The Ernies
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Will Hummel, Tom Martin, Matt Goves, Hayes Smith |
| Headquarters | Richmond, Virginia , United States |
| Products | Music albums |
The Ernies were a Virginia-based band from Richmond, known for their blend of alternative rock and ska punk. Initially, they independently released two albums before joining Mojo Records, under which they launched their third album, Meson Ray.
History
The group was established in 1994 by four students from Virginia Commonwealth University: Will Hummel, Tom Martin, Matt Goves, and Hayes Smith. Their musical influences were varied, encompassing formal music education and performance experience. Will Hummel’s background in English literature notably shaped the band's lyrical approach.
Their first album, bearing the band's name, debuted on October 1, 1995. It featured a horn section of three musicians: Steve Bider on alto saxophone, Stefan Demetriadis handling trombone duties, and Hayes Smith on baritone saxophone. In 1995, bassist Mike Hughes became part of the ensemble.
On May 12, 1997, The Ernies unveiled their sophomore album Dropping Science, which exhibited a departure from traditional ska sounds. The track "Jive", opening the album, encapsulates this evolution with lyrics that dismiss rigid genre classifications. Following Steve Bider’s exit, the horn section was trimmed to Stefan Demetriadis and Hayes Smith.
Mojo Records and beyond
In 1997, Chris Bondi joined the band, bringing turntables and theremin into their sound. During their nationwide tour, The Ernies secured a contract with Mojo Records. Their third album, Meson Ray, was released on April 20, 1999. By this time, Hayes Smith remained as the sole horn player after trombonist Stefan Demetriadis had left.
A remixed version of "Motivate" was featured in the film BASEketball and included on its soundtrack issued by Mojo Records.
The song "Here and Now" gained prominence through its placement in the 1999 video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. It also appeared in advertisements for television series such as CSI: Miami, Australia's Dangerous, and the U.S. trailer for Cowboy Bebop: The Movie. Sony utilized this track in marketing campaigns for Blu-ray technology as well.
On June 7, 2006, World Wrestling Entertainment selected "Polarized" as the theme for "WWE vs. ECW: Head to Head". Moreover, "Here and Now" served as the theme for the DVD release of Survivor Series 2003, while "Organism" was chosen as the opening theme for Wrestling Society X. Both "Here and Now" and "Polarized" were featured in promotional materials for the 2007 comedy film Balls of Fury. In 2008, TGI Fridays incorporated "Here and Now" into their television commercials. Later on, "Polarized" appeared in the 2018 video game Far Cry 5.
Hayes Smith contributed saxophone parts to The Pietasters' 2002 release Turbo and currently performs bass and saxophone with Dallas-based group Roy Bennett.
Frontman Will Hummel transitioned into a role as district manager for G by Guess and has also produced a solo project influenced by rocksteady music.
On January 3, 2013, Will Hummel, Matt Goves, and Mike Hughes reunited to perform selections from Meson Ray at The Camel venue in Richmond, Virginia. They were joined by Stefan Demetriadis and Chris Bondi for this event.
Final line-up
- Will Hummel - vocals, guitar (1994-2001, 2013)
- Matt Goves - drums (1994-2001, 2013)
- Hayes Smith - saxophone, backing vocals (1994-2001, 2013)
- Mike Hughes - guitar (1995-1996), bass guitar and vocals (1996-2001, 2013)
- Chris Bondi - turntables, theremin (1997-2001, 2013) (deceased 2020)
Past Members
- Stefan Demetriadis – trombone (1994–1999)
- Steve Bider (1994–1995)
- Brian Knight
- Damian Holton
- Dave Warren
- Tom Hummel
- Tom Martin (1994–1996)
- Jeff Fuquay
- Jimmy McAvoy
- Heath Losick
- Derek Dorsey
Studio Albums
| Album Title | Release Year | Label |
| The Ernies | 1995 | Bob Records |
| Dropping Science | 1997 | Bob Records |
| Meson Ray | 1999 | Mojo Records |