Greenwheel

Greenwheel was an American alternative rock band formed by friends Ryan Jordan, Brandon Armstrong, Andrew Dwiggins, Douglas Randall, and Marc Wanninger in November 1998. The band was formed in St. Charles, Missouri, in a local record shop. This group of high school bandmates were originally called Hindsight before changing their name to Soma Holiday. They released a self-titled album that same year which garnered them local attention. After this brief period, they went underground, performing only occasionally.

Greenwheel
OriginSt. Charles, Missouri
GenresAlternative rock
Years active2000–2006
LabelsUnsigned currently; formerly Island Records
Members
  • Ryan Jordan (vocals, guitar)
  • Brandon Armstrong (bass)
  • Andrew Dwiggins (guitar)
  • Drew Bailey (drums)
Past members
  • Marc Wanninger (guitar)
  • Douglas Randall (drums)

Marc Wanninger recently completed his final presentation for his major in information systems at University of Missouri Saint Louis.

Major label success

One night at a local club, vocalist Ryan Jordan passed a copy of their self-produced CD to producer Malcolm Springer. Springer was impressed by the album and took the band to Memphis, Tennessee for pre-production work on a four-track demo CD that he later recorded with the band in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2000, the group renamed themselves Greenwheel began performing at various venues in New York City in support of the new Springer-produced demo CD. Island Records signed Greenwheel as a result of the demo and their performances in New York.

Greenwheel returned to Nashville and they completed recording on their major-label debut album in 2001. The debut album, Soma Holiday, was released in May 2002. This record was also recorded and produced by engineer Malcolm Springer.[1] Their track "Shelter" earned a spot on the 2002 soundtrack album Music from and Inspired by Spider-Man.

In 2001 Greenwheel began an aggressive touring schedule. They spent the summer of 2001 on tour with Flickerstick and Rubyhorse. In June and July of 2002, Greenwheel played 10 shows alongside Injected and Default. The band opened 20 shows for Our Lady Peace in July and August 2002. Following the tour with Our Lady Peace, Greenwheel toured as the opening act for Blindside and Hoobastank.[2][3]

Melissa Etheridge covered Greenwheel's "Breathe", and the song was selected as the first single off her 2004 release, Lucky. Their single "Breathe" earned regular airplay on alternative radio stations around the country, and the video for "Breathe" could be seen on MTV2. Etheridge's cover version of "Breathe" went on to reach the Top 10 on the radio charts in three different formats, as well as earn a Grammy Award nomination for the Greenwheel cover.[4][5]

Post–Island Records work

Greenwheel worked with producer Jim Wirt in early 2004 on 16 new songs for a second full-length release on Island Records.[6] The tentative name of the record was Electric Blanket, but the album was never released since the band parted ways with Island Records in 2004. Greenwheel was not permitted to release tracks from the Electric Blanket sessions for sale, but the band made the unreleased tracks available through a media player on their official website. The band expressed interest at their shows that fans distribute the CD among themselves if they don't have a copy, and the band provided burned copies of the disc for free at their shows.

After parting ways with Island, the band remixed and remastered their first independent self-titled release, and they re-released it to the public in 2005. While it shared the same name as their first major-label release, it consisted of a completely different track lineup (with the exception of "Drowning Man" and "Louder Than Words," which appear on both releases.)

In addition to parting ways with Island, the band also parted ways with long-time drummer Doug Randall, and Drew Bailey joined the band to fill the vacant spot behind the drum kit. Long-time guitarist Marc Wanninger also departed the band, resulting in the current four-member lineup.

On March 28, 2006, the band released a brand new five-song EP entitled Bridges For Burning. The new release was accompanied by Greenwheel's five-month-long "Bridges for Burning Tour".

In 2007, the band announced that they were forming a new band named Go Van Gogh, and in March of that year they released the new album Ruby and the Starlight Ballroom. Although both Greenwheel and Go Van Gogh had the same band members, the band members insisted the two bands would coexist as separate entities with different musical styles. In August 2008 both Greenwheel and Go Van Gogh played together at the i-Fest concert at the Family Arena in St. Charles, Missouri. Lead singer Ryan Jordan described the unique situation, "This is going to be my first time opening for myself. That's going to be fun. It's two different characters. With Go Van Gogh, it's us in ties and vests. In Greenwheel, it's T-shirts and jeans."[7]

Ryan Jordan and Andrew Dwiggins have been playing in a cover band called "The Wyld Stallyns", playing mostly bars in their local Missouri. Their MySpace was set up in 2006 and their website shows active shows through the end of 2011.

Discography
Year Title Type Label
2000 Soma Holiday full-length demo CD none/independent
2001 Hello EP Island Records
2002 Shelter CD single Island Records
2002 Shelter 3" CD single Island Records
2002 Soma Holiday full-length CD Island Records
2002 Soma Holiday full-length JAP CD (includes "Flood" bonus track) Island Records
2002 Breathe CD single Island Records
2004 Electric Blanket full-length CD (never officially released) Island Records
2005 Soma Holiday full-length CD (re-release of 2000 indie version) none/independent
2006 Bridges for Burning EP none/independent

References
  1. "AllMusic: Malcolm Springer". AllMusic. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2003-03-02. Retrieved 2011-04-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. http://new.music.yahoo.com/default/news/default-kicks-off-headlining-tour-adds-dates-through-august--12056636
  4. http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2006/4/7/greenwheel-battles-back-brink/
  5. "St. Louis was the Gateway to Rock". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. July 3, 2005. C6.
  6. http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/musicnews/article/227/Studio-Update-From-Greenwheel
  7. Johnson, Kevin (14 August 2008). "Greenwheel rolls out for one night at i-Fest". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. Get Out Section, p 15.
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