Days of the New is an alternative rock band from Charlestown, Indiana (later relocated to Louisville, Kentucky), formed in 1995. The band consists of vocalist/guitarist Travis Meeks and a variety of supporting musicians. They are best known for the hit singles "Touch, Peel and Stand" and "Shelf in the Room," both from their self-titled debut album.
Early years
Days of the New began as a hard rock/metal trio called Dead Reckoning, with Meeks, Matt Taul, and Jesse Vest. When they turned to an acoustic sound, they changed the name of the band, as well as added guitarist Todd Whitener.
A demo version of the song "Freak" appeared on the Harvest Showcase Volume 3, a compilation of Louisville area artists. This recording features a solo performance by Travis Meeks but is credited to Days of the New. Jesse Vest and Matt Taul are listed as band members in the liner notes; although, they do not appear on this recording.
Producer Scott Litt signed the band after their third live show.
1996-1998
The band recorded their debut album in October and November 1996. The first Days of the New release, an eponymous album frequently called "Orange" or "Yellow" after the color of the disc and liner notes, was released in 1997, selling 1.5 million copies worldwide. Three songs from this album were hits: "Touch, Peel and Stand," "The Down Town," and "Shelf in the Room." The former was #1 on Billboard's Rock Chart for 17 weeks; "The Down Town" and "Shelf in the Room" were each top 40 hits.
Internal problems of the band were evident early on. Shortly after releasing their debut album, Days of the New began touring for small shows. MTV reported that, after missing a Florida concert in April, the band members appeared physically black-eyed and beaten the following day after what sources claimed to be a band brawl. They then toured with Metallica and Jerry Cantrell starting in West Palm Beach, Florida on June 24, 1998. Meeks later criticized this billing, stating that, due to their acoustic sound, Days of the New should have toured with a group like Dave Matthews Band.
Just before starting this summer tour, however, Meeks had already told interviewers that all of his fellow band members were holding him back and, consequently, were being released from the group. He also said that they were disappointed by this decision but that he thought they would remain friends. An Outpost spokesperson, however, claimed that "Travis just talks" and that nothing was official. Before they could fulfill club touring duties with Finger 11 and Flight 16 in December, without citing reason, Meeks canceled in early November. Various explanations were given by band members and a label spokesperson including poor tour scheduling, band fighting, and even Meeks being physically ill.[1] It was finally confirmed in February 1999 that the band indeed split up. Todd Whitener, Matt Taul, and Jesse Vest would go on to form C14, soon renamed Tantric, while Meeks formed a new band under the Days of the New name.
Over the years, two somewhat contradictory versions of the original Days of the New breakup have developed. It was widely reported in 1998 and still believed that Travis Meeks fired his fellow musicians, aided largely by his personal comments; however, he has since said that this is not true and that they left out of jealousy due to the fact that he wrote virtually all of the songs and received all royalty checks. When Meeks first announced their departure months prior to its conceiving, and without label confirmation, he gave a less than positive remark, stating "It's like a journey in the wilderness - you know with like the struggle and stuff. I made it through, I survived, but the other guys didn't." Meeks also posted comments on a fan message board: "It wasn't truly a band format. It is my fault for leading you on and setting you up to get attached to the prior members."[2] However, the following year during a live online chat, he seemed quite comfortable with the circumstance and treated it as though it were more mutual between them. Meeks has since said to have empathy toward their supposed choice to leave and claims to understand their viewpoint.
1999-2001
Just one year after the original band's breakup, Meeks had assembled a new Days of the New and recorded a second album. Titled Days of the New, and often referred to as "Green." The album was release August 31, 1999 and introduced a variety of different styles. Many of the album's songs contained intros and codas to seamlessly carry into the next song. Meeks debuted his new band on September 4, 1999 at the Ear Xtacy store in Louisville.
Critics were fairly enthusiastic of "Green," but the album sold poorly compared to the first, selling around 450,000 copies. The lead single, "Enemy," was a major hit while its follow up single, "Weapon and the Wound" met with marginal success. After touring to support the album, Meeks contributed to the Doors tribute album Stoned Immaculate: The Music of the Doors as lead vocalist on a cover of "The End" and "L.A. Woman."
