Relient K
Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt Thiessen, Matt Hoopes, and Brian Pittman during their third year in high school and time at Malone University in Canton. The band is named after guitarist Hoopes' automobile, a Plymouth Reliant K car, with the spelling intentionally altered to avoid trademark infringement over the Reliant name.
The group is associated with the contemporary Christian music culture, most notably the Christian rock and punk scene. They have also performed alongside secular artists. The band has reached critical success with mainstream pop-punk and alternative rock; additionally, their sound incorporates piano and acoustic elements. Since its formation, Relient K has released nine studio albums, seven EPs, one Christmas album, and one collection of rarities. The band has received numerous awards including a Grammy Award nomination in 2004 for Best Rock Gospel Album and two Dove Awards.
Relient K has found commercial success with their studio albums, three of which peaked in the top 15 of the U.S. Billboard 200 chart: 2004's Mmhmm, which debuted at No. 15, 2007's Five Score and Seven Years Ago, their fifth and most successful album, which debuted at No. 6; and 2009's Forget and Not Slow Down, which debuted at No. 15. The band has sold over 2 million records, with three albums being given a gold certification by the RIAA. The band is also highly successful throughout the Christian albums and contemporary Christian music charts. On October 4, 2011, the band released a cover album Is for Karaoke. On July 2, 2013, the band's seventh full-length album, Collapsible Lung, was released. On July 22, 2016, the band's eighth full-length album, Air for Free, was released. On April 24, 2020, they released Relient K: Live that includes 15 tracks that were only previously available on vinyl and were recorded at shows in 2009 and 2016.
History
''All Work and No Play'' and ''Relient K'' (1998–2000)
Founded in 1998, Relient K was formed by Matt Thiessen, Matt Hoopes and Brian Pittman. Named after Hoopes' Plymouth Reliant K car, they played their first show a friend's house on New Year's Eve, playing in front of roughly 15 people. Todd Frascone later joined for a short time in 1998 as a drummer. However, Frascone left the band after recording the demo All Work & No Play. Released on June 20, 1998, the demo was recorded by Mark Lee Townsend, the former live guitar player for dc Talk. Townsend had met the band members because his daughter, Danielle, was friends with the band. Danielle eventually married guitarist Matt Hoopes.All Work & No Play caught the attention of dc Talk's Toby McKeehan, who later signed the band to his label, Gotee Records. Relient K released its debut EP, 2000 A.D.D., with Gotee Records in 2000, with Stephen Cushman on drums. Soon after, the band released Relient K on April 25, 2000, the group's first full-length CD, which featured lyrics with a wide range of pop-culture and Christian references. The album spawned two singles: the debut single "My Girlfriend" and "Wake Up Call". In an interview, Matt Thiessen said that when the band started, he was the only one who sang, but he knew Matt Hoopes could sing as well. Hoopes was reluctant, but Thiessen said he "got it out of him". As a result, Hoopes became the backing vocalist. It was recorded at Townsend's home studio in Nashville, where he recalled, "It was very disarming for them in a good way. We just worked at it and got it right. I didn't want to play guitar on the record. I wanted to force them to play. And they rose to the occasion."
''The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek'' and ''Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do'' (2001–2003)
As the group was preparing to record their second full-length album, Cushman left later in 2000, to join the Christian metal band Narcissus. Brett Schoneman of Christian rock band Philmore filled in temporarily, followed by Jared Byers, drummer of the Christian rock band Bleach, until Dave Douglas joined in December 2000. The band released their second studio album, The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek, on August 28, 2001. Though there were still plenty of pop-culture references on this album, it contained more maturity and growth both musically and lyrically. The album's sound is described as "tighter" and punk rock leaning. The group also released The Creepy EP on the same day, featuring two songs from the album and four exclusive tracks. Three singles were released from the album, "Less is More" and "Pressing On" in 2001, and "For The Moments I Feel Faint / Those Words Are Not Enough" in 2002. The album peaked at number 158 on the Billboard 200 and at number six on the US Christian Albums chart. It has sold 300,000 copies and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. The group toured in support of the album, playing nearly 200 shows in North America towards the end of 2001.The album landed them in the Christian rock limelight, and Relient K was offered a clothing deal with Abercrombie & Fitch in 2001. Gotee, the band's label, accepted the offer on Relient K's behalf; Pittman recalls, "The choice was never really given to us. The label made the choice." After significant pressure from conservative Christian organizations such as Focus on the Family, Gotee backed out of the contract.
Relient K was asked to do a rendition of the popular VeggieTales song "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" for the 2002 feature length VeggieTales movie Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie. The song appeared on the Veggie Rocks! compilation album. The song would be later used again in The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie.
On March 11, 2003, Relient K released their third studio album Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do. The album peaked at number 38 on the Billboard 200 and at number two on the Christian Albums chart. It was nominated for a Grammy in the category of "Best Rock Gospel Album" and won the Dove Award for "Modern Rock Album of the Year" in 2004. The group released "Getting Into You" and "I Am Understood?" as a double single in 2003. "Getting Into You" peaked at number 25 on the US Hot Christian Songs, their first on that chart, and "I Am Understood?" at number six on the US Christian Rock Songs chart. "Chap Stick, Chapped Lips & Things Like Chemistry" was released as the album's third single. A music video was released for the song. Another double single was released later in the year, "Falling Out / Forward Motion". The album was certified Gold by the RIAA and has sold 518,000 copies in the United States.
