Appleseed may refer to:

The seed of an apple

Johnny Appleseed, an American pioneer nurseryman and missionary

''Appleseed'' (EP), by Aesop Rock

Appleseed Recordings, a record label

Appleseed Foundation, a non-profit network of social justice centers

Project Appleseed, a rifle marksmanship and historical awareness program

''Appleseed'', a novel by John Clute

Manga and spin-offs

''Appleseed'' (manga)

''Appleseed'' (OVA), a 1988 film

''Appleseed'' (film), a 2004 film

''Appleseed Ex Machina'', a 2007 sequel to the 2004 film

''Appleseed XIII'', a 2011 CGI anime tv series

''Appleseed'' (Super Famicom), a 1994 video game

''Appleseed EX'', a 2007 video game

See also

The Appleseed Cast

bg:Appleseed fr:Appleseed (homonymie)

Lisa Kekaula (born July 31, 1967 in Los Angeles, California) is the lead singer of American "rock 'n' soul" band The Bellrays.

Kekaula was born to an African-American mother, Linda and Native Hawaiian father, Alan Kekaula in Los Angeles, California, although the family continued to grow and relocated to suburban Moreno Valley, California. While there, Kekaula began to immerse herself in singing and had her first appearance in a talent show at Edgemont Elementary School. She graduated from Moreno Valley High School and graduated from the University of California at Riverside.

Kekaula is married to Robert Vennum; they have one daughter, Twylla.

Kekaula has featured on two singles by British house music band Basement Jaxx, most famously "Good Luck", the track "Realizer" from the 2004 disc ''Legion of Boom'' by The Crystal Method, and "Talkin' in My Sleep" from The Bloody Beetroots' first studio album, ''Romborama''. She has also been featured in the most recent The Legendary Tigerman album, ''Femina''.

Basement Jaxx discography

"Good Luck" (2004) #12 UK, #22 Australia Also featured in the Japanese CG film Appleseed

"U Don't Know Me" (2005) #26 UK, #56 Australia

"Stay Close" (2009) featured on the "Scars" album*

References

Category:Living people Category:People from Los Angeles, California Category:African American singers Category:Female rock singers Category:African American rock musicians Category:Native Hawaiian people Category:University of California, Riverside alumni Category:1967 births

fi:Lisa Kekaula

name	The Appleseed Cast
background	group_or_band
origin	Lawrence, Kansas,
genre	Indie rockPost-rockExperimentalEmo
years active	1997–present
label	Deep Elm, Tiger Style, , Graveface, Vagrant Records
associated acts	Old Canes, Hundred Hands
website	www.theappleseedcast.com
current members	Christopher CrisciTed Stevens John MombergNathan WhitmanLucas Oswald
past members	Louie RuizJason WickersheimJosh "Cobra" BaruthJordan GeigerNathan "Jr." RichardsonAaron CokerMarc YoungAaron Pillar }}

The Appleseed Cast is an American emo/post-rock band based in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, composed of singer/guitarist Christopher Crisci (), guitarist Aaron Pillar, bassist Nathan Whitman and drummer John Momberg. The band's predominantly guitar-based music has evolved from intense, heavy emo indebted to such acts as Mineral and Sunny Day Real Estate to a unique "post-rock" sound hinging on inventive, intricate drumming, subtle guitar arpeggios and impassioned vocals.

Biography

Formation and Debut

The band formed in 1997 in Southern California with Crisci and Pillar joining bassist Jason Wickersheim and drummer Louie Ruiz under the name December's Tragic Drive (derived from lyrics of the song, "Seven" by Sunny Day Real Estate). The following year, the band - now billed as The Appleseed Cast - signed to Deep Elm Records out of New York (before relocating to North Carolina) and released their debut album, ''The End of the Ring Wars,'' an album which met with considerable approval from the emo and underground scenes, as incendiary tracks like "Marigold & Patchwork" were essentially blueprints for the emo style. However, the album was also criticized in some quarters (most notably by Pitchforkmedia) for sticking too closely to a style already well explored by previous acts such as Braid and Sunny Day Real Estate.

