Ten Grand
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Ten Grand was a screamo / post-hardcore rock group from Iowa. The group was mostly centered around the college-town of Iowa City. They were notorious for playing hundreds of gigs over the years. They were primarily active between 1998 and 2003. The group was originally called The Vida Blue or Vida Blue. Around 2002 they were approached by an attorney working for the keyboardist of Phish who was looking to name his group Vida Blue. Though they had little claim to the name to begin with, they settled out of court for an undisclosed amount of money. A few weeks later the band was renamed Ten Grand. Ten Grand consisted of Matt Davis (guitar/vocals), Joel Anderson (guitar/vocals), Zach Westerdahl (bass), and Bob Adams (drums). They group released a number of recordings and eventually signed with Southern Records. Their close friend and performance companion William Elliott Whitmore who opened up countless shows for them also became label-mates.
[edit] Abrupt End
Ten Grand abruptly ended on August 10th, 2003, when Davis unexpectedly passed away. He had been living in Normal, Il, and was preparing to join the group to kick off a second European tour. Reports were published in Punk Planet, and there was a one sentence mention of his death in Rolling Stone. Not many of the details surrounding the death were publicized. Davis led a straight-edge lifestyle and was known for not using any drugs including alcohol. The death was presumed to be a health-related issue. Davis had been a featured musician in the film Afro-punk which premiered mere days after his death.
[edit] After Ten Grand
The remaining three members of the group decided to stop all incarnations of Ten Grand. Anderson, Westerdahl and Adams accompanied William Elliott Whitmore in a number of performances. Anderson began concentrating more on his duo with Luke Tweedy, (ft)Shadow Government (previously known as Flaccid Trip. Westerdahl and Adams joined members of Forstella Ford in Tornavalanche. They also joined Joe and Mike from Clyde Federal, Steve from Sweep the Leg Johnny, and Janet in Early Risers.
