Meet Me in St. Louis (band)

Meet Me in St. Louis are a post-hardcore band from Guildford, Surrey, formed in 2005 and disbanded in 2008.

History

Meet Me in St. Louis first formed in 2005.^[1] They were signed to Function Records & BSM Records in England and Denovali Records in Germany, the band's name originates from the 1944 film of the same name. In 2005 they recorded a three-track demo, Promise me that we'll never be like them. I don't want to wind up like that. Relax, baby. We're going to end up like us. The next year they made their first official release, a five-track EP on Function Records called And With the Right Kind of Eyes You Can Almost See the High Water Mark That Place Where the Wave Finally Broke and Rolled Back.

After a split release with fellow labelmates Secondsmile and contributions to several compilations, the band released their much-hyped first LP Variations on Swing received a nationwide release on 24 September 2007 on Big Scary Monsters Records.

The band have been featured on and supported by several important British publications such as Drowned in Sound, Kerrang, Rock Sound and NME.^[2]

In January 2008 the band said they were planning a break after 3 years continual touring.^[1] But on 6 February 2008, the band confirmed that they are no more.^[3] This comes after claims made by the band at their final show at the Queen Charlotte, Norwich the previous night (4 February 2008)

The first ever 'Meet Me in St Louis Day' – an unofficial bank holiday invented by the bands label, Big Scary Monsters Recording Company – took place on Wednesday 24 September 2008, with fans all over the world paying their respects. It is hoped this will become an annual event so that the bands memory may live on and future generations appreciate their musical brilliance.

In January 2016, three shows were announced for Leeds and two in London in June after 8 years of silence.

Toby's departure

On 30 October 2007 the band announced through its official website that vocalist Toby Hayes had decided to leave Meet Me in St. Louis but assured that the rest of the band would find a new vocalist and continue going on strong.^[4] Toby formed Shoes and Socks Off who released several albums with Big Scary Monsters, and was a founding member of Shield Your Eyes and Love Among The Mannequins. He now writes using the moniker Eugene Quell.

Film references

Every song title, including their debut album Variations on Swing, is a line from a film, with the only exception being the song "Corey Feldman" from their first demo Promise me that we'll never be like them. I don't want to wind up like that. Relax, baby. We're going to end up like us. (which itself is a line from Blow). Furthermore, their first EP (And With the Right Kind of Eyes You Can Almost See the High Water Mark That Place Where the Wave Finally Broke and Rolled Back) is a line from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Promise me that we'll never be like them. I don't want to wind up like that. Relax, baby. We're going to end up like us.

1. I Am Champagne and You Are Shit – 4:38 (Happiness)
2. Why Thank you, Suzie – 4:36 (Fight Club)
3. Corey Feldman – 4:38

And With the Right Kind of Eyes You Can Almost See the High Water Mark That Place Where the Wave Finally Broke and Rolled Back

1. We need to act like we don't need this shit, then they give us the shit for free (Swingers)
2. The Kid who had his ear slapped by the druggist (It's a Wonderful Life)
3. Why Thank you, Suzie (Fight Club)
4. What happened to you Dylan? You used to be someone I could trust (Predator)
5. You said your finger was a gun (Field of Dreams)

Variations on Swing

1. The Torso has been severed in mid thorax (Jaws)
2. Well you damn well should (Meet Joe Black)
3. Right This Way, You Maverick Renegade – 5:29 (Team America: World Police)
4. I Am Champagne and You Are Shit – 4:52 (Happiness)
5. I Beat Up the Bathroom, I'm Sorry – 5:04 (Punch-Drunk Love)
6. Eins Zwei Drei Hasselhoff! (Dodgeball)
7. All We Need is a Little Energon and a Lot of Luck – 3:44 (The Transformers: The Movie)
8. Come to New York, There Were Fewer Murders Last Year – 5:31 (Crazy People)
9. I've Got Knives in My Eyes, I'm Going Home Sick – 4:35 (Brick)
10. You're Doomed – 2:21 (Cannibal! The Musical)

Other projects

Bassist Lewis Reynolds went on to play in the Kingston "math-pop" band Colour (who played their final show on 18 September 2009), whilst Toby Hayes began a solo project called Shoes and Socks Off (and played his final show on 24 September 2012). In early 2009 Oliver Knowles filled in for Daniel Neal, violinist of Yndi Halda on their American tour and featured on the Secondsmile album "Years".

It was announced as of 11 September 2009 that Reynolds and Knowles would join Paul Philips to play alongside former Bullet Union singer and guitar player Jodie Cox in their new band Tropics. Tropics changed their name to Exes in mid-2014 and released their debut album 'Phantasmaboring' on 28 July 2014.

Meet Me in St Louis day

To mark the anniversary of the bands one and only album release, Big Scary Monsters Recording Company invented a new unofficial public holiday. Simply known as 'Meet Me in St Louis Day', it's a celebration of how sorely missed the band are and takes place on 24 September every year. Fans are urged to skip work and listen to the album loudly, remembering how important the five-piece was to them. More info can be found at

In a bitter-sweet move, former Meet Me in St Louis frontman Toby Hayes played his last ever show as Shoes and Socks Off on Meet Me in St Louis Day 2012 at the Old Blue Last in London.

Discography

Videography

• Why Thank You, Suzie (2006)
• All We Need Is A Little Energon, And A Lot of Luck (2007)

References

1. 1 2 Groves, Nancy (10 January 2008). "Meet Me in St Louis – post hardcore lovelies". Richmond and Twickenham Times. Retrieved 10 March 2013. 
2. ↑ BSM – Bands – Meet Me In St Louis
3. ↑ BSM – News
4. ↑ http://www.meetmeinstlouis.co.uk/HDS/MMISL.nsf/MMISL?OpenForm&page=home

External links

• MySpace
• PureVolume
• Big Scary Monsters Recording Company
• Denovali Records
• Function Records