The Rock*A*Teens
| Company type | Indie rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | April 1, 1994 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
| Headquarters | Atlanta , United States |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
The Rock*A*Teens is an American indie rock ensemble originating from Cabbagetown, Atlanta, Georgia. Their primary period of activity was during the 1990s, with a reunion occurring in 2014.
History
The band was established on April 1, 1994, featuring the founding members Chris Lopez (lead vocals, guitar, keyboard), Justin Davis Hughes (guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals), Kelly Hogan (guitar, backing vocals), and Chris Verene (drums). They initially signed with Daemon Records and produced two albums: their eponymous debut and Cry. Following the departure of Hogan and Verene in 1997, Jeff Patch and Brandon Smith joined the group. Subsequently, they signed with Merge Records, releasing two singles—one through Merge and another via Kill Rock Stars—all four tracks from these singles were later re-recorded for their first full-length album on Merge, Baby A Little Rain Must Fall, performed by Lopez, Smith, and Hughes. A notable feature is that two separate recordings of "Ether Sunday" align perfectly when played simultaneously.
After their initial west coast tour supporting Superchunk, Jeff Patch left the band; during this tour their van, nicknamed "Big Gary," experienced mechanical failure near Yellowstone. Chris Verene returned temporarily for shows including SXSW 1998 before T. Ballard Lesemann III took over on drums and immediately joined them for a nationwide tour. This formation recorded their second Merge album titled Golden Time. Following a tour alongside Man Or Astroman, Smith exited the band; although Hayden from Servotron was briefly considered as his replacement, ultimately lawyer William Joiner joined just prior to another tour with Superchunk. Joiner remained through the band's concluding years before their hiatus, contributing to the album Sweet Bird of Youth and the EP Noon Under the Trees, released on Atlanta's Moodswing Records, as well as participating in multiple tours.
A feature article about the group by Abigail Covington appeared in the Winter 2015 edition of Oxford American.
Their sixth studio release, Sixth House, came out in June 2018. According to AllMusic, it presents a sound that is "less manic than the Rock*A*Teens of yore," while still maintaining a powerful intensity.
Discography
- The Rock*A*Teens (January 23, 1996)
- Cry (February 18, 1997)
- Baby, A Little Rain Must Fall (April 21, 1998)
- Golden Time (March 23, 1999)
- Sweet Bird of Youth (October 3, 2000)
- Noon Under the Trees EP (2001)
- Sixth House (July 6, 2018)