Titus Andronicus (band)
{{short description|American punk/indie rock band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Titus Andronicus
| image = Titus Andronicus (band).jpg
| caption = Performing in 2008
| landscape = yes
| background = group_or_band
| origin = Glen Rock, New Jersey, U.S.
| genre = {{flatlist |
- Punk rock
- indie rock
- art punk{{cite web |url=http://kwbu.org/post/sound-opinions-show-2|title=Sound Opinions Show|work=KWBU-FM|access-date=November 17, 2015}}
- heartland rock}}
| years_active = 2005–present
| label = {{hlist||Merge|XL|Troubleman Unlimited}}
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.titusandronicus.net/}}
| current_members = {{ubl|Patrick Stickles|Liam Betson|R.J. Gordon|Chris Wilson}}
| past_members = {{ubl|Matt Miller|Martin Courtney|See members section for others}}
}}
Titus Andronicus is an American indie rock band formed in Glen Rock, New Jersey, in 2005.{{cite web|author=Margaret Reges |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/titus-andronicus-mn0001011840/biography |title=Titus Andronicus | B]iography & History |publisher=AllMusic |date= |access-date=2015-10-17}} The band is composed of singer-lyricist-guitarist Patrick Stickles, guitarist Liam Betson, bassist R.J. Gordon, and drummer Chris Wilson. The group takes its name from the Shakespeare play Titus Andronicus, and has cited musical and stylistic influences such as Neutral Milk Hotel and Pulp.{{cite web |last=Lindsay |first=Cam |url=http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=122&csid2=946&fid1=31628 |title=Titus Andronicus: Interviews |publisher=Exclaim.ca |date= |access-date=2012-11-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315083832/http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=122&csid2=946&fid1=31628 |archive-date=2009-03-15 }}
Career
Titus Andronicus's first album, The Airing of Grievances, was released in April 2008 and was described as the sound of a "violent, overblown and irreverent" indie band in a positive review by Pitchfork.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11202-the-airing-of-grievances/ |title=Titus Andronicus: The Airing of Grievances | Album Reviews |website=Pitchfork |date=2008-04-25 |access-date=2015-07-28}} The band went on extensive tours of North America and Europe to promote the album through 2009, including a "Bring On The Dudes Tour" with friends the So So Glos and tours opening for Ted Leo and the Pharmacists and Lucero.{{cite web|url=http://www.last.fm/music/Titus+Andronicus/+events |title=Titus Andronicus Tour Dates and Concerts — |website=Last.fm |date=2013-11-26 |access-date=2015-07-28}}
In 2010 the band released their second album, The Monitor, through XL Recordings. A sprawling concept album loosely based on themes relating to the American Civil War, it was critically well received,{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/the-monitor/titus-andronicus |title=Reviews for The Monitor by Titus Andronicus |publisher=Metacritic |date= |access-date=2015-07-28}} and debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2010-03-27/heatseekers-albums|title=Heatseeking Albums: week of March 27, 2012|website=Billboard.com|access-date=2012-11-13}} That month, Rolling Stone named the band one of the seven best new bands of 2010.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/best-new-bands-of-2010-free-energy-grace-potter-and-the-nocturnals-and-five-more-20100317 |title=Best New Bands of 2010: Free Energy, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and Five More | Music News |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=2010-03-17 |access-date=2012-11-13}} The band continued their extensive touring that included a tour of record stores, tours opening for the Pogues, Bright Eyes, and Okkervil River, plus appearances at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Lollapalooza, and Roskilde Festival. Titus Andronicus recorded a version of Nirvana's "Breed" for the tribute album Newermind at this time as well.
