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Vertical Horizon

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Rock group

Boston-based Vertical Horizon is the epitome of the do-it-yourself work ethic. Like the Dave Matthews Band and Hootie and the Blowfish, Vertical Horizon did not rely on the backing of a record company to further its career. It took it upon itself, releasing three independent albums before signing a contract with RCA/BMG. "From the beginning, we’ve always had a grassroots approach," singer-guitarist Keith Kane told Frank Tor-torici of Sonicnet.com.

Kane and singer-guitarist Matt Scannell met as Georgetown University students in Washington, D. C. in 1991 when they were recruited to perform acoustically during a party. The two took turns at the microphone, slowly winning over the small crowd. Impressed at what they could achieve, Kane invited Scannell to join him for a weekly series of acoustic shows at a downtown coffeehouse as Vertical Horizon. According to the band’s official website, "their sound was anchored in folk music and harmonized vocals, and their catalog consisted of mostly covers and a few originals." The duo’s cover song choices—ranging from America to Duran Duran—reflected Scannell and Kane’s own musical tastes.

Upon graduating in 1992, Scannell and Kane relocated to Cape Cod near Scannell’s hometown of Deerfield, Massachusetts. In the summer of 1993, the duo recorded its first CD, There and Back Again, at the studio in Scannell’s former high school. "I went to a boarding school up in Massachusetts, and they got a recording studio after I had graduated," Scannell told VH1 .com. "I called up the headmaster, because we had no money at the time. And I said, ’We’d love to make a record, is it possible for us to break in your new studio?’ They let us come in, and we spent 12 days there and recorded the thing." As they completed the record, the duo stayed at the home of Scannell’s history teacher and on the studio floor. Upon completion, Vertical Horizon pressed 1,000 copies. "We were pretty sure we’d never be able to sell them all but we’d give them away to family members when we were old and gray and say, ’Hey, your grandfather was a rock star. ’ But people actually bought them, so we made more," Scannell told VH1.com.

Kane and Scannell then returned to the Washington, D. C. area where they met Cary Pierce and Jack O’Neill of the now-defunct Jackopierce. Like Jackopierce, Vertical Horizon was rooted in acoustic rock, which made for the perfect touring package. The two acts performed together for three weeks and the experience gave Vertical Horizon the connections it needed to embark on its own jaunt. Wishing to fill out its sound, Vertical Horizon hired back-up musicians. Tortorici quoted Kane as saying that the hired hands made it easier for him to write "rock songs." "They need to have that noise. [Going electric has] opened up my mind a little bit, [because] it’s rare that I can hear distortion when I write. Even though our style has changed drastically, we stake everything on songwriting." Kane’s songwriting piqued the interest of the Dave Matthews Band, the Allman Brothers Band, Train, Shawn Colvin, and Third Eye Blind, all of whom recruited Vertical Horizon as their opening band.

The Dave Matthews Band tour proved beneficial. Drummer Carter Beauford offered to lend a hand on Vertical Horizon’s sophomore effort, 1995’s Running on Ice. After Running on Ice hit stores, Vertical Horizon continued to tour religiously. Then-future drummer Ed Toth met up with Vertical Horizon after Scannell’s mother came into the Borders Books and Music store in which he was working to look for her son’s CD. Toth, along with the bookstore’s manager, caught a Vertical Horizon performance at Aerosmith’s Mama Kin club in Boston. When the touring drummer left Vertical Horizon, Toth stepped in. Before the 1996 release of the live album Live Stages, Toth became a permanent member of the group.

The relentless touring paid off. Vertical Horizon sold more than 70,000 copies of its three independently released albums. The success led to a frenzy of record company interest but the band opted to sign with RCA, which had inked a deal with the Dave Matthews Band. In 1998, Vertical Horizon recorded its major-label debut Everything You Want, which focused on "strong songwriting, vocal harmonies and impressive guitar work," according to the group’s official website. To advance promotion of the forthcoming record, RCA repackaged and re-released Vertical Horizon’s There and Back Again, Running on Ice and Live Stages. Shortly before the new album’s June of 1999 release, bassist Sean Hurley, a veteran of Arlo Guthrie and Mark Curry’s bands, became a permanent member of the group. He was the first person to audition for the bass player position.

