Pompeii (band)

Pompeii is an American indie rock band formed in Austin, Texas in 2004. The band is best known for their melodic and ambient rock sound, which features the addition of a cello. Pompeii's style is noted as having a saturated ambient, elegant sound.^[1][2][3] The band has been compared to Death Cab For Cutie and Sigur Rós, more specifically the similarities between singer Dean Stafford’s vocals and Ben Gibbard’s.^[4] Pompeii has received worldwide attention and critical acclaim from such outlets as American Songwriter Magazine, Filter, NPR, Alternative Press, Apple Inc. and MTV.

History

Childhood friends Dean Stafford and Rob Davidson grew up playing music together in Corpus Christi, Texas. In 2002, they moved to Austin, Texas to attend St. Edward's University where they met current Pompeii tour manager Cody Coppin. The three formed a band and played music together under the name Highland Drive, but never released an album. In 2004, Stafford met bassist Shane Stevens. The two started a new project with Davidson before adding cellist Caitlin Bailey, who was Stafford's girlfriend at the time. While looking for a keyboard player, the band met guitarist Erik Johnson, who came up with the name Pompeii. In 2007, Stevens left the band to focus on starting a family. After filling in on tour, bassist Colin Butler joined the band permanently in 2007.

Pompeii has toured extensively, alongside groups such as The Appleseed Cast, The Velvet Teen, Headlights, Caspian, Mates of State and This Will Destroy You. In 2009, they embarked on their first European tour and performed in 7 different countries.

Assembly

Pompeii released their debut album Assembly in 2006 to moderate success and critical acclaim. It was produced, recorded, and mixed by D. James Goodwin at The Clubhouse studio in Rhinebeck, New York. The first track "Ten Hundred Lights" was used in a Toyota commercial. NPR featured "Miracle Mile" as their "Song of the Day". The song was also used in the MTV reality television show Teen Mom. "Interlude (for Smith)" was featured in an episode of MTV's 16 and Pregnant as well as on MTV's Beavis and Butthead. The mellotron at the end of "Relative is Relative" is the same one used by David Bowie on the album Ziggy Stardust.

Nothing Happens for a Reason

The follow-up full-length Nothing Happens For A Reason was released on October 21, 2008. The album was produced, recorded and mixed by CJ Eiriksson at The Wire in Austin, Texas and Blue World Music in Dripping Springs, Texas. "Rabbit Ears" was featured on the Apple Store iTunes playlist. "Sit and Wait" was used in the "Switching Gears" episode of the reality television show Teen Mom. The song "Until You're Floating" was used in the episode "Curveball" of the show Teen Mom. "Where We're Going We Don't Need Roads" was used in an episode of Teen Mom called "Two Steps Forward" as well as in the movie The Giant Mechanical Man.

Third studio album

In July 2013, the band announced they had finished recording a third studio album with producer/engineer Erik Wofford. The album title and release date have not been announced.

Band members

Current members

• Dean Stafford – vocals, guitar (2004–present)
• Erik Johnson – guitar, keyboard, percussion (2004–present)
• Rob Davidson – drums (2004–present)
• Colin Butler – bass, percussion (2007–present)

Former members

• Caitlin Bailey – cello (2004–2009)
• Shane Stevens – bass (2004–2008)

Discography

• Assembly (Eyeball Records, 2006)
• Nothing Happens for a Reason (Eyeball Records, 2008)

External links

• Official Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Myspace
• Pure Volume

References