Rockin’ Clients – Alice in Chains

This is number 4 in my “Rockin’ Clients” series.  I am finding it really interesting to learn about the artists that we work with.  Most of the time, my focus is on the custom stage curtains and other soft goods that we make for the clients, but I may know very little about the background of the artists.  I hope that blog readers are enjoying learning about them as much as I am!

Alice in Chains began in the late 1980s / early 90s as part of the grunge movement in Seattle.  Formed by lead guitarist Jerry Cantrell and the late Layne Staley (lead vocalist), the band incorporates elements of grunge, heavy metal and acoustic into the band’s sound.  After recording several demos, the band was signed by Columbia Records in 1989.

The band’s first album, Facelift, was released in August 1990.  While it had limited success initially, MTV airplay of the video “Man in the Box” boosted album sales, and the album went gold by the end of the year.  The success of  Facelift propelled the band, and their second album, Dirt, went platinum and remained on the charts for close to a year.  They also released several EPs, including Jar of Flies, which debuted at number 1 on Billboard (the first and only EP to do so). 

By 1994, Alice in Chains was experiencing difficulties, primarily due to the drug problems of founder/lead vocalist Layle Staley.  Though they did release the self-titled Alice in Chains in 1996 and play live concerts sporadically, Staley’s drug issues made it increasingly difficult for the band, and little original music was produced or released over the next six years.

Following Staley’s death in 2002, the remaining members of Alice in Chains remained on hiatus from the band, pursuing solo work and other pursuits.  In 2005, the band reunited to perform a benefit concert and other live and televised events, including reunion tours, adding William DuVall on vocals in 2006.  Black Gives Way to Blue, the band’s fourth studio album, was released in 2009.

The band has toured steadily in the late 2000s, reporting on its website in December 2010 that it had played “150 live shows in the past 16 months.”

We made some really interesting custom stage curtains in 2010 for Alice in Chains, including several silver kabukis and some metal mesh pieces.  There are some great photos and videos on this blog, if you want to check them out.

Rockin’ Clients – Kenny Chesney

While, in our opinion, all of our musician clients are “rockin,” not all perform music within the genre of rock ‘n’ roll.  Some would be categorized within the folk genre, some within classical, and some within the genre of hiphop.

More and more we find ourselves providing drapery to country music artists.  Today I’d like to focus on one of those artists, Kenny Chesney.

Kenny Chesney, born and raised in the Knoxville, TN, area, first began focusing on music during his first year of college, teaching himself to play guitar.   While pursuing a degree in Advertising  (awarded in 1990) from East Tennessee State College, Chesney pursued music as well, recording and self-releasing a demo album in 1989.

After graduation, Chesney headed for Nashville to focus on a career in music, where he played in several clubs in the city.  His initial “big break” came in 1992, when he was awarded a songwriter’s contract with Opryland Music Group.  This was followed a year later by an artist’s contract with Capricorn Records, which released his debut album, In My Wildest Dreams, in 1994.

When Capricorn Records closed its country division the next year, Chesney signed with BNA Records and released his second album, All I Need to Know in 1995, followed by Me and You in 1996.  While all three albums had moderate success, it was Chesney’s fourth album, I Will Stand, that included his first number 1 single, “She’s Got It All.”  Success has built with each successive album, which to date number 13.

Kenny Chesney has won over 25 awards from organizations that include the Academy of Country Music (ACM) and the Country Music Association (CMA), most notably as Entertainer of the Year for 2008 from both organizations.

Here at Sew What?, we are proud to have been selected to provide digitally printed backdrops and other drapery for Kenny Chesney for the last four years (including this year).  It’s an honor to know that our work is appreciated by Kenny, his production team, and his fans.

Rockin’ Clients – Green Day

A few years ago, when my stepson was in high school, his favorite band was Green Day.  I hate to admit it, but I really didn’t know much about Green Day at the time – I listen primarily to “classic rock” of the 70s and 80s (think Beatles, Rolling Stones, the Who, Queen, Led Zeppelin, etc.).  Recently, though, I have gotten into Green Day (I’ll tell you more about why later), and so I thought I’d feature them in today’s “Rockin’ Clients” post.

Green Day (originally called “Sweet Children”) began as part of the punk scene in Berkeley in the late 1980s by Billie Jo Armstrong (lead vocals and guitar) and Mike Dirnt (bass and backing vocals).  Through the first few years of the band, the two were joined by John Kiffmeyer (also known as Al Sobrante) on drums and Sean Hughes on bass, but by late 1990, both Hughes and Kiffmeyer had left the band.  Armstrong and Dirnt were joined by Tre Cool on drums, a lineup that has continued to the present day.

The band released two albums on indie labels in the late 80s and early 90s, 39/Smooth and Kerplunk.  The underground success of Kerplunk, though modest compared to the major albums at the time, was significant enough to catch the attention of Reprise Records (a division of Warner Bros Records), and the band signed with Reprise, who released the band’s third album, Dookie, in early 1994, which went on to become a commercial and critical success, earning the Grammy© award for Best Alternative Album. 

Since then, Green Day has released five more albums, including the punk rock opera American Idiot.  Their most successful album to date, American Idiot debuted in 2004 at number one on the Billboard charts, and won a variety of awards.  A live album CD / DVD, Awesome as F**K, will be released in March 2011.

