Chief (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Music recordings, singles, EPs, albums |
Number of employees | 4 |
Chief was a quartet originating from Santa Monica, California, and later operated out of Los Angeles. Their discography includes three singles—"Mighty Proud," "Breaking Walls," and "Night and Day"—alongside an EP titled The Castle Is Gone and their only full-length album, Modern Rituals. Apart from the independently released EP, all other recordings were issued through Domino Records. Critics often likened their sound to groups such as Coldplay and Local Natives, with The New York Times remarking that "Mr. Koga can sound like the young Tom Petty." Reviews were largely favorable. Following their final concert on June 14, 2011, at The Troubadour, the band resumed live performances a year later.
Formation and Early Years: 2008–2009
Each member was raised in Los Angeles and attended New York University. Initially engaged in separate musical endeavors, they eventually united to form Chief. Prior to releasing any records, they embarked on extensive tours. Their initial offering, the EP The Castle Is Gone, was self-published in 2008 and garnered positive feedback, including acclaim from HearYa.
Their debut single under Domino Records, "Mighty Proud," was released on November 17, 2009. The Fader highlighted the song’s engaging hooks and communal sing-along quality, ideal for rally settings.
Activity in 2010
Throughout 2010, Chief maintained a rigorous touring schedule while issuing two singles and their full-length album. The single "Night And Day" came out on June 22, 2010, via Domino Records. Listen Before You Buy noted the "richly layered" vocal arrangements reminiscent of Band Of Horses.
Following that, "Breaking Walls" was released on June 29 by Domino Records and described by Contactmusic.com as "highly melodic," characterized by a "light jangly guitar loop" paired with vocals similar to those of The Verve.
Their only album, Modern Rituals, was launched on August 17, 2010, through Domino Records. Critical responses varied: Rolling Stone awarded it three stars; Spin rated it five out of ten; and Pitchfork Media assigned a score of 5.2, suggesting the band was "rarely better than competent." Conversely, Filter offered praise for the album and remarked that signing with Domino Records before releasing a full album demonstrated notable promise. Additionally, Paste gave it a score of 7.2.
Disbandment and Subsequent Reunion
Chief performed their farewell concert at The Troubadour on June 14, 2011, shortly after announcing their split due to "creative and personal differences."
In July 2012, Evan Koga revealed via Twitter that Chief had reunited and resumed live shows, primarily within the Los Angeles region.
Members
- Evan Koga – lead vocals
- Mike Moonves – bass guitar
- Danny Fujikawa – guitar
- Michael Fujikawa – drums
Studio albums
- Modern Rituals (Released August 17, 2010) under Domino Records
Extended plays
- "The Castle Is Gone" (2008) (independently released)
Singles
- "Mighty Proud" (2009) (Domino Records)
- "Night and Day" (2010) (Domino Records)
- "Breaking Walls" (2010) (Domino Records)