Lifehouse (band)

Lifehouse
Lifehouse concert at the Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines on July 26, 2008.
Lifehouse concert at the Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines on July 26, 2008.
Background information
Origin Malibu, California
United States
Genre(s) Alternative rock
Pop rock
Post-grunge
Years active 1999 - Present
Label(s) DreamWorks
Geffen
Associated acts Blyss, AM Radio
Website lifehousemusic.com
Members
Jason Wade
Rick Woolstenhulme Jr.
Bryce Soderberg
Former members
Sean Woolstenhulme
Sergio Andrade
Jon "Diff" Palmer
Collin Hayden
Aaron Lord

Lifehouse is an American rock band. They came to prominence in 2001 with the hit single "Hanging by a Moment" from their debut major label album, No Name Face. The single won a Billboard Music Award for Hot 100 Single of the Year, beating out Janet Jackson and Alicia Keys for the #1 Single of 2001. In 2002, they released their follow up album Stanley Climbfall. The band's third album, self-titled Lifehouse, was released in 2005. The band released their fourth studio album, Who We Are, on June 19, 2007. The official group consists of Jason Wade, Rick Woolstenhulme Jr. and Bryce Soderberg.

Guitarist Ben Carey is currently touring with the band.

Contents

History

The group first came together as a Christian band called Blyss (Later re-issued as "Bliss"), and recorded and released their debut album, Diff's Lucky Day, in 1999.

No Name Face

Main article: No Name Face

In 2000, Lifehouse entered the recording studio to record their first major label release. Five of the twelve tracks from Diff's Lucky Day were remixed and released on No Name Face. Because of his charisma and talent, DreamWorks Records focused their sights solely on frontman Jason Wade, and by the time the debut album was released on October 31, 2000, Wade and Andrade were the only remaining founding members. Shortly after recording the first album, Rick Woolstenhulme Jr. replaced Jon Palmer on drums. Lifehouse's international fan base began to grow and while fans of the band considered Wade's lyrics to be deep, questioning, and profoundly spiritual, some found Lifehouse's output to be "drab FM-radio rock".

"Hanging by a Moment" was released by the band as the first commercial release single, a song written by Jason Wade on the spur of the moment that affirmed the band a place in musical history, being labeled the "Most Played Song of 2001". "Hanging by a Moment" was only the third song in chart history, after Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs' "Wooly Bully" in 1965 and Faith Hill's "Breathe" in 2000, to be named the number one song of the year on the Billboard Hot 100 without having reached No. 1 on any weekly Hot 100 survey. The second single released by Lifehouse was "Sick Cycle Carousel". It did not have as much success as "Hanging By A Moment", topping out at #35 on the modern rock chart. The third and final single from No Name Face was "Breathing".

The song "Everything" was also used in both the pilot and first-season finale episodes of the future hit WB drama, Smallville, and would go on to be placed on the series' first soundtrack (Smallville: The Talon Mix). This began the long-standing affair between the band and the series, as Lifehouse would go on to have seven songs played during the series' first four seasons, ending with a live performance in the fourth-season prom episode, and landing yet another song on Smallville: The Metropolis Mix ("You And Me (Wedding Version)").

Stanley Climbfall

Main article: Stanley Climbfall

Shortly after a long tour for No Name Face, Lifehouse re-entered the studio to cut their second album Stanley Climbfall. Though the album features all original songs with uniqueness and style similar to the first album, its success was shortlived and its singles, "Spin" and "Take Me Away", were vastly overshadowed by the success of the first album and its singles. Shortly after the release of this album, Rick's brother Sean Woolstenhulme (of The Calling) was officially made the fourth member of the band in June of 2002 after touring with Lifehouse.

In April 2004, Sergio Andrade confirmed that he had decided to leave the band to pursue individual projects. Shortly after this, Sean also left the band to pursue other musical projects such as Abandoned Pools and The Jimmy Chamberlin Complex.

Lifehouse

Main article: Lifehouse (Lifehouse album)

Jason Wade and Rick Woolstenhulme remained the active members of Lifehouse. In late 2004, Bryce Soderberg (previously of AM Radio) signed on as Lifehouse's new bassist. On July 6, 2004, they went to Maryland to begin work on their eponymous third album. Lifehouse was released on March 22, 2005 and was produced by John Alagia.

The album's first single, "You and Me", was released for airplay on January 18, 2005. It was written several years prior and was originally performed by Jason Wade in the 2000 independent film All Over Again. The song also appears on the soundtrack to Smallville. One episode, "Spirit", featured the band actually performing it and three other songs from the album ("Come Back Down", "Blind", and "Undone") on the show. The song has also appeared on Boston Legal, Gavin & Stacey, Everwood, Grey's Anatomy, The 4400 and Medium.

The music video for the album's second single, "Blind", was released October 19, 2005. It stars Tina Majorino (most well-known as Deb from the MTV film Napoleon Dynamite) and features several other up-and-coming young actors such as Sarch McClain, Stephen Cheung, and Andy Walters.

Who We Are

Main article: Who We Are (Lifehouse album)

Their fourth album, entitled Who We Are, was released on June 19, 2007[1]. The album features Wade, Woolstenhulme and Soderberg as its lineup, and "rocks a little harder" than their previous album, according to the band.[2] The album was recorded in Kiefer Sutherland and Jude Cole's recording studio, Ironworks Studios, in Los Angeles. The album's release was followed by a tour with The Goo Goo Dolls and Colbie Caillat, which began June 15 at the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, AZ,[3] after which, according to Woolstenhulme, the band will go on a "worldwide headlining tour".

