MURDER BY DEATH (BAND)

'Murder by Death' (formerly known as 'Little Joe Gould') is a four-piece rock band from Bloomington, Indiana. Their name comes from Robert Moore's 1976 movie of the same name (See ''Murder by Death'').
The band plays an eclectic range of music, from eight minute ethereal instrumentals, to driving punk rock, to alt-country. Their earlier releases create an eerie southern gothic sound accented by keyboard and electric cello while their later releases, which still incorporated the cello, but less keyboard, become more guitar driven with a combination of edgy punk sneering and fantastical western woes.
Many songs use themes such as zombies and the Devil that often tie into their concept albums. For example, their second full-length, ''Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them?'', is the story of the Devil coming to a village in Mexico and the war that ensues between him and the townspeople.
The band was discovered by Thursday vocalist, Geoff Rickly, who helped them get signed to Eyeball Records and produced their second album. The group has played with a variety of artists such as The Weakerthans, Rasputina, Lucero, Against Me!, Interpol, Cursive, William Elliott Whitmore, Mock Orange and The Get Up Kids. In the summer of 2004, the group was direct support, along with Minus the Bear during the Braid United States reunion tour.

Contents

Releases

Like the Exorcist, but More Breakdancing

Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them?

In Bocca al Lupo

Members

Current

Previous

Discography

External links

Releases

Like the Exorcist, but More Breakdancing

"Those Who Left", from their first full-length album ''Like the Exorcist, but More Breakdancing'', is an eight-minute instrumental, often played live in total darkness. This song is usually paired with "Those Who Stayed," a shorter instrumental song from the same album. This pairing, played during encores, is seen on setlists as "The Two Evils" or "Medley of Evil."

Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them?

The 2003 release is a concept album depicting a brooding tale of survival in a small western town whose residents are plagued with demonic assaults. They begin to question their own mortality as the Devil wages war on their homeland. It's part horror movie climax and part western barroom brawl with a gloss of wintry distortion

★ My Chemical Romance's frontman, Gerard Way, provides guest vocals on the track "''The Devil in Mexico''".

★ Thursday's frontman, Geoff Rickly, provides guest vocals on the track "''Killbot 2000''".

★ William Elliott Whitmore provides guest vocals on the track "''Until Morale Improves, The Beatings Will Continue''".
On the band's website, Adam Turla, the band's singer, songwriter, and guitarist, gives a short explanation of each song [1], giving the listener explanations of things he or she may not understand upon first listen [such as the mention of datura, an apparent ingredient in "zombie poison"].

In Bocca al Lupo

Released on May 23, 2006, this album presents the listener with an album built on thematic connections. "In Bocca al Lupo," which translates roughly to "In the Mouth of the Wolf" (a phrase said before students take exams in Italian classrooms, and to which the students respond "Crepi!" which means "Die!", referred to the wolf), examines themes of sin, of transgression, of punishment and of redemption, touching on different lives and different stories in each individual song. Singer Adam Turla has stated in interviews that this album was inspired by The Divine Comedy, which he was reading at the time of writing; in fact, each song is said to relate to someone facing each level of hell. The resulting album resembles the 1979 murder mystery from which the band takes its name -- a pastiche of bad deeds and of good intentions, of last minute heroism and, in some cases, of nearly impossible forgiveness.
Turla, in a fashion similar to that employed in describing Who Will Survive..., has posted explanations of each song in the band's discography section [2]
The album was released on Tent Show, the band's own record label.

Members

Current

★ Adam Turla – Guitar/Vocals

★ Matt Armstrong – Bass

★ Sarah Balliet – Cello/Keyboards

★ Dagan Thogerson - Drums/Percussion

Previous

★ Vincent Edwards – Keyboards (left the band in 2004 to pursue an art degree)

★ Brandon Cooper – Keyboards mid-2004

★ Alex Schrodt – Drums/Percussion (left the band in february 2007)

Discography

★ ''Little Joe Gould'' (EP) (2001) - [out of print]

★ ''Like the Exorcist, but More Breakdancing'' (LP) (June 25, 2002) - Eyeball Records

★ ''Konrad Friedrich Wilhelm Zimmer'' - (July 15, 2003) - Split album with Volta Do Mar, Arborvitae Records

★ ''Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them?'' (LP) (October 14, 2003) - Eyeball Records

★ ''Tribute for Matt Davis'' (7 inch) (2003)

★ ''In Bocca al Lupo'' (LP) (May 23, 2006) – Produced by J. Robbins. Released on Tent Show Records.

★ Boy Decide (UK CD Single) (2006) Released on Cooking Vinyl

★ Brother (UK CD Single / 7 Inch) (19th February 2007) Released on Cooking Vinyl

External links

★ MurderByDeath.com, the band's official website

★ Tent Show Records, the band's current label

★ The Artist's Site on Eyeball Records where mp3s and videos are available for download

★ Album Review of "In Bocca al Lupo" on Mammoth Press

★ Beat Lawrence: Murder By Death Interview and Concert Footage

★ "Brother" artist commentary

★ A Bubbly Beginning: Murder By Death Modeling Threadless T-Shirts