Letters to Cleo
Letters to Cleo | |
---|---|
Origin | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Genres | |
Years active | 1990–2000, 2008–2009, 2014, 2016–present |
Labels |
|
Members | Kay Hanley Greg McKenna Michael Eisenstein Stacy Jones Joe Klompus |
Past members | Scott Riebling Jon Olson Tom Polce Jason Sutter |
Website | letterstocleo |
Letters to Cleo is an American alternative rock band originating from Boston, Massachusetts, best known for the 1994 single, "Here & Now", from their full-length debut album, Aurora Gory Alice. The band's members are Kay Hanley, Greg McKenna, Michael Eisenstein, Stacy Jones, Scott Riebling, and later, Tom Polce and Joe Klompus.[1]
The group disbanded in 2000 but reunited for a small tour in 2008.[2] In 2016, the band reunited, and on October 14, 2016, released an EP, titled Back to Nebraska.[3]
Band history
This section needs additional citations for verification. (April 2019) |
Guitarist Greg McKenna and singer Kay Hanley formed the band Letters to Cleo in 1990. The band was initially called Rebecca Lulu,
Letters to Cleo played gigs in several Boston clubs, including
Soon after signing the deal, their new record label was asked to compile a soundtrack for "Melrose Place", and the record label decided to put "Here & Now" on it.[9] "Here & Now" was an instant hit, and the song reached number 10 on the Billboard Modern Rock Singles chart.[10][6]
On August 1, 1995, Letters to Cleo released a follow-up album, Wholesale Meats and Fish.[11] Its release was followed by extensive tours with Our Lady Peace, Sponge, Ned's Atomic Dustbin, and others. The single "Awake" achieved moderate rotation on alternative radio. The band also recorded a cover of The Cars song "Dangerous Type" for the major motion picture The Craft.
In 1997, Stacy Jones left the band to join
1998 saw the release of some early demos and B-sides in the form of the Sister album released originally by Wicked Disc.
Letters to Cleo appeared in the 1999 film
During that same year, the band opened for Cheap Trick at The Paradise Club in Boston. The band then recorded 15 new original songs for the Kids' WB cartoon, Generation O!, which aired from 2000 to 2001.[12]
The band played its final show on May 4, 2000, a benefit for their friend and longtime local supporter, Mikey D.[13] They announced their disbandment the following month. [13] In 2008 they went on a reunion tour and again in 2016.
Reunion
In December 2007, an impromptu reunion occurred when four of the original band members appeared at a benefit for longtime supporter Jeanne Connolly, at
As of July 2009, the band members returned to their own projects.
In the
In February 2016, Letters to Cleo was back together and recording new music.[18][19] The band's Facebook and Twitter feeds have been active with status updates, pictures and videos of ongoing recording.[20][21]
Letters to Cleo appeared as the musical guest at Geek Bowl XII, the twelfth annual event of its kind put on by Geeks Who Drink Pub Quizzes. The event took place in the band's hometown of Boston on Saturday, February 17, 2018.[22]
The band released their holiday EP Ok Christmas November 2019.[23]
As of 2022, LTC has been playing reunion shows periodically in the Northeast and California. The lineup includes both Stacy Jones and Tom Polce alternating playing drums show to show along with Kay Hanley, Michael Eisenstein, Greg McKenna, and Joe Klompus. [24]
In 2023, band members Kay Hanley and Tom Polce wrote ten original songs for "Subspace Rhapsody," the musical-themed ninth episode of the second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.[25]
Solo careers
This section needs additional citations for verification. (April 2019) |
Most of the band members also have solo careers. Most notable is Kay Hanley's career, which produced the albums
Michael Eisenstein has been doing session work[clarification needed] and touring work for many artists including Our Lady Peace and Lisa Loeb. He is a producer and engineer.
Hanley and Eisenstein married in the late '90s and have two children, Zoe Mabel and Henry Aaron (named for legendary baseball Hall Of Famer). They split up in 2010.
Drummer
Scott Riebling went into the production side of music. He has produced work for The Von Bondies, Cobra Starship and Fall Out Boy. Riebling resides in Massachusetts. His brother Eric Riebling plays bass in Pittsburgh band The Affordable Floors. He co-owns a pizza chain (Stoked Pizza) located in the Boston area.
Co-founding member Greg McKenna is playing live with his new band, City Rivals. McKenna resides in Dorchester, Massachusetts.
Tom Polce played with several prominent Boston-based bands and is a producer and engineer. He lives in California.
