Math_the_Band

Math the Band

Math the Band

American chiptune-based synthpunk band


Math the Band is an American chiptune-based synthpunk band from Providence, Rhode Island[9] formed in 2002[11] by Kevin Steinhauser. Originally being a solo project by Steinhauser, the band's style has been sometimes called Nintendocore. The band has performed over 1000 shows throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada, and the United Kingdom, touring with bands, artists and rappers such as Andrew W.K.,[9][13] Japanther, Wheatus, MC Frontalot, Horse the Band[14] MC Chris,[15] Peelander-Z,[16][9] Anamanaguchi[17] and MC Lars. Math the Band has been featured in several magazines such as Venus Zine and Keyboard Magazine, and were also featured on NPR Music.[18][19][20] Still, with band members spread across the United States, Math the Band is based in Providence, Rhode Island and are a part of Providence's AS220[21][22] and have performed there multiple times.[23][24][25]

Quick Facts Background information, Also known as ...

Since 2017, Math the Band has been Kevin Steinhauser, Max Holbrook, Adam Waz, and Matt Zappa.

History

Formation as a solo project and early years (2002–2006)

Math the Band was originally the solo project of sixteen-year-old[12] Kevin Steinhauser created in 2002,[11] "doing his own thing" after getting kicked out of other bands he was in during high school for reasons he attributed to him "not being any good" – most notably, Christian pop punk band The Schwartz where he played guitar and was the only non-religious member.[26][27][28] The origin of the name Math the Band originates from Steinhauser thinking of band names and having a pin on his backpack that simply said "Math" on it and he wanted a pin for his band so he named the band after the pin.[26] During this time starting in 2002, Steinhauser released the studio albums: Robots Will Rise, Eep! An EP!, One Man Band For Single-Celled Organisms, The Lost Levels, Math the Band and the Secret of Mystery Island, Imaginary Everything, Greatest Hits and All Good Things, All in Good Time all under the Math the Band name and did live shows with a laptop and sometimes a box of costumes.[26]

Transition to duo (2007–2017)

Kevin Steinhauser, Justine Mainville and Zach Burba performing as Math the Band in July 2008.

Steinhauser met Justine Mainville after playing a few shows with her then-band The Reaganauts[29] while they were both in college. They later became friends and dated, leading Steinhauser to ask her to join on drums and synthesizer in 2007.[27] The duo lineup of Math the Band released the studio albums: Math the Band Banned the Math, Don't Worry, Get Real, No Thing, Stupid and Weird and Math the Band the Band the Album.

Transition to band and Flange Factory Five (2018–present)

Mainville later left the band and Max Holbrook, Adam Waz and Matt Zappa joined the band. In 2019 and 2020 they performed at PAXEast[30][31] and MAGFest[32] and played with a setlist featuring yet-unreleased songs announced as part of their young adult fantasy novel.[32] On April 20, 2020[33] they released the single "Wet Cement", the music video's description announced it as part of Flange Factory Five, a five-part series of releases based on the band's yet to be released at the time studio album of the same name.[34] The album itself released on October 1, 2020, and is the third release in a collection of five monthly releases.[35] The second single from the album titled "Duel of the Deer" released on July 5, 2020.[36] The first release under the name Flange Factory Five was Flange Factory Five: the Novel a book which is a "fantasy adventure novel with magic, wizards and other characters".[37] On October 23, 2020, the band streamed the first part of live reading the book on their YouTube account.[38] The second release was an energy drink advertised as "A New Sport Utility Beverage"[39] The fourth release was a guitar pedal, Steinhauser describes it as "a replica of the pedal that’s a playback device of the album, and you can make the sound go all weird."[37] and was originally planned for a release in November but was released in early December[40] along with an accompanying demo.[41][42][43] The fifth was planned for a release in December and be a video game for the Game Boy Color,[37] it is unknown when it will release but is currently in development, its released date was delayed due to their making sure the game was up to "gamer standards".[44]