"When I joined, I got a real taste of the hard work that everyone had done," Hurley told Wall of Sound online. "They had sold 70,000 copies of those first three albums—it’s probably closer to 100,000 now—and they probably saw every CD, touched every one of them as it passed from them to the fan. Everybody had their hand in everything and knew what was going on. Now we can appreciate doing the things we want to do and having people that will work for us and with us to do the things that we don’t."

Everything You Want went largely unnoticed for six months until the title track hit the radio. The success of another single, "You’re a God," pushed Everything You Want past platinum status, which marks sales of one million copies or more. To promote its record, Vertical Horizon performed as part of Woodstock 1999 and appeared on the Fox television show Party of Five in January of 2000.

Vertical Horizon has continued its non-stop touring both as an opening and headlining band. Scannen told VH1.com that the grassroots approach helped solidify the band’s reputation: "It helped us to get our live show down. I think there are a lot of bands out now who don’t spend a whole lot of time figuring out how to play stuff live. We really knew how to do a live show. Another thing is, just grassroots organization. Kids just talking about us, college kids trading tapes, encouraging kids to record our shows."

Selected discography
There and Back Again, Rythmic, 1993; reissued, RCA, 1999.
Running on Ice, Rythmic, 1995; reissued, RCA, 1999.
Live Stages, Rythmic, 1996; reissued, RCA, 1999.
Everything You Want (includes "Everything You Want," "You’re a God," "Best I Ever Had"), RCA, 1999.

Sources
Periodicals
Billboard, September 25, 1999; February 12, 2000; July 15, 2000.
Entertainment Weekly, June 16, 2000.

Online
Billboard, http://www.billboard.com (May 28, 2001).
"Going Electric Pays Off for Vertical Horizon", Sonicnet.com (May 28, 2001).
"Having Words With … Vertical Horizon," Detroit. citysearch-.com, http://detroit.citysearch.com/feature/21938 (May 28, 2001).
"Vertical Horizon," ARTISTDirect, http.V/imusic.artistdirect.com/showcase/modem/verticalhorizon.html (May 29, 2001).
"Vertical Horizon," CDNow, http://www.cdnow.com (May 28, 2001).
"Vertical Horizon: Working Their Way toward Stardom," VH1.com, http://www.vh1.com/thewire/news/vertical/;$sessionid$QZHZ2FAAAATQECQBAFHCFEQ (May 28, 2001).
Vertical Horizon Official Website, www.verticalhorizon.com (June 4, 2001).
"Vertical Horizon’s Long Road," Wall of Sound, http://wallofsound.go.com (May 29, 2001).
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists:

Vertical Horizon

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Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists
  • Genres: Rock

Biography

Launched in 1991 as a folk-based acoustic duo, Vertical Horizon gradually molded itself into a slick pop/rock outfit, culminating in the band's brief (but significant) heyday at the turn of the 21st century. Matt Scannell and Keith Kane first performed together at Georgetown University, where the two undergraduates honed their harmonized vocals at parties and local coffeehouses. Shortly after graduation, they relocated to Boston to record a debut LP, 1992's There and Back Again, and returned to their native D.C. after the album's release. They later crossed paths with Jackopierce, another acoustic rock act, and the two groups soon launched a multi-week package tour that introduced Vertical Horizon to a wider audience.

Backup musicians were hired to fill out Vertical Horizon's evolving sound, and a tour alongside the Dave Matthews Band proved to be especially fortuitous, as drummer Carter Beauford -- a newfound fan of the band -- agreed to handle percussion duties on the sophomore effort Running on Ice. Bassist Sean Hurley and drummer Ed Toth were added to the lineup in 1996, thus making Vertical Horizon a permanent four-piece, and 1997's Live Stages captured the quartet's strength in concert. Such momentum wasn't lost on the major labels, and RCA ultimately offered the group a contract as the '90s drew to a close.