Their third album, Local Business, was released in 2012. A more stripped down record, Local Business was recorded live in the studio with almost no overdubs, creating an album that was "plug-in-and-play" ready, helping the band sound as close as possible to the album when playing live.{{cite web|last=Cohen|first=Ian|title=Titus Andronicus Local Business|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17258-local-business/|website=Pitchfork|access-date=22 April 2013}}{{cite web|title=LOCAL BUSINESS: THE NEW TITUS ANDRONICUS LP|url=http://titusandronicus.net/blog/431/local-business-the-new-titus-andronicus-lp|work=Titus Andronicus|publisher=XL Recordings|access-date=22 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029035833/http://titusandronicus.net/blog/431/local-business-the-new-titus-andronicus-lp|archive-date=29 October 2012|url-status=dead}}
It was listed at number 38 on Rolling Stone{{'}}s 50 Best Albums of 2012,{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2012-20121205/titus-andronicus-local-business-19691231|title=50 Best Albums of 2012: Titus Andronicus – Local Business|website=RollingStone.com|date=5 December 2012 |access-date=2013-04-30}} reached number 105 on the Billboard Top 200 chart,{{cite web|author=Margaret Reges |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/titus-andronicus-mn0001011840/awards |title=Titus Andronicus | Awards |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2015-07-28}} and gained positive reviews as well as a 7.0 from Pitchfork. Touring for the album included an expansive headlining tour with opener Ceremony, a co-headlining trek of the United Kingdom with Fucked Up, and another tour with the So So Glos dubbed the "Bring Back The Dudes Tour."
The band released their fourth album, The Most Lamentable Tragedy, on 2015 via Merge Records. Taking the form of a 93-minute, 29-song, five-act rock opera (including covers of Daniel Johnston and the Pogues),{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/59456-titus-andronicus-announce-new-album-the-most-lamentable-tragedy-share-dimed-out-lyric-video/ |title=Titus Andronicus Announce New Album The Most Lamentable Tragedy, Share "Dimed Out" Lyric Video | News |website=Pitchfork |date=2015-04-30 |access-date=2015-07-28}} Stickles described the record as a "complicated metaphor about manic depression, melding elements of philosophy, psychology, and science fiction through the plight of one troubled protagonist’s inner demons." The band also disclosed a film element to the album and thus far released a 15-minute music video covering Act Two.{{cite web |url = http://consequenceofsound.net/2013/09/titus-andronicus-new-album-will-be-a-30-track-rock-opera-about-manic-depression/ |title = Titus Andronicus' new album will be a 30-track rock opera about manic depression |last = Roffman |first = Michael |website = Consequence of Sound |date = 3 September 2013|access-date= 21 January 2014 }} The Most Lamentable Tragedy was released to positive reviews,{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/the-most-lamentable-tragedy/titus-andronicus |title=Reviews for The Most Lamentable Tragedy by Titus Andronicus |publisher=Metacritic |date= |access-date=2015-10-17}} and the group announced a "TMLT Around the World Tour" covering the United States and Europe.
Their fifth LP, A Productive Cough, was released in 2018 via Merge Records.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/titus-andronicus-announce-new-album-a-productive-cough-share-new-song-listen/|title=Titus Andronicus Announce New Album A Productive Cough, Share New Song: Listen|website=Pitchfork|date=2018-01-04 |access-date=2019-05-11}} It featured a "ballad oriented approach" not seen previously on Titus Andronicus albums, and was followed by a stripped down two piece tour featuring Stickles and keyboardist Alexander Molini.{{cite news |last1=Leas |first1=Ryan |title=On A Productive Cough, Titus Andronicus Is Growing Up |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1984048/on-a-productive-cough-titus-andronicus-is-growing-up/franchises/sounding-board/ |access-date=11 May 2019 |website=Stereogum |date=2 March 2018}} Their sixth album, An Obelisk, was released in 2019 via Merge Records.
