sky EP - Reviews. Alternative Press. Kraus, Brian . 29 July 2014 . 19 October 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151101163142/http://www.altpress.com/reviews/entry/basement_further_sky_ep . Nov 1, 2015.
  44. Web site: Review: Basement - Further Sky . Sputnikmusic. Dan H. . 9 November 2014 . 19 October 2015.
  45. Web site: Basement: Further Sky EP. PopMatters. Houle, Zachary . 29 July 2014 . 19 October 2015.
  46. Web site: Basement Promise Everything . Punknews.org. RENALDO69 . 11 January 2016. 22 January 2016.
  47. Web site: Basement Biography & History. AllMusic. Collar, Matt . 1 November 2015.
  48. Web site: Promise Everything - Basement Songs, Reviews, Credits . AllMusic. Collar, Matt . 31 January 2016.
  49. Web site: Reid . Sean . July 19, 2010 . INTERVIEW: BASEMENT . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231209113212/http://www.alterthepress.com/2010/07/interview-basement.html . December 9, 2023 . June 25, 2024 . Alter the Press.
  50. Web site: Hill . John . February 8, 2016 . Basement's Alex Henery Delivers Everything He Can . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240308110525/https://www.vice.com/en/article/rb8ba5/basement-interview-alex-henery-2016 . March 8, 2024 . June 25, 2024 . Vice.

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