The album's first single was "First Time", released on April 24, 2007. The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 48 in May,[4] and peaked at #3 on the Hot Adult Top 40 Charts.

The album's second single, "Whatever It Takes", was released to radio stations October 29, 2007.[5] The music video for the song premiered on Yahoo Music on November 16, 2007.

The song "Broken", the album's third single,[6] has appeared on several TV series, including Grey's Anatomy ("Lay Your Hands On Me"), Criminal Minds ("In Birth and Death"), One Tree Hill, and The Hills. As of January 24, 2008, it has peaked at #2 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart (The equivalent of #102 on the Hot 100). The Music Video for "Broken" was debuted on Thursday September 11th, 2008 and debuted officially on VH1's Top 20 Countdown on Saturday September 20th, 2008.

The song "Who We Are" was used in an advertisement on A&E to promote their original programming.

According to Entertainment Tonight's website, Lifehouse is having a contest to make a video for the song "Make Me Over".[7] The band is giving 60 USC School of Cinematic Arts graduate students a chance to shoot the video for their new single. The music video has been made and will premiere at a gala event on Decemeber 5, 2008 at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, CA.[8]

On October 22, 2008, the band released a statement on their website that Who We Are has been certified Gold. [9].

Future Album

Lifehouse announced in August 2008 that they will be starting on their fifth album which is tentatively scheduled for a Spring 2009 release. The band entered the studio on November 12th to begin working on their fifth album.

Other songs

Shortly after his death, the band performed an acoustic rendition of George Harrison's "Something" on Last Call With Carson Daly. The band has also covered the Keane single "Somewhere Only We Know" live on Yahoo Music. The group also stated that Keane's album was their favorite album of 2007. In 2007, the band did a cover of The Rolling Stone's "Beast of Burden" for the Stripped Music Sessions. The band says that they wanted to "pay homage to the godfathers of rock".[10] Since the Stripped Sessions were released onto the internet, the band added that song to their setlist at concerts.

"Fairytales Sand Castles", "What's Wrong With That", and "Fool" originally appeared on the record "Diff's Lucky Day", but re-recorded versions can be found on the album Hanging by a Moment, produced only in Australia and released on June 5, 2001.

Jason Wade wrote the song, "From Where You Are" for Allstate's Teen Driving Program. The song was feutured on the 'tall lights' commercial and aired on the NBC.[11] The single was made available on iTunes on Tuesday, November 6, 2007. Despite having very little radio air-play and not being on any album, the song reached #40 on the Billboard charts. It was the first song that was written expressly for a commercial to make it onto the charts since 1972's "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)" .[12]

Lifehouse released their own version of the holiday classic "Silent Night" on iTunes on Tuesday, December 4, 2007.

Discography

Main article: Lifehouse discography

Performances

On Tour

Lifehouse performing live at Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines on July 26, 2008.

In the summer of 2007, Lifehouse toured with The Goo Goo Dolls and Colbie Caillat and also had their own headlining tour afterwards. The tour ended in December.

Lifehouse announced on FOX's New Year's Eve Special that they will be having a major city headlining tour in 2008. The tour is called The Disarray Tour. Tour dates were released on January 10, 2008 on the band's website. Matt Nathanson and HoneyHoney will be the opening acts on the tour.

Lifehouse will have a private performance on May 7, 2008, sponsored by Dodge, to the public of Puerto Rico at El Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot. The opening act of the show will be Black:Guayaba, a local band. Current and former Miss Puerto Rico's will be the ones to present the bands.

Lifehouse was one of many acts to play a free show on the Coca-Cola Stage at the Calgary Stampede, on July 7, 2008.[13]

Lifehouse performed at this past year's Pro Bowl Half-time Show.

Lifehouse performed at the Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Metro Manila in the Philippines on July 26, 2008.[14][15][16]

Lifehouse filmed the music video for the song "Broken" on August 24, 2008 in Los Angeles.

Lifehouse performed in Singapore on the 4th of October 2008 at St James Powerhouse. It was the band's first performance in Singapore

Lifehouse performed at the Maricopa 2008 Founders Day in Arizona for free.

References

  1. Lifehouse official discography
  2. It rocks a little harder - Lifehouse on Who We Are.
  3. The Moment we've all been waiting for: Lifehouse announces the title of their fourth album as Who We Are.
  4. Jonathan Cohen, "T. Pain Tastes Hot 100 Glory With 'Drank'", Billboard.com, May 17, 2007.
  5. Lifehouse Gets Serious For Allstate Commercial
  6. Lifehouse Announces A Third Single
  7. Lifehouse Going Art House
  8. Rock and Roll 'Em: Heineken Funds SCA Music Videos
  9. "Who We Are" Certified Gold
  10. STRIPPED - Raw and Real
  11. http://www.idiomag.com/artist/lifehouse
  12. What's that catchy tune? A song for car insurance makes the charts - International Herald Tribune
  13. Calgary Stampede - Coca-Cola Stage
  14. Lifehouse’s Philippine Tour A Success
  15. Lifehouse: Live in Manila
  16. Lifehouse gig a big hit

External links