SaosinBackground information
Origin Newport Beach, California, USA
Genre(s) Alternative rock
Post-hardcore
Years active 2003–present
Label(s) Capitol
Associated Acts Audience of One
Circa Survive
Open Hand
Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer
Website: http://www.saosin.com/Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/saosin
MembersCove Reber
Beau Burchell
Justin Shekoski
Chris Sorenson
Alex Rodriguez
Former membersAnthony Green
Zach Kennedy
Pat McGrath
Danny King
Saosin is an alternative rock band from Newport Beach, California formed during the summer of 2003 and partly consist of former members of the band Open Hand.
HistoryOrigin of Saosin with Anthony Green
Saosin started off as the brainchild of two musicians; Justin Shekoski, a former guitarist in As Hope Dies, and Beau Burchell. They planned to be called "The Gift", but there was another band by that name. They recorded an instrumental demo, with Justin and Beau, and MIDI drums. The first song on this demo was called You're No Angel and had Beau Burchell on vocals. They were trying to find a vocalist and they asked Keith Goodwin from the band Days Away. He said, "I know this guy Anthony". They sent him 2 instrumentals and he recorded vocals over them. The two songs became known as Seven Years and Translating the Name, the first two tracks on the Translating the Name EP. Anthony flew in from Philadelphia and stayed for five days, and recorded the vocals to the EP in about 4 nights.
Drummer Pat McGrath was brought in to do drumming for the Translating the Name EP. Saosin had been trying hard to get Alex to join the band, but he was in Open Hand, and was touring with them. They picked up McGrath who was a studio drummer. According to Burchell, the Translating the Name EP was 3/4 of McGrath's ability. "There were certain passages where we were like, Dude, play something else no one is going to be able to play. And he would do it, and we were shitting ourselves. He was there doing the most insane rolls, all while doing stick twirls, all like it was nothing, and we were shitting our pants." When Beau met Pat, they handed him the Open Hand CD and told him that was the drummer they wanted to have in the band. Beau asked Pat if he could stylize the drumming to make it sound like Alex’s sort of style. Even though McGrath never played a single show with the band, they had some fun times together and get along well. McGrath also still enjoys Saosin's music.
Translating the Name, was an instant success, especially through online sources. The band was actually approached by numerous record companies before playing their first show due to the soaring popularity of the EP. However, the band's vocalist Anthony Green left after the release of their first EP and later formed the band Circa Survive. Anthony was very homesick and said he was missing his family. He says he felt bad for leaving his friends in a tough situation without a singer, but he "would have gone crazy had he stayed any longer". A public, nationwide audition then took place. Beau Burchell has stated in interviews that, "The main things that we are looking for now, is someone that does not do drugs, someone who can actually sing live, and someone who is good looking and fun to get along with. Oh, and they have to have a really dry sense of humor, because the rest of us do."[1] After the public audition process and several guest vocalists on demos, Cove Reber, previously the vocalist of the band Mormon In The Middle and Stamp Out Detroit, was announced as their new permanent lead singer and is an adept guitar player.
Saosin with Cove ReberCove sent in his demo tape, which was an acoustic demo with "Mookie's Last Christmas" (this demo has leaked to the internet) and is widely speculated to have included a few songs from Translating the Name, which also includes Seven Years and 3rd Measurement in C. When Beau first heard the demo, he thought it was Anthony pulling a trick on them. He said he wanted someone like Anthony but "not to bring in someone that sounded like Creed." According to Beau, "Gabe from Midtown tried to sing a couple songs. Jason Gleason was asked to come out and do it, but he had his own thing going on." Beau said "I would put them in the studio and pull up the ProTools session of Translating the Name, and would mute all of Anthony’s vocals and just let the guys sing. And dudes would come in and sound like total Spinal Tap, just so bad. So then I would have to spend about two hours trying to find a nice way to get the guy to just leave, so you would basically sit there and waste your night.". Even through all of this, Saosin said they would have went on with Beau, Justin, and Chris all doing vocals because they were not going to give up.