Mare Vitalis

In 1999, the band relocated to Lawrence, Kansas without Ruiz, recruiting new drummer Josh "Cobra" Baruth. Later that same year they entered the Red House studio in Eudora, Kansas with Producer Ed Rose who would go on to produce their next four records. The end result was ''Mare Vitalis'', the band's second full-length album. The album showed progression from the dynamics-heavy rock of ''The End of the Ring Wars.'' Essentially a concept album on the movements of the sea (encapsulated in such song titles as "Mare Mortis," "Poseidon" and "Kilgore Trout" (also an allusion to the recurring Kurt Vonnegut character of the same name), the album is a fan favourite, heavy on atmosphere, crescendo, subtly undulating guitar arpeggios and the percussive, intricate drumming of Baruth, who clearly brought a new dimension to the band's sonic palette.

The band completed ''Mare Vitalis'' in late 1999, but tensions were developing between the band and Wickersheim. In January 2000, Pillar asked his roommate, St. Joseph, Missouri-native Marc Young, if he would be interested in playing bass for them, for one show. Young agreed; however, the show they spoke of and agreed upon never materialized. Regardless, Wickersheim officially departed the group that same month with Young replacing him on bass.

Low Level Owl & Lost Songs

After touring ''Mare Vitalis'', the Appleseed Cast once again entered the studio in late 2000 to begin work on what would be their most ambitious project to date. Eager to fulfill their five record deal with Deep Elm, the band embarked on a double LP, with Ed Rose once again at the helm. ''Low Level Owl Volume One'' was released on August 21, 2001 with ''Volume Two'' following on October 23.

The tracks were woven seamlessly together into album-length soundscapes, revealing a hitherto unnoticed post-rock influence. The complex vocal arrangements and enigmatic lyrics were buried in the mix underneath simple, repeated guitar riffs, swathes of keyboards and found sounds, and Baruth's inventive, intricate drum patterns. The pieces containing vocals and lyrics were connected by ambient-influenced instrumentals. The ''Low Level Owl'' albums seemed both to be a natural progression from the more song-oriented ''Mare Vitalis'' ''and'' a complete shock, the previously disparaging Pitchforkmedia website giving the project a glowing review. However, some critics were put off by the intentionally repetitive nature, not only of much of the guitar playing but also the ambient instrumental interludes.

The band followed their ''Low Level Owl'' project with the release of ''Lost Songs'' the following year. The album was a collection of songs recorded shortly after the release of ''The End of the Ring Wars,'' songs which were considered unfinished. In 2002 vocals and overdubs were added to the "lost songs" and issued as the Appleseed Cast's final release on the Deep Elm label.

Two Conversations

The Appleseed Cast signed with the New York based indie label Tiger Style Records in 2003 and released ''Two Conversations'' shortly afterward. Touring keyboardist Jordan Geiger was officially credited as a band member on the album. ''Two Conversations'' was met with mixed reviews.

Some viewed the album with dismay, regarding the more conventional song structures, the less diverse sonic palette and the personal, relationship-driven lyrics as a blatant retreat after the no-holds-barred experimentation, depth and complexity of the ''Low Level Owl'' project. However, others saw the album as an assured combination of the driving emo-rock of their early work subtly embellished with elements of the ''Low Level Owl'' sound.

During the recording of the album and the subsequent tour, tensions mounted once again, this time with drummer Josh "Cobra" Baruth. Rumors began to surface in the spring and summer of 2004 that Baruth was no longer a part of the group, and were confirmed on the band's website later that year.

Following the confirmation the band went on hiatus. Crisci began working with his side-project Old Canes and Geiger returned to his band, Minus Story. In the meantime Tiger Style, in financial difficulties, was forced to drop their entire roster, including The Appleseed Cast from their label after just one album.

Rebirth & Peregrine

Throughout late 2004 and much of 2005 little to no word travelled on the band's current situation. This began to change later in the year as news of drummer auditions began to spread. The band auditioned with many drummers including part-time Old Canes drummer Aaron Coker who later went on to tour with Reggie & The Full Effect. The position eventually went to the Casket Lottery drummer, Nathan "Nate Jr." Richardson.

With a new drummer in place, the band was signed by the Militia Group in 2005 and announced they were returning to the studio in October.

The recording sessions for ''Peregrine'', the Appleseed Cast's sixth full-length album, were held in Cannon Falls, Minnesota at Pachyderm Studio. The sessions were produced by John Congleton, their first in years without their regular producer Ed Rose.

