Davey von Bohlen

Davey von Bohlen (born August 11, 1975) is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his roles as guitarist and vocalist in Cap'n Jazz, The Promise Ring, Vermont, and currently, Maritime. He is well known for his charismatic stage presence and unique voice.

Short-lived but highly influential, Cap'n Jazz helped transform emo from an underground punk subgenre into a more widely accepted subset of indie rock. The band went through several evolutionary phases and added guitarist Davey von Bohlen. Eventually, they earned a cult following around Chicago and the Midwest with a sound like no one else. Their discography was rare, but that very obscurity helped build their underground legend through word of mouth, until a double-CD retrospective was finally issued several years after their breakup in 1994. Davey von Bohlen maintained the highest profile of any ex-Cap'n Jazzer, living in Milwaukee and founding the Promise Ring, which became one of the most popular emo bands of the '90s. Cap'n Jazz played an unannounced 5 song set in Chicago in November 2009, the first time all five members had been together since 1994, and later played 10 sold out summer shows across the US.

The Promise Ring was an American emo band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In their early years, their music was usually classified as emo, but their later albums could be described more accurately as indie pop.[1] The band was started in 1995 as a side project by Davey von Bohlen during his time as a guitarist/vocalist for Cap'n Jazz. Von Bohlen started the project alongside guitarist Jason Gnewikow of None Left Standing, drummer Dan Didier and bassist Scott Beschta, the latter two both being former members of Ceilishrine [2]. The Promise Ring released their first full-length album in 1996 and gained a following in the US, Europe and Japan with this and subsequent albums. In 1998 von Bohlen created Tornado Country Music Publishing and continues to serve as owner. The Promise Ring is often credited as playing a major role in the creation of the emo sound and the band was known for vibrant live shows. Nothing Feels Good is their second album and was the band's first real hit and gained it a following, being praised by everyone from SPIN magazine to MTV. The band achieved a popular single with "Why Did Ever We Meet?". The title of this album was used as a title for the book Nothing Feels Good: Punk Rock, Teenagers, and Emo by Andy Greenwald. Following their final release in 2002, The Promise Ring decided to move on to new projects, including von Bohlen's and Didier's new band named Maritime.

Over the years, von Bohlen and his TPR band mates have endured many life-threatening events. During a 1999 Promise Ring tour, the band's van encountered black ice, resulting in a wreck that ejected all the band members on board and placed them in the hospital. Prior to the recording of The Promise Ring's final album wood/water in April 2002, von Bohlen was diagnosed with meningioma which had been causing severe, crippling headaches for two years and believed to be related to head trauma sustained in the accident. The fist sized brain tumor was successfully removed and deemed benign, but a subsequent infection, which caused von Bohlen to pass out on stage and required two additional surgeries to remove an infected palm sized piece of his skull and to replace it a year later, prevented the band from touring for a substantial amount of time. Since then, von Bohlen appears to have a clean bill of health and has resumed recording and touring.

Maritime formed in 2003 out of the ashes of The Promise Ring and The Dismemberment Plan, initially composed of singer/guitarist Davey von Bohlen, drummer Dan Didier (of The Promise Ring) and bassist Eric Axelson (of The Dismemberment Plan). Maritime has released three full length albums, Glass Floor in 2004, We, the Vehicles in 2006, and Heresy and the Hotel Choir in 2007. Axelson left the band in 2006 and was replaced by Justin Klug on bass and Dan Hinz was added on guitar. The band has toured each album across the US, Europe (Grand Hotel Van Cleef Records)and Japan. http://www.thefader.com/2007/11/01/maritime-a-confident-cruise-to-the-victorious-land-of-zero-expectation/ In late April, 2010, the band announced that they were leaving Flameshovel Records and had signed with Dangerbird Records. Their debut record for the label is expected for release in early 2011[1].

von Bohlen was married on July 6, 2002 to Carrie and became a father to Wilson on September 21, 2004 and Sebastian on June 26, 2006. He returned to college, completing his Accounting and Finance degrees in 2009 and has limited his touring to fit his professional commitments and young family. His well known passion for sports, especially his hometown teams, is ever growing.

Von Bohlen also sang in his long time friends' and former tour mates, Jimmy Eat World song, "A Praise Chorus." earning him a platinum record. The song references such classics as The Kinks' "Rock and Roll Fantasy", They Might Be Giants' "Don't Let's Start", and The Promise Ring's "Why Did We Ever Meet".

Discography

Ten Boy Summer

Cap'n Jazz

Promise Ring albums

*30° Everywhere (1996)

Promise Ring EPs

Vermont albums

Maritime albums

References

Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:People from Milwaukee, Wisconsin Category:American male singers Category:American rock guitarists Category:American rock singer-songwriters Category:American indie rock musicians