Last July, while on a short business trip to New York City (my first time there), I had very limited time to sightsee, but the one thing I wanted to do was take in a Broadway show.  Since it was short notice (the afternoon of my only free night), I asked the concierge for recommendations.  I didn’t want to see a long running “family” show like Phantom of the Opera – I wanted something edgier, more Rock ‘n’ Roll, something more Sew What? The concierge suggested American Idiot, based on the Green Day album.  I wasn’t familiar with either the album or the show, but thought it sounded intriguing.

I was lucky enough to walk down to the St. James Theatre just an hour before that night’s show and secure terrific seats (Balcony front row center).  I was blown away by the show and the music (though prior to then the only song I really knew by Green Day was Boulevard of Broken Dreams (coincidentally from the same album and used in the musical).  Since then, I have become a huge Green Day fan – I bought both the original album and the show soundtrack, and I am going to start delving more deeply into their catalog.  I am also hoping that the musical goes on tour – I’d love to take my husband to see it (he is now a fan as well).

Now that I have become a huge Green Day fan, it makes it even more exciting to realize that here at Sew What? we have made numerous scenic backdrops and kabukis for Green Day, including both digitally printed backdrops and painted backdrops, throughout 2009 and 2010.  I even remember seeing that iconic American Idiot image (the fist with the heart / grenade) on a digital backdrop hanging in our shop.

Rockin’ Clients – The Doobie Brothers

The Doobie Brothers, despite a seemingly constant stream of revolving band members, has proven to be a band with staying power. 

In 1970, drummer John Hartman met up with singer/songwriter/guitarist Tim Johnston in Northern California, and the two started the band that would soon become The Doobie Brothers.  Joined by bassist Dave Shogren and guitarist Patrick Simmons, along with a variety of additional musicians (keyboard, horns, etc.), the group played various venues in Northern California throughout 1970 and 1971.  Their first album, released in 1971, failed to chart, but they found breakthrough success in 1972 with their second album, Toulouse Street, which debuted the hits “Listen to the Music” and “Jesus is Just Alright.”

Shortly thereafter, Shogren left the band, replaced by Tiran Porter, and the rhythm section of the band became more distinct.  This lead to a string of hits throughout the early to mid 1970s, including “Long Train Runnin’” and “China Grove.”  The band, driven by the songwriting of Johnston and Simmons, became known for a unique sound that included elements of R & B, rock, country, and funk.

In 1976, health reasons forced Johnston to take a break from the band, and he was replaced by Michael McDonald (of Steely Dan).  The songs contributed by McDonald lead to a softer, less hard rockin’ style, characterized by such hits as “Takin’ It to the Streets” and “What a Fool Believes.”  Though the band continued to have changes in its member lineup throughout the late ’70s, The Doobie Brothers continued to enjoy success, including being awarded the Grammy© award for Record of the Year in 1979.

Despite success, band members found themselves at odds, and by 1981, no original members remained in The Doobie Brothers, and the band disbanded.  McDonald pursued a solo career, while other band members, in various configurations, formed or joined other bands.

In 1987, the band reunited for what was to be a single concert benefiting veterans’ causes.  The interest was so great that the concert became a 12-city tour.  Though not all band members were available for this reunion, the reunion tour did include founding members Johnston and Simmons, along with 9 more former Doobie Brothers members.  The reunion tour was successful enough to keep the band together, recording several albums and touring through today.  Their most recent album, “World Gone Crazy,” was released in Fall 2010, and The Doobie Brothers will be touring in North America and Australia/New Zealand throughout the first half of 2011.

Sew What? has been honored to be chosen by The Doobie Brothers to provide tour soft goods, including digitally printed backdrops and other stage soft goods, for the last three years in a row!

Rockin’ Clients – Coldplay

This year, I am adding a new series to this blog, entitled “Rockin’ Clients.”  In the nearly two years since we started the blog, I have included a number of posts highlighting the custom stage drapes, backdrops, and other soft goods that we have made for music tours.  For this series, I am going to place the focus on the clients themselves, telling you a little bit about history of the artists and bands that we are so honored to work with.  Today, I start with Coldplay.

Back in the late 1990s, while students at University College London, Chris Martin (lead vocals/primary songwriter) and Jonny Buckland (lead guitar) started an alternative rock band that within a year or two, with the addition of Guy Berryman on bass and Will Champion on drums, eventually became Coldplay.  While the band’s first release was in 1998, with the EP “Safety,” the band’s widespread success really began in the UK in early 2000 with the release the single “Shiver,” featured on their first album, “Parachutes” (released in July 2000).

Success in the United States soon followed, with a North American club tour in early 2001, and “Parachutes” was named Best Alternative Music Album at the 2002 Grammy Awards.  In the years since, the band has recorded 3 more albums, with a fifth scheduled for release this year.  They have won over 40 awards in the UK, United States, and throughout the world, including 6 Brit awards and 7 Grammys.

Since the beginning, Coldplay has been known for contributing 10% of it’s profits to charity, a practice that continues today.  Organizations supported by the band include Amnesty International and Oxfam.

Sew What? is proud to have provided a variety of custom stage curtains to Coldplay tours, including a Brail Curtain, a Scrim, and a variety of digitally printed pieces.