The Promise Ring

The Promise Ring

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1995
Headquarters	Milwaukee , United States
Products	Music albums, live performances

The Promise Ring was a rock ensemble originating from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, recognized as a key contributor to the second wave of emo music. Throughout their initial period of activity, they produced four studio albums: 30° Everywhere (1996), Nothing Feels Good (1997), Very Emergency (1999), and Wood/Water (2002). Their debut and sophomore albums solidified their standing within the emo genre; the third album marked a turn toward pop music, while their final release embraced a more experimental approach. The group disbanded in 2002 but occasionally regrouped for live shows, most recently in 2016, without issuing new recordings.

The band was established in 1995 by guitarist Jason Gnewikow and drummer Dan Didier, soon joined by vocalist Davey von Bohlen, formerly of Cap'n Jazz. This trio formed the nucleus of the band, with bassist Scott Schoenbeck being the longest-serving member amid various lineup changes. The Promise Ring played a significant role in shaping emo music, influencing acts like Dashboard Confessional, Basement, Title Fight, and Pet Symmetry.

Formation (1995)

In February 1995, The Promise Ring came together in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, drawing members from None Left Standing and Ceilishrine: guitarists Jason Gnewikow and Matt Mangan, drummer Dan Didier, and bassist Scott Beschta. Shortly after formation, Mangan relocated to Indianapolis, leading to the recruitment of Davey von Bohlen from Cap'n Jazz as his replacement. Von Bohlen, who already knew Gnewikow, joined Didier and Beschta to complete the group’s lineup. The band recorded a three-song demo in March and performed their inaugural concert shortly thereafter. By June, they embarked on a 10-day tour along the East Coast; during this tour, following Cap'n Jazz's dissolution, von Bohlen committed full-time to The Promise Ring.

Early releases and 30° Everywhere (1996–1997)

The Promise Ring issued a 7-inch single via Foresight Records featuring "Watertown Plank" and "Mineral Point," accompanied by extensive touring across the United States. Their demo and single garnered attention from Tim Own, co-founder of Jade Tree Records, through Norman Brannon of Texas Is the Reason, which resulted in a three-album contract with the independent label. After touring early in 1996, they released the Falsetto Keeps Time EP in February followed by a split single with Texas Is the Reason in May. These releases enhanced their visibility as they prepared material for their debut album.

Their first full-length record, 30° Everywhere, was launched by Jade Tree in September 1996. In retrospect, band members expressed dissatisfaction with this album due to its hurried five-day recording process and lack of clear artistic direction. Didier criticized both the engineering quality and von Bohlen's illness during production. Nevertheless, the album achieved underground acclaim and attracted attention within independent media circles, especially for the track "A Picture Postcard," which became emblematic within emo music. This song also appeared on the early 1997 EP The Horse Latitudes, which compiled earlier material. The initial pressing of 500–600 copies of 30° Everywhere sold out at CBGB's. Promotion for the album included a six-week nationwide tour with Texas Is the Reason and a European tour during April–May 1997.

Nothing Feels Good (1997–1998)

Following their tour across Europe, the group commenced writing tracks for their sophomore album, Nothing Feels Good. The recording sessions took place at Easley McCain Recording in Memphis, with J. Robbins of Jawbox serving as producer. During these sessions, conflicts arose between Didier and Beschta. At the time of the album’s release, bassist Beschta was replaced by Tim Burton for the ensuing tour. Darren Doane directed the music video for "Why Did Ever We Meet". Despite internal difficulties, the album received widespread critical praise, and was featured on year-end best-of compilations by The New York Times and Teen People.

In February 1998, while touring alongside Hum, their van overturned during a snowstorm in Nebraska; Bohlen sustained head injuries, Burton suffered broken bones, and Didier required brief hospitalization. Gnewikow endured severe trauma, remaining in intensive care for three weeks. Subsequently, Scott Schoenbeck took over bass duties from Burton. After recuperating for six weeks, the band resumed touring with Jimmy Eat World along the US East Coast, followed by tours across Europe and later in the US and Japan with Jets to Brazil.

Boys + Girls, Very Emergency and Electric Pink (1998–2001)

In October 1998, the band released an EP titled Boys + Girls, which included tracks like "Tell Everyone We're Dead" and "Best Looking Boys". By March 1999, they previewed fresh material before embarking on their April European tour. Shortly thereafter, they began recording Very Emergency at Inner Ear Studios in Washington, D.C., with J. Robbins returning as producer alongside the group. Contributions from guests such as Robbins himself, Jenny Toomey, and Hilary Soldati of Smart Went Crazy were incorporated. Mixing was completed at Smart Studios, with Alan Douches handling mastering at West Side Music.

The album was released through Jade Tree on September 28, 1999, supported by a brief tour along the East Coast and Canada with Euphone. The "Emergency! Emergency!" music video, directed by Doane who offered his services voluntarily, premiered on 120 Minutes in October. Following this, the band toured the US with Robbins' group Burning Airlines, accompanied by Pele and the Dismemberment Plan, continuing into early December. In February 2000, they toured Japan, then embarked on an East Coast and Midwest US tour in March alongside Rich Creamy Paint, the Explosion, and Pele.

A planned European tour in May and June 2000 with Burning Airlines was cancelled after Bohlen was diagnosed with a meningioma brain tumor on the day they were scheduled to depart. He underwent surgery on May 8 following over a year of performing despite persistent headaches. Two tracks left off from the Very Emergency sessions appeared on the Electric Pink EP released in mid-May. The band took several months off to focus on recovery.

They returned to live performances in September as support for Bad Religion during a three-week US tour; however, Bohlen developed a post-surgery infection that compelled them to withdraw from the tour. In February 2001, they played shows to make up for dates cancelled the previous December.