Band members
- Current members
- Kay Hanley – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1990–2000, 2008–2009, 2014, 2016–present)
- Greg McKenna – lead guitar, backing vocals (1990–2000, 2008–2009, 2014, 2016–present)
- Michael Eisenstein – rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1992–2000, 2008–2009, 2014, 2016–present)
- Joe Klompus – bass, backing vocals (2008–2009, 2016–present)
- Stacy Jones– drums, percussion (1994–1997, 2008–2009, 2014, 2016–present)
- Former members
- Tom Polce – drums (1997)
- Jason Sutter – drums (1997–2000)
- Scott Riebling – bass, backing vocals (1994–2000)
- Abe Laboriel Jr. - drums (1992–1993)
- Brian Karp - bass (1991–1993)
- Peter Whitehead - drums (1988-1991)
Discography
Studio albums
Year | Title | Billboard 200[27] | Heatseekers
|
---|---|---|---|
1993 | Aurora Gory Alice | 123 | 3 |
1995 | Wholesale Meats and Fish | 188 | 11 |
1997 | Go! | - | 45 |
2016 | Back to Nebraska (EP) | - | 22 |
2019 | OK Christmas (EP) | - | - |
2023 | Bad Man (EP) | - | - |
Other albums
Year | Title | Billboard 200[27] | Heatseekers
|
---|---|---|---|
1998 | Sister | - | - |
2008 | When Did We Do That? | - | - |
2009 | From Boston Massachusetts | - | - |
Cassettes
Year | Title |
---|---|
1990 | Letters to Cleo[28] |
Singles
Year | Song | Chart positions[29] | Album | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Alt
|
Billboard Hot 100 | Hot 100 Airplay
|
Hot 100 Singles Sales
|
Top 40 Mainstream
| |||
1994 | "Here & Now" | 10 | 56 | 72 | 69 | 40 | Aurora Gory Alice |
1995 | "Awake" | 17 | 88 | - | - | - | Wholesale Meats and Fish |
1996 | "Dangerous Type" | - | - | - | - | - | The Craft OST |
1997 | "Anchor" | - | - | - | - | - | Go! |
1999 | "I Want You to Want Me"/"Cruel to Be Kind" | - | - | - | - | - | 10 Things I Hate About You OST |
In popular culture
On the television show
See also
- List of alternative music artists
References
- ^ Dillon, Charlotte. "Letters to Cleo Biography". Allmusic. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
- ^ "Letters To Cleo Reuniting For Short Tour". Billboard. September 29, 2008. Archived from the original on September 10, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
- ^ Rettig, James (October 12, 2016). "Stream Letters To Cleo's band Reunion EP Back To Nebraska". Stereogum. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
- ^ a b c Holahan, Jane (April 6, 1995). "Toad will jump onto stage at MU's Pucillo Gym". Lancaster New Era. p. The Weekend 6.
- ^ a b Reed, James (July 17, 2015). "Kind of Life Being Home". The Boston Globe. p. G1, G14.
- ^ a b c d Welch, Norman (March 1, 1995). "From Cape Cod To 'Melrose Place,' Letters To Cleo Enjoys Success In The 'Here & Now'". The Charlotte Observer. p. Break 21.
- ^ Robicheau, Paul (October 28, 1993). "Local Pressings". The Boston Globe. p. 10 Calendar.
- ^ a b Johnson, Kenneth (November 11, 1994). "Letters to Cleo shows pop is back on top". The Charlotte Observer. p. 5D.
- ^ Saunders, Michael (July 16, 1995). "Letters to Cleo jam behind the scenes". Santa Maria Times. p. C-4.
- ^ "Modern Rock Tracks". Santa Cruz Sentinel. March 3, 1995. p. 2 Spotlight.
- ^ "New music". News-Press (Fort Myers, Florida). August 1, 1995. p. D1.
- ^ McShane, Larry (December 28, 2000). "Molly O rocks on the Kids' WB". Lansing State Journal. p. 5D.
- ^ The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the originalon October 15, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ^ Fowler, Matt (January 12, 2012). "Parks and Recreation: "The Comeback Kid" Review". IGN. Archived from the original on December 17, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
- ^ Feifer, Jason (January 13, 2012). ""Parks and Rec" Makes '90s Band Letters to Cleo a Trending Topic on Twitter". Co.Create. Fast Company. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
- ^ "Catch the T on 'Parks'". The Boston Globe. January 11, 2012. p. B14.
- ^ Haglund, David (April 25, 2014). "Jeff Tweedy, Ginuwine, Letters to Cleo, and More Close Out Parks and Recreation Finale". Slate. Archived from the original on August 11, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
- ^ "Here & Very Now: Letters To Cleo declare 'current' band status, promise new music". Vanyaland. February 17, 2016. Archived from the original on July 4, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
- ^ "Special delivery coming from Letters to Cleo - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Archived from the original on June 25, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ "Letters to Cleo". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ "Letters To Cleo (@LettersToCleo) | Twitter". twitter.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ "Geeks Who Drink". Geeks Who Drink. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
- ^ "Letters to Cleo Drop Surprising EP, 'Ok Christmas'". American Songwriter. November 18, 2019. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
- ^ "Boston alt-rockers Letters to Cleo ready for reunion show". patriotledger.com. November 15, 2022.
- ^ "How Strange New Worlds pulled off the first-ever Star Trek musical episode". Polygon. August 3, 2023.
- ^ MacNeil, Jason. "Kay Hanley Biography". Allmusic. Archived from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
- ^ a b Letters to Cleo Music News & Info | Billboard
- ^ "Letters To Cleo – Letters To Cleo". Discogs (in Italian). Archived from the original on June 26, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
- ^ https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p44852/charts-awards
- ^ a b Willison, Margaret (October 5, 2017). "Hanley talks 'Josie and the Pussycats'". The Boston Globe. p. B18.
- ^ "Catch the T on 'Parks'". The Boston Globe. January 11, 2012. p. B14.