Vanna is an American hardcore punk band from Boston that was formed in 2004.[5] On December 15, 2017, the band had disbanded, but later reformed with the original 5 members in February of 2025.
Vanna | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Inspirit (2020–2025) |
| Origin | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2004–2017, 2025–present |
| Labels | Epitaph, Artery, Pure Noise |
| Members | Chris Preece Evan Pharmakis Nicholas Lambert Brandon Davis Shawn Marquis |
| Past members | Joe Bragel Davey Muise Seamus Menihane Joel Pastuszak Chris Campbell Eric Gross |
The band's sound has been described as furious and cathartic, changing over time from metalcore to post-hardcore, with some songs showing emo or melodic metalcore elements.
History
editEarly years (2004–2005)
editThe band formed in December 2004 by guitarists Nicholas Lambert and Evan Pharmakis. The duo recorded their first demo in Lambert's dorm room at MassArt, using the program Reason for drums. Soon after, they recruited drummer Brandon Davis (who at the time was playing guitar for the band Therefore I Am), bassist Shawn Marquis, and vocalist Joe Bragel. They then recorded and self-released their first EP entitled This Will Be Our Little Secret. The five song EP helped the band gain a strong local fan base. It was this EP that got them noticed to the record companies, and on November 15, 2005, the band was signed to Epitaph Records.
Epitaph Records (2005–2009)
editIn March 2006 they released a split 7-inch vinyl with Therefore I Am, of which only 500 hand numbered copies were pressed (100 pink colored vinyl, 100 blue and 300 white). They then began recording their third EP and first release with Epitaph Records, The Search Party Never Came in February 2006. During the recording process, Vanna decided to part ways with original vocalist Joe Bragel. Nick Lambert filled in and took over on vocals for the recording of that album. After the release of the record in June 2006, they recruited Chris Preece as vocalist.
The band toured the second half of 2006, and on October 25, 2006, they traveled to Seattle, Washington to record their first full-length album with producer Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Norma Jean, the Fall of Troy, Pearl Jam). They recorded until December 19, 2006. In February 2007 the band began touring again with the Esoteric and played a few dates on the 2007 Epitaph Tour. Their first full-length debut album, Curses was released on April 24, 2007.
On February 15, 2008, drummer Brandon Davis played his last show as a member of Vanna and parted ways with the band during a tour with Knives Exchanging Hands and My Hero Is Me. The band finished up the tour with Ryan Seaman on drums. As the band began writing their second full-length, they recruited Chris Campbell as full-time drummer. Campbell joined Vanna from the New Hampshire-based band the Jonah Veil, who were disbanding. Campbell's first concert with Vanna was at The Living Room in Providence, Rhode Island, on March 22, 2008.
Vanna's next album titled A New Hope was released on March 24, 2009. A New Hope reached No. 31 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.[3] AllMusic described the first track as a "stuttering hardcore breakdown blast" setting the tone for the rest of the album's "uplift and crushing heaviness"; something that screamo bands had been trying to accomplish.[6]
In July 2009, vocalist Chris Preece left the band on good terms, citing "personal reasons". Following the band's summer 2009 tour with A Static Lullaby, Preece was replaced by Davey Muise of Seeker Destroyer.[7] Preece played his last show with Vanna at the Mansfield, Massachusetts, stop of the 2009 Warped Tour where Muise was brought to the stage and introduced. Muise played his first official show with Vanna on Saturday July 25, 2009, at the Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Artery Recordings and departure of Evan Pharmakis (2010–2013)
editEpitaph dropped the band from their roster,[8] so in August 2010, Vanna announced their signing to Artery Recordings. Their debut release through the label was an EP titled The Honest Hearts with producer Jay Maas, released on October 12, 2010.[9] Vanna released the single "Passerby" from the EP and a rerecording of "Trashmouth" as well as "Dead Language For A Dying Lady" with Davey Muise. On January 2, 2011, the band confirmed that they were going to Glow in the Dark Studios to record the new full-length album titled And They Came Baring Bones with producer Matt Goldman. The album was released on June 21, 2011. AllMusic described the album as a continuation of previous work, with some familiar melodic metalcore-style songs, and much the same singing from Muise as had been heard from Preece. The band still delivered vocals that were alternately "Cookie Monster rough and emo clean", with lead vocals coming from guitarist Pharmakis on some songs.[8]
On February 2, 2012, the band announced that founding member guitarist/vocalist Evan Pharmakis and drummer Chris Campbell had quit the band due to family and financial issues.[10] Pharmakis formed a solo project, Wind in Sails. The band also announced on the same day that they recruited guitarist Joel Pastuszak to the band's lineup. Vanna was featured on the Warped Tour 2012.