Vertical Horizon reissued its three previous LPs after signing with RCA, and the band's major-label debut, Everything You Want, followed in July 1999. The album went double platinum on the success of the title track (a number one hit) and three additional singles, and Vertical Horizon supported its release with a string of American and European tour dates. Although originally intending to issue a follow-up album in late 2002, the bandmates struggled with their representation at RCA, and ultimately left the label after Go's release in September 2003. A new contract was inked with Hybrid Recordings in 2005, but Toth left the band that same year, choosing to join the Doobie Brothers' touring lineup instead. The band continued to work on a new record in his absence, with famed Rush percussionist Neil Peart lending his help to several tracks. Burning the Days was ultimately released in 2009. ~ Andrew Leahey, Rovi
Wikipedia on Answers.com:

Vertical Horizon

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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Vertical Horizon
Origin Washington, D.C., United States
Genres Alternative rock
Post-grunge
Folk rock (early)
Years active 1991–present
Labels RCA
Outfall
Website www.verticalhorizon.com
Members
Matt Scannell (vocalist, guitarist)
Steve Fekete (guitarist)
Ron LaVella (drummer)
Cedric LeMoyne (bassist)
Past members
Keith Kane (1991-2010)
Sean Hurley (1998-2009)
Ed Toth (1996-2005)

Vertical Horizon is an American alternative rock band formed at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. in 1991. The band is best known for a string of hits in 1999 and early 2000s, including "You're a God", "Everything You Want", and "Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)". Their most recent album, Burning the Days, was released in late 2009.[1] "Save Me From Myself” was the first single.

Contents

Early history

Vertical Horizon was formed in 1991 by Georgetown University undergrads Matthew Scannell and Keith Kane.[2] Early performances included well-received cover sets (Simon & Garfunkel, etc.) in the campus' Leavey Center food court. In 1992, after graduation from Georgetown, the duo relocated to Boston and self-released their debut album There and Back Again, which was recorded in Matt's old high school, Deerfield Academy, over a period of a few weeks. Scannell and Kane split songwriting and lead vocal duties.

Scannell and Kane toured as a duo for the next few years, mostly appearing with similar bands, such as Jackopierce. Their next album was 1995's, Running on Ice, produced by John Alagia (Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer), Doug Derryberry and Scannell.[2] Though still largely acoustic based, Running on Ice also incorporated other musicians and guests, including Derryberry, Jackopierce, and Carter Beauford of the Dave Matthews Band on drums, giving the album more of a full band sound. Two songs, Kane's "Wash Away" and Scannell's "The Man Who Would Be Santa", were featured on the 2nd Aware Records Compilation.

More touring followed through 1996 as Vertical Horizon became a four piece band, joined by drummer Ed Toth. Live Stages, was released in early 1997, and featured four new songs and more of an emphasis on electric guitar. By this time, the band was explicit in their intent to find a major record label; band members have said that it was no accident that the first track of Live Stages opens with the sounds of a large cheering audience. Their wishes came true, and the band was signed to Sony BMG Music Entertainment/RCA Records. In early 1998 the band held auditions for a permanent bassist. Sean Hurley, a student at the Berklee College of Music, impressed all and was officially invited to join Vertical Horizon.

Everything You Want

Vertical Horizon's indie albums began to attract record executives from several record labels during the late 1990s.[2] The band signed with RCA Records in 1998.[2]

RCA re-released Vertical Horizon's independent albums, with new packaging and graphics.[2] Before the RCA re-release, the band's first three albums had sold 70,000 combined units.[2]

The band's first effort with RCA Records was 1999's Everything You Want, with producers Ben Grosse, Mark Endert, and David Bendeth (Paramore, Your Vegas. The first single, "We Are", was mildly successful on Modern Rock stations.[2] The second single, "Everything You Want", proved a breakout as the single skyrocketed to the top of the charts and became the 34th most played song on the radio in 2000.[2][3] A third single, "You're a God", also did very well and was released as a live performance on the charity album Live in the X Lounge III. It became the 12th most played song on the radio in 2000.[3] It was also featured in the movie Bruce Almighty. The fourth single, "Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)", received moderate airplay. In 2005, a remake of the song would become a top 10 country hit for Gary Allan. The band, which had been touring constantly since the album was released, continued touring until well into 2001. They then took a break, then came back to the studio to record their follow-up, which they hoped would be released soon enough to take advantage of the huge popularity of Everything You Want. Since 2001, the album is certified double Platinum by the RIAA, having sold 2,000,000 copies in the US.[4]

Go

After some delays, it was announced that the new album, Go, would be released in September 2002.[5] Go was released while RCA was going through a major restructuring and as a result, the album received little support from the label.[6] The album's first single, "I'm Still Here", did moderately well, but when it failed to match the popularity of "Everything You Want", RCA did little to promote the album and as such, no videos were produced and the label didn't back the album's supporting tour.[7] Scannell was upset that RCA didn't support the album, saying "Without the label behind us, it just floundered and sort of withered on the vine, which is just a heartbreaker."[6]

Eventually the band went on a short tour in early 2003, and it was announced that Go (produced by John Shanks) would finally be released a year late, in September 2003. A larger tour started in August, leading up to the release of the album.

