Number One Fan

Wow, it took me forever to dig up actual factual (haha that rhymed) information on this band. They aren't around any longer, unfortunately, and when I originally heard of them 2-3 years ago or so, I wasn't all that interested in them. I was just starting to get into the slower, "pretty" music in the vain of Mae and Copeland and such, and nothing stood out to me about this band. Man was I wrong. Listening to "Compromises", their debut and only album under the name Number One Fan and the only album of their's that sounds anything like them (you'll understand what I mean later), has many breathtaking moments and is simply a fun, catchy, beautiful album. For fans of Mae, Days Away, and Jimmy Eat World, for sure.

A couple of years ago, the members of Number One Fan decided to change their name to The Robins. They changed their sound and their look along with it, and I've basically lost all interest in them since. they've since changed their name and sound yet again, as they are now known as the Wildbirds haha. Neither of these projects are nothing to get too excited about in my opinion. They're good and all, just not my cup of tea hah. I'll link you to their respective pages below anyway, just in case you're curious. I've uploaded 3 songs off of their album "Compromises". If you like what you hear, feel free to go out and pick it up. Enjoy!

I was able to find this Bio on them on their label's website:

When you're starting a brand new record label, there's really only one music scene in which to find your first band. And its not the obvious New York, LA, Seattle, London - or even Omaha. Its Appleton, Wisconsin...Rock City. A beautiful, sleepy college town along the Fox River with liquor laws looser than Meg Whites sense of tempo. Population 76,000. Thats where veteran rock manager and Mosaic Media Group partner Pat Magnarella (Green Day, Goo Goo Dolls, The All-American Rejects) found NUMBER ONE FAN...the flagship signing to his new Universal-distributed Pats Record Company label.

Not that he had to look very hard.

Over the last year, NUMBER ONE FAN had created a huge buzz in the indie rock scene the new old-fashioned way: by playing every show in any city they could, lending songs to bedroom label cd compilations, selling thousands of their self-released cds at gigs, and by fervent fans spreading the word (and mp3 files) via instant messages, emails and messageboard posts. Says vocalist/guitarist Nicholas Ziemann, "The internet has been huge for us. So many kids come up to us at shows and tell us they heard about us from a friend online or on a website. It's really cool that we can go play in cities for the first time and already have kids showing up to the show and singing along."

Ziemann formed NUMBER ONE FAN three years ago with guitarist Matthew Reetz and drummer Jonathan Fries while all three were still in high school. After the defection of the bands original bassist a year later, Nicks brother Michael Ziemann bought a Fender P, taught himself how to play and was quickly added to the mix. With the lineup solidified, the band immediately began playing shows regionally, quickly making a name for themselves with their passionate, powerful live performances. Soon Number One Fan found itself getting offered opening slots on shows with like-minded bands including Switchfoot, Something Corporate and The All-American Rejects.

Number One Fans stunning debut album, Compromises, was co-produced by the band members with Justin Perkins and Eric Thielen at Thielens Simple Studios in Green Bay. The album showcases the bands unique brand of ultra-melodic, yet hard-driving pop/rock inspired by the Beach Boys and Beatles records they grew up on, as well as current favorites Counting Crows and Jimmy Eat World. Nicks expressive vocals lead the way, with deeply personal lyrics that will undoubtedly inspire countless LiveJournal entries. On several songs the band adds strings and piano touches to their muscular guitar/bass/drums formula to create complex arrangements.

The band is anxious to get out on the road in anticipation of the May 18, 2004 release of Compromises. They have just been tapped to open for The Juliana Theory on their upcoming spring tour and will be joining the Warped Tour this summer. "Its unbelievable to us that we're going to be on those tours", says drummer Fries. "Last summer we were buying tickets to Warped and now we're going to actually be playing. Its going to be so much fun - there are so many bands playing that we love." The band members are happy to report that despite the amount of time they\'ve logged together in the van already, there have yet to be any Noel and Liam Gallagher style punch-ups between the Ziemann brothers. Give it time, boys. Give it time.

Come On: http://www.sendspace.com/file/acv4et
It's Happening: http://www.sendspace.com/file/inqpzl
Can't Forget: http://www.sendspace.com/file/9tenpu

http://www.myspace.com/2715631
http://purevolume.com/numberonefan
http://numberonefanonline.com
(I couldn't actually find any links about the Robