SAOSIN

Saosin is a post-hardcore band originally hailing from Newport Beach, California, formed in 2003. The band currently consists of guitarists Beau Burchell and Justin Shekoski, bassist Chris Sorenson and drummer Alex Rodriguez.
Contents


Origin of name

Anthony Green, the former vocalist, had initially suggested the name "Saosin" (pronounced as "say-ocean") for the band. After he quit, Saosin changed the pronunciation to "say-o-sin" and what it actually means (Saosin means “small heart” in Chinese. Both pronunciations of the word are actually incorrect, and it is actually pronounced "shiao shing". The word comes from a 15th century proverb about fathers telling their sons who are being married off for money not to get emotionally involved with their wives, who could die at any time.) Green explained the meaning behind this as being a reference to the fact that nothing is eternal, and that it is a mistake to become overly attached to any one thing, because that thing will eventually be lost.[3] Whilst Green's interpretation of the word xiao xin is obscure, xiao xin is generally used in Chinese as a means to express caution. Green had previously used Saosin as a track name in his high school band, Audience of One's CD, I Remember When This All Meant Something.[4][5]

History

Formation and Translating The Name (2003–2004)

The original lineup for Saosin, consisting of Burchell, Shekoski, Sorenson and former vocalist Anthony Green, was formed in the summer of 2003.[6] On June 17, the band released their first commercial production, the EP Translating the Name.[7] It was an immediate success and was immensely popular on online forums and music sites. Saosin first became popular through promotion and exposure through the Internet. They became known for their distinct musical styles long before their first studio-length album was released, and were popularised on social networking and music sites such as MySpace.[8]

Studio drummer Pat McGrath and Bassist Zach Kennedy left the band early on. Kennedy left for personal reasons, and he wanted to pursue a career in art.[3] He was later replaced by Chris Sorenson. McGrath, who was a former drum technician for American thrash metal band Slayer, was never properly with the band; according to Burchell, he was hired only for the recording for the EP, as Alex Rodriguez had promised his band at the time Open Hand he would finish recording with them, then joined Saosin after the release of Translating the Name.[9] Shortly after the EP's release, Saosin went on a U.S. tour with bands Boys Night Out and Anatomy of a Ghost.

In February 2004, the band's vocalist Anthony Green left Saosin and later formed the band Circa Survive. Green was very homesick and said he was missing his family. Green was also disenchanted with Saosin, evidenced by the use of cryptic imagery in the lyrics of the Translating the Name EP to convey his displeasure with the direction of Saosin. The other bandmembers did, however, finish their Warped Tour obligation with Story of the Year's Philip Sneed taking the mic. A public, nationwide audition then took place.

New singer and Saosin EP (2004–2006)

After the audition process and several guest vocalists on demos, the then 19-year-old Cove Reber, previously the vocalist of the unsigned local bands Mormon in the Middle and Stamp Out Detroit, was announced as their new permanent lead singer. Cove had sent in his demo tape which was an acoustic demo with "Mookie's Last Christmas". The demo has since leaked onto the internet. It is widely speculated to have included a few songs from Translating the Name. When Beau first heard the demo, he thought it was Anthony pulling a trick on them.

However, the inexperienced Cove Reber replacing the charismatic Anthony Green was hard for the band, especially for Reber himself, receiving a great deal of criticism. Many fans consider the time with Green to be something entirely different from what the band is today, and comparisons between both singers are still widely being done.

After the Taste of Chaos tour the following winter, the band got signed to Capitol Records in March and toured the United States with the Warped Tour for the second time. Here, they released the Saosin EP. At first it was intended to be a free sampler, but Capitol Records did not allow this and released it as an EP. It contained Demo versions of songs later recorded on their first full length album. A video to their new single "Bury Your Head" was recorded during the tour. They kept on touring for the rest of 2005, mostly opening for Avenged Sevenfold and Coheed and Cambria.

Debut album (2006–2008)

After a respite from touring between February and June, the Warped Tour 2006 and numerous demos and compilation appearances, Saosin released their first full-length album Saosin on September 26, 2006. The well-known music producer Howard Benson was hired for the production of the album. Benson had worked with several major rock bands such as My Chemical Romance and Motörhead. The album sold over 35,000 copies in its first week. The record saw a change to a softer, less hardcore oriented tone, yet the band claims to be just as heavy as before during live performances.[10]

During the rest of 2006, Saosin toured on the International Taste of Chaos Tour, playing outside of the US for the first time. They also toured the United States with Bleeding Through and Senses Fail. They kept on touring for the whole year of 2007, beginning with a tour with Senses Fail, Alexisonfire, The Sleeping and Drop Dead, Gorgeous. Saosin also invited the non-profit organization Invisible Children for a portion of the tour. In February they joined the Taste of Chaos 2007. Between April and June they toured in Europe, Australia, Japan and Indonesia. When they came home they continued their headlined tour together with Poison the Well, The Receiving End of Sirens, Fiore and Flight 409. In the later summer of 2007, they were part of the Projekt Revolution tour, headlined by Linkin Park. Other appearances include Placebo, My Chemical Romance and HIM. After this they headlined yet another tour in USA and Canada with Alexisonfire, Envy on the Coast, Norma Jean and The Dear and Departed. In the end of 2007 they toured in UK and Canada.

A live album, Come Close was released on March 11, 2008. The DVD/CD disc set consists of hi-definition concert footage and audio from their November 3, 2007 show at The Theater of Living Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It also contains various live songs on a CD, plus new versions of some of Saosin's favourite songs.

Saosin toured from January 21 to February 8, 2008 with Armor for Sleep, Meriwether, and The Bled; from February 9 to February 16 Fear Before joined the tour. They went to Australia between February and March, after which they performed in Singapore on March 7 as the opening performance for Incubus on their Light Grenades Tour. On their way home they also visited Bali, Hawaii and Mexico. After two final shows at home in California in April, they took a six month break from touring.

Second album (2008–present)

Saosin returned to touring on October 2008 along side Underoath and The Devil Wears Prada.

They are currently[when?] in the studio recording their new album with producer Butch Walker. They partnered with Hurley to broadcast the recording process live on Hurley's website.[11]

Saosin released a new EP titled The Grey EP on October 14, 2008. It was sold on tour and on iTunes and features three new songs, one of which returned Saosin back to its roots by having a portion of screaming in it, as well as an acoustic version of "Come Close".[12]

Saosin is also scheduled to play the whole Warped Tour 2009 and are allegedly in discussions with Circa Survive as a touring act. This has been met with widespread approval from both Saosin and Circa Survive fans.

Members

Current

* Cove Reber - lead vocals (2004-present)
* Beau Burchell - guitars/backing vocals (2003-present)
* Justin Shekoski - guitar/backing vocals (2003-present)
* Chris Sorenson - bass/backing vocals (2003-present)
* Alex Rodriguez - drums, percussion (2003-present)

Former

* Anthony Green - lead vocals (2003-2004)
* Zach Kennedy - bass (2003)
* Pat Magrath - drums, percussion (2003)

Discography

Studio albums
Year Album details Peak chart positions
US[13] US Rock[14]
2006 Saosin

* Released on 26 September 2006
* Label: Capitol

22 7

EPs
Year Album details Peak chart positions
US Ind.[13] US Heat.[13]
2003 Translating the Name

* Released on 17 June 2003
* Label: Death Do Us Part

36 27
2005 Saosin

* Released on 6 September 2005
* Label: Capitol

— —
2008 The Grey

* Released on 14 October 2008
* Label: Capitol

— —

Live albums
Year Album details
2008 Come Close

* Released on 11 March 2008
* Label: Capitol

[edit] Music videos
Year Title Director
2003 "Seven Years" Danny Berk[15]
2003 "3rd Measurement in C" Danny Berk[16]
2005 "Bury Your Head" Danny Berk[17]
2006 "Voices" (Live Water Street Music Hall - Rochester, NY) Christopher Sims
2007 "Voices" Christopher Sims[18]
2007 "You're Not Alone" Popcore Films

Demos

Saosin has released many instrumental and individual demos, but no official demo tapes. A more detailed list can be found here.

* 2003 Instrumental Demos (With Justin and Beau, not yet called Saosin)
* "I Can Tell There Was An Accident Here (Demo) " (2003)
* "I Have Become What I've Always Hated" (2003)
* 2004 Instrumental Demos
* "Mookie's Last Christmas (Acoustic Audition)" with Cove Reber on Vocals (2004)
* "Come Close" Instrumental Demo (2005)
* Capitol Demos (Including "Uphill Battle") (2005)

Compilation tracks

* A Santa Cause: It's a Punk Rock Christmas (2003) – "Mookie's Last Christmas"
* Music on the Brain Volume 1 (2004) – "I Can Tell There Was an Accident Here Earlier"
* The Mission Family Spring Sampler 05 (2005) – "Penelope (Acoustic)" (Pinback Cover)
* The Best of Taste of Chaos (2006) – "I Wanna Hear Another Fast Song (Live)" (UK Edition Only)
* Take Action! Volume 5 (2006) – "Sleepers (Demo)"
* Chew It Out!: Stride Gum CD Sampler (2007) – "Sleepers (Live Recording)"
* Sessions@AOL (2007) - "Time After Time (Acoustic)" (Cyndi Lauper cover)

Other use of Saosin tracks

* Atticus... Dragging the Lake Volume 3 (2005) – "Bury Your Head"
* 2007 KROQ New ROQ (2006) – "Voices"
* Reef: Bobby Martinez Mixed Tape (2007) – "It's Far Better To Learn"
* ATV Offroad Fury Pro (2007) - "Sleepers"
* The Best of Taste of Chaos Two (2007) – "Follow and Feel"
* Saw IV: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2007) – "Collapse"
* MX vs. ATV: Untamed (2007) - "Collapse"
* Burnout Dominator (2007) - "Collapse"
* Burnout Paradise (2008) - "Collapse"