Rogue Wave (band)

Rogue Wave
Rogue Wave singer Zach Rogue performing with the band in 2007
Rogue Wave singer Zach Rogue performing with the band in 2007
Background information
OriginOakland, California, United States
GenresIndie rock, lo-fi
Years active2002–present
LabelsResponsive Recordings (2002-2004)
Sub Pop (2004-2007)
Brushfire Records (2007-2013)
Vagrant (2013-present)
Easy Sound Recording Company (2016-present)
MembersZach Rogue
Pat Spurgeon
Masanori Christianson
Jon Monahan
Past membersSonya Westcott
Evan Farrell
Gram LeBron
Patrick Abernethy
Steve Taylor
Ken Christianson
Cameron Jasper
Dominic East
Dan Iead
Rob Easson
WebsiteOfficial website

Rogue Wave is an indie rock band from Oakland, California, and headed by Zach Schwartz (a.k.a. Zach Rogue) who created the band after losing his job in the dot-com bust. Their first album was Out of the Shadow which was released privately in 2003 and re-released in 2004. In the fall of 2004 they went on a national tour of the United States. Their most recent album, Cover Me, was released on February 17, 2017, through Easy Sound Recording Company.

History

Formation of Rogue Wave and other projects

In early 2002, Zach Rogue decided to take some time off from his home base of San Francisco and set off with a one-way ticket to New York in March with the intention of recording one or two songs with friend Bill Racine. He came away with an album's worth of material that would later become Rogue Wave's debut, Out of the Shadow. After returning to the Bay Area with a nearly completed record in hand, Zach decided to leave his former band, the Bay Area-based Desoto Reds, in which he played guitar, and form his own group. At the end of 2002, while preparing the album for release, Zach rounded out the band's lineup with the addition of Patrick Spurgeon (drums, keys, samples, vocals) Sonya Westcott (bass, vocals), and Gram LeBron (guitar, keys, vocals).[1]

Patrick Spurgeon has played with bands Churches, Pancho San, Somehow at Sea, Antenna, Stranded at the Drive In, Ramona the Pest, Brando, Steve Kowalski, Lessick, and has also released solo work as The Phantom Drummer.[2]

Gram LeBron has been involved in the bands Com Jr, Get Better, The Album Leaf, Port O'Brien, Long and Golden, schrasj, Sad Like Crazy, Conundrum, Jessica Six, All Transistor and has also released solo work as Golden Gram.[2] He currently plays with Outer Embassy and composes for film and commercials.

Sonya Westcott was in the band Venus Bleeding before her time with Rogue Wave.[2]

Evan Farrell played with The Japonize Elephants, Mega Mousse, Amaldecor, Big Mule, Hunted Haunted Bazergahn Klezmorchestra, Grande Rouge, Kentucky Nightmare, Mama HooHoo.[2]

Patrick Abernethy was formerly a keyboard player with Beulah before joining Rogue Wave.

Departure and death of Evan Farrell

Evan Farrell left Rogue Wave after the recording of Asleep at Heaven's Gate to pursue his other project, The Japonize Elephants, but remained a friend of the band.[3] Farrell died soon after on December 23, 2007 in Oakland CA, suffering from "massive smoke inhalation" in an apartment fire caused by a dangerously obsolete gas-fired floor furnace. Gram LeBron was also in the house. Awakened by Evan's warnings, he was unable to rescue him when forced from the house by the flames.[4] He left behind a wife and two young children.[5] Farrell himself had replaced original bassist Sonya Westcott in 2004. Patrick Abernethy joined the band in 2007 to take Farrell's place on bass and was later replaced by Cameron Jasper in 2009.

D-Tour

The band is featured extensively in the documentary, D-Tour, produced and directed by Jim Granato, which chronicles Spurgeon's struggles with kidney disease and his wait for a transplant. The film was featured on the show "Independent Lens" on PBS.[6] Spurgeon was born with a single kidney.

Permalight

On November 18, 2009 Zach Rogue announced the release date for their fourth full-length album, Permalight.[7] It was released on March 2, 2010 through Brushfire Records.

Nightingale Floors

Rogue Wave announced the release of their fifth studio album, Nightingale Floors,[8] on March 27 via their Facebook page. It was released on June 4, 2013.

Signing to Easy Sound Recording Company and Delusions of Grand Fur

In February 2016, the band announced the release of their sixth studio album, Delusions of Grand Fur, through new record label Easy Sound Recording Company (created in 2014 and home to Fruit Bats, Futurebirds, Vetiver, and Marianne Faithfull, among others). It was released on April 29, 2016.

