Highly Suspect
{{Short description|American rock band}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Highly Suspect
| image = Highly Suspect-2333 (18812661826).jpg
| image_upright = 1.2
| caption = Frontman Johnny Stevens (right) and bass player Rich Meyer (left) performing at Pointfest 33 at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in St. Louis, May 2015
| origin = Cape Cod, Massachusetts. U.S.
| genre = {{flatlist|
- Alternative rock
- hard rock
- {{nowrap|blues rock}}
- grunge
- garage rock
}}
| years_active = 2009–present
| label = {{flatlist|
}}
| website = {{URL|highlysuspect.net}}
| current_members = * Johnny Stevens
- Rich Meyer
- Ryan Meyer
- Matt Kofos
- Mark Schwartz
}}
Highly Suspect is an American rock band from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The band consists of twin brothers Rich (bass and backing vocals) and Ryan Meyer (drums and backing vocals), Johnny Stevens (guitar and lead vocals), and Matt Kofos (guitar, synthesizer, and backing vocals).{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B1McZXYFACk/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/B1McZXYFACk |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=limited|title=SiriusXM Octane on Instagram: "I gladly joined the guys in Highly Suspect in their hazing of new band mate Matt. Hear Highly Suspect's new songs '16' and 'Upperdrugs'…"|via=Instagram|language=en|access-date=August 15, 2019}}{{cbignore}} After starting as a bar cover band, moved to Brooklyn, New York where they recorded The Worst Humans EP with producer Joel Hamilton.
The band's first studio album Mister Asylum was released in 2015, earning them a nomination for Best Rock Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. The song "Lydia" was nominated for Best Rock Song.{{cite web |url= http://www.wqlz.com/2015/12/07/grammy-nominations-announced-included-slipknot-sevendust-highly-suspect-and-ghost/ |title=Grammy Nominations Announced; Included Slipknot, Sevendust, Highly Suspect and Ghost|publisher=WQLZ |date=December 7, 2015|access-date=December 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719121150/http://www.wqlz.com/2015/12/07/grammy-nominations-announced-included-slipknot-sevendust-highly-suspect-and-ghost/|archive-date=July 19, 2017|url-status=dead}} Highly Suspect's second studio album,{{cite magazine|last1=Vain|first1=Madison|title=Highly Suspect Detail Second Album, 'The Boy Who Died Wolf' – exclusive |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2016/09/07/highly-suspect-boy-who-died-wolf |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=November 2, 2016}} The Boy Who Died Wolf, was released in 2016. Two singles were released from the album, "My Name Is Human", which topped the Billboard US Mainstream Rock Songs chart, and "Little One", which peaked at number 2 on the same chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/6531923/highly-suspect/chart?f=376 |title=Highly Suspect – Chart history – Billboard|magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 10, 2019}} Their third studio album, MCID, was released in 2019 and their fourth, The Midnight Demon Club, in 2022. Their fifth, As Above, So Below, came out on July 19, 2024.
History
=Formation and ''Mister Asylum'' (2009–2015)=
Highly Suspect began in 2009 as a cover band playing songs by Sublime, Jimi Hendrix, and Pink Floyd in local bars in the Cape Cod area including the British Beer Company, J.R Brody's Roadside Tavern, and Sundancers. They also toured and played a limited number of shows with bands 10 Years, Monster Truck, and Sevendust.{{cite web|first=Joe|last=Coscarelli|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/15/arts/music/in-grammy-race-the-band-highly-suspect-marvels-at-its-surprising-double-shot.html?_r=0|title=In Grammy Race, the Band Highly Suspect Marvels at Its Surprising Double Shot |work=The New York Times |date=February 14, 2016|access-date=February 18, 2016}} The band all graduated from Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, east of Hyannis.{{cite web|first=Jay N.|last=Miller |url=http://www.enterprisenews.com/article/20150528/ENTERTAINMENT/150526130|title=MUSIC SCENE: Highly Suspect Revel in the Growing Buzz|work=Enterprise News |date=March 4, 2015|access-date=June 25, 2015}}
First Offense was Highly Suspect's first EP, released on July 15, 2009. The EP has "Life's a Fun Ride", "Not Me", and "Smile On", their first written and recorded songs after making the switch from a cover band ("Not Me" would later appear on the self-titled album Highly Suspect). The Gang Lion EP was the band's second EP, released on October 3, 2010. It consists of "Gang Lion", "Big Bear", and "Then Mickey", all of which later appeared on their self-titled album, Highly Suspect.
The Worst Humans was the band's third EP, released July 13, 2012. The EP featured the songs "Bath Salts", "Gumshoe" and "The Go". The recordings were available for both physical purchase and digital download on Bandcamp. The band's fourth EP, Black Ocean, was released in October 2013. It featured two tracks from their debut release as well as three new tracks, "_ Me Up", "Lydia", and "Guess What". The release was jointly produced by Joel Hamilton and Joe Duplantier of Gojira.
Their self-titled compilation album Highly Suspect was released in 2011. It contains fourteen tracks, consisting of several new songs as well as previously released but re-recorded songs, like "Gang Lion" and "Then Mickey". The band toured the United States in early 2015 with Deftones, Chevelle, Halestorm, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Scott Weiland from Stone Temple Pilots. The music video for the song "Lydia" premiered on MTV.com on June 25, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/artists/highly-suspect/biography/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630043104/http://www.mtv.com/artists/highly-suspect/biography/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 30, 2015|title=Artist Spotlight: Highly Suspect |work=MTV |access-date=June 25, 2015}}
Their first studio album{{cite magazine|title=10 New Artists You Need to Know Now|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/10-new-artists-you-need-to-know-may-2015-20150526/highly-suspect-20150522|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=May 26, 2015 |access-date=November 2, 2016}}{{cite web|last1=Childers|first1=Chad|title=Highly Suspect Reveal 'The Boy Who Died Wolf' Album Details|url=http://loudwire.com/highly-suspect-the-boy-who-died-wolf-album-details-my-name-is-human-single/|website=Loudwire|date=September 7, 2016 |access-date=November 2, 2016}} Mister Asylum was released on July 17, 2015, via 300 Entertainment.{{cite magazine |last=Weiner |first=Natalie |date=June 1, 2015 |title=Highly Suspect Debuts Grungy New Track |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6583101/highly-suspect-claudeland-exclusive-mister-asylum |access-date=June 30, 2015 |magazine=Billboard}} The first single from the album, titled "Lydia", peaked at number 4 on the US Mainstream Rock Songs chart and at number 24 on the US Alternative Songs chart. On July 24, 2015, the album debuted at number 39 on the New Zealand Albums Chart.{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/albums/2015-07-24|title=NZ Top 40 Albums Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=July 27, 2015|access-date=July 24, 2015}} Highly Suspect was selected for iTunes' 2015 New Artist Spotlight by its editors.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/mister-asylum/975018114|title=Highly Suspect on iTunes|work=iTunes|access-date=June 30, 2015}} In November, the band released their second single "Bloodfeather", which peaked at number 5 on the US Mainstream Rock Songs chart.