Establishment of new label Wood/Water and dissolution (2001–2002)

Following the completion of postponed tour dates in February 2001, the Promise Ring teamed up with Kristian Riley from Citizen King. By March, they ended their relationship with Jade Tree due to inadequate financial backing. After interest from Epitaph Records, the band joined their imprint Anti- later that year. In an effort to move away from their emo origins, the group adopted a style more in line with Anti-'s artist lineup. Licensing disputes with Jade Tree complicated the distribution of international releases, including those in Europe and Japan.

During a tour from April to May 2001 alongside Camden, frontman William Seidel joined as a touring keyboardist. Drawing inspiration from admirers of the Smiths and Blur, they enlisted producer Stephen Street for their fourth studio project. Budget constraints emerged when Street took a vacation, resulting in split production duties between Street in London and Mario Caldato Jr. in Los Angeles. The track "Say Goodbye Good" was produced by Caldato, while the bulk of the album was completed by Street at Jacobs Studios in Farnham. Bassist Schoenbeck exited during the Los Angeles sessions due to creative differences and was succeeded by Ryan Weber from Camden.

The album, titled Wood/Water, was revealed in December 2001 and officially released on April 23, 2002. Prior to its release, "Get on the Floor" was made available online and the band performed at South by Southwest. During this event, Bohlen fainted and subsequently underwent head surgery. The entire album was streamed on March 26 through a dedicated microsite. The lead single "Stop Playing Guitar" included a music video directed by former members of GusGus, Arni + Kinski; this video premiered online on May 3, followed by single releases on vinyl and CD on July 9.

Promotion efforts featured two acoustic in-store sessions followed by a headlining US tour from April to May 2002, supported by the Weakerthans. On May 24, they made an appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Subsequently, they supported Jimmy Eat World during their UK tour, with Wood/Water launching in the UK on May 27. Their supporting duties continued through US dates into August 2002. The band's final performances took place during the Plea for Peace tour in September and October of that year.

Although there were intentions to produce a music video for "Suffer Never" following Plea for Peace, Epitaph and Anti- announced the band's breakup on October 14, 2002. The Promise Ring attributed their decision to focus on other projects after months of deliberation.

Associated projects and reunions

The Promise Ring's initial side endeavor began in 1999 when Bohlen and Didier established the acoustic outfit Vermont alongside Chris Rosenau of Pele. Seidel and Weber formed Decibully in 2001, briefly joined by Gnewikow as drummer. In late 2000, Bohlen contributed to Jimmy Eat World's promotional single "A Praise Chorus" from Bleed American. In 2003, Bohlen and Didier created In English with Eric Axelson (formerly of Dismemberment Plan), later renamed Maritime. Maritime released their debut album Glass Floor in 2004 via DeSoto Records after being declined by Anti-. Since then, Maritime has issued four additional studio albums.

The Promise Ring reunited for select performances beginning with a one-off show at the Flower 15 Festival in November 2005 at Metro Chicago. Following a tweet in November 2011, they played two reunion concerts in February 2012. Concurrently, they announced plans for a rarities compilation slated for summer 2012 on former manager Jeff Castelaz's label, Dangerbird Records, though this release never came to fruition. Between May and September 2012, the band appeared at various US festivals including The Bamboozle, Riot Fest, and Fun Fun Fun Fest. Around that period, Didier stated there were no intentions to create new material or continue performing regularly. On New Year's Eve 2015, they performed Nothing Feels Good in its entirety at Metro Chicago; Didier hinted at potential future shows but no new recordings. They also participated in the 2016 Wrecking Ball festival lineup.

Musical style

The Promise Ring's sound has been characterized by genres such as emo, indie rock, pop-punk, power pop, and indie pop. Emerging from the Midwestern emo scene, the band members previously performed in groups like None Left Standing, Ceilishrine, and Cap'n Jazz. Alongside acts like Mineral and Sunny Day Real Estate, they became prominent figures in what is known as the "second wave" of emo. Throughout their career, The Promise Ring gradually transitioned from their emo roots toward a more pop-centric approach, particularly evident between the albums Nothing Feels Good and Very Emergency, ultimately culminating in a stylistic overhaul on Wood/Water after signing with a new label.

Their initial release, 30° Everywhere, incorporated elements of post-hardcore and punk rock, and although the band held ambivalent views about it, this album is often regarded as a foundational work for emo. The subsequent album, Nothing Feels Good, featured a polished sound infused with power pop influences that propelled the band to a leading position within the emo community and inspired contemporaries like The Get Up Kids and Jimmy Eat World. Later projects, including the Boys + Girls EP and Very Emergency, embraced pop music components more fully.

With production by Stephen Street, Wood/Water represented a marked departure from their earlier style. Released under Anti-, this record fused alternative country, indie rock, and pop with touches of roots rock, alternative pop, and psychedelic pop, reflecting the band's progression beyond their original emo identity.

Members

Latest lineup

• Davey von Bohlen – vocals, guitar
• Jason Gnewikow – guitar
• Dan Didier – drums
• Scott Schoenbeck – bass guitar

Former members

• Matt Mangan – guitar
• Scott Beschta – bass guitar
• Tim Burton – bass guitar
• Ryan Weber – bass guitar

Touring musicians

• William Seidel – keyboard

Discography

Studio albums

• 30° Everywhere (1996)
• Nothing Feels Good (1997)
• Very Emergency (1999)
• Wood/Water (2002)

References

Citations

Sources

External links

• The Promise Ring on Facebook
• Complete discography at Discogs
• Artist profile at Jade Tree