Crash Kings

Crash Kings
Crash Kings being photographed with a red-orange store shutter behind them
Crash Kings in 2015
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, US
Genres
Years active2006–present
Labels
Members
  • Antonio Beliveau
  • Mike Beliveau
  • Tom Roslak
Past membersJason Morris

Crash Kings is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2006. The members are vocalist–keyboardist Antonio "Tony" Beliveau, his brother, bassist Mike Beliveau, and drummer Tom Roslak. The band's debut album, Crash Kings, was released May 26, 2009, on Custard/Universal Motown. The first single, "Mountain Man", came out on U.S. modern rock radio stations in October and entered Billboard's Alternative Songs chart the following month. It reached #1 on the Billboard Alternative Radio charts in March 2010.[1] The band is known for using analog keyboards, such as the clavinet, with distortion effects and a whammy bar, in place of a typical lead guitar.[2]

History

Brothers Mike and Tony Beliveau grew up in Andover, Massachusetts, a suburban city north of Boston.[3] Tony started playing piano by age six, and began to write music during middle school. After high school, he briefly studied jazz piano at the University of North Texas before deciding to return to Boston and ultimately attend the Berklee College of Music, where younger brother Mike was already a student. After Berklee and relocating to Los Angeles, Tony sent Mike (who had relocated to New York) some recorded tracks he had been working on. Impressed with the tracks and Tony's singing, Mike packed up and moved to LA a week later.[4]

A few months after the band's formation, Crash Kings drew the attention of songwriter and record producer Linda Perry, who met with Tony and signed the group to her label, Custard Records.[5]

After the band performed for Sylvia Rhone, president of Universal Music Group's Motown Records, Crash Kings were directed to Dave Sardy, who produced the band's eponymous debut album for Custard/Universal Motown.[5] Released on May 26, 2009,[6] it reached number 30 on Billboard's U.S. Top Heatseekers albums chart.[7] The album's first single, "Mountain Man", entered the Billboard Alternative Songs chart in November and peaked at #1 on March 28, 2010.[8]

The band has toured with such artists as Chris Cornell,[9]Anberlin, Stone Temple Pilots,[10]David Cook,[11] Jet, The Bravery,[12] Mason Jennings,[13] and Rooney.[14]

Crash Kings have since released a second album, titled Dark of the Daylight, raising funds for the project via the Kickstarter platform.[citation needed]

Band members

  • Antonio Beliveau – lead vocals, piano, clavinet, keyboards
  • Mike Beliveau – bass, backing vocals
  • Tom Roslak – drums, percussion

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions
U.S. Heat[7]
2009 Crash Kings 25
2013 Dark of the Daylight 17

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions[15] Album
U.S. Alt
[8] 		U.S. Main.
Rock 		U.S. Rock
[8] 		CAN CAN
Alt
[16] 		CAN
Rock
[16]
2009 "Mountain Man" 1 32 13 54 2 2 Crash Kings
2010 "You Got Me" 19 — 48 — — —
"Non-Believer" — — — — — —
2013 "Hot Fire" — 30 — — — — Dark of the Daylight

References

  1. ^ "Chart Beat Wednesday: Crash Kings, Carrie Underwood, STP". Billboard. March 31, 2010. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  2. ^ Arsenault, Nici (August 26, 2013). "CRASH KINGS - WHAT IN THE WORLD IS A CLAVINET?!". Substream Magazine. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  3. ^ "10 to Spin - Crash Kings". Speakers in Code. August 28, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  4. ^ "Crash Kings: November 2012 Cover Story". Performer Magazine. November 1, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Rocking Hard Without Guitars" (PDF) (Press release). Custard Records. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 8, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
  6. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Crash Kings: Crash Kings > Review". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved March 8, 2010.
  7. ^ a b "Crash Kings - Charts & Awards - Billboard Albums". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved November 18, 2009.
  8. ^ a b c "Crash Kings Album & Song Chart History". Billboard (Nielsen Company). Retrieved January 23, 2010.
  9. ^ Sadof, David (September 13, 2009), Chris Cornell and Crash Kings' Pianist Tony Beliveau Perform 'Imagine' on Conan O'Brien, Examiner.com (Clarity Digital Group)
  10. ^ Ross, Mike (November 12, 2009). "STP a Tribute Act to Themselves". Edmonton Sun (Sun Media Corporation). Retrieved November 19, 2009.
  11. ^ Grogan, Leigh (August 21, 2009). "Idol's David Cook Headlines Opening Night of Fair". The Sacramento Bee (The McClatchy Company). Retrieved November 18, 2009.
  12. ^ "The Bravery, The Dustys, and Crash Kings at - Events". The A.V. Club (The Onion). October 19, 2009. Archived from the original on October 22, 2009. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
  13. ^ "Crash Kings – 1 Lucky Winner Contest". Altsounds. August 12, 2009. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
  14. ^ "Crash Kings, Rooney Tour Dates". IndependentMusic Blog. November 20, 2009. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
  15. ^ "Crash Kings Album & Song Chart History". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.). Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  16. ^ a b "Canadian Active/Alternative Charts | Media Source". Mediasource.proboards.com. Retrieved April 2, 2020.