Titus Andronicus has performed live on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/39673-watch-titus-andronicus-crash-fallon/ |title=Watch: Titus Andronicus Crash "Fallon" | News |website=Pitchfork |date=2010-08-06 |access-date=2015-07-28}} and Last Call with Carson Daly{{cite web|url=http://theaudioperv.com/2012/12/09/titus-andronicus-in-a-big-city-still-life-with-hot-deuce-and-silver-platter-123-last-call/ |title=Titus Andronicus – "In A Big City" + "Still Life with Hot Deuce and Silver Platter" 12/3 Last Call |publisher=The Audio Perv |date= |access-date=2015-07-28}} twice. Their song "Titus Andronicus" was used in an episode of the TV show Elementary entitled "The Adventure of the Nutmeg Concoction".{{cite web|title=The song in this scene is "Titus Andronicus" by a band of the same name.|publisher=Elementary Writers Twitter account|date=Dec 11, 2014|url=https://twitter.com/ELEMENTARYStaff/status/543253139491524610|access-date=December 12, 2014}} "Titus Andronicus Forever" was featured in the TV show Bored to Death{{cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/bored-to-death/episodes/2/14-the-case-of-the-grievous-clerical-error/music.html#/ |title=14: The Case of the Grievous Clerical Error! |website=Hbo.com |access-date=2015-07-28}} and the film Premium Rush,{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4019778/|title=Titus Andronicus (II)|website=IMDb.com|access-date=2015-07-28}} while "Dimed Out" was used to close out the first season of the Showtime show Billions.
Original keyboardist Matt Miller died in March 2021 at the age of 34.{{cite web |last1=Helman |first1=Peter |title=Titus Andronicus Keyboardist Matt "Money" Miller Dead At 34 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2120985/titus-andronicus-keyboardist-matt-money-miller-dead-at-34/news/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=18 March 2021 |language=en |date=17 March 2021}}
Their seventh studio album The Will to Live was released on September 30, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/TitusAndronicus/status/1549379631022850049|title=We're back "The Will to Live" is the seventh studio album by @TitusAndronicus, available September 30th from @MergeRecords. The new single "(I'm) Screwed" is out now|website=Twitter.com|access-date=2022-07-21}}
Band members
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
Current members
- Patrick Stickles – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards {{small|(2005–present)}}
- Liam Betson – guitar, percussion, backing vocals {{small|(2006–2008, 2009, 2011–2013, 2016–present)}}
- R.J. Gordon – bass, backing vocals {{small|(2016–present)}}
- Chris Wilson – drums {{small|(2016–present)}}
- Michael Carson – keyboards {{small|(2022-present)}}
Former members
- Sarim Al-Rawi – drums {{small|(2005–2006)}}
- Alexi Crawford – guitar {{small|(2005–2006)}}
- Matt Miller † – keyboard {{small|(2005–2006; died 2021)}}
- Dan Tews – guitar, percussion, backing vocals {{small|(2005–2008)}}
- Ian Graetzer – bass {{small|(2005–2011)}}
{{col-2}}
- Martin Courtney – keyboard {{small|(2006)}}
- Ian Dykstra – drums {{small|(2006–2007)}}
- Alex Tretiak – drums {{small|(2007)}}
- Eric Harm – drums, percussion, backing vocals {{small|(2007–2015)}}
- Andrew Cedermark – guitar {{small|(2007, 2008–2009)}}
- Ian O'Neill – guitar {{small|(2008–2009)}}
- Pete Feigenbaum – guitar {{small|(2009)}}
- Amy Klein – guitar, violin {{small|(2010–2011)}}
- Dave Robbins – keyboard, guitar {{small|(2010–2011)}}
- Julian Veronesi – bass, backing vocals {{small|(2011–2015)}}
- Adam Reich – guitar, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals {{small|(2012–2016)}}
- Jonah Maurer – guitar {{small|(2013–2016)}}
- Elio DeLuca – piano, keyboards {{small|(2015–2016; 2008–2015 session)}}
- Alex Molini — piano, keyboards {{small|(2017-2018)}}
{{col-end}}
=Timeline=
{{#tag:timeline|
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Colors =
id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals
id:Guitar value:green legend:Guitar
id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:Keys value:purple legend:Keyboards
id:Violin value:drabgreen legend:Violin
id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:Lines1 value:black legend:Studio_albums
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layer:back
at:04/14/2008 color:Lines1
at:03/09/2010 color:Lines1
at:10/22/2012 color:Lines1
at:07/28/2015 color:Lines1
at:03/02/2018 color:Lines1
at:06/21/2019 color:Lines1
at:09/30/2022 color:Lines1
BarData =
bar:Stickles text:"Patrick Stickles"
bar:Tews text:"Dan Tews"
bar:Crawford text:"Alexi Crawford"
bar:Betson text:"Liam Betson"
bar:Cedermark text:"Andrew Cedermark"
bar:O'Neill text:"Ian O'Neill"
bar:Feigenbaum text:"Pete Feigenbaum"
bar:Klein text:"Amy Klein"
bar:Robbins text:"Dave Robbins"
bar:Reich text:"Adam Reich"
bar:Maurer text:"Jonah Maurer"
bar:Graetzer text:"Ian Graetzer"
bar:Veronesi text:"Julian Veronesi"
bar:Gordon text:"R.J. Gordon"
bar:Miller text:"Matt Miller"
bar:Courtney text:"Martin Courtney"
bar:DeLuca text:"Elio DeLuca"
bar:Molini text:"Alexander Molini"
bar:Carson text:"Michael Carson"
bar:Al-Rawi text:"Sarim Al-Rawi"
bar:Dykstra text:"Ian Dykstra"
bar:Tretiak text:"Alex Tretiak"
bar:Harm text:"Eric Harm"
bar:Wilson text:"Chris Wilson"
PlotData =
width:3 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:Stickles from:start till:end color:Guitar
bar:Klein from:01/01/2010 till:06/01/2011 color:Violin
bar:Robbins from:01/01/2010 till:06/01/2011 color:Keys
bar:Reich from:01/01/2012 till:03/01/2016 color:Keys
width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:Stickles from:start till:end color:Vocals
bar:Tews from:start till:01/01/2008 color:Guitar
bar:Crawford from:start till:01/01/2006 color:Guitar
bar:Betson from:01/01/2006 till:01/01/2008 color:Guitar
bar:Betson from:02/01/2009 till:12/01/2009 color:Guitar
bar:Betson from:06/01/2011 till:03/01/2013 color:Guitar
bar:Betson from:03/01/2016 till:end color:Guitar
bar:Cedermark from:04/01/2007 till:08/01/2007 color:Guitar
bar:Cedermark from:01/01/2008 till:02/01/2009 color:Guitar
bar:O'Neill from:01/01/2008 till:02/01/2009 color:Guitar
bar:Feigenbaum from:02/01/2009 till:12/01/2009 color:Guitar
bar:Klein from:01/01/2010 till:06/01/2011 color:Guitar
bar:Robbins from:01/01/2010 till:06/01/2011 color:Guitar
bar:Reich from:01/01/2012 till:03/01/2016 color:Guitar
bar:Maurer from:03/01/2013 till:03/01/2016 color:Guitar
bar:Graetzer from:start till:03/01/2011 color:Bass
bar:Veronesi from:03/01/2011 till:10/01/2015 color:Bass
bar:Gordon from:01/01/2016 till:end color:Bass
bar:Miller from:start till:01/01/2006 color:Keys
bar:Courtney from:01/01/2006 till:08/01/2006 color:Keys
bar:DeLuca from:01/01/2015 till:04/01/2016 color:Keys
bar:Molini from:11/01/2017 till:06/01/2018 color:Keys
bar:Carson from:01/01/2022 till:end color:Keys
bar:Al-Rawi from:start till:01/01/2006 color:Drums
bar:Dykstra from:01/01/2006 till:01/01/2007 color:Drums
bar:Tretiak from:01/01/2007 till:06/01/2007 color:Drums
bar:Harm from:06/01/2007 till:10/01/2015 color:Drums
bar:Wilson from:01/01/2016 till:end color:Drums
}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class ="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2"|Year
!rowspan="2"|Album details !colspan="7"|Peak chart positions |
|---|
| style="width:4em;font-size:75%"|US {{cite magazine |date= |title=Titus Andronicus Chart History: Billboard 200 |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/titus-andronicus/chart-history/tlp/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |magazine=Billboard}} !style="width:4em;font-size:75%"|US Top Albums !style="width:4em;font-size:75%"|US Heat !style="width:4em;font-size:75%"|US Rock !style="width:4em;font-size:75%"|US Alt !style="width:4em;font-size:75%"|US Indie !style="width:4em;font-size:75%"|US Taste |
2008
| style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — |
2010
