Delta Spirit

All Music Guide:

After the San Diego-based emo outfit Noise Ratchet called it quits in 2004, co-founders Jon Jameson (bass) and Brandon Young (drums) decided to ditch their punk-influenced sound for something more rootsy. The two left Rick Rubin's American label (which had signed Noise Ratchet several years prior) and joined forces with vocalist Matthew Vasquez, guitarist Sean Walker, and multi-instrumentalist Kelly Winrich to form Delta Spirit. Pitching its style between the indie rock and alt-country camps, the group issued an EP entitled I Think I've Found It in 2006 and hit the road alongside Cold War Kids and Dr. Dog.

Delta Spirit's debut album, Ode to Sunshine, was released by the bandmates themselves in 2007. It reappeared one year later in a remastered format courtesy of the band's new label, Rounder Records. Reviews for the record were highly favorable, and the group toured heavily before traveling to Prairie Sun Studios in 2009 for the creation of a second album. The finished product, History from Below, was released in June 2010. Just before their third album, Delta Spirit, was released in 2012, the group underwent some changes. Walker left the band and was replaced by guitarist Will McLaren, and the group moved from Long Beach, California to Brooklyn, New York. In 2013, the group contributed an exclusive new song, Running, to the soundtrack of the AMC show The Walking Dead.

Wikipedia:

Delta Spirit are an American indie rock band from San Diego/Long Beach/Orange County California. They currently reside in Brooklyn, New York. Delta Spirit are most known for their intense live performances, their congregational song writing, and their driving rhythm. The group consists of Jon Jameson (bass), Brandon Young (percussion), Matthew Vasquez (vocals/guitars), Kelly Winrich (multi-instrumentals) and Will McLaren (guitar).

History[edit]

In 2005, Jonathan Jameson and Brandon Young, who had played with each other in many bands, decided to form a band with their new friend Sean Walker. Young first spotted Vasquez busking on a bench at two in the morning, and the two exchanged information. Delta Spirit recorded at Kelly Winrich's home, and he joined the band within the first year. Kelly and Matt had been close friends since they were 18 years old.

The band produced and recorded their debut full-length album, Ode to Sunshine in a cabin in the San Diego mountains. The album also featured the song "Trashcan" which was named after the unusual use of a trashcan as an instrument during recording. It was re-released with new artwork (featuring Kelly's uncle Dr. Thomas Payne on the cover) and a new version of the song "Streetwalker" on August 26, 2008, by Rounder Records. The band has made television appearances, both on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in late 2008 and Last Call with Carson Daly on the March 12, 2009, episode.

Sean Walker left the band in the fall of 2009. Their second album, History From Below, was released on June 8, 2010. The album's title was inspired by the writer Howard Zinn. Many of the songs were written on an acoustic guitar in hotel rooms as the band toured 293 dates in 2009. On November 15, 2010, Delta Spirit performed a live set for "Guitar Center Sessions" on DirecTV. The episode included an interview with program host, Nic Harcourt. In 2010-2011 the Band also performed on Kimmel, Carson, and Jools Holland. That same year Delta Spirit did 2 US tours and one European Tour. In 2011 William McLaren became a full member of Delta Spirit. William formerly played in The Willowz and Cults. The Summer of 2011 Delta Spirit rented a rehearsal studio used by Cold War Kids and Murder City Devils. In that space they wrote what would become their third record "Delta Spirit" In July they travelled to Woodstock, NY and recorded their third album. In the fall of 2011 Delta Spirit opened for My Morning Jacket. On March 13, 2012 they released their third studio album, self-titled Delta Spirit, recorded with producer Chris Coady. On August 4, 2012, the band performed at Lollapalooza in Chicago, IL. They now live in Brooklyn, New York and played in the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California in April 2011.

The Delta Spirit song "Devil Knows You're Dead" was used in the final scene of the 5th and final season of Friday Night Lights. The song "People, Turn Around", was also used in the final scene of the Season 2 Sons of Anarchy episode "Potlatch". The song "9/11" was used in the final scene of the Season 2 My Life As Liz episode 5. The song "People C'mon" was used in The Big C episode "Blue Eyed Iris" and in UFC Primetime: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos. The song "Running" is featured on "The Walking Dead" Original Soundtrack - Vol. 1 The song "Yamaha" was used in the 2013 movie "Warm Bodies."Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page).