After touring with several fill-in drummers, Vanna settled on drummer Eric Gross to record next album, again with producer Jay Maas.[11] On March 19, 2013, the band released their new full-length record, The Few and the Far Between, touring in support of the release through 2013 and into 2014. The band promoted and supported the album by uploading video clips through their YouTube account from August to October 2013.
In November 2013, the band recorded a couple of new songs and announced that they would be self-releasing a 7-inch titled Preying/Purging on December 17.[12]
Pure Noise Records (2014–2017)
editIn February 2014, the band announced they had signed with Pure Noise Records and that they would play on the 2014 Vans Warped Tour.[13] Vanna started recording a new album with producer Will Putney (Like Moths to Flames, Texas in July, Stray from the Path).[14]
On April 18, 2014, the band announced that their fifth album would be titled Void, and would be released on June 16, 2014, through Pure Noise Records.[15] The band's style had changed from screamo to metalcore, supported by Patuszak's clean vocals and Muise's screaming vocals. AllMusic described the band as a "punk-metal hybrid", delivering an album that was "furious, punishing, and relentlessly hateful..."[16] In August it was announced that the band, along with bands Sirens & Sailors, Sylar and Alive Like Me, would be supporting Beartooth on their first North America tour throughout October.[17]
On October 2, 2015, they released an EP titled ALT, consisting of five cover songs.
On May 19, 2016, Vanna released a video for the first single off their new LP, All Hell, titled Pretty Grim, while additionally announcing that All Hell would be released July 8, 2016. Two more singles were released: "Mutter" on June 9, 2016, and "Leather Feather" on June 23.[18] AllMusic reviewed All Hell, calling Vanna a "post-hardcore unit" delivering an album full of cathartic fury.[19]
On April 28, 2017, the band confirmed dates of a tour titled 'All Good Things Must Come To An End' as "a farewell with our friends", confirming their forthcoming plans to part ways.[20] Pastuszak elected to not participate in the band's final shows. In Summer 2017, the band announced their farewell performance with support from Eighteen Visions, Knocked Loose, Bad Rabbits (later to be replaced by END), On Broken Wings, Like Pacific, Kublai Khan, Lions Lions, Old Wounds, Sharptooth, and Roseview. The final Vanna show took place December 15, 2017, at the Worcester Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts. Past members of Vanna Joe Bragel, Evan Pharmakis, Chris Preece, Brandon Davis and Eric Gross all took part in the concert.
On October 1, 2020, Nicholas Lambert announced via Reddit and Instagram[21] that five of the original members Nicholas, Brandon, Shawn, Evan, and Chris had come back together to form a new band under the name INSPIRIT. When asked about the direction of the band Lambert stated, "we wanted to do something that fit into that sound we were doing back in 2006, but just done smarter and with better production."[22] On February 28, 2025, the members of Inspirit announced they would be performing as Vanna again, stating "...INSPIRIT was a fun throwback chapter, it was always part of the same story. Now, we’re continuing that story under the name it started with: Vanna." via Instagram [23]
Band members
edit|
Current Line-up
|
Former Touring
Former
|
Timeline
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Release date | Title | Record label | Billboard charts |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 24, 2007 | Curses | Epitaph | |
| March 21, 2009[24] | A New Hope[25] | Epitaph | #31 (Heatseekers) |
| June 21, 2011 | And They Came Baring Bones | Artery Recordings | #42 (Independent), #22 (Hard Rock) & #8 (Heatseekers) |
| March 19, 2013 | The Few and the Far Between | Artery Recordings | #39 (Independent), #16 (Hard Rock) & #12 (Heatseekers) |
| June 17, 2014 | Void | Pure Noise | #157 (Top 200) |
| July 8, 2016[26] | All Hell | Pure Noise | #2 (Heatseekers) |
EPs
edit| Release date | Title | Record label | Billboard chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Demo | Self-released | |
| August 2005 | This Will Be Our Little Secret | Self-released | |
| March 10, 2006 | Therefore I Am / Vanna | Robotica Records | |
| June 6, 2006 | The Search Party Never Came | Epitaph | |
| October 12, 2010 | The Honest Hearts[27] | Artery Recordings | #18 (Heatseekers) |
| December 17, 2013 | Preying/Purging | Self-released | |
| October 2, 2015 | ALT | Pure Noise Records |
Compilation albums featured on
edit| Release date | Title | Track title | Record label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter 2006 | Epitaph Sampler | "That Champagne Feeling" (Demo) | Epitaph |
| Winter 2006 (Europe) | Epitaph Sampler | "A Dead Language for a Dying Lady" | Hellcat Records |