In February 2000, Meeks returned to the studio with a new band and was finished by July. Still using the Days of the New name, the third album incorporated aspects of the previous two - much of the energy from the first album had returned, combined with orchestral interludes similar to the second album. In keeping with the previous albums' names, the third album is also called Days of the New, or "Red."
The first single "Hang On to This" charted fairly and was the most added song on rock radio the week it was released. However, the album was released two weeks after the 9/11 attacks and, with very little promotion, only sold 90,000 copies. The band maintained a profile touring with the likes of Creed and 3 Doors Down.
2002-present
After touring for "Red," the band went through a period of inactivity, when they parted ways with Interscope. In the later half of 2003, Travis Meeks embarked on a solo tour performing at small venues. He continued to suffer from drug addiction and, in early 2005, appeared on A&E's Intervention, where his family and friends convinced him to enter rehab and battle his addiction to methamphetamine.
In September 2005, Meeks declared sobriety, and resumed writing for a fourth Days of the New record, with the tentative color being Purple. After relocating to New York to reunite with Ray Rizzo, they began touring. In October 2007, the band entered a studio in New York to begin work on Purple. It has been hinted that the record may be recorded and released independently, giving the band artistic freedom and less pressure to be commercially successful. The record is said to have a theatrical sound, with the incorporation of upright bass and cello. Some of the songs likely to be tracked for the record include "Superhero," "Touch of Anger," "Sanctuary," "One Foot Ahead," "Crying in a Bucket," and "Eating Crow."
On March 4, 2008, Days of the New released their first compilation disc, Days of the New: The Definitive Collection.
In an interview with LEO Weekly, an alternative magazine out of Louisville, Kentucky, Travis stated that the upcoming record will be called Tree Colors.[3]
Visual themes
Various artistic themes are notable throughout the tenure of Days of the New. Every album focuses on a particular color and usually involves themes of small town rural America. The most obvious visual hallmark, however, is that the cover art for every Days of the New features a twisted old tree. In a 2008 interview, Travis Meeks cryptically discussed this symbol and its personal significance to him:
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I’ve seen this picture on the wall of a tree, that many people have seen, but no one has seen it like I have, and I have this relationship with the tree, and it’s gotten me through years, and I got this vision. The tree is my emblem; I have a tree belt.
It is my superhero. It was a painting on the wall that a lot of people had already seen. I had a moment and a vision. Tears were in my eyes. I went into the picture, and I found myself sitting in the picture. Part of Asperger’s is associating sound with vision, so I see what I hear. That’s how I write. That’s how I continue to write my records.
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Current Touring Members
- Travis Meeks - Vocals, Guitar (1995-present)
- Ray Rizzo - Drums, Percussion (1999-present)
- Brian Vinson - Bass (1999-2000, 2008-present)
- Malcom Gold - Bass (2007-present)
- Michael Dufresne - Bass (2003-2004, 2009-present)
- Paul Culligan - Drums, Percussion (2007-present)
- Rob Edwards - Drums, Percussion (2009-present)
Past Touring Members
- Chase Dabney - Bass (2009)
- Taylor James - Guitar, Alto Guitar (2008)
- Karen Rombat- Flutist
- Rachael Beaver - Cello, Backing Vocals (2008)
- Brigid Kaelin - Accordion, Backing Vocals (2008)
- Chuck Mingis - Guitar (2001-2003)
- Michael Huettig - Bass (2000-2002)
- Nicole Scherzinger - Backing Vocals (1999-2000)
- Doug Florio - Guitar (1999-2001)
- Kimmet Cantwell - Keyboards (1999-2001)
- Shane Vetter - Guitar (2000)
- Craig Wagner - Guitar (1999-2000)
- Todd Whitener - Guitar (1996-1999)
- Jesse Vest - Bass (1995-1999)
- Matt Taul - Drums (1995-1999)
Discography
Studio albums
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Live albums and compilations
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Singles
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Notes
External links
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Days of the New |
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| Travis Meeks • Malcolm Gold • Paul Culligan |
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| Former members |
Ray Rizzo • Brian Vinson • Michael Huettig • Chuck Mingis • Nicole Scherzinger • Doug Florio • Kimmet Cantwell • Craig Wagner • Todd Whitener • Jesse Vest • Matt Taul
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| Studio albums |
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| Live & compilation albums |
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| Videos |
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| Singles |
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