Walk the Moon

Walk the Moon
Left to right: Kevin Ray, Sean Waugaman, Nicholas Petricca, Eli Maiman
Background information
Origin Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Genres
Years active 2006–present
Labels RCA
Associated acts
Website walkthemoonband.com
Members
  • Nicholas Petricca
  • Kevin Ray
  • Sean Waugaman
  • Eli Maiman
Past members
  • Adam Reifsnyder
  • Nick Lerangis
  • Sam Cole
  • Grant Crabtree
  • Ricky Human
  • Michael Kolodziej
  • Chris Robinson

Walk the Moon is an American rock band based in Cincinnati, Ohio.[5] Lead singer Nicholas Petricca started the band in 2006, while a student at Kenyon College, deriving the band's name from the song "Walking on the Moon" by The Police.[6] The group independently released their debut studio album, I want! I want!, in November 2010, receiving airplay for the track "Anna Sun" on multiple alternative radio stations.[7] Along with the success of "Anna Sun", Alt Nation named them a band you need to know for the summer of 2012. Influential music blog Neon Gold helped to break the band in January 2011, calling "Anna Sun", "the kind of stuff British A&R dreams, and major label bidding wars, are made of."[8]

In February 2011, Walk the Moon signed to RCA Records and in June 2012, released their first major label studio album, Walk the Moon.[9] The album includes a re-recorded version of "Anna Sun", which was song of the summer at least two years in a row.[10] In December 2014, the band released their second major-label studio album, Talking Is Hard. This album includes the song "Shut Up and Dance", which hit number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number one on the Billboard Rock Songs chart and Billboard Alternative Songs chart. Ryan Seed of Billboard gave "Shut Up and Dance" four and a half stars out of five.[11]

Walk the Moon have cited Talking Heads, David Bowie, The Killers, The Police, Tears for Fears, and Phil Collins as influences.[12] The band's use of 1980s musical mainstays such as keyboard and synthesizer is also notable.

History

2010–2011: Beginning, Anna Sun and i Want! i Want!

In 2011, the band members began to paint their faces for live performances and they would bring enough paint to share with audience members. They have claimed it has become a “live tradition”.[6] Bonnaroo’s camera crew documented the painting process in a short video from the 2011 festival.[13] Preceding the release of their album, Walk the Moon went on tour with Young the Giant and Kaiser Chiefs, as well as releasing a three-song sampler, Anna Sun EP, in January 2012. The band played at the Sasquatch Music Festival and Firefly Music Festival. They are known for their energetic performances and tireless touring schedule.[14][15] Before the release of their self-titled album, Walk the Moon joined many other performers at the Music Midtown festival and performed on the Great Southeast Music Hall Stage in Atlanta, Georgia in September 2011.[16] In spring 2011, the band went on a short tour with the west coast band, Grouplove, as well as supported Panic! at the Disco and Weezer on select dates. The band played on the main stage at the 20th Anniversary of Lollapalooza and also supported Local Natives in an Official Lollaplooza Aftershow at Lincoln Hall.

The band's self-released album i Want! i Want! was recorded by Chris Schmidt and Ben Cochran at Soap Floats Recording Studio in their hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. The lead single from the album, "Anna Sun", became a surprise hit in the summer of 2011 following an endorsement by the Esquire article "30 Summer Songs Every Man Should Listen To".[17] Written by Petricca and New York songwriter Nick Lerangis as their time at Kenyon College came to an end. "It's about college, about maintaining that little bit of being a kid," Petricca said. "Don't be afraid to play."[18] The song was named after one of their favorite teachers (see here and here) It was named song of the summer by MTV and Seventeen Mag, and one of the top songs of the year by Amazon. It has been officially remixed by Fool's Gold and received a Trouble Productions remix by Albert Hammond Jr.[19] Anna Sun rose to the number one spot on Alt. Nation on Sirius XM Radio. "Anna Sun" was added to the video rotation of American Eagle Outfitters stores in May 2011. It was featured on the hit TV show Vampire Diaries in the first episode of season three.[20] It was also the free single of the week on iTunes for the week of May 15. Filmed in 2011 in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood,[21] the "Anna Sun" music video was released to coincide with the album.[21][22] The video was shot on-location at the Cincinnati Mockbee building, as well as at a city park. It was directed and produced by Patrick Meier of the Cincinnati company,[21] Contrast Productions, and features original choreography from Kim Popa of PONES Inc., as well as a cast full of the band's friends and locals from Cincinnati. MTV Hive calls the video a "hilariously choreographed, neon-colored and awesomely shot in one take" production.[23]