| style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 7 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 28 | style="text-align:center;"| — |
2012
| style="text-align:center;"| 105 | style="text-align:center;"| 105 | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 35 | style="text-align:center;"| 20 | style="text-align:center;"| 21 | style="text-align:center;"| 10 |
2015
| style="text-align:center;"| 164 | style="text-align:center;"| 82 | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 18 | style="text-align:center;"| 14 | style="text-align:center;"| 11 | style="text-align:center;"| 7 |
2018
| style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 81 | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 13 | style="text-align:center;"| 25 |
2019
| style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 73 | style="text-align:center;"| 6 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 17 | style="text-align:center;"| — |
2022
| style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — |
=Singles, EPs, and mixtapes=
- Titus Andronicus EP (2005, Self-Released)
- "Titus Andronicus" b/w "Fear and Loathing in Mahwah, New Jersey" 7" (2007, Shake Appeal Recording Company)
- "Albert Camus" b/w "Upon Viewing Brueghel's 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus'" 7" (2007, Troubleman Unlimited Records)
- "Titus Andronicus" b/w "Every Time I See the Light Parts 1 & 2" 7" (2008, Merok Records)
- "My Time Outside The Womb" b/w "To Old Friends & New" 7" (2009, Merok Records)
- The Innocents Abroad – Live in London 23/02/09 vinyl-only LP (2009, Rough Trade Shop Exclusive)
- "Four Score and Seven" 7" (2010, XL Recordings)
- Split 7" w/Free Energy "Anxiety Block" b/w "I'm Going Down" (2010, XL Recordings/DFA)
- [http://titusandronicusllc.tumblr.com/post/19561316079/titus-andronicus-llc-mixtape-vol-1 Titus Andronicus LLC Mixtape Vol 1] (2012, Self-Released)
- Split 7" w/Ceremony "In a Big City" b/w "Everything Burns" (2012, XL Recordings/Matador Records)
- Record Store Day 12" "Still Life with Hot Deuce and Silver Platter" b/w "(I've Got A) Date Tonight," "The Dog" (2013, XL Recordings)
- Seven 7"s Series #1 & #2: 7-Year Anniversary 2x7” (2014, Self-Released)
- Seven 7"s Series #3: Split w/Wicked Kind "Stranded (On My Own)" b/w "Sport," "Piece of the Pie" (2014, Self-Released)
- Seven 7"s Series #4: Split w/Lost Boy? "Fatal Flaw" b/w "Dairy Queen" (2015, Self-Released)
- [https://soundcloud.com/titusandronicustheband/sets/llc-mixtape-vol-2a-sorry-about-the-delay Titus Andronicus LLC Mixtape Vol 2: Sorry About the Delay] (2015, Self-Released)
- Seven 7"s Series #5: Split w/Diarrhea Planet "Upon Viewing Oregon's Landscape With the Flood of Detritus" b/w "Enter The Great Gate," "Babyhead" (2015, Self-Released)
- Seven 7"s Series #6: Split w/Spider Bags "Dimed Out" b/w "Dishrag" (2015, Self-Released)
- Seven 7"s Series #7: "Mr. E Mann [Remix]" b/w "Fired Up [Remix]" (2016, Self-Released)
- [https://soundcloud.com/titusandronicustheband/sets/a-reductive-scoff Titus Andronicus Mixtape Volume III : A Reductive Scoff] (2018, Self-Released)
- Home Alone On Halloween 12" EP (2018, Merge Records)
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.titusandronicus.net/ Official website]
- {{Discogs artist|Titus Andronicus}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20101022042037/http://venuszine.com/clips/video/music/160/Venus_Zine__Dirty_Laundry_TV_present_Titus_Andronicus Venus Zine & Dirty Laundry TV present: Titus Andronicus]
- [http://www.thewaster.com/interview/titus-andronicus-shakespearean-rumble/ Interview with Patrick Stickles on TheWaster.com]
- [http://synconation.com/interviews/conquering-the-goths-an-interview-with-titus-andronicus/ Synconation speaks with Patrick Stickles of Titus Andronicus]
{{Titus Andronicus (band)|state=uncollapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Titus Andronicus}}
Category:Indie rock musical groups from New Jersey
Category:Musical groups from Bergen County, New Jersey
Category:XL Recordings artists