Meet Me in St. Louis (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Defunct | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Guildford , England, United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom, Germany |
| Products | Music recordings (EPs, albums) |
Meet Me in St. Louis was a post-hardcore group originating from Guildford, Surrey, active between 2005 and 2008.
History
Established in 2005, Meet Me in St. Louis secured contracts with Function Records and Big Scary Monsters Recording Company (BSM) in the UK, as well as Denovali Records in Germany. Their band name is inspired by the 1944 movie Meet Me In St. Louis. That same year, they produced a three-song demo titled Promise me that we'll never be like them. I don't want to wind up like that. Relax, baby. We're going to end up like us. In 2006, their first official EP, containing five tracks and named And With the Right Kind of Eyes You Can Almost See the High Water Mark That Place Where the Wave Finally Broke and Rolled Back, was issued through Function Records.
After releasing a split record alongside labelmates Secondsmile and contributing to various compilations, their debut full-length album Variations on Swing was nationally launched on 24 September 2007 via Big Scary Monsters Records.
The band garnered attention from prominent UK music media including Drowned in Sound, Kerrang, Rock Sound, and NME.
Following three years of relentless touring, the group declared in January 2008 their intention to take a hiatus but formally dissolved by February 2008.
Big Scary Monsters commemorated the anniversary of their debut release on 24 September 2008 by declaring an unofficial 'Meet Me in St Louis Day,' which has since become an annual observance within the math-rock scene.
In January 2016, the band revealed plans for a short-lived reunion featuring concerts in Leeds and London during June, followed by additional gigs in Kingston upon Thames, Guildford, and at the ArcTanGent festival, marking the conclusion of their reunion activities.
Toby's departure
On 30 October 2007, Meet Me in St. Louis announced via their official website that vocalist Toby Hayes had exited the band but reassured fans that they would continue with a new frontman. Toby subsequently launched Shoes and Socks Off, releasing multiple albums under Big Scary Monsters, and co-founded Shield Your Eyes and Love Among The Mannequins. He currently performs under the name Eugene Quell.
Other projects
Lewis Reynolds, the bassist, joined Kingston-based math-pop ensemble Colour, which held its final performance on 18 September 2009. Toby Hayes maintained his solo venture Shoes and Socks Off until 2012. In early 2009, Oliver Knowles toured with Yndi Halda and contributed to their album "Years."
On 11 September 2009, Reynolds and Knowles collaborated with Paul Philips and former members of Bullet Union including Jodie Cox to form Tropics, which was renamed Exes in 2014. Exes released their debut album 'Phantasmaboring' on 28 July 2014.
Discography
| Release Date | Title | Record Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Promise me that we'll never be like them. I don't want to wind up like that. Relax, baby. We're going to end up like us. | Self-released |
| 2006 | And With the Right Kind of Eyes You Can Almost See the High Water Mark That Place Where the Wave Finally Broke and Rolled Back | Function Records |
| 24 September 2007 | Variations on Swing | BSM Records / Denovali Records |
Videography
- Why Thank You, Suzie (2006)
- All We Need Is A Little Energon, And A Lot of Luck (2007)