Bassist Zach Kennedy also parted from the band early on, leaving because of personal issues and to focus on his art career. He went on to play bass in Ashlee Simpson's band, but left her band in 2005. He was replaced in Saosin with Chris Sorenson.
During 2005, the band toured the United States and became part of the Warped Tour. A video to the song "Bury Your Head" recorded during their tours has also been shown on Fuse. The band is currently signed to Capitol Records, and released their full-length debut on September 26, 2006 which sold over 35,000 copies in its first week. On the show "Steven's Untitled Rock Show" that airs on fuse, Justin corrected Steven saying "80,000". Although this statistic hasn't been confirmed. The record saw a change to a softer tone as the band tried to distance themselves from other artists of the same genre.[2] They were formerly on their own indie record label Death Do Us Part where they released their first EP.
Recently Saosin toured on international Taste of Chaos tour, which Cove Reber and Justin Shekoski had filled in for Fred Maschirino's vocal duties and guitar for Taking Back Sunday, and toured the US with Bleeding Through and Senses Fail. They also participated on the North American 2007 Taste of Chaos tour, headlined by The Used featuring bands: 30 Seconds to Mars, Aiden, Evaline, Senses Fail, and Chiodos.
Early May Saosin headed down-under to Australia to perform in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. The band was supported by A Static Lullaby and featured other Australian local bands.
In the summer of 2007, they were part of the Projekt Revolution tour, headlined by Linkin Park. Other appearances include Placebo and My Chemical Romance.
In a recent interview posted on their website, bassist Chris and vocalist Cove said that they have begun writing their new records while touring with the taste of chaos.
They are currently on tour with Alexisonfire, Envy on the Coast, and Norma Jean.
Origin Of NameA quote from former singer Anthony Green who suggested the name Saosin for the band: "It’s pronounced SAY-OCEAN [or SAY-O-SIN]. And it’s a Chinese proverb from the 15th and 16th centuries. It means “small heart”. Fathers used to marry off their youngest son's for money and used to tell them that they weren’t marrying for love, that their wife doesn’t matter. She could die at anytime so don’t get attached. They had to love with caution and raise their sons to be cold and unfeeling as well. I found it in the 8th grade and loved it, I used to name all my old bands that and write songs about it."
EquipmentBeau Burchell
Beau uses Gibson Les Paul Standards and SG Standards into a pair of Hughes and Kettner Triamp MKIIs, one going into a H&K CC412 B30, and the other into an H&K CC212. He strings up with Ernie Ball .012-.054 strings.
The heads and effects are controlled via a CAE loop box / midi control box with a CAE RS-10 foot controller. The wireless system is a Shure U4D. In the loops of the CAE box are a Boss NS-2, Line6 Echo Pro, MXR Phase 90 and Dunlop TS-1 before the amps, then a TC-Electronics G-Major for post-distortion effects.
Justin Shekoski
Justin is currently playing the 20th Anniversary Ibanez RG 550XX, in Desert Sun Yellow and Road Flare Red. His rig consists of a pair of Hughes and Kettner Triamp MKIIs, through matching H&K CC212 and CC412 B30 cabs. He has been previously seen with Schecter 006 Elites (Early tours), Gibson SG Standards, Gibson Les Paul Customs, Ibanez Paul Gilbert PG301's, and Fender Telecasters loaded with Seymour Duncan Hot Rails.
His rack consists of a Furman power conditioner, a Korg DT tuner, TC Electronic G Major and M1 effects units, a GCX midi controller and a rack tray. The tray contains a Boss noise suppressor and a Shure UR4D wireless receiver. The racks and cases are made by Encore Cases. He uses Ernie Ball .011-.052 strings.
Chris Sorenson
Chris uses Fender Jazz and Precision basses into a Sunn 1200S through a Fender 8x10 cab. He has previously been seen using Schecter Model Ts.
Alex Rodriguez
* Alex is no longer endorsed by shine and is now endorsed by Grestch Drums.