2012–2013: Walk the Moon

The band’s self-titled major label debut Walk the Moon was released on June 19, 2012. The same day they appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman. On June 27, 2012, the band joined many other performers at Summerfest Music Festival and performed on the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage.[24][25] The first single was "Anna Sun" which peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Alternative chart and number 20 on the Billboard Rock Songs chart.[26] Also in 2012, Walk The Moon played in the iTunes Festival in London, appeared in KROQ's Weenie Roast 2012, and was the supporting act for Fun on their European tour. Their song “Quesadilla” was added to the official FIFA 13 soundtrack and their second single, “Tightrope” was used in a commercial for the HP Envy 4 Ultrabook laptop.[27] and was featured in the game Saints Row IV. Petricca appeared on the song "Finale" by Madeon, which was included on the FIFA 13 soundtrack.[28] In July and August 2014 before the release of Talking Is Hard, Walk The Moon was the opener of Panic! at the Disco on the This Is Gospel Tour.[29]

2014–2016: Breakout with Talking Is Hard

On September 9, 2014, Walk The Moon released the single "Shut Up and Dance" (stylized as "SHUT UP + DANCE") in advance of their new album.[30] It was written by the band members and songwriters Ben Berger and Ryan McMahon. The song is based on an experience frontman Nicholas Petricca had at a Los Angeles nightclub. His girlfriend invited him to dance, inspiring the title, which he envisioned as an anthem for letting go of frustration and having fun. The song reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a number-one hit on the magazine's Alternative Songs chart and the Hot Adult Contemporary chart.[31] Outside the United States, the song topped the charts in Poland, peaked within the top ten of the charts in Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom, the top twenty of the charts in New Zealand and Sweden, and the top thirty of the charts in the Netherlands. The band has performed "Shut Up and Dance" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Good Morning America.

During October 2014, Walk the Moon released a series of pictures and videos on their Facebook page that hinted at the album's title. The title was officially revealed to be Talking Is Hard on October 29, 2014, with a release date set for December 2.[32] On November 10, 2014, the band released the cover artwork and song listing for Talking is Hard. On November 17, 2014, they released "Different Colors" as the second single off the album.[33] On November 24, 2014, the album was surprise released on Spotify a week before its set release date. On December 2, 2014, the album was released in digital, CD, and vinyl formats. The album also charted at number 26 on the Billboard 200 in its first week of release.

In July 2015, Cincinnati-originated Walk the Moon performed "Shut Up and Dance" in front of a hometown crowd at Great American Ballpark, prior to the start of the Home Run Derby.[34][35] On July 24, 2015, they joined Taylor Swift on stage at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, during her 1989 tour to perform "Shut Up and Dance".[36] On November 16, 2015, the group sang the national anthem preceding a Monday Night Football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Texans, which was played at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.

Walk the Moon performed their breakout hit "Shut Up and Dance" live at the 43rd Annual American Music Awards (AMA) on November 22, 2015.[37] They were first-time AMA nominees for:[38]

  • New Artist of the Year
  • Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group
  • Favorite Artist – Alternative Rock

The band's competition for New Artist of the Year included: Sam Hunt (winner), Fetty Wap, Tove Lo, and The Weeknd. For Favorite Pop/Rock Band, the competition was One Direction (winner) and Maroon 5. The other finalists for the Favorite Alternative Rock award were Fall Out Boy (winner) and Hozier. The band's live performance at the 2015 AMAs can be seen here.

On January 1, 2016, Walk the Moon performed "Shut Up and Dance" and "Work This Body" on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in New York to honor the New Year. The band is also featured on The Knocks' song titled "Best For Last", which was released on their debut album entitled 55. The album was released on March 4, 2016, under the label Big Beat Records.[39]

In April 2016, Walk the Moon announced their "Work This Body" tour would be cancelled due to an illness in Petricca's family.[40] The following month, their previously recorded collaboration with Steve Aoki and Boehm, "Back 2 U", was released as a single. In June, their rendition of the "Ghostbusters" theme song was included on the soundtrack for the 2016 film.[41]

2017–present: What If Nothing

In August 2017, Petricca performed solo at LoveLoud fest, a music festival benefitting LGBTQ+ youth in Utah.[42] The next month, the group released the single "One Foot" from their upcoming third album, along with an accompanying music video.[43] On September 26, 2017, Walk the Moon announced their third studio album What If Nothing. On October 13, 2017, the band released their second single from the album, "Headphones".[44] On October 27, 2017, Walk the Moon released their third single from the album, "Surrender".[45] What If Nothing was released on November 10, 2017. The group also announced the Press Restart Tour with supporting act Company of Thieves. The tour began November 19 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is scheduled to end on April 14, 2018, in Glasgow, United Kingdom.[46] What If Nothing debuted at #6 on the U.S. iTunes charts.

