30° Everywhere
30° Everywhere is the debut studio album by American rock band the Promise Ring. It was released in 1996 on Jade Tree.
Background[edit]
The Promise Ring were formed from the aftermath of several Midwest emo groups[1] in February 1995: guitarists Jason Gnewikow and Matt Mangan (both formerly of None Left Standing), and drummer Dan Didier and bassist Scott Beschta (both formerly of Ceilishrine). Mangan moved to Indianapolis soon after the group formed, resulting in them inviting Cap'n Jazz guitarist Davey von Bohlen[2] after he had moved to Milwaukee.[3] He was friends with Gnewikow prior to this, but hadn't met Dider or Beschta before the group formed.[2] The band recorded a three-track demo ("Jupiter", "12 Sweaters Red" and "Mineral Point") in early March,[4] and played their first show shortly afterwards.[5] In June, the group went on a 10-day East Coast tour; after a brief five-day rest, Bohlen went back on tour with Cap'n Jazz to support the release of their debut. After the ninth day of the tour, Cap'n Jazz broke up,[2] and Bohlen was able to focus his time on the Promise Ring.[1] Bohlen said being in Cap'n Jazz made it easier for the Promise Ring to book tours.[6]
The band released a 7" vinyl single ("Watertown Plank" and "Mineral Point") through Foresight Records,[1] which was owned by a friend of theirs. The band then went on tour, performing in church halls and basements across the US.[7] While on tour, Texas Is the Reason guitarist Norman Brannon was given a copy of the band's demo and 7" single, and gave them to Jade Tree co-founder Tim Own, who was his roommate.[2][8] Jade Tree's other co-founder Darren Walters initially scoffed at the tape, thinking it was a joke; he later claimed that "[f]or some reason [...] it reminded me of U2." When the band were touring near Walters, he took them out to dinner and promptly signed them.[8] After further touring at the start of 1996,[7] the Falsetto Keeps Time EP was released in February,[9] and was followed by a split single with Texas Is the Reason in May.[10] Both releases were successful, with the band continuing to tour and work on material that would feature on their debut album.[7]
Production[edit]
According to Bohlen, the album was recorded in five days "in a situation where we had no idea what we wanted to do or how we wanted it to come out."[2] Additionally, Bohlen was ill during the making of it, resulting in issues with his vocals.[2] Zac Crainz of the Dallas Observer claimed the studio "apparently only had enough microphones to record the guitars."[11] Didier later said in retrospect: "it was the wrong recording at the wrong time with the wrong person."[2] Casey Rice had recently returned from touring around Europe with Tortoise, and to him, he felt that he was simply recording a punk rock act. Didier added: "So we were all like, 'This is our first record,' so it’s like 'Okay, cool, okay. Whatever. I love Tortoise!' We did that, and then listening back on the way home we were like, 'Fuck.'"[2]
Musically, 30° Everywhere has been described as emo[12] and avant-pop.[13] "A Picture Postcard" details not wanting a partner's love to leave them.[14]