* Kit 1: Gun Gray Gloss Lacquer
All Black Chrome tube lugs, 50% Offset lugs on toms, inline lugs on bass drum. Toms are 6-ply and bass drum is 8-ply 12" x 8" 16" x 16" 22" x 20"ghjg
* Kit 2: 60's Oyster Black Wrap: (Kit From "Voices" video)
All Black Chrome tube lugs, 50% Offset lugs on toms, inline lugs on bass drum. Toms are 6-ply and bass drum is 8-ply 14" x 10" 18" x 16" 24" x 18"
* Before he played Shine, he used the following Truth kits:
Brown Gloss Maple: 22"x20" bass, 12"x8" and 14"x12" toms, Chrome hardware Smoke Black Acrylic: 24"x20" bass, 12"x8" and 14"x12" toms, Black Chrome hardware Snares: 14"x7 10 ply maple w/ diecast hoops, Black Glass wrap, Chrome hardware 14x7 clear acrylic w/ diecast hoops, Chrome hardware 14x6.5 black brass w/ triple flange hoops, all Black Chrome hardware. Zildjian cymbals.
DiscographyAlbums
Date of Release Title Label US Billboard Peak
June 17, 2003 Translating the Name EP Death Do Us Part
September 6, 2005 Saosin EP Capitol
September 26, 2006 Saosin Capitol #22
* Note: When pre-ordered, Translating the Name came with an Acoustic bonus disc.
* Note: The Saosin EP is sometimes referred to as the "Warped Tour EP" or the "Black EP". This was not planned as an official release, but as a free sampler to be handed out at Warped Tour but Capitol Records would not allow them to do this and instead released it as an EP.
Singles
Year Title Chart Positions Album
US Hot 100 US Modern Rock US Mainstream Rock
2003 "Seven Years" Translating the Name
2003 "3rd Measurement in C" Translating the Name
2005 "Bury Your Head" Saosin EP
2006 "Voices" #25 Saosin
2007 "You're Not Alone" Saosin
2007 "It's Far Better to Learn" Saosin
DemosSaosin has released many instrumental and individual demos, but no official demo tapes. A detailed list can be found
here.
Compilation tracks* A Santa Cause: It's a Punk Rock Christmas (2003) – "Mookie's Last Christmas" with Anthony Green on Vocals
* Music on the Brain Volume 1 (2004) – "I Can Tell There Was An Accident Here Earlier" with Cove Reber on Vocals
* The Mission Family Spring Sampler 05 (2005) – "Penelope (Acoustic)" (Pinback Cover) with Cove Reber on Vocals
* Atticus... Dragging the Lake Volume 3 (2005) – "Bury Your Head" with Cove Reber on Vocals
* Take Action! Volume 5 (2006) – "Sleepers" Demo
* The Best of Taste of Chaos (2006) – "I Wanna Hear Another Fast Song (Live)" (UK Edition Only)
* 2007 KROQ New ROQ (2006) – "Voices"
* The Best of Taste of Chaos Two (2007) – "Follow and Feel"
* Burnout Dominator (2007) - "Collapse"
* Stride Gum CD Sampler (2007) – "Sleepers (Live Recording)"
* Saw IV: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2007) – "Collapse"
Unreleased tracks* "I Can Tell There Was An Accident Here (Demo)" with Cove Reber on Vocals
* "Uphill Battle" with Cove Reber on Vocals
Music videos* "Seven Years" (2003) from Translating the Name
* "3rd Measurement in C" (2003) from Translating the Name
* "Bury Your Head" (2005) from Saosin EP
* "Voices" (Live Water Street Music Hall - Rochester,NY) (2006) from Saosin
* "Voices" (2007) from Saosin
* "You're Not Alone" (2007) from Saosin
* "It's Far Better To Learn (2007) from Saosin
Others* "Time After Time" (Cyndi Lauper cover) (2007) - Sessions@AOL
* "Something Left to Give" (Cover Reber guest vocals) (2007) - The Starting Line's Direction
ALL INFORMATION FROM SAOSIN'S WIKIPEDIA PAGE.