In July 2003, Relient K released a limited edition vinyl EP entitled The Vinyl Countdown, with only 1,500 copies in printing. The EP included two versions of the song, "Five Iron Frenzy is Either Dead or Dying." The album was dedicated to Jesse Alkire, contest winner and friend of Matthew Thiessen, who inspired the song "The Vinyl Countdown." The group embarked on the Everybody Wants To Rule The World Tour with Anberlin and Don't Look Down from September to November 2003. On November 4, 2003, Relient K released a bonus disc for Christmas, entitled Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand. The album was packaged with Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do from November 2003 to December 2003.
''Mmhmm'' (2004–2006)
The group headed to Dark Horse Recording in Franklin, Tennessee, to record their fourth studio album, Mmhmm. However, shortly before Mmhmms release, longtime bassist Brian Pittman left the band, citing that he was tired of touring and wanted to start a landscaping company. Matt Thiessen announced Pittman's departure in fall 2004, saying: "After almost seven years of being in Relient K, our cherished and lifelong friend, Brian Pittman has decided to move on to other things. That IS crazy, huh? Brian decided to leave the band in June, so we've had plenty of time to let the initial shock die down. We're aware that a lot of you already knew, so we apologize for not announcing this sooner. There were many reasons. He thought long and hard about his decision, and he came to the conclusion that he would like to do other things than play bass for the band We want to thank Brian for all the years he gave the band. You're the best, buddy." Pittman still received credits for his contribution on the album. He would join Christian metal band Inhale Exhale shortly afterward. Pittman reunited with the band for one final show, which was the release party for Mmhmm at the Newport Music Hall in Columbus, Ohio on November 1, 2004. John Warne, lead singer and guitarist of Ace Troubleshooter, filled in as bassist for the remainder of 2004 and became full-time bassist in 2005. Also in 2005, Jon Schneck joined as a third guitarist, as well as a banjo and bell player to create a fuller, more distinctive sound. That was because the band planned to add more piano and having another guitarist gave Matt Thiessen the freedom to do that.On October 22, the group signed a record deal with Capitol. Mmhmm was released on November 2, 2004. Lyrically, the album showcases the group's growth in songwriting, toning down on the silliness presented in their songs, in favor of "more thoughtful lyricism," focusing on writing songs about failure, forgiveness, redemption and travails of romance. With this decision, they hoped that their fans were "willing to grow up a bit with us." Thiessen wrote most of the songs from January to April 2004, and at the time, was reflecting on his past mistakes and finding hope, a theme he said "should be a part of everyone's life." The album had the band experimenting with its sound a bit more, which included incorporating piano, hardcore punk and some pop music. The album debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and sold 51,473 copies in its first week. It also topped the Christian Albums chart for five weeks. In July 2005, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA for shipping over 500,000 copies. The album has sold 800,000 copies in the United States.
Mmhmm features two Top 40 hits which both made it on MTV's Top Ten. The lead single "Be My Escape" was released on the same day as the album's release date and was serviced to radio on February 22, 2005. The music video for the track entered MTV's Top Ten, and landed them an appearance on The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The song peaked at number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is also topped the US Christian Rock Songs chart. It was featured on Now! 19. The song was certified Gold by the RIAA in October 2005. The album's second single "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" was released on June 27, 2005. A music video for the song was also released and has made its way onto the Total Request Live countdown, The song peaked at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number 22 on the US Pop Airplay chart. It was included on Now! 21.
In February 2005, Relient K toured the Southern US states with Mae and Name Taken. They appeared at The Bamboozle festival in April 2005. In May and June 2005, the group supported Good Charlotte and Simple Plan on their co-headlining US tour. Between mid June and mid August, the group went on the 2005 edition of Warped Tour. In October and November 2005, they embarked on a headlining US tour, with support from MxPx, Rufio and Over It. Between February and April 2006, the group went on The Matt Hoopes Birthday Tour, with support from the Rocket Summer and Maxeen. Following this, they appeared at The Bamboozle festival. They later performed at the Nintendo Fusion Tour in the fall of 2006.
Relient K provided the first track, "Manic Monday" originally recorded by The Bangles, to the various artist CD, Punk Goes 80's, released on June 7, 2005. Mmhmm was awarded a Dove Award in 2006 for the "Rock Album of the Year." "Be My Escape" also earned a Dove Award nomination for "Short Form Music Video of the Year." The band was nominated for "Artist of the Year" and "Band of the Year" at GMA Canada's 2006 Covenant Awards. Their song "High of 75" was featured in the soundtrack of the video game MX vs. ATV Untamed. The group released their fifth EP, Apathetic on November 8, 2005. The EP spawned the single "The Truth" and was serviced to radio on November 14. In June 2006, the band appeared on Freaked!, a DC Talk tribute album, produced by Gotee Records, composed of several different bands from that time, paying homage to DC Talk's Jesus Freak album. Relient K performed the song "Between You and Me". The group also released the third single from Mmhmm, "High of 75" on June 2. The song reached number 17 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart.
At the end of 2006, Relient K was named the top Christian rock artist by Radio & Records. They were also ranked at fifth for top Christian CHR artist.