Sunny Day Real Estate

Sunny Day Real Estate has the peculiarity of representing the word "history" with both a big and a small H. With a big H, because Sunny Day Real Estate simply changed the face of modern music by giving birth in the mid-1990s to a new genre – l'emo-indie – by a clever blend of dsmocore, indie rock and a pinch of grunge. With a little H too, because it is also outside of his musical career, a rich and complex human history intertwined with issues, doubts, revelations and separations.
SDRE is, quite rightly, made the leading figure of the "2nd Wave" emo, the one by which popularity and great audience arrived, before Jimmy Eat World, The Get Up Kids and Dashboard Confessional came to complete the moult of an underground runner that became fashion phenomenon. The biography did indeed give rise to vertigo. Jaillit in the early 90s way of the Seattle scene in 1992, SDRE was first called Empty Set then Chewbacca Kaboom, then One Day I Stopped Breathing. Already existing group name, refusal of legal authorization... SDRE before being a name was therefore first and foremost a quartet, formed from friends Dan Hoerner (guitar) and Nate Mendel (bass) who played together in their teenage rooms, William Goldsmith recruited to play drums and Greg Williamson singing. It is in this provision that the combo recorded in 1993 with its own savings two 7s: Flatland Spider and Thief, Steal Me a Peach. The Seattle natives then opt for the strange name of Sunny Day Real Estate. As is often the case with legendary groups, the explanation is controversial. Some attribute its provenance to a speech by the Talking Heads group, others to a writing by the American poet T.S. Eliot. The references are beautiful. It is more likely, however, that the concept occurred in the mouth of Nate Mandel, who conversing about the mercantilist evolution of the world would have said, that at the rhythm where things were going, and seeing as everything became negotiable, there would one day be people trying to sell "sundays". ("Real Estate" means (agent) real estate in English). But Mendel decided at that point to take a step backwards, which led to changes, with Greg Williamson becoming the ingested sound (and later the manager) and Jeremy Enigk arriving first as a frontman before imposing very quickly as the thinking head of the group. The quartet once sang in a hardcore vein, Enigk not or rather, more (for he himself was part of his youth of HxC formations). At Enigk singing is a rope soaked in emotional waves, a rope that tends to sublimate towards the abyss. With this unique stamp and this new depth of composition - the lyrics obviously nourishing this emotionality - the combo records its first compositions new look. "Seven", "Song About An Angel" appear. History is on its way. Taking advantage of the emergence of the Washington state scene, SDRE signs an agreement with Sub Pop Records, the indie label has which one owes the "Seattle Sound" (Nirvana , Soundgarden , Mudhoney ... all in its catalogue...) and records its first effort: Diary (1994). Critics are enthusiastic, "Seven" (LE single) is played in Jon Stewart's popular talk show and the quartet participates in the "120 minutes" show on MTV. As the popularity of the record grows, its authors, on the contrary, seek to preserve a form of "clandestinity". Only one photo is shown, only one interview given, false information is deliberately spread. The mystery saureole group. We know very little at the time about its members, we see them refusing to play in the state of California without knowing the reason. Internally, tensions burst, at the pace of the tours, and lengthen with the kilometers. Even Hoerner doesn't show up on stage some nights. The breaking point comes with Enigk's sudden and profound conversion to Christianity. In a letter addressed to fans, the frontman expressed his revelation and willingness to put his music at his service. The rest of the group refuses this new orientation. In this climate of inevitable end, SDRE still records – for fans – what he thinks to be his latest album – LP2 or Pink according to the labels – that combine old and new titles (1995). Jeanne Moreau's voice was then heard on the destiny of the SDRE: "Everyone for himself has left, in the whirlwind of life". Dan married and lived on a farm, Jeremy recorded his first solo album Return of the Frog Queen (always at Sub Pop, 1996); Will and Nate join Dave Grohl's new project (Nirvana ), Foo Fighters , for tours. But the ashes aren't completely extinguished. Dan and Jeremy still write together and Sub Pop offers in 97 to the ex-SDRE to release a compilation of rarity. But these new ones don't exist. The quartet therefore decides to come together to create a real new opus. It's How it Feels to be Something on , produced in the "cradle city" by Greg Williamson. He was released in 1998 and ranked 126th in U.S. sales. Jeff Palmer of Mommyheads replaces Mendel at bass. Sub Pop then exploits the line and shoots live videos during the tour. The label makes it a Live CD/VHS (1999), despite the group's final agreement on certain modalities. SRDE then breaks and leaves to search for another record company. The process is long, painful and leads to the departure of Greg Williamson. The band finally signed with Time Bomb Recordings (an independent branch of BMG) in order to ensure the independence of the creation while having means of dissemination. Lou Giordano, the legendary producer of Husker Du, is responsible for recording the new material entitled The Rising Tide (2000). The group then aims for a big tour in Europe, but on the eve of the start, Time Bomb announces to the group its inability to finance this project. The label put the key under the door a few months later, ringing the bell of the hopes of SDRE, which, disillusioned, permanently ended its existence.
Since then, Enigk (who continues his solo career with his recent and excellent World Waits), Goldschmit and Mendel have created The Fire Theft, while Hoerner has worked with Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional). Some short noises from here about a new reformation. To be continued, as they say. Stay beyond these future hopes, a star place already acquired for SDRE within the emo nebula and an album – Diary - considered by the majority of specialists as the most well-known/marking album in the history of the emo (with Clarity by Jimmy Eat World or even Something To Write About Home by The Get Up Kids). Sunny Day Real Estate ..