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Promise Ring
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The Promise Ring were one of the most popular [E]mo bands of the '90s, epitomizing the poppier, more accessible wing of the style. Along with Sunny Day Real Estate, the Get Up Kids, Braid, and Jimmy Eat World, they helped bring emo from the punk underground to a wider indie rock audience in the latter half of the decade. Like the exact definition of emo itself, the Promise Ring's music evolved in ways that were difficult to pin down completely; starting out as both intricate and visceral, they simplified their sound into more straightforward punk-pop, then dabbled in introspective roots rock before disbanding. Different parts of their fan base often disagreed about which phase was their best, but their debut 30° Everywhere is usually cited as one of the best emo albums of its era. The Promise Ring were formed in Milwaukee in early 1995 from the remnants of several other Midwestern emo outfits. Guitarist/singer Davey vonBohlen was still a member of the acclaimed cult band Cap'n Jazz when he started jamming with guitarist Jason Gnewikow (ex-None Left Standing), drummer Dan Didier (ex-Ceilishrine), and bassist Scott Beschta.
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The Promise Ring was an American band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In their early years, their music was usually classified as emo, but their later albums could be described more accurately as indie rock. The band was started in 1995 as a side project by Davey von Bohlen during his time as a guitarist/vocalist for Cap'n Jazz. VonBohlen started the project alongside guitarist Jason Gnewikow of None Left Standing, drummer Dan Didier of Ceilishrine, and bassist Scott Beschta.
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Formed in 1995 from the ashes of early Emo bands Cap'n Jazz, None Left Standing and Ceilishrine, the Promise Ring have melded aspects of those three bands into what would become the torch-bearing sound of Emo. Part sugar-charged pop with pieces of Hardcore and part Punk-Pop, the Promise Ring deliver amped-up energy with sharply clean guitars and vocals that retain a raw edge. Their start-stop timing keeps you on your toes as they change pace and mood on a dime. They wear their hearts on their sleeves, baring deep secrets in jangly, catchy songs.
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Building a following through touring and word of mouth, the Promise Ring released their debut album, 30° Everywhere, in the fall of 1996. It quickly became an underground sensation, and started to earn the band some attention from indie rock publications. While on a supporting tour in early 1997, the band repackaged and reissued its early singles on The Horse Latitudes. After the tour, they re-entered the studio and recorded their proper sophomore effort, the slightly poppier Nothing Feels Good, which was released later in 1997. Nothing Feels Good expanded the Promise Ring's indie following by leaps and bounds, and received generally good reviews. However, it marked bassist Beschta's last work with the group; he was replaced on the supporting tour by Tim Burton, the onetime bassist for Gnewikow's None Left Standing.
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Following the release of the Electric Pink EP in early 2000, the Promise Ring narrowly averted another tragedy when vonBohlen was diagnosed with a brain tumor. It was surgically removed and fortunately turned out to be benign, although a subsequent infection kept vonBohlen in the hospital and off the road for some time. In the aftermath, the Promise Ring severed ties with Jade Tree in 2001 and signed with Epitaph subsidiary Anti. The following year, they issued their fourth album, Wood/Water, a drastic change of pace whose introspective tone and shimmering atmosphere were indebted to the more recent roots-pop efforts of Wilco. Though their reinvention was generally a critically successful one, the Promise Ring elected to disband in October 2002. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
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The Promise Ring were formed in Milwaukee in early 1995 from the remnants of several other Midwestern emo outfits. Guitarist/singer Davey vonBohlen was still a member of the acclaimed cult band Cap'n Jazz when he started jamming with guitarist Jason Gnewikow (ex-None Left Standing), drummer Dan Didier (ex-Ceilishrine), and bassist Scott Beschta. When Cap'n Jazz disbanded later that year, vonBohlen focused on his former side project full-time. After a one-off debut single on the small Foresight label, "Watertown Plank"/"Mineral Point," the Promise Ring signed with the independent Jade Tree. Their first release was the three-song EP Falsetto Keeps Time, which included the emo classic "A Picture Postcard"; not long after, they ... issued a split 7" with Texas Is the Reason that featured the track "E. Texas Ave."
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Promise Ring