=''The Boy Who Died Wolf'' (2016–2017)=
File:Highly Suspect 2015.jpg east of Iowa City, November 2015]]
Their second studio album, The Boy Who Died Wolf, was released November 18, 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-boy-who-died-wolf-mw0002980448|title=The Boy Who Died Wolf – Highly Suspect |last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|website=AllMusic|access-date=January 5, 2017}} The band released the single "My Name Is Human" on September 7, 2016.{{cite magazine|last1=Vain|first1=Madison|title=Highly Suspect Detail Second Album, 'The Boy Who Died Wolf' – exclusive|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2016/09/07/highly-suspect-boy-who-died-wolf|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=September 8, 2016}} A second single, "Little One", was released on April 26, 2017. On December 6, it was announced that "My Name Is Human" was nominated for Best Rock Song at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/grammys-beyonce-drake-rihanna-kanye-west-lead-nominees-w453807|title=Grammys 2017: Beyonce, Drake, Rihanna, Kanye West Lead Nominees|newspaper=Rolling Stone|access-date=January 5, 2017}}
=''MCID'' (2018–2021)=
A single featuring Young Thug entitled "Tokyo Ghoul" and Stevens' hip-hop persona "Terrible Johnny" was released October 4, 2019.{{cite web |last1=Espinoza |first1=Joshua |title=Premiere: Highly Suspect Connects With Young Thug and Terrible Johnny on "Tokyo Ghoul" |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2019/10/highly-suspect-young-thug-tokyo-ghoul |website=Complex |access-date=October 4, 2019 |language=en}} The fourth single, "Canals", was released on October 25, 2019.{{cite web|last1=Childers|first1=Chad|title=Highly Suspect Let Out Angst With New Song 'Canals'|url=https://loudwire.com/highly-suspect-canals/|website=Loudwire|date=October 25, 2019 |access-date=October 25, 2019|language=en}} The album was released on November 1.{{cite web |title=Highly Suspect's Third Album 'MCID' Out Now |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Highly-Suspects-Third-Album-MCID-Out-Now-20191101 |website=BroadwayWorld |access-date=November 1, 2019 |language=en}}{{cite web |date=August 16, 2019 |title=New HIGHLY SUSPECT Album 'MCID' To Feature Collaboration With GOJIRA |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/new-highly-suspect-album-mcid-to-feature-collaboration-with-gojira/ |website=Blabbermouth.net}}
=''The Midnight Demon Club'' (2022–2023)=
The band's fourth full-length album The Midnight Demon Club came out on September 9, 2022, featuring singles such as "Natural Born Killer" and "Pink Lullabye".{{cite web |url=https://variancemagazine.com/sounds/13460-highly-suspect-album-the-midnight-demon-club |title=Highly Suspect's new album 'The Midnight Demon Club' is kind of amazing |website=Variance |date=September 9, 2022 |access-date=September 14, 2022 |language=en}}
=''As Above, So Below'' (2024–Present)=
On July 19th, 2024 the band released their fifth full-length album As Above, So Below, and announced a supporting tour beginning in September 2024.
Musical style
Highly Suspect's musical style has been described as alternative rock,{{Cite web|date=December 6, 2017|title=Who the f**k are... Highly Suspect?|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/who-the-f-k-are-highly-suspect|access-date=August 21, 2021 |website=Classic Rock}} hard rock,{{Cite web|last=Nickoloff|first=Anne|date=January 30, 2019|title=Hard rock band Highly Suspect announces Cleveland concert in July|url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2018/04/hard_rock_band_highly_suspect.html|access-date=August 21, 2021 |website=Cleveland}} blues rock,{{Cite web|last=Greeney|first=Jack|date=February 16, 2019|title=Live Review: Highly Suspect|url=https://mancunion.com/2018/02/16/live-review-highly-suspect/|access-date=August 21, 2021 |website=Mancunion}} grunge, rock and roll,{{cite web |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/bands/Highly-Suspect/60964/|title=Highly Suspect reviews, music, news|website=Sputnikmusic|access-date=August 21, 2021}} progressive rock,{{Cite news|last=Lowe|first=Joshua|date=April 26, 2017|title=Highly Suspect releases new video for Little One|url=https://www.soundlinkmagazine.com/highly-suspect-releases-new-video-little-one/|access-date=August 21, 2021 |website=Sound Link Magazine}} and garage rock.{{Cite web|last=Geslani|first=Michelle|date=March 4, 2015|title=Highly Suspect premieres new song "Lydia" — listen|url=https://consequence.net/2015/03/highly-suspect-premieres-new-song-lydia-listen/|access-date=August 21, 2021 |website=Consequence}} Their third studio album, MCID, marked a change in sound and utilized elements of hip hop,{{Cite web|author=James Christopher Monger|title= Highly Suspect MCID|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mcid-mw0003332401|access-date=August 21, 2021 |website=AllMusic}}{{Cite web|last=Schaffner|first=Lauryn|date=January 30, 2019|title=Highly Suspect Frontman Addresses 'Fake Fans,' New Hip Songs – Interview|url=https://loudwire.com/highly-suspect-interview-johnny-stevens-new-album-hip-hop/|access-date=August 21, 2021 |website=Loudwire}} pop, and electropop.
