LVL UP

LVL UP
OriginPurchase, New York, United States
GenresLo-fi, indie rock, alternative rock, emo, punk rock
Years active2011 (2011)–2018 (2018) [1]
LabelsSub Pop, Double Double Whammy, Exploding In Sound Records, Run For Cover Records, Evil Weevil Records
Past members
  • Mike Caridi
  • Dave Benton
  • Nick Corbo
  • Greg Rutkin
  • Ben Smith
Websitelvlup.bandcamp.com

LVL UP was an American lo-fi band from Purchase, New York, United States.

History

LVL UP formed in 2011 at SUNY Purchase as a recording project between Mike Caridi, Dave Benton, and their friend Ben Smith, with the original intention of releasing a split cassette with Nick Corbo's then-solo material. They instead released their debut album, Space Brothers via Evil Weevil Records,[2] as one band, and Greg Rutkin joined shortly afterwards for the group's first show. Smith left the band for personal reasons just before the release of second album Hoodwink'd, a joint release on Caridi and Benton's label Double Double Whammy and Exploding in Sound.[3][4][5][6]

In 2016, the band's third LP Return to Love was released by Sub Pop. The album received favorable reviews with comparisons being drawn to the works of Dinosaur Jr. and Pavement.[7]

On June 11, 2018, the band announced they were retiring the project after their fall tour. Their last show was September 28 in New York City.[8]

Band members

  • Mike Caridi – guitar, vocals
  • Dave Benton – guitar, vocals
  • Nick Corbo – bass, vocals
  • Greg Rutkin – drums
  • Ben Smith – guitar

Discography

Studio albums

  • Space Brothers (2011)
  • Hoodwink'd (2014)
  • Return to Love (2016)

EPs

  • Extra Worlds (2013)
  • Three Songs (2015)

Splits

  • LVL UP / Porches 7" (2013)
  • LVL UP / Krill / Ovlov / Radiator Hospital 7" (2014)
  • LVL UP / Frankie Cosmos 7" (2018)

References

  1. ^ "Official LVL UP Twitter account". Twitter.com.
  2. ^ Green, Sasha (9 September 2014). "Exclusive Song Premiere and Interview: 'Ski Vacation,' LVL UP". Interview Magazine. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  3. ^ Rettig, James (16 September 2014). "Stream LVL UP Hoodwink'd (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum.com. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  4. ^ Geslani, Michelle (11 August 2014). "Listen: LVL UP's glimmering new song "I Feel Ok"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  5. ^ Ambrosio, John (23 September 2014). "LVL UP, Hoodwink'd". Impose Magazine. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  6. ^ "Listen to a New Song from Lo-Fi Fuzz Rockers, LVL UP". Noisey.vice.com. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  7. ^ "LVL UP: Return to Love". Pitchfork.
  8. ^ "A note from the band LVL UP". Intsagram.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-26. Retrieved 7 December 2018.