The Elms (band)
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| The Elms | |
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 The Elms performing in 2004.
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| Background information | |
| Genre(s) | Rock, Blues Rock, Garage Rock |
| Label(s) | Sparrow/EMI, Universal South |
| Members | |
| Owen Thomas Christopher D. Thomas Thomas Daugherty Nathan W. Bennett |
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The Elms are an American Rock And Roll band, formerly under Sparrow/EMI Records, currently recording under Universal Records South. They are known for their breed of midwestern, rootsy rock, with the essence of the music of the 60's and 70's. Although the band has been in existence since 2000, 2001 saw the release of their first full-length album, with the first musical contribution from Thomas Daugherty on guitar. Thus, 2001 is widely considered The Elms' first fully functional year in existence. All members currently reside in southern Indiana.
The Elms released their major-label debut album, "The Chess Hotel", on May 2, 2006. The album spawned the midwest radio hits "Nothin' To Do With Love" and "Black Peach."
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[edit] Band Members
- Owen Thomas (vocals, guitar)
- Christopher D. Thomas (drums, vocals)
- Thomas Daugherty (guitar, vocals)
- Nathan W. Bennett (bass guitar, vocals)
[edit] Discography
- 2000: The Elms EP (EMI/Sparrow)
- 2001: The Big Surprise (EMI/Sparrow)
- 2002: Truth, Soul, Rock and Roll (EMI/Sparrow)
- 2004: Burn the Fields: The Elms Live in Indiana (DVD) (Absorb, Inc.)
- 2006: The Chess Hotel (Universal South)
- 2008 (expected): The Great American Midrange (working title, release date TBA)
[edit] Music
Musically, the band has been compared by critics to The Black Crowes, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Cream for their blues-tinged, instrumentally sparse arrangements. Lyrically, The Elms continue to gravitate towards writing songs revolving around observations of their small-town upbringing and the struggles facing many middle-Americans. In the early 2000's (during the band's period of operation under Gospel label Sparrow/EMI), the band's music also contained subject matter pertaining to God and spirituality, and it raised questions about conscience and providence.
Visually, the band favors imagery that reflects their midwestern residence. Their recent music videos and photo shoots have been conducted in their homestate of Indiana, as opposed to typical music industry fare of utilizing the services of Los Angeles, New York, or Nashville. The band has also stated in interviews and in personal writings that they intend to base as many of their artistic endeavors as possible in Indiana in order to draw attention to the creative contingent outside standard industry circles.
[edit] Live
The Elms have become known for their raucous, energetic live performances, and are considered by many to be one of the top new live rock bands in America[citation needed]. The band's U.S. touring in 2006 and 2007 saw them perform with Goo Goo Dolls, Cracker, Shooter Jennings, Buddy Guy, The Trews, Will Hoge, Gin Blossoms, and rock legend Peter Frampton among others. In early 2007, The Elms set an attendance record at Indianapolis rock club Spin, selling nearly 500 tickets at the intimate venue (the most tickets sold in the club's existence)[citation needed] and solidifying the band's presence as one of the fastest-growing new bands in the midwest. It is estimated that since their formation in 2001, The Elms have performed over 700 concerts.
The Elms are also known to frequently perform new, unreleased songs at concerts before the material is officially made available for purchase.
[edit] Web Presence
Since their inception, The Elms have maintained a highly-interactive internet presence, often posting candid, insightful diary and blog entries at their official website, and more recently at their MySpace profile. As of summer 2007, the band is chronicling the writing and recording of their next full-length album through these blogs. No release date has been set for the next album, but a mid-2008 release is expected.
On March 7, 2008, The Elms released their first-ever free digital single, entitled "A Miracle." The song was released free of charge to members of the band's online mailing list.
