Ideamen is an

art rock Art rock is a subgenre of rock music that generally reflects a challenging or avant-garde approach to rock, or which makes use of modernist, experimental, or unconventional elements. Art rock aspires to elevate rock from entertainment to an art ...

band from

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

, formed in 2006.

Biography

Beginnings (2006–2009)

Ideamen was created in late 2006 shortly after keyboardist Tim Swanson ended his short stint as keyboardist for

Dog Fashion Disco Dog Fashion Disco is an American heavy metal band from Rockville, Maryland, that was originally active from 1995 to 2007 before disbanding. The band officially reunited on October 10, 2013. History Combining many different music styles (1960s ...

and then teamed up with vocalist Dave Solar and bassist Mark Vasquez, following the dissolution of local Chicago-area bands Duct Tape Mustache and Soulvasq. Guitarist Jeff Piekarczyk and drummer Phil Goodrich rounded out the lineup, and in 2007, the band debuted with the release of their self-produced EP ''Progress''. Piekarczyk left the band and guitarist Dan Figurell, formerly from the band Broken April, replaced him. The EP attracted the label Rotten Records (of whom Dog Fashion Disco was signed to when they dissolved), and Rotten signed Ideamen in 2008.

''May You Live in Interesting Times'' & support touring (2008–2011)

In August 2008, Ideamen began working on their debut album. Their debut album, titled ''May You Live in Interesting Times'', was released on October 27, 2009 on Rotten Records. A second guitarist, Phil Miller, joined the band in time for touring in October 2010. Throughout the next two years, the band toured with the likes of

Polkadot Cadaver Polkadot Cadaver is an American band formed by members of the Rockville, Maryland, rock band Dog Fashion Disco. The band is stylistically similar to Dog Fashion Disco and inherited many of their fans. History Inception and ''Purgatory Dance Part ...

(which contains former fellow ''DFD'' members),

Look What I Did Look What I Did is an American band, formed in 2001 in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. The band is known for its intense live show, described by Cincinnati CityBeat as a "live act capable of unleashing a scary, uncontrolled intensity bord ...

, and

Tub Ring Tub Ring is a Chicago-based rock band. Biography Tub Ring was formed in 1992 by Jason Fields, Kevin Gibson, Chris "Mouse" Blake, and Geoff Valker as a high school experimental rock band. After the passing of their manager, Lee Swanson in 1994, ...

Second album, Delays & release (2011–Present)

A mash-up of the

Mr. Bungle Mr. Bungle is an American experimental rock band formed in Eureka, California in 1985. Having gone through many incarnations throughout their career, the band is best known for music created during their most experimental era. During this time, ...

song "Retrovertigo" and Radiohead's "

Paranoid Android "Paranoid Android" is a song by English alternative rock band Radiohead, released as the lead single from their third studio album '' OK Computer'' (1997) on 26 May 1997. The lyrics were written by singer Thom Yorke following an unpleasant exp ...

" titled "RetroVertigoidAndroid" (a live favorite for the group), was recorded in the studio and released in early 2011 as a free download to anyone who signed up for the band's newsletter. The follow-up to ''Interesting Times'' had been given tentative release dates for as early as Spring of 2012. However, constant touring, Solar's bout with

Ketoacidosis Ketoacidosis is a metabolic state caused by uncontrolled production of ketone bodies that cause a metabolic acidosis. While ketosis refers to any elevation of blood ketones, ketoacidosis is a specific pathologic condition that results in changes in ...

in fall of 2011, Goodrich's ear problems forcing him to take time off from touring, Figurell's relocation to Bloomington, and multiple issues with the final mix and mastering of the album all contributed to the extended delay of the album's release. Figurell ended his tenure with the band after recording his guitar parts for the album, and has been replaced by Greg Millikan. The album, titled ''Schemata'', was released in February 2014. Swanson is once again a member of ''DFD''.

Members

Current Members *Tim Swanson -

Keyboards Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...

Vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

(2006–Present) *Dave Solar - Vocals (2006–Present) *Mark Vasquez -

Bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

(2006–Present) *Phil Miller -

Guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

, Vocals (2010–Present) *Greg Millikan - Guitar (2013–Present) *Phil Goodrich -

Drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

, Vocals (2006–Present) Former Members *Dan Figurell - Guitar (2006 - 2013)

Discography

*''Progress'' (EP) (2007) *''May You Live in Interesting Times'' (2009) *''Schemata'' (2014) *''Trained When We're Young'' (2017)

References

{{Authority control Musical groups established in 2006 American art rock groups