Lapush
| Company type | Independent (formerly signed to label) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2002 in St. Charles, Missouri, United States |
| Founder | Thom Donovan, Stephen Donovan |
| Headquarters | St. Charles , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
Number of employees | 3 (final lineup) |
| Parent | 456 (2005–circa 2007) |
Lapush is a rock ensemble originating from the United States, established in 2002 in St. Charles, Missouri.
Following the independent release of multiple singles and an EP, Lapush secured a contract in 2005 with 456, a New York-based label affiliated with Universal Music Group and co-founded by Carson Daly and Jonathan Rifkind.
Their sound is a fusion of American and European musical styles.
The band's body of work comprises two full-length albums, one EP, and ten singles. Lapush made their first appearance on national television on NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly in December 2005, performing the tracks Quit You Now and Tout Le Monde. Their inaugural album, Someplace Closer To Here, achieved a peak position of No. 15 on the Alternative/Specialty Albums Chart. The follow-up single, Aurora, also reached No. 15 on the Alternative/Specialty Singles Chart and was featured in CBS's series Moonlight.
History
Established in 2002 in St. Charles, Missouri, Lapush was founded by brothers Thom Donovan and Stephen Donovan. Thom had previously been a guitarist for Stir, while Stephen played bass for Flynova. The original ensemble consisted of Thom Donovan (guitar/vocals), Stephen Donovan (guitar/vocals), Kevin Bachmann (bass), Casey Bazzell (keyboards/vocals), and Brett Voelker (drums). The band’s name is inspired by La Push, Washington.
Their live debut occurred in October 2003, after which they rapidly became a prominent fixture within the St. Louis music community, frequently selling out venues such as The Pageant and Mississippi Nights.
The self-titled EP released in 2004 quickly sold out its initial run and received airplay across various radio stations including KEXP (Seattle), Indie 103.1 (Los Angeles), Q101 (Chicago), and XM Satellite Radio. Lapush toured throughout the region, cultivating a fanbase in college towns like Columbia, Missouri, and Lawrence, Kansas, where they opened for national artists including Matt Nathanson and Nikka Costa.
In late 2004, Stephen Donovan and Casey Bazzell departed due to touring obligations; consequently, Thom Donovan took on full-time lead vocals as the group continued as a trio. By early 2005, Lapush had signed with 456 (Universal Music Group).
Someplace Closer To Here (2005)
Recorded in 2004 by Thom Donovan using basic equipment within their rehearsal area, initial demo sessions evolved into their debut album distributed nationally.
Released on June 5, 2005, this album includes singles such as Say Something, Quit You Now, and Aurora—the last of which attained No. 15 on the Alternative/Specialty Singles Chart. Lapush embarked on national tours alongside bands like Hot Hot Heat and The Sounds. They also performed DJ sets with Andy Rourke (The Smiths) and Kasabian. In December 2005, they appeared on NBC’s Last Call with Carson Daly.
Songs from Someplace Closer To Here were featured on television programs including CBS's Moonlight, MTV's Laguna Beach, The Hills, College Life, VH1's The T.O. Show, as well as the independent film Outpatient. PlaybackSTL Magazine ranked the album No. 18 among its Top Albums of 2005.
Critical Reception for Someplace Closer To Here
Reviewers noted that despite their St. Louis roots, Lapush’s sound drew comparisons to British bands such as Coldplay and Oasis, emphasizing rich production values and diverse arrangements — Amplifier Magazine.
All Music Guide characterized them as a mood-driven rock trio infused with electronic elements; Thom Donovan’s vocal style was compared to a restrained Bono, complemented by notable guitar performances.
Modern Blues (2007)
By late 2006, drummer Brett Voelker had left the band; Neil Bardon replaced him following Brad Booker's drum recordings for the album. Released May 30, 2007, Modern Blues features cello by Richard Fortus on the final track "All The Lost Souls," which draws inspiration from Richard Dawkins' book The Ancestor's Tale. The album is dedicated to Donovan’s father who passed away in 2006. After label 456 ceased operations, Lapush independently released the album through Lapush Recordings.
Tracks from Modern Blues were included in MTV shows such as The Hills, College Life, and 16 And Pregnant. In autumn 2008, Lapush performed at Pointfest held at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater before an audience of 22,000.
Critical Acclaim for Modern Blues
Riverfront Times praised the album for transforming themes of loss into uplifting compositions highlighted by atmospheric guitar work.
Aurora - Digital Single (2008)
An acoustic rendition of Aurora was digitally released on March 12, 2008.
Hiatus
Lapush’s final show took place in March 2008 at The Duck Room in St. Louis.
In July 2008, Thom Donovan opened solo performances for OneRepublic in St. Louis. His solo debut album Cast a Light was released on March 30, 2010, accompanied by launch events at SXSW Austin. Songs from this album appeared in the series finale of MTV’s The Hills and received airplay on Los Angeles’ KROQ-FM. Subsequent solo projects include Mercury Maybe (2012) and Canon (2014), featuring collaborations with Wyclef Jean and Ruby Amanfu. Donovan also contributed musically to ABC’s drama series Nashville. In 2012 he formed Rossi, a Nashville-based duo with Kendall Morgan.
Kevin Bachmann has issued two studio albums as part of Troubadour Dali.
Band members
Current lineup
- Thom Donovan – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards (2002–2008)
- Kevin Bachmann – bass guitar (2002–2008)
- Neil Bardon – drums (2007–2008)
Previous members
- Brett Voelker – drums (2002–2006)
- Stephen Donovan – vocals, guitar (2002–2004)
- Casey Bazzell – vocals, keyboards (2002–2004)
Albums
| Release date | Album title | Record label | Available formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 May 2007 | Modern Blues | Lapush Recordings | CD, digital download |
| 7 June 2005 | Someplace Closer To Here | 456, Fontana Distribution, Universal Music Group | CD, digital download |
EP
| Release date | Title | Record label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 March 2003 | An EP By Lapush | Lapush Recordings | CD |
Singles
| Year | Single title | Record label | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Lucky One (Remixed & Remastered) | 456, Fontana Distribution, Universal Music Group | CD, digital download |
| 2009 | Hideaway | 456, Fontana Distribution, Universal Music Group | CD, digital download |
| 2008 | Closer (Remixed & Remastered) | Lapush Recordings | digital download |
| 2008 | Aurora (Acoustic) | Lapush Recordings | digital download |
| 2008 | Leave The Light On | Lapush Recordings | digital download |
| 2007 | Run | Lapush Recordings | CD, digital download |
| 2007 | Closer | Lapush Recordings | CD, digital download |
| 2006 | Quit You Now | 456, Fontana Distribution, Universal Music Group | CD, digital download |
| 2005 | Aurora | 456, Fontana Distribution, Universal Music Group | CD, digital download |
| 2005 | Say Something | 456, Fontana Distribution, Universal Music Group | CD, digital download |
| 2003 | Through It All | Lapush Recordings | CD, digital download |
| 2002 | Quit You Now (demo) | Lapush Recordings | CD, digital download |