On March 16, 2021, Math the Band announced an online concert at AS220 for March 25, it was their first show since the COVID-19 pandemic.[45] On April 1, the band released the music video for "That Thing You Don't", in the video the band stars on a fictional TV show titled Good Morning Void, at the end of the video, Steinhauser and a fictional manager are seen in the studio watching the performance, before the manager begins berating Steinhauser, and eventually "firing" him, upon being asked by Steinhauser who would replace him, the release of "Duel of the Deer (Matt the Band)" single was announced and released the same day.[46][7]

For April Fools 2022, Math the Band live streamed an "album delease" for Flange Factory Five featuring Steinhauser and Waz playing the entire album, providing commentary and subsequently destroying copies of multiple versions of Flange Factory Five removing it from streaming services, since then the album has remained removed. Steinhauser also mentioned the delay of the Game Boy Color game saying "it originally was going to be a five-minute-long thing that just got to a point in the book, and it was like do this thing and then I was like I wanna make it a longer thing and it's just not done yet." Him and Waz also joked that after the album delease and it's finished, it could be "preleased".[47]

On January 7, 2023, Math the Band performed at Super MAGFest 2023.[11]

Musical style and influences

Math the Band has described their music as "glitched-out, chaotic, celebration pop for the constantly anxious."[48] Stylistically, the band is characterized as Nintendocore,[49][50][51][52] punk rock,[53][5][54][55] chiptune,[55][56] indie rock,[1][53] synthpunk,[50][9][6][37][57][54][58][59] dance-punk,[50] electronic,[60][56] synth-pop,[56] pop[56] and pop punk[52]

Math the Band uses vintage analog synthesizers, drum machines, hacked second and third generation video game consoles and homemade synthesizers[8] to make loud and fast, punk rock music. Math the Band, specifically Steinhauser has cited Atom and His Package,[61][13][56][62][63] Andrew W.K.,[13][62] Steve Roggenbuck[13] Nathan Fielder,[28] and Devo[62] as influences.

Band members

Current members

  • Kevin Steinhauser[60][37] - guitar, programming, lead vocals (2001-present), laptop (2001-2007)[12]
  • Max Holbrook[64][30] - guitar, backing vocals (2014-present)
  • Adam Waz[65][30] - bass, backing vocals (2017-present)
  • Matt Zappa[66][30] - drums (2016, 2017-present)[67]

Former members

  • Scott - bass[68]
  • Joe DeGeorge - keyboard (2014-2015), saxophone (2014)
  • Neil King - drums (2014-2017)
  • Justine Mainville[60] - synthesizer, backing vocals, drum tom, drum cymbal, sequence track (2007-2017)[12]
  • Jeff McGowan - bass (2014-2018)
  • Jon Pagano - guitar, synthesizer (2014-2018)

Former touring members

  • Zach Burba - drums (2008-2009)
  • Unknown - trombone

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

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Compilation albums

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Extended plays

More information Title, Details ...

Singles

More information Year, Title ...

Compilations and soundtracks

  • 2009 - Up End Atom: A Tribute To Atom And His Package[61]
  • 2012 - Let's Big Happy (Original Soundtrack)
    • Features the track "Bad Jokes"[111]
  • 2020 - AS220 Summer Sampler 2020
    • Features the track "Wet Cement"[112]
  • 2020 - LINE THE FRONT: A BENEFIT COMPILATION FOR RI SOLIDARITY FUND
    • Features the track "Duel Of The Deer (previously unreleased)"[113]

Other appearances

  • 2014 - For all the Girls - 70 Love Songs

Music videos

More information Year, Title ...

Filmography

More information Year, Title ...