Lead singer and guitarist Chris Crisci stated on the band's website "...I don't know if I've felt better about a record this early since ''Mare Vitalis''." The album is arguably more eclectic than any previous release in their catalogue, the ''Low Level Owl'' indebted instrumental "An Orange And A Blue" sitting alongside the more conventional, guitar-driven "February" and the stark, electronica of "Mountain Halo."

''Peregrine'' was released on March 21, 2006.

Nathan Richardson left the band in the summer of 2006 and was replaced by Old Canes drummer Aaron Coker.

Sagarmatha

When asked about the next album (previously discussed as an entirely instrumental EP) in an interview, Chris Crisci had said, "...the idea is still there, although it has morphed into a mostly instrumental full length.". Recording sessions were held at Black Lodge Recording in Eudora, KS with Ed Rose after unsuccessful attempts to arrange John Congleton to helm the recording. Three demos, "Road West," "A Bright Light" and "Summer Before," were released as previews on their MySpace. Prior to the album's release, Aaron Coker left the band and Marc Young followed shortly thereafter in order to return to school. They were replaced by John Momberg and Nate Whitman, respectively. ''Sagarmatha'' was released on February 17, 2009, and reached #25 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.

Low Level Owl Live/Documentary

On November 23, 2009, it was announced that the group has signed to Graveface Records. On the same day, the site announced that The Appleseed Cast would be touring with labelmates Dreamend in Spring 2010, "playing their two classic albums, ''Low Level Owl Volume I'' and ''II'' back-to-back, each in its entirety". The announcement also mentioned that the band would have a live album for sale on this tour. The band will be the subject of a documentary to be produced by 7446 films in cooperation with Graveface Records. The film will document the band revisiting its seminal work, while also focusing on the creation of ''Low Level Owl Volume I'' and ''II'' and the journey the band has taken to this point. The film is scheduled for a 2012 release.

Middle States EP

In July 2010 John Momberg (drums) mentioned that new material was being demoed in a blog post on their myspace page. On February 26, 2011, Graveface Records uploaded a video via youtube that gives current updates of the bands on their label, including The Appleseed Cast. The description of the video states that a new EP, entitled "Middle States", will be released physically June 7, 2011. The video also contains a sound clip demo of the title track. According to the band, the album will be available for pre-order and digital download on March 29.

Track listing

#"End Frigate Constellation" (5:50) #"Interlude" (2:55) #"Middle States" (5:12) #"Three Rivers" (14:03)

Discography

Albums

1998 - ''The End of the Ring Wars'' - Deep Elm Records

2000 - ''Mare Vitalis'' - Deep Elm Records

2001 - ''Low Level Owl: Volume I'' - Deep Elm Records

2001 - ''Low Level Owl: Volume II'' - Deep Elm Records

2003 - ''Two Conversations'' - Tiger Style Records

2006 - ''Peregrine'' - The Militia Group

2009 - ''Sagarmatha'' - The Militia Group

Singles, EPs

1998 - ''Tale of the Aftermath b/w Skatter Ik Ignito'' 7"

1999 - ''Split'' (with Planes Mistaken For Stars and Race Car Riot) - Deep Elm Records

2002 - ''Lost Songs'' - Deep Elm Records

2011 - ''Middle States'' - Graveface Records

Compilations

''A Million Miles Away - The Emo Diaries No. 2'' (Deep Elm Records, 1998) - ''Max''

''Deep Elm Unreleased No. 2'' (Deep Elm Records, 2003) - ''The Spider Wall''

''Kumquats and Apricots'' (The Militia Group, 2006) - ''Here We Are (Family In The Hallway) '', ''Mountain Halo''

''Graveface Sampler'' (Graveface Records, 2007) - ''Sila's Knife ''

References

External links

Official site

MySpace Page

Facebook Page

Twitter Page

Graveface Records Appleseed Page

Review of "Peregrine" (MSNBC)

Review of "Peregrine" (UpBeetMusic)

Lazy-i Interview: November 2003

The Appleseed Cast Fan Site / Bootleg Site

Soundcrank Podcast Hosted by The Appleseed Cast

Review on Peregrine by Punk76.com

Review of 'Sagarmatha' (The Album Project)

Kilby Court, Salt Lake City, UT show review - The Appleseed Cast Salt Lake show review

Category:American emo musical groups Category:Musical groups from Kansas Category:American indie rock groups Category:American post-rock groups Category:People from Lawrence, Kansas Category:Musical groups established in 1997

de:The Appleseed Cast