Grouplove
Grouplove (often typeset as GROUPLOVE) is an American alternative rock band that was formed in 2009 by Hannah Hooper (lead vocals, keyboards), Christian Zucconi (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Sean Gadd (bass), Andrew Wessen (lead guitar, backing vocals), and Ryan Rabin (drums).
Grouplove
2009–present
- Glassnote Records
- Canvasback/Atlantic
- Hannah Hooper
- Chris Zucconi
- Andrew Wessen
- Daniel Gleason
- Benjamin Homola
- Sean Gadd
- Ryan Rabin
Rabin produced their debut EP, Grouplove, which was originally released independently, and was later re-released by Canvasback/Atlantic with a bonus track and their hit song, "Colours". They are best known for their single "Tongue Tied". Their debut album, Never Trust a Happy Song, was also produced by Rabin and was released worldwide on September 13, 2011.[1] As of 2023, Grouplove has released six studio albums and two EPs.
History[edit]
Formation (2009–2010)[edit]
Grouplove formed out of a friendship among the five members of the band. Hooper met Zucconi on the Lower East Side of Manhattan after hearing music from his former band ALOKE. Despite having just met, Hooper invited Zucconi to an artist residency in Crete she was leaving for later that week.[2] It was at the Ikarus artist commune in the village of Avdou where they met the rest of the band, Andrew Wessen, Ryan Rabin, and Sean Gadd. Rabin, an accomplished drummer and producer, grew up in Los Angeles with Wessen, a surfer and guitarist. Rabin comes from a musical family – his father is Trevor Rabin, former guitarist of Yes. Sean Gadd, a songwriter and guitarist from London, was also at the commune. The friendship between the members formed quickly, but the band did not form until a year later after Gadd, Zucconi and Hooper pooled their funds together and made a trip to Rabin's Los Angeles recording studio. They played their first show at El Cid in Los Angeles on May 10, 2010. Later that year, the band went on tour with Florence and the Machine on the west coast, and then the Joy Formidable on the east coast. By November, Nylon Magazine recognized Grouplove as one of the top ten in the "Best New Bands in 2010."[3]
Before signing with Canvasback/Atlantic Records the band licensed the song "Getaway Car" to HBO's How to Make it In America.[4] Canvasback re-released their self-titled EP, Grouplove, on January 25, 2011. In 2011, the band co-headlined a cross-country tour with Foster the People, and made appearances at Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, Reading and Leeds Festivals, and Glastonbury.[5]
Never Trust a Happy Song and Spreading Rumours (2011–2016)[edit]
The band released its debut album, Never Trust a Happy Song, on September 13, 2011, through Canvasback/Atlantic Records. They released 4 singles from the album – Colours (which was featured on FIFA 12, albeit as the Captain Cuts remix), "Tongue Tied" (which went on to score the band a no. 1 on the US Alternative Chart and featured in several commercials (including one for Apple, and one for Coca-Cola) and an episode of Fox's Glee) Lovely Cup and Itchin On A Photograph. In support of their debut album, the band went on a headlining North American Fall tour and also performed with Two Door Cinema Club as their main support.[6] In December, the band performed at KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas, which takes place at the Gibson Amphitheatre, in Universal City.[7] On January 3, 2012, the band kicked off their sold-out headline tour in Australia at the Factory Theatre in Sydney and continued their tour in Europe in February. The band began their US Spring 2012 tour on March 6 in Burlington, Vermont in support of Young the Giant.[6] Throughout the sold-out headline tour the band had featured stops at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Sasquatch! Music Festival, and Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.[8]