| Fine China | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Genres | Indie rock Indie-pop |
| Years active | 1997–2006 |
| Labels | Velvet Blue Music Tooth and Nail Common Wall Media |
| Website | myspace.com/finechina |
| Members | |
| Rob Withem Greg Markov Thom Walsh |
|
Fine China was an American indie rock band from Phoenix, Arizona, comprising Rob Withem (vocals, guitar), Greg Markov (bass), and Thom Walsh (drums). The band was formed in 1996 as a project of acquaintances (Rob Withem, Danny McWatters, Melissa Banks), but turned serious once the band started booking gigs. Banks shortly stepped down and was replaced by Rob Withem's friend Greg Markov, who remained a permanent member of the band until the end. The band played as a three-piece through the recording of the first EP No One Knows, but soon after recruited Joshua Block (at that time of The Blamesharers) to play the keys. Block added a new texture to the band which propelled it to the next level. The band toured as a four-piece, but McWatters quit in 1999. The band recruited Thom Walsh (also of The Blamesharers) to be its drummer, and this (Withem, Markov, Block, Walsh) became the lineup for the large part of the band's existence, and for two of its three LPs. After releasing two EPs on Velvet Blue Music, the band was signed to Seattle's Tooth and Nail records and released two LPs (When the World Sings and You Make Me Hate Music). The band did several tours and festival performances in support of its records. Josh Dooley of Riverside band Map toured with Fine China as the second guitarist for the You Make Me Hate Music. Despite the fact that both releases gathered impressive critical success, the band was dropped from Tooth and Nail Records in 2003 after the second record. Fine China decided to take a short break, but reunited in about a year in 2004. At this time Block decided to quit the band. The band recorded and released its final record Jaws of Life on September 6, 2005 as a three-piece (and guest appearances by Dooley), with a local label Common Wall Media. The record went on to get more critical acclaim, including several TV show inclusions. Still, the members felt that this was the time to end, and the band informally dissolved following its Best of New Times performance in 2006 (which marked the band's last show). Rob Withem went on to form the Foxglove Hunt with Ronnie Martin of Joy Electric, while the remaining members have stayed largely inactive in the music scene.
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Fine China signed to Velvet Blue Music in 1997, and in the same year released debut 7" single "The Beautiful" and an EP entitled, No One Knows. In 1998 the band released their second EP, Rialto Bridge. During the span of 1997-1998 Fine China gigged in and around Phoenix, as well as toured with Starflyer 59 and Joy Electric. In 2000 the band released their first full length, the synthpop oriented When the World Sings on Tooth & Nail Records. In 2001 Fine China released their second full length, You Make Me Hate Music. While their first full-length was synthesizer heavy, this album was much more rock oriented.
After a brief hiatus the band returned to the studio in 2004 to begin work on their third full length. In 2005 the album, Jaws of Life, was released. The song "My Worst Nightmare" off the album was featured on the television drama The O.C..[1] The same year they also released a 7 inch, "Don't Frown", on Velvet Blue Music.
Fine China ended in 2006, with Rob Withem joining Ronnie Martin of Joy Electric to form a new indie-pop/synthpop band, named The Foxglove Hunt.