I Voted for Kodos

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I Voted for Kodos
Also known as IV4K
Origin Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Genre(s) Ska, pop punk, rock
Years active 1999–2007
Label(s) Snapdragon Records (US)
Kick Rock Music (Japan)
Associated acts (firefight), Remember the Maine
Website IV4K.com
Former members
Rick Bisenius
Lee Gordon
Tyler Christensen
Chris Holoyda
Ross Gilliland
Troy Riechenberger
Nick Rydell

I Voted for Kodos (often abbreviated IV4K) was a ska and pop punk band, signed to Snapdragon Records.

Contents

[edit] History

They were founded in Madison, Wisconsin in 1999, after singer-trombonist Rick Bisenius met guitarist Chris Holoyda at a Reel Big Fish concert.[1] They began playing together when the members were in high school/college.[2] After a guest show at Battle of the Bands in Plattevile, WI, they quickly became one of the best ska bands known to mankind. Their name comes from an episode of The Simpsons, "Treehouse of Horror VII", in which Homer Simpson says, "Don't blame me—I voted for Kodos."[3] Although known for their tongue-in-cheek material (they have noted that celery is the band's official vegetable), their song lyrics have also tackled serious issues such as murder and teenage depression.[1] Their first album, Close Enough for Ska, is considered the success story of a small independent record label, Close to Nothing, which was founded by three teenagers.[4]

The band members would begin shows with informal instruction on how to skank so that the audience would appreciate the style of dance associated with ska music.[1] They toured nationally in 2004, and placed number 7 in PureVolume's top ten unsigned bands in the US.[5] The band played the 2004–2006 Vans Warped Tours, and music critic Joe Lynch described their 2006 performance as "freewheeling and energetic".[6] During a separate national tour in early 2006, one music journalist wrote that the band "uses a hot horn section, plenty of guitar and on-the-mark lyrics to fuel a high-energy show."[7]

The band stopped working together in 2007, although Bisenius and Holyda continued to collaborate on a new band, Firefight, and Bisenius began a solo project, The Faster We Fall.[8]

[edit] Past members

  • Rick Bisenius – lead vocals, trombone, Moog
  • Lee Gordon – guitar, mellophone, backing vocals
  • Tyler Christensen – guitar, backing vocals
  • David Gage – drums

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] EPs

[edit] Compilations

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Kassulke, Natasha. "I Voted for Kodos close enough for ska", Wisconsin State Journal, 2001-01-25, p. 22. 
  2. ^ Beal, Jim. "Ayala left mark on local music scene", San Antonio Express-News, 2005-06-29, p. 4G. 
  3. ^ Leonard, John. "Things That Go Clunk in the Night", New York, 2006-10-20, pp. 98–99. Retrieved on 2008-01-28. 
  4. ^ Barnett, Samuel. "Despite its name, this independent record label built by three Valparaiso teenagers could soon become ... really something", Post-Tribune, 2001-03-12, p. D1. 
  5. ^ Thomas, Rob. "Kodos wins the vote at battle of the bands", Wisconsin State Journal, 2004-09-16, p. 2. 
  6. ^ Lynch, Joe. "Music lovers of all kinds unite on Warped Tour", Wisconsin State Journal, 2006-06-21, p. D1. 
  7. ^ "Night after night", San Antonio Express-News, 2006-02-10, p. 17H. 
  8. ^ "Break-ups: I Voted for Kodos (2003–2007)", Punknews.org, 2007-03-17. Retrieved on 2008-01-29. 

[edit] External links