Bibliography


References

  1. Adamian, John (January 3, 2020). "Math the Band, indie rock with punk energy, coming to MAC650". Retrieved November 30, 2020 via Hartford Courant.
  2. "Math the Band the Band - Didn't have Time to Think". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved December 9, 2020 via YouTube.
  3. "Studio Sessions: Math the Band the Band - "Didn't Have Time To Think"". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved December 9, 2020 via YouTube.
  4. "Mike D's Top 5 Can't Miss Shows of November - Motif". 2 November 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2020 via Motif. Math The Band (or Math The Band The Band) are Providence's punk rock kitchen sink band and the most fun you will have in November, which, let's be honest, is a generally disappointing month.
  5. "Math The Band - Steven Schaarf Entertainment". Retrieved December 13, 2020 via Steven Scharf Entertainment.
  6. "math the band" via Tumblr. we are a band from providence, ri. we make electronic punk music using analog synthesizers & 8-bit video game systems. we play a lot of shows and have a lot of fun.
  7. "10 Rhode Island Bands You Should Listen To Now". 11 July 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2020 via Paste Magazine.
  8. "Math the Band's New Video Is a Real-Life Episode of 'Adventure Time'". 22 November 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2020 via Vice.
  9. "Math the Band - Super Magfest". MAGFest. 17 November 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  10. "::: Slanty Shanty Records :::". slantyshantyrecords.com. May 3, 2009. Archived from the original on May 3, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  11. "How Many Times Has Math the Band's Kevin Steinhauser Puked Onstage? More Than You'd Think". 27 November 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2020 via Phoenix New Times. The album combines the arena-sized bear-hug riffage of party rocker Andrew WK (who brought Math on tour last year), the tweaked synth dorkery of Atom and His Package, and the absurd yet serious motivational verse of traveling YouTube "Internet poet" Steve Roggenbuck.
  12. "HORSE THE BAND Announce U.S. Tour with MATH THE BAND". Metal Injection. 14 July 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  13. "Peelander-Z touring, playing NYC w/ Math the Band (dates)". BrooklynVegan. 10 February 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  14. Archived June 29, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  15. Hilton, Robin. "Second Stage: Math The Band : All Songs Considered". NPR. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  16. "Math The Band Unveils Tour Dates, Music Videos and More - Circuit SweetCircuit Sweet". 17 November 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2020 via Circuit Sweet.
  17. "Musicians will band together to help needy dogs at Providence fundraiser". Retrieved December 14, 2020 via Providence Journal. Notable locals on the fundraiser's bill include Morales's screamo band Amitié, hip-hop artists B. Dolan and Jesse The Tree, and punk acts Math The Band, Anxious Wave, Just Flesh and 30 Helens Agree. The latter will be playing its first show in more than a decade.
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  20. "CrashBoomBang Media, Math The Band - 'Tour De Freinds[sic]' Live @ AS220, ON TOUR NOW!!!". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved December 14, 2020 via YouTube.
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  23. "Mega64antine #50 : Making music and Video games ft. Kevin from Math The Band". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved July 3, 2021 via YouTube.
  24. "The Reaganauts". 28 July 2006.
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  29. "Math the Band - Wet Cement" via YouTube. From the upcoming Album/FlangePedal/Novel/VideoGame/EnergyDrink :
    "FLANGE FACTORY FIVE"
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  35. "Flange Factory Five Album Delease". YouTube. April 1, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  36. "Math the Band | Bandcamp". Retrieved December 1, 2020 via Bandcamp. Math the Band (the Band) make glitched-out, chaotic, celebration pop for the constantly anxious.
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  38. Trivett, Ben (21 October 2010). "Math the Band Play Blistering Set at CMJ -- Exclusive Photos". Spinner.com. AOL. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  39. "The Most Intolerable Fan Bases in Music | Dallas Observer". 6 December 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2020 via Dallas Observer.