Band members
- Johnny Stevens – lead vocals, guitar, synthesizer, piano (2009–present)
- Ryan Meyer – drums, vocals (2009–present)
- Rich Meyer – bass, synthesizer, vocals (2009–present)
- Matt Kofos – guitar, synthesizer, vocals (2019–present)
- Mark Schwartz – guitar, synthesizer, keyboards, vocals (2019–present)
Discography
=Studio albums=
=Compilation albums=
- Highly Suspect (2011)
=EPs=
- First Offense (2009)
- The Gang Lion EP (2010)
- The Worst Humans (2012)
- Black Ocean (2013)
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="6" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album | |||||
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" | US Rock Air. {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/highly-suspect/chart-history/rka/|title=Highly Suspect – Chart History – Rock Airplay|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 27, 2019}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" | US Alt. ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" | US Main. ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" | US Rock ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" | CAN Rock ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| NZ | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| scope="row" | "Lydia"
| rowspan="2" | 2015 | 14 || 24 || 4 || 26 || — || — |
| rowspan="2" | Mister Asylum | |||||
| scope="row"| "Bloodfeather"
| 21 || 37 || 5 || — || — || — | | |||||
| scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;" | "Serotonia"
| rowspan="2"| 2016 | — || — || — || — || — || — | | rowspan="3" | The Boy Who Died Wolf | |||||
| scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;" | "My Name Is Human"
| 7 || 20 || 1 || 12 || 17 || —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"My Name Is Human" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number seven on the NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart.}} | | |||||
| scope="row" | "Little One"
| 2017 | 12 || 26 || 2 || 21 || 29 || — | | |||||
| scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;" | "16"
| rowspan="4" | 2019 | 3 || 15 || 1 || 6 || 26 || —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"16" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 22 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2019-09-20|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=August 26, 2019|access-date=August 24, 2019}}}} | | rowspan="5" | MCID | |||||
| scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;" | "Upperdrugs"
| — || — || — || — || — || —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"Upperdrugs" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 32 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.}} | | |||||
| scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;" | "Tokyo Ghoul"
| — || — || — || — || — || — | | |||||
| scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;" | "Canals"
| — || — || 40 || — || — || — | | |||||
| scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;" | "These Days"
| 2020 | 31 || 39 || 10 || — || — || — | | |||||
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| "Natural Born Killer"/ "Pink Lullabye"{{cite web |title=Highly Suspect Debut Two Very Different New Songs 'Natural Born Killer' + 'Pink Lullabye,' Announce 'The Midnight Demon Club Album' |url=https://loudwire.com/highly-suspect-natural-born-killer-pink-lullabye-songs-midnight-demon-club-album/ |website=Loudwire |date=June 22, 2022 |access-date=July 6, 2022}} | rowspan="4"| 2022 | 7 || 16 || 1 || — || — || — | | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="4" | The Midnight Demon Club | |||||
| — | — | — | — | — | —
| |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"|"Ice Cold"/ "New California"{{cite web |title= Highly Suspect teases new 'The Midnight Demon Club' track, "Ice Cold" |url= https://www.1057thepoint.com/music-news/highly-suspect-teases-new-the-midnight-demon-club-track-ice-cold/ |website=1057thepoint|date= August 4, 2022 |access-date=August 4, 2022}} | — || 35 || 27 || — || — || — | | |||||
| — | — | — | — | — | —
| |
| scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;" | "Summertime Voodoo"
| rowspan="4"| 2024 | — || — || 32 || — || — || — | | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="4" | As Above, So Below | |||||
| scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;" | "The Blue-Eyed Devil"
| — || — || — || — || — || — | | |||||
| scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;" | "The 8th of October (To August 17th)"
| — || — || — || — || — || — | | |||||
| scope="row" style="white-space: nowrap;" | "Plastic Boxes"
| — || — || 23 || — || — || — | | |||||
| colspan="13" style="font-size:smaller;"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart. |
=Music videos=
Awards and nominations
Notes
{{notelist-ua}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Highly Suspect}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Atlantic Records artists
Category:Alternative rock groups from Massachusetts
Category:American progressive rock groups
Category:Musical groups established in 2009
Category:American musical trios
Category:2009 establishments in Massachusetts