Band members

Current

  • Zach Rogue – vocals, guitar, piano, organ, keyboards, synthesizer (2002–present)
  • Patrick Spurgeon – drums, percussion, keyboards, synthesizer, samples, vocals (2002–present)
  • Masanori Christianson – bass, keyboards, synthesizer, glockenspiel (2010, 2012–present)
  • Jon Monahan – guitar, keyboards, synthesizer (2014–present)

Former

  • Sonya Westcott – bass, vocals (2002–2004)
  • Nathan Petty – drums (2003-2004)
  • Evan Farrell – bass, vocals, keyboards (2004–2007)
  • Patrick Abernethy – bass, piano, keyboards (2007–2008)
  • Gram LeBron – guitar, keyboards, vocals, drums (2002–2008)
  • Steve Taylor – keyboards, guitorgan (2009–2010)
  • Ken Christianson – keyboards, synthesizer, piano, violin, vocals (2010)
  • Cameron Jasper – bass, vocals (2008–2011)
  • Dominic East – guitar, pedal steel, vocals (2007–2012)
  • Dan Iead – guitar, steel pedal (2013)
  • Rob Easson – keyboards (2013)
  • Nyles Lannon – keyboards, synthesizer, vocals (2016)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[9]
US Heat
[10]
US Indie
[11]
US Rock
[12]
Out of the Shadow
  • Released: February 18, 2003
  • Label: Responsive Recordings
Descended Like Vultures 41 46
Asleep at Heaven's Gate [A] 7
Permalight 149 1 44
Nightingale Floors [B] 7 40
Delusions of Grand Fur
  • Released: April 29, 2016
  • Label: Easy Sound Recording Company
16
Cover Me
  • Released: February 17, 2017
  • Label: Easy Sound Recording Company
"—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released

Notes

  1. ^ Asleep at Heaven's Gate did not enter the US Billboard 200, but peaked at number 24 on the Digital Albums Chart.[13]
  2. ^ Nightingale Floors did not enter the US Billboard 200, but peaked at number 195 on the Current Album Sales Chart.[14]

EPs

  • Exclusive EP (January 25, 2005)[15] Sub Pop
  • 10:1 (August 23, 2005) Sub Pop
  • The MySpace Transmissions (October 3, 2008) MySpace Records
  • Cover Me - Bonus (February 17, 2017)[16] Easy Sound Recording

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Sales

[17]
US Alt.
[18]
"10:1" 2005 14 Descended Like Vultures
"Everyday"[19] Stubbs the Zombie: The Soundtrack
"Publish My Love"[20] 2006 Descended Like Vultures
"Eyes"[21] Just Friends (soundtrack)
"Lake Michigan"[22] 2007 29 Asleep at Heaven's Gate
"Chicago x 12"[23] 2008
"Like I Needed"[24]
"Good Morning (The Future)"[25] 2010 Permalight
"Solitary Gun"[26]
"College"[27] 2013 Nightingale Floors
"Siren's Song"[28]
"What Is Left to Solve"[29] 2016 Delusions of Grand Fur
"California Bride"[30]
"Ocean"[31]
"Vote for Me Dummy"[32] 30 Days, 50 Songs
"Let My Love Open the Door"[33] 2017 Cover Me
"Forest"[34] Non-album singles
"Aesop Rock"[35] 2020

Soundtracks

Television and film appearances

Rogue Wave appeared as themselves in the 2009 movie Love Happens, starring Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston. In the movie, set in Seattle, Eckhart's character is disappointed that tickets to a Rogue Wave outdoor concert are sold out. However, Aniston's character surprises him by borrowing a friend's utility truck with a “cherry picker” boom. She parks the truck near the large open-air amphitheater, and the two of them enjoy a great view of the concert from the elevated bucket.

Rogue Wave is featured on the Stubbs: The Zombie Soundtrack performing a cover of Buddy Holly's "'Everyday'". Their cover of Buddy Holly's "Everyday" was also plagiarized[36] for a television commercial for the movie Rachel Getting Married.

A live version of their Out of the Shadow track, "Every Moment", appeared on the soundtrack for the movie Napoleon Dynamite, but not in the movie itself.

The song "Eyes" was featured in the movie Just Friends, the sixteenth episode of season two of 90210, the pilot of television series Heroes, and a 2010 commercial for LG

Rogue Wave's songs have also appeared in episodes of Heroes, Friday Night Lights, Scrubs and Chuck. They also had their song "Kicking the Heart Out" on an episode of Weeds on Showtime.

The Fox show The O.C. has used "Publish My Love", "California", and "Interruptions" as well as included "Publish My Love" on Music from the OC: Mix 5, a collection of songs used in the show.

The song "Lake Michigan" was used in an ad for Microsoft's MP3 player Zune, as well as a commercial for MLB Network. In 2011, Rob Kardashian danced the Viennese Waltz to "Lake Michigan" in Season 13 of Dancing with the Stars.

The third episode of season five Nip/Tuck featured "California".

