Death In Graceland on purevolume™

Indie / Post Hardcore / Psychedelic

After surviving tumultuous and unpredictable lives in other Cincinnati rock bands, the members of Death In Graceland found each other in the summer of 2002. The chemistry between the five young men was automatically apparent and lethal. Combining a delicious blend of heartbreak, rock n' roll, and sass, Death In Graceland immediately began playing shows and recording material after only a brief existence of two months. With demo in hand, the boys of Graceland decided to head out on the road for some tour experience. This successful journey brought a sense of enthusiasm and promise to the band as they began to concentrate on writing songs for their freshman album. While in the midst of composing a variety of music ranging from hypnotic dance tunes to gritty, abrasive rock, the band continued to play out at different venues around the midwest.

In October of 2002, the band headed into the studio to record seven songs that would be deemed as the album "Come On, Touch Me." The album would include such colorful tunes as, "Your Ass or a Hole in the Ground" and "Dance Floor Disaster." With label support from Formula47 Records, Death In Graceland finished up the album and began to anticipate an upcoming east coast tour to promote the new record. When the album was released in early 2003, the band hit the road. The tour was a great success, and the crowd response was very fulfilling.

Arriving back home in Cincinnati, Death In Graceland once again took to writing songs. In addition, Death In Graceland was honored to be chosen to play the prestigious "North By Northeast" (NXNE) Festival in Toronto, Canada in June 2003. Another east coast tour in the summer accompanied by continued positive press and reviews has only helped energize the band to tour more. They were nominated for a CEA Award for Best Punk Band, and "Come On, Touch Me" was named 2003 Record Of The Year by CityBeat, the most popular independent publication in Cincinnati.

The band has become accustomed to providing for themselves and through that process, have become diligent in making themselves both more prominent and successful as a musical group. With aspirations of touring as much as possible with new material, Death In Graceland headed back into the studio in early 2004 to record six songs that would be tentatively titled as "The White Bible Belt". The recording is comprised of more intricate and abrasive songs than the previous recording, but still holds true to the same mesmerizing feel that "Come On, Touch Me" presents. "The White Bible Belt" contains such musical numbers as "Chalk Up Another One for Special Teams" and "Smooth, Just Like Jazz". During the process of recording, the band was invited to play 'Jammin' on Main' (the largest Cincinnati musical event that displays both local and national acts over the entirety of a weekend), Midwest Music Summit in Indianapolis, Midpoint Music Festival, and the Cincinnati date of The Vans Warped Tour. They were also awarded a CEA for Cincinnati's Best Punk Band at the tail-end of 2004 and, more recently, 2005. They took in more votes than a band on a major label both years.

As they approach four years of camaraderie together, the boys of Death In Graceland are more loyal to the band than ever. The four members devote most of their time and energy to this little idea brought about in the basement of a house right across the street from Marge Schott's birthplace. Currently, the band is playing shows in and around Cincinnati and is in the process of recording their album at Candyland with Mike Montgomery (thistle., Ampline, The Light Wires). The record is tentatively titled "Gifts."

Death In Graceland is a rock band from the Westside of Cincinnati. They consist of the entities known as: Matthew Terry Ayers, Michael Kane Kitchen, Patrick Alexander Walkenhorst, and Kevin Wesley Warwick.