  40. "Andrew W.K. - Live in Philadelphia". 3 April 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2021 via Punknews.org. Math the Band fared much better with the audience. Combining Nintendocore with a pop-punk urgency, the duo of Kevin Steinhauser and Justine Mainville got some enthusiasm out of the attendees.
  41. Young, Alex (July 23, 2009). "Math the Band – Don't Worry". Retrieved November 30, 2020 via Consequence of Sound.
  42. "Math the Band | The Deli Magazine". Retrieved December 14, 2020 via The Deli Magazine. Not to be confused with Math the Band (those guys are retired), Math the Band The Band is a 6-piece electro-punk band from Providence that brings a consistently catchy, youthful, synth-heavy brand of punk rock to the New England scene (think Bomb the Music Industry, but more infectious). Formed over 15 years ago by songwriting duo, Kevin Steinhauser and Justine Mainville, Math the Band (the Band) has grown and evolved into a major voice, both locally and nationally.
  43. Kilin, Egon (October 10, 2017). "The 3 Best Adaptations Of Video Games In Pop Culture". Retrieved December 13, 2020 via loadthegame.com. But more interesting are the excellent 8-bit covers of classic songs. And, of course, some fantastic original tracks have made using 8-bit at their core. Horse The Band, Math The Band, and more, took a ridiculous concept and made it work. Using punk and metal sounds, they transcended their own genres by being completely original while managing to sound great.
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  45. "Math the Band: "Four to Six" | Punknews.org". 17 February 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2020 via Punknews.org. Synth-punk duo Math the Band have unveiled a video for their song "Four to Six." The song is the first single off their upcoming album, Get Real the follow-up to 2009's Don't Worry.
  46. Duguay, Rob (October 2015). "Pop Controller: Math The Band The Band enter the video game realm with Project Maiden". Retrieved December 18, 2020 via vanyaland.com. Providence electro-punk duo Math The Band, composed of Kevin Steinhauser and Justine Mainville, always have a habit of pushing their sound to new heights.
  47. "Calendar: Dec. 27-Jan. 2". 27 December 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2021 via Philadelphia Weekly.
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  49. "A Look Back on Atom and His Package, the One-Man Band That Made Punk Uncool Again". 19 April 2016 via Vice. Kevin Steinhauser, who started a sequencer-based duo with his girlfriend called Math the Band, also featured on Up End Atom, cites Goren as an influence as well. "I love how he took what were essentially punk songs, and turned them on their head with unusual instrumentation," he says. "Hearing Atom and His Package inspired me to take my bedroom recording project and play shows, and record albums."
  50. "Math the Band on MySpace Music -Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads". October 9, 2009. Archived from the original on October 29, 2009. Retrieved October 7, 2021. Influences: Andrew WK, Atom and his Package, The Hippos, The Rentals, Piebald, Devo, The Flaming Lips, Barcelona (the one that broke up)
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  54. Math the Band (2005). The Kevin And Scott Are Cool Band (song). Event occurs at 0:15. Scott does the dancing, and Scott plays the bass
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  70. "Upside Down From Here". 14 April 2009 via Spotify.
  71. "Bad Jokes". January 2012 via Spotify.
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  73. "Deirae (feat. Math the Band)". 14 February 2014 via Spotify.
  74. "Desirae feat. Math the Band - For all the Girls". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved December 18, 2020 via YouTube.
  75. "Unlimited Enthusiasm at the Cunniff School". Retrieved January 21, 2021 via cunniffkidsnews.com. Math the Band has one music video. It's a song about sharks that I mentioned. It was really fun because I got to be hoisted up by a wire and flown around.
  76. "Math the Band - Hang Out/Hang Ten". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21 via YouTube.
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  83. "Math The Band - "Positive Stress" Music Video". YouTube. 2012-11-04. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
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  85. "Math the Band - "GUTS" Music Video". YouTube. 2012-11-22. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
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  88. "Math the Band - "Mission Statement" Music Video". YouTube. 2012-12-31. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  89. "Math the Band - "Hey Alright" Music Video". YouTube. 2013-04-10. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
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