Their song "Harmonium" is used in an ESPN commercial for the UEFA Euro 2008.

In 2008, the band filmed and released a video for the song "Chicago X 12" (from Asleep at Heaven's Gate) which was directed by actor/comedian Bob Odenkirk.[37]

The song "Love's Lost Guarantee" is featured on one episode of One Tree Hill's seventh season, as well as in the trailer for the indie-film Wristcutters.

A poster for a Rogue Wave concert can be seen on the wall of the bakery in Stranger than Fiction.

Rogue Wave's song 'Lake Michigan' can also be heard on the OPSM Loves Eyes Television Ad created in 2010.

Rogue Wave's song "Eyes" was featured in the pilot episode of Lone Star, which aired on FOX 9/20/10.

Their song "Eyes" was most recently featured on an episode of Cougar Town on 9/29/10.

The song "Everyday" is used in the episode 1.12 (Unpleasantville) of The Vampire Diaries which aired on the CW in 2010.

The song "College" is featured in the 2013 film Carrie.

In 2013, Rogue Wave also did a collaboration with the cast of Studio C to produce an Off-set sketch/music video called "Context is Everything".

Rogue Wave's song "Eyes" was featured in a 2015 sketch featuring Jimmy Fallon, Justin Timberlake and Will Ferrell for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Rogue Wave's song "Lake Michigan" is featured in the movie "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" and its soundtrack.

In 2017, Rogue Wave's cover of Kim Carnes 1981 song "Bette Davis Eyes" was featured in Season 1, Episode 11 of the TV show Riverdale.

References

  1. ^ "Pro Audio Speakers, Microphones, Amps & DSP by Electro‑Voice". Electrovoice.com.
  2. ^ a b c d "Rogue Wave hometown, lineup, biography". Last.fm.
  3. ^ sfweekly.com
  4. ^ "Ex-Rogue Wave Member Evan Farrell Dies". Billboard.com. December 27, 2007.
  5. ^ "Evan Farrell (Magnolia Electric Co./Rogue Wave) R.I.P." Pitchfork.com. 2 January 2008. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  6. ^ "D TOUR | Documentary Film | Independent Lens". PBS. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  7. ^ New Rogue Wave album announced: Permalight, Roguewavemusic.com, Accessed Feb 2, 2010.
  8. ^ "(1) Rogue Wave - today is a good day to post our new single "College"". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Rogue Wave". Billboard.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  10. ^ "Rogue Wave - Billboard Heatseekers". Billboard.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  11. ^ "Rogue Wave - Billboard Independent". Billboard.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  12. ^ "Rogue Wave - Billboard Rock Albums". Billboard.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  13. ^ "Rogue Wave - Billboard Digital Albums". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on September 20, 2019. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  14. ^ "Rogue Wave - Billboard Current Album Sales". Billboard.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  15. ^ "Exclusive EP by Rogue Wave on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  16. ^ "Cover Me - Bonus - Single by Rogue Wave on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  17. ^ "Billboard - Hot Single Sales - Rogue Wave". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 20, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  18. ^ "Billboard - Alternative Charts - Rogue Wave". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  19. ^ "Everyday - Single by Rogue Wave on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  20. ^ "Publish My Love +2 Uk Single by Rogue Wave on Sub Pop Records". Sub Pop. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  21. ^ "Eyes - Single by Rogue Wave on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  22. ^ "Lake Michigan - Single by Rogue Wave on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  23. ^ "Chicago x 12 (Director's Cut) by Rogue Wave on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  24. ^ "New Rogue Wave Video – "Like I Needed" (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. 31 October 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  25. ^ "Good Morning (The Future) by Rogue Wave on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  26. ^ "Solitary Gun by Rogue Wave on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  27. ^ "College by Rogue Wave on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  28. ^ "Rogue Wave – "Siren's Song" (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. 7 May 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  29. ^ "What Is Left to Solve - Single by Rogue Wave on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  30. ^ "Rogue Wave, 'California Bride'". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  31. ^ "Rogue Wave – "Ocean"". Stereogum. 6 April 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  32. ^ "Rogue Wave - 30 Days, 30 Songs". 30 Days 30 Songs. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  33. ^ "Let My Love Open the Door - Single by Rogue Wave on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  34. ^ "Forest - Single by Rogue Wave on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  35. ^ "Aesop Rock - Single by Rogue Wave on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  36. ^ "Exclusive! Video premiere + Q&A: Rogue Wave's Permalight. – IFC". Ifc.com. 2010-02-22. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  37. ^ "I AM FUEL, YOU ARE FRIENDS: Bob Odenkirk's Director's Cut of the new Rogue Wave video: "Chicago x12"". Fuelfriends.blogspot.com. 2008-06-04. Retrieved 2012-04-02.