Vedera
{{redirect|This Broken City|other uses|Broken City (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Short description|Rock band from Missouri, United States}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Vedera
| image = File:Vedera @ Download Festival, San Francisco.jpg
| caption = Vedera performing in 2008
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| alias =
| origin =
| genre = Indie rock, art rock
| years_active = 2004–2011
| label = Second Nature, Epic
| associated_acts =
| website =
| current_members =
| past_members = Kristen May
Brian Little
Jason Douglas
Drew Little
}}
Vedera (formerly Veda) was an American Indie rock band from Kansas City, Missouri. The band was founded as Veda in 2003 by members Kristen May, Brian Little, Jason Douglas and Drew Little. They released The Weight of an Empty Room, their first full length LP in 2005. That year, they changed their name to Vedera after a similarly named band pursued litigation against them.
After signing to Epic Records in 2007, Vedera toured with The All-American Rejects and The Fray. Stages, their first studio album, was released in 2009 and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. Vedera disbanded in 2011.
History
The band members all grew up the Kansas City suburb of Blue Springs, Missouri. Kristen May was born into a musical family and her mother introduced her to the work of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Jim Croce. When May was 17, her father, a drummer, gave her a guitar and she began writing her own songs.{{cn|date=September 2021}}
Meanwhile, Brian Little's father gave his son his first guitar at age 13 and Little played in bands throughout high school. May and Little knew each other in high school and began playing in a band together called, Red Authentic, after May returned home following an aborted stint at college in Nashville.{{Cite web|last=Blabbermouth|date=January 5, 2016|title=FLYLEAF Singer KRISTEN MAY Releases 'Conversations' Solo Album|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/flyleaf-singer-kristen-may-releases-conversations-solo-album/|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET}} "I didn't want to study music anymore, I just wanted to play it", she said.{{Cite web|date=March 5, 2010|title=Interview: Vedera's Kristen May - A Moment There|url=https://www.bloginity.com/2010/03/interview-vederas-kristen-may-a-moment-there/|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=Bloginity.com|language=en-US}}
In 2003, the band she had formed with her brothers needed a guitarist and they called on Little. However, with her brothers unable to tour, May and Little asked Little's younger brother Drew and high school friend Jason Douglas to join. The band was renamed "Veda".
''Veda'' to ''Vedera''
In the summer of 2004, Veda recorded its six-song EP, This Broken City, at Black Lodge with the support of Ed Rose. In 2005, the band released an LP entitled The Weight of an Empty Room.{{Cite web|last=Punknews.org|title=Vedera - The Weight Of An Empty Room (as Veda)|url=https://www.punknews.org/review/4229/vedera-the-weight-of-an-empty-room-as-veda|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=www.punknews.org|date=August 5, 2005 |language=en}}
In early December 2005, Veda's label, Second Nature Recordings, announced that the band had been forced to change its name from "Veda" to "Vedera" to avoid confusion with the band Vaeda, whose name was pronounced the same way.{{Cite web|last=Rork|first=Nicole|date=December 16, 2005|title=Veda change name to Vedera|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/archive_260/|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=Alternative Press|language=en-US}}
Beginning in the summer of 2005, Vedera toured with Dredg, MewithoutYou, Communiqué, Thrice, Mae, and Underoath. In early January 2006, Vedera went on a 40 city tour opening for Mutemath, followed by an opening stint for Owen. In the Summer of 2006, Vedera joined a tour with Lucero and Murder By Death. After a month off, they headed back on the road for another tour with Mae and The New Amsterdams. Kristen May and Brian Little subsequently married.{{Cite news|last=Finn|first=Timothy|date=October 23, 2014|title=With Flyleaf, Kristen May finds a new voice|work=The Kansas City Star|url=https://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/ent-columns-blogs/back-to-rockville/article3208669.html}}
