A Cursive Memory
 | This article has an unclear citation style. (September 2009) |
A Cursive Memory | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Rancho Palos Verdes, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Alternative rock Indie rock Rock |
| Years active | 2006–2012 |
| Labels | Vagrant |
| Past members | Colin Baylen Mark Borst-Smith Shaun Profeta Dillan Wheeler Brian Bolen |
A Cursive Memory was an American rock band, from Rancho Palos Verdes, California who released an EP and two albums in the period 2006 to 2012.
Biography
The band originally formed under the name 'Sincerely Me' in 2003 after members Colin Baylen (guitar/vocals) and Shaun Profeta (drums) met at a birthday party.[1] Mark Borst-Smith (bass/keyboards) and Brian Bolen (guitar) completed the fourpiece. They started off playing covers of some of their favorite bands, such as blink-182 and Jimmy Eat World, but eventually grew to write their own original songs and adopted the name A Cursive Memory.[1]
Over the course of the next few years, the band built up a small local fan base and self-released their first EP, A Cursive Memory, which was recorded in Bolen's home studio. It featured the original version of The Piano Song. In 2005 the band self-released the Lights, Camera, Action EP that included Profeta contributing a significant amount of vocals and a new version of The Piano Song. Although they did not tour outside of their local scene, as all of the members were still in high school, they were signed by Bunim/Murray Productions.[1] The song Club Revolution Remix was featured on an episode of The Real World.
The band spent 2006 and 2007 writing new material for their debut album, Changes. They were also featured in an episode of The Simple Life where a clip of the title-track was played.[1] Gradually Profeta move to lead guitar and Bolen to drums. In the spring of 2007, the band was featured on the season finale of The Simple Life where they played the song Perfect Company. They also joined Hellogoodbye as support on some of their west coast tour dates.[2] Soon after, Bolen had left the band to pursue his side project Fibonacci. Upon graduation, the band had finally gotten their major break and signed with Santa Monica based Vagrant Records (The Get Up Kids, Dashboard Confessional). They put out the RESPECK! EP which featured four songs from the soon-to-be released debut album and Baylen's remix of Perfect Company. Good friend, and Los Angeles based session guitarist, Mishka Bier, filled in Bolen's spot for several shows before another good friend, Dillan Wheeler, took over the drumming duties; moving Profeta to rhythm guitar. The band toured relentlessly across the United States that summer, and their debut album, Changes, was released on Vagrant on February 19, 2008. Changes features remasters of three older songs: Figure Out, Changes, and The Piano Song.
To help promote the single Everything, the band developed the project "Bandarazzi"—half band, half paparazzi.[3] After an entire summer of filming, they debuted with a music video for their song "Everything" on the social networking website MySpace. The video was shot while following paparazzi around Los Angeles and featured cameo appearances from celebrities, including Britney Spears, Masi Oka, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Hayden Panettiere, Tobey Maguire, Jenna Fischer, Perez Hilton, Hilary Duff, Nick Carter, Dr. Dre, Rick Ross, Alfonso Ribeiro, Criss Angel, Kim Kardashian, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Madonna, David Spade, Aly & AJ, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Jerry Springer, David Archuleta and will.i.am. The video created an Internet buzz and set the record for Most Watched Rock Video In One Week on MySpace, after having been viewed more than 500,000 times. The video has since appeared on Fox News, TMZ.com, E! Online, The N and in the top 10 of MTV's Total Request Live countdown.
In support of the album's second single, Perfect Company, the band traveled to the Alaskan frontier to shoot their music video for it featuring many different Alaskan animals. The Band v. Wild project is similar to the Bandarazzi project with the animals in Band v. Wild taking over the position of the Bandarazzi celebrities.
The band has played alongside bands including Saves the Day, New Found Glory, Hellogoodbye, and Jimmy Eat World. They did a co-headlining tour with The Medic Droid across the United States in support of their debut album, Changes, including an appearance at The Bamboozle Left festival. A Cursive Memory appeared on a leg of the Warped Tour 2008.
The band played the Bamboozle roadshow opening for Saves the Day, Armor for Sleep, Set Your Goals, Lydia, and Metro Station.
"Let Love In" (2010-2012)
Along 2010, ACM released a few new songs on their Myspace profile. In September 2010, they released their new album "Let Love In" including all those songs and preceded by the single "Wondering". The album was produced by Matt Mahaffey. Shortly after having to cancel tour dates due to insufficient ticket sales, the band disbanded in 2012.
Discography
EPs
- A Cursive Memory (2005) self released
- Light Camera Action (2006) self released
- Respeck! EP (2007) Vagrant
LPs
- Changes (2008), Vagrant
- Let Love In (2010), Vagrant
References
- ^ a b c d Schwartz, Terri (February 2009). "A Cursive Memory". Blastmagazine.com.
- ^ Review of the Wiltern, San Francisco (6 April, 2007) show on Last.fm, (accessed December 8, 2014).
- ^ Escudero, Nicki (April 2, 2008). "A Cursive Memory's 'Bandarazzi' video hit on MTV". azcentral.com. The Arizono Republic.
- Pedersen, Erik (February 27, 2008). "Best Video Ever: The Paparazzi Go Pop". E! Online. Retrieved on March 28, 2008.
- Pressman, Joshua (March 21, 2008). "Cursive Memory Finds Success, Adds Tour Dates". CMJ. Retrieved on March 28, 2008.
- "Britney's in a New Music Video!". February 15, 2008. TMZ.com. Retrieved on March 28, 2008.