In the middle of 2004, the band ended their relationship with RCA. A new deal with Hybrid Recordings was inked in early 2005, with plans to re-release Go in the summer, including an additional song, "Better When You're Not There", which was not present on the original RCA release. The song "Forever" was sent to radio ahead of the release, re-igniting interest for the album and indeed the band at numerous radio stations, and amongst fans old and new alike.

In 2005, long time drummer Ed Toth left the band to join The Doobie Brothers. Since then various drummers began playing with VH included Blair Sinta, Ron LaVella, Craig McIntyre, and Jason Sutter.

Burning the Days

Matt Scannell performing at Borders in support of 2009's Burning the Days.

Burning the Days was released on September 22, 2009, and is the group's first release after a five year hiatus.[8] Singer/songwriter Matt Scannell has said that Burning the Days marks a shift in his songwriting, both musically and lyrically.[9] According to Scannell, "There is a lot more variety and quite a few different artistic moods on this record - almost different sonic landscapes... a lot of these songs feel like a faster tempo than anything we’ve ever done before."[9]

Neil Peart of the Canadian rock band Rush plays drums on three songs on the album, "Save Me From Myself", "Welcome to the Bottom", and "Even Now". "Even Now" is a co-write between Matt Scannell and Neil Peart, with Peart writing the lyrics and Scannell writing the music. [8][10][11] Scannell asked Peart if he would be interested in playing drums on the song, and Peart responded, "No one else can play drums on it — I won’t let anyone else play drums on it. I have to play the drums on it."[11]

On June 23, 2008, during a Duo concert in Lincolnshire, Illinois, Scannell debuted a new song called "Save Me From Myself" off the upcoming album. Also, on June 26, 2008, in Downers Grove, Illinois, Vertical Horizon debuted another new song called "All is Said and Done" off the upcoming album. The song was added to the playlist on the band's Myspace page on October 20, 2008.

On June 2, 2010, Matt Scannell announced via Facebook that "Keith is not touring with Vertical Horizon. We've been friends for a long time so please join me in supporting his solo and Boys Gone Wild performances." It is unclear whether Keith Kane has left the band permanently or not. On June 3, 2010, Kane confirmed his departure from the band, saying he would not be touring with Vertical Horizon "as I shift my focus to my solo career. I am thrilled to currently be writing my first solo album as well as working on collaborations with Brian Fechino and Chardy McEwan, and with my friends from Stroke 9 in our band 'Boys Gone Wild'."[12] Guitarist Steve Fekete has taken over the backing vocals/rhythm guitar role in the band, but all three slots in the band besides Scannell have rotated to some degree.

In late June 2010, "The Lucky One" was released to radio as a single.

Future album

Vertical Horizon announced in June 2011 that they had begun recording new material for a yet untitled new album.[13] Some potential track names are "South for the Winter," "Evermore," "Consolation," "Half Light," "Song For Someone," "Broken Over You," "You Never Let Me Down," and "Instamatic."[14]

Current members

Former members

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)
US
[15]		 US Heat
[16]		 UK
[17]
1992 There and Back Again
  • Release date: 1992
  • Label: Rhythmic Records
 — — —
1995 Running on Ice
  • Release date: 1995
  • Label: Rhythmic Records
 — — —
1999 Everything You Want 40 3 199
2003 Go 61 — —
2009 Burning the Days
  • Release date: September 22, 2009
  • Label: Outfall Records
 158 — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Live albums

Year Album details
1997 Live Stages
  • Release date: January 11, 1997
  • Label: Rhythmic Records

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
US
[20]		 US
Adult
[21]		 US
Alt
[22]		 US
AC
[23]		 CAN
[24]		 UK
[17]
1999 "We Are" — — 21 — — — Everything You Want
"Everything You Want" 1 1 5 — 6 42
2000 "You're a God" 23 4 15 — 19 —
2001 "Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)" 58 7 — — — —
2003 "I'm Still Here" — 17 — — — — Go
2005 "Forever" — 18 — 17 — —
2006 "When You Cry" — 35 — — — —
2009 "Save Me from Myself" — — — — — — Burning the Days
2010 "The Lucky One" — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References