| June 6, 2006 | Warped Tour 2006 Compilation (Disc 2) | "A Dead Language for a Dying Lady" | Epitaph Records & SideOneDummy Records |
| June 6, 2006 | Unsound Volume 1 | "I Am the Wind" | Epitaph Records |
| June 20, 2006 | Purevolume Epitaph Digital Summer Sampler | "The Search Party Never Came" | Epitaph Records |
| Summer 2006 | Epitaph Sampler | "The Search Party Never Came" | Epitaph Records |
| Summer 2006 | Best Buy 'The Noise of Summer' Sampler | "The Search Party Never Came" | Epitaph Records & Alternative Distribution Alliance |
| December 2006 | Purevolume 'Epitaph Tour 2007' Digital Sampler | "The Things He Carried" | Epitaph Records |
| Winter 2007 | Epitaph Sampler | "Country Boys...Goddamn" | Epitaph Records |
| Spring 2007 | Epitaph Sampler | "The Things He Carried" | Epitaph Records |
| March 23, 2007 | Hails & Horns Volume 3 Sampler | "The Things He Carried" | Epitaph Records |
| June 5, 2007 | Warped Tour Compilation (Disc 2) | "The Things He Carried" | Epitaph Records & SideOneDummy Records |
| Summer 2007 | Epitaph Sampler | "The Alarm" | Epitaph Records |
| October 2007 | Purevolume & Epitaph Halloween Digital Sampler | "We Ate the Horse You Rode in On" | Epitaph Records |
| June 9, 2009 | Warped Tour 2009 Tour Compilation (Disc 2) | "Into Hell's Mouth We March" | Epitaph Records & SideOneDummy Records |
| February 20, 2012 | One H.E.L.L. of a Compilation (Side D) | "Every Bridge" | Get Stoked! Records |
| June 5, 2012 | Warped Tour 2012 Tour Compilation (Disc 2) | "I, the Remover" | Epitaph Records & SideOneDummy Records |
References
edit- ^ Crane, Matt (March 24, 2014). "VANNA ENTER THE STUDIO WITH PRODUCER WILL PUTNEY". Alternative Press. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ^ "11 songs to get you into metalcore – Features – Alternative Press". Alternative Press. April 25, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
- ^ a b "Vanna | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
- ^ Frazier, Kelly (August 4, 2017). "Boston Post-Hardcore Band 'Vanna' Says Goodbye After 2017, Aiming To Go Out On Top On Their Own Terms". HuffPost. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
- ^ "Vanna | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ "A New Hope – Vanna | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ "New Vanna Vocalist - News Article - AbsolutePunk.net". Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2009.
- ^ a b "And They Came Baring Bones – Vanna | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ Shotwell, James (August 9, 2010). "Vanna plan new EP". Alternative Press. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
- ^ Yancey, Bryne (February 2, 2012). "Evan Pharmakis (guitars, vocals) and Chris Campbell (drums) out of Vanna". Alternative Press. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
- ^ "Vanna enter studio to record new album, The Few and the Far Between". Razor & Tie. December 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
- ^ "ABSOLUTExclusive: Vanna Song Premiere - News Article - AbsolutePunk.net". Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
- ^ "Timeline Photos – Pure Noise Records". Facebook. Archived from the original on February 20, 2014.
- ^ "Vanna enter the studio with producer Will Putney". Alternative Press. March 20, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
- ^ "NEWS: Vanna to release fifth studio album 'VOID' on June 16th 2014!". Deadpress.co.uk. April 18, 2014. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
- ^ "Void – Vanna | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ Whitt, Cassie (August 11, 2014). "Beartooth – "The Lines" video premiere and first headlining tour announcement". Altpress.com. Altpress. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- ^ "90 Days To Warped Feature Band: Vanna". Vans Warped Tour. May 19, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
- ^ "All Hell – Vanna | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ "NEWS: Vanna to part ways; announce farewell tour!". Retrieved January 18, 2018.
- ^ "INSPIRIT on Instagram: "Old friends, new band. Old sound, new songs. We are INSPIRIT. (Photo by: @choralemiles)"". Instagram.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ "new band INSPIRIT is finally announced". October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
- ^ "Vanna is back and proud to present to you "Quiet Place", a return to form with something brand new". February 28, 2025.
- ^ "Vanna Release Date/Cover Art - News Article - AbsolutePunk.net". Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
- ^ Alternative Press Magazine No. 247, pg. 28
- ^ "Vanna Premieres Music Video for "Pretty Grim" and Announced 'All Hell' LP : Pure Noise Records". Purenoise.net. February 22, 1999. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
- ^ Shotwell, James (August 9, 2010). "Vanna plan new EP". Alternative Press. Retrieved August 9, 2010.