In 2007, Vedera signed to Epic Records and were featured on the hit T.V. show, The Hills. They were also featured on iTunes and played their single "Satisfy" on Ellen.{{Cite web|title=Vedera|url=https://www.ellentube.com/artists/vedera/|website=EllenTube}} May also sang with the lead singer of The All American Rejects and Jason Mraz while they were touring with them.{{Cite web|last=Harper|first=Jason|title=Vedera/All-American Rejects|url=https://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/vedera-all-american-rejects/Content?oid=2476740|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=Riverfront Times|language=en}} Vedera opened for Eisley on their Combinations tour in early 2008.{{Cite web|last=Carr|first=Abbey|title=Indie rock group Eisley performs at First Unitarian Church|url=http://www.villanovan.com/indie-rock-group-eisley-performs-at-first-unitarian-church/article_b6e92cdf-0372-5f71-aa63-eb97acafe5cb.html|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=Villanovan (Villanova University)|language=en}} In early 2009 Vedera opened for The Fray on their club tour and also performed in the spring with The All-American Rejects on the I Wanna Rock tour.{{Cite web|last=PETERS|first=KRISTEN|title=Band Vedera on the road without a bus|url=https://dailyiowan.com/2009/07/23/band-vedera-on-the-road-without-a-bus/|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=The Daily Iowan}}{{Cite web|title=All-American Rejects, opening bands rock out Kuhl Gymnasium for spring concert|url=https://www.thelamron.com/posts/2009/04/23/all-american-rejects-opening-bands-rock-out-kuhl-gymnasium-for-spring-concert|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=The Lamron|language=en-US}}
''Stages''
Recording of their album Stages began October 17, 2007.{{Cite web|last=Gintowt|first=Richard|date=March 31, 2008|title=Bigger "Stages"|url=http://m.lawrence.com/news/2008/mar/31/bigger_stages/|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=m.lawrence.com|language=en}} It was released online on October 6, 2009.{{Cite web|title=Vedera {{!}} Videos {{!}} Photos {{!}} Editorial|url=https://www.baeblemusic.com/artist/vedera|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=baeblemusic.com}} The album charted well, reaching No. 2 on the Top Heatseekers chart{{Cite magazine|title=Heatseekers Albums Chart|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/heatseekers-albums/2010-01-22|access-date=November 11, 2020|magazine=Billboard}} and No. 146 on the Billboard 200 that year.{{cite magazine|title=Vedera – Chart history – Billboard| magazine=Billboard |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/277752/vedera/chart?f=324|access-date=September 15, 2014}}
May said that Stages is about "our blood, sweat, and tears over the past five years as a band on the road."{{Cite web|last=staff|first=Bay City Times|date=February 28, 2010|title=Hot new band Vedera plays Saturday|url=https://www.mlive.com/living/bay-city/2010/02/hot_new_band_vedera_plays_satu.html|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=mlive|language=en}} Vedera recorded Stages with Epic Records A&R executive Mike Flynn, who co-produced the Fray's double-platinum album How to Save a Life and Augustana's 2008 album Can't Love, Can't Hurt, and Producer/Engineer Warren Huart (The Fray, Augustana, Howie Day).{{Cite web|last=Welsh|first=Hugh S.|date=October 11, 2008|title=VIDEO: Behind the music|url=https://www.examiner.net/article/20081011/NEWS/310119845|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=The Examiner of East Jackson County|language=en}}
Breakup
In 2011, Vedera disbanded and announced that May and Brian would be working together on May's new solo album.
On October 22, 2012, it was announced that May had joined the band Flyleaf as lead vocalist, replacing vocalist Lacey Sturm.{{Cite web|last=Whitt|first=Cassie|date=October 22, 2012|title=Flyleaf announce departure of vocalist Lacey Sturm|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/flyleaf_announce_departure_of_vocalist_lacey_sturm/|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=Alternative Press|language=en-US}}
Band members
- Kristen May – vocals, guitar, piano
- Brian Little – lead guitar
- Jason Douglas – bass guitar
- Drew Little – drums
Discography
- 2004: This Broken City
- 2005: The Weight of an Empty Room
- 2009: Stages