Band members

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

  • You Are Not Alone (2016)

Awards and nominations

Year Organization Nominations Award Result Ref.
2015Teen Choice Awards"Shut Up and Dance"Choice Music: Party SongNominated[57]
MTV Video Music AwardBest Rock VideoNominated[58]
American Music Award"Walk The Moon"New Artist of the YearNominated[38]
Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/GroupNominated[38]
Favorite Artist -
Alternative Rock		Nominated[38]
2016iHeartRadio Music Awards"Shut Up and Dance"Song of the YearNominated[59]
Alternative Rock
Song of the Year		 Nominated[59]
"Walk The Moon"Best Duo/Group of the YearNominated[59]
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards"Walk The Moon"Favorite New ArtistNominated[60]
ASCAP Pop Music Awards"Walk The Moon"Vanguard AwardWon[61]
Billboard Music Award"Shut Up and Dance"Top Radio SongWon[62]
"Shut Up and Dance"Top Rock SongWon[62]
"Walk The Moon"Top Rock ArtistNominated[62]

References

  1. ↑ "Walk The Moon Announces New Album 'What If Nothing'". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  2. ↑ "AC/DC 'Bust's to No. 1 on Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Walk the Moon – Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  4. ↑ "The Secret of Walk the Moon's Glittery Feel-Good Rock". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  5. ↑ "About". Walk The Moon. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Kaplan, Ilana. "Face Time with Walk the Moon". Interview Magazine. Interview, Inc. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  7. ↑ WALK THE MOON. "About WALK THE MOON". Sonicbids. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  8. ↑ "THIS HOUSE IS FALLING APART. – Neon Gold Records". neongoldrecords.com.
  9. ↑ "Walk the Moon signs to RCA Records". Archived from the original on September 12, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  10. ↑ Coachman, Kirsten. "Interview: Walk The Moon's Eli Maiman Discusses the Band's New Album". SeattlePi. Hearst Seattle Media, LLC. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  11. ↑ "The Best and Worst Singles of the Week – From Lorde to One Direction". Billboard. October 3, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Face Time with WALK THE MOON".
  13. ↑ Official Bonnarro YouTube (June 10, 2011). "Walk The Moon Backstage At Bonnaroo". Bonnaroo Web Sites. Retrieved June 30, 2011. Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, June 9–12, 2011, Manchester, Tennessee, CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF MAGIC
  14. ↑ "Music Times". www.musictimes.com.
  15. ↑ "Walk the Moon Bring Non-Stop Energy, But Also Finesse, to Miami Show: Live Review".
  16. ↑ "Walk The Moon". Midtown Music. Archived from the original on April 24, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Walk the Moon – Summer Songs 2011". Esquire. July 30, 2010. Archived from the original on February 29, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  18. ↑ "WALK THE MOON on Last Call with Carson Daly 4/1/11". YouTube. April 5, 2011. Archived from the original on May 27, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Song Premiere: Walk the Moon, 'Anna Sun (Trouble Productions Remix)'".
  20. ↑ Ruthie (September 21, 2011). "Vampire Diaries Music – Episode 3.01 – The Birthday – Song List – Vampire Diaries Spoilers and News". vampirediariesonline.com. Vampire Diaries Spoilers and News. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  21. 1 2 3 "UC alumnus Patrick Meier directs Anna Sun video in Cincinnati". UC Magazine. 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  22. ↑ Ricci, Benjamin (March 1, 2011). "Performer Magazine The Musician's Resource". Performer Publications, Inc. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  23. ↑ Jill Menze (April 22, 2011). "Walk the Moon Get Their Neon Kicks | MTV". Viacom International Inc. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  24. ↑ Staff (June 23, 2012). "Summerfest 2012 schedule". The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Summerfest 2012". Summerfest.com\accessdate=December 24, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Walk The Moon Billboard Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  27. ↑ Robinson, Joe (August 16, 2012). "HP Envy 4 Ultrabook 'Hot Potato' 2012 Commercial – What's the Song?". Diffuser.fm. Townsquare Media, Inc. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  28. ↑ Gregg (May 21, 2012). "Madeon feat. Nicholas Petricca – Finale (Original Mix)". Dropbeatsnotbombs.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  29. ↑ Crane, Matt (February 24, 2014). "Panic! At The Disco announce The Gospel Tour with Walk The Moon". Alternative Press. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  30. ↑ Kraus, Brian (September 9, 2014). "Walk The Moon release new single, "Shut Up And Dance" – Alternative Press". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. August 15, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  32. ↑ DeGroot, Joey (October 30, 2014). "Walk The Moon Announce Release of New Album 'Talking Is Hard'". Music Times. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  33. ↑ TALKING IS HARD. itunes.apple.com (Digital, CD, Vinyl). RCA Records. November 28, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  34. ↑ ESPN Music (July 14, 2015). "WALK THE MOON Return to Cincinnati to Perform at Home Run Derby". Disney Interactive. ESPN GO. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  35. ↑ Cochran, Carrie. "Walk The Moon plays the Home Run Derby". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  36. ↑ "See Taylor Swift sing 'Shut Up and Dance' with Walk the Moon on her '1989' tour". July 25, 2015.
  37. ↑ Platon, Adelle (November 22, 2015). "Walk The Moon Performs 'Shut Up and Dance' at the 2015 American Music Awards". Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  38. 1 2 3 4 Staff, Billboard (October 13, 2015). "2015 American Music Awards: Taylor Swift Leads Nominations". Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  39. ↑ Grebey, James (March 4, 2016). "Reviews: The Knocks, '55' | SPIN". spin.com. SpinMedia Group. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  40. ↑ "Work This Body Tour Cancelled". Archived from the original on September 16, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  41. ↑ "Fall Out Boy, Missy Elliott Remake 'Ghostbusters' Theme Song". Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  42. ↑ Weaver, Hilary (August 24, 2017). "How the Weekend's Biggest Music Festival Wound Up in Utah". Vanity Fair. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  43. ↑ Stubblebine, Allison (September 22, 2017). "Walk the Moon Release High-Energy Single & Video, 'One Foot': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  44. ↑ "WALK THE MOON". www.facebook.com.
  45. ↑ "WALK THE MOON". www.facebook.com.
  46. ↑ "home". WALK THE MOON. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  47. ↑ "WALK THE MOON | Mick Management". www.mickmgmt.com. Archived from the original on June 22, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  48. 1 2 3 "Nicholas Petricca, Sam Cole, Adam Reifsnyder, Ricky Human". Rate Your Music. Sonemic, Inc. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  49. 1 2 "Walk The Moon (2) – i want! i want!". Discogs. Nov 16, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  50. 1 2 "Walk The Moon". SONGS Music Publishing. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  51. 1 2 Staff (June 2, 2015). "Flashback: Walk the Moon before the hits". FOX19. Frankly and Raycom Media. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  52. ↑ "Nick Lerangis | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  53. ↑ "New on the Scene: The Hunting Party". The Bluegrass Situation. December 5, 2013. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  54. ↑ McCabe, David (February 21, 2012). "Here's Vintage Walk the Moon Playing the Song That Made Them Famous". The Thrill. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  55. ↑ Baker, Brian (January 15, 2015). "Walk the Moon". Cincinnati CityBeat. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  56. ↑ Baker, Brian (January 14, 2011). "Walk the Moon". City Beat. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  57. ↑ "Wave 2 Nominees". Teen Choice. July 7, 2015. Archived from the original on April 11, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  58. ↑ Stutz, Colin (July 21, 2015). "2015 MTV Video Music Awards Nominees Revealed: Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran & More". Billboard Magazine. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  59. 1 2 3 Lynch, Joe (February 9, 2016). "iHeartRadio Music Awards Announce 2016 Nominees, Performers & New Categories". Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  60. ↑ Grant, Stacey (February 2, 2016). "Here Are The Nominees For The 2016 Kids' Choice Awards". MTV News. Viacom International Inc. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  61. ↑ "John Mellencamp: If Music Was Protected Online Like TV, 'We Would Be in Better Shape'". Variety. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  62. 1 2 3 Billboard Staff (May 22, 2016). "Billboard Music Awards 2016: Complete Winners List". Billboard. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
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