  1. ^ "Album Update: New Release Date". VerticalHorizon.com. http://www.verticalhorizon.com/news/test/. Retrieved 2009-07-29. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Artist Profiles: Vertical Horizon". Billboard Magazine (page 98). 2001-05-21. http://books.google.com/books?id=FikEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA98&lpg=PA98&dq=Matt+Scannell+born&source=bl&ots=GyODchRYBY&sig=u8okSaYjrfrrqj_1ZgMgwX-YMcs&hl=en&ei=CcsiTvLiJMXPgAep4si-Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CDYQ6AEwBTgK#v=onepage&q=Matt%20Scannell%20born&f=false. Retrieved 2011-07-17. 
  3. ^ a b Brad Hodge. "Bradboard Top Songs of 2000". Bradboard.com. http://www.bradboard.com/top2000chart.htm. Retrieved 2012-04-29. 
  4. ^ "Gold and Platinum Database Search". http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Vertical%Horizon&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50. Retrieved 2009-06-18. 
  5. ^ Carpenter, Troy. "New Album a 'Go' For Vertical Horizon". billboard.com. June 30, 2003.
  6. ^ a b Chad. "Vertical Horizon Plans New Album". www.alternativeaddiction.com. November 21, 2008
  7. ^ Chad. "Vertical Horizon And Pat McGee to Re-Release". Alternative Addiction. May 5, 2005.
  8. ^ a b Chad. "Vertical Horizon Reveals Tracklisting". Alternative Addiction. July 11, 2009.
  9. ^ a b Chad. "Vertical Horizon Ready August Release". Alternative Addiciton. July 6, 2009.
  10. ^ Peart, Neil. "News, Weather, and Sports". NEP.com. June 17, 2006.
  11. ^ a b Mover, Jonathan. "Matt Scannell on Neil Peart Artist P.O.V.". Drumhead Magazine. date unknown.
  12. ^ "Keith Kane Leaves Vertical Horizon". Alternative Addiction. 2010-06-09. http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/musicnews/article/1749/Keith-Kane-Leaves-Vertical-Horizon. Retrieved 2011-07-17. 
  13. ^ "Vertical Horizon Working On New Album". Alternative Addiction. 2011-06-21. http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/musicnews/article/2152/Vertical-Horizon-Working-On-New-Album. Retrieved 2011-07-17. 
  14. ^ "New Album Updates". Pledge Music. 2011-11-22. http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/verticalhorizon/updates. Retrieved 2011-11-23. 
  15. ^ "Vertical Horizon Album & Song Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/vertical-horizon/chart-history/174417?f=305&g=Albums. Retrieved August 10, 2010. 
  16. ^ "allmusic ((( Vertical Horizon > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p202600/charts-awards. Retrieved August 10, 2010. 
  17. ^ a b "Chart Log UK: V - Vybe". Official Charts Company. http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_V.HTM. Retrieved August 10, 2010. 
  18. ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - August 10, 2010: Vertical Horizon certified albums". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Vertical%20Horizon&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50. Retrieved August 10, 2010. 
  19. ^ "& Platinum Certification - January 2001". Canadian Recording Industry Association. http://www.cria.ca/gold/0101_g.php. Retrieved August 10, 2010. 
  20. ^ "Vertical Horizon Album & Song Chart (Hot 100)". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/vertical-horizon/chart-history/174417?f=379&g=Singles. Retrieved August 10, 2010. 
  21. ^ "Vertical Horizon Album & Song Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/vertical-horizon/chart-history/174417?f=343&g=Singles. Retrieved August 10, 2010. 
  22. ^ "Vertical Horizon Album & Song Chart History (Alternative Songs)". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/vertical-horizon/chart-history/174417?f=377&g=Singles. Retrieved August 10, 2010. 
  23. ^ "Vertical Horizon Album & Song Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/vertical-horizon/chart-history/174417?f=341&g=Singles. Retrieved August 10, 2010. 
  24. ^ "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada (Top Singles)". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=7t43n1dfemn951vv5mfspc2p93&q1=Vertical+Horizon&q2=Top+Singles&interval=20. Retrieved August 10, 2010. 

External links

Vertical Horizon
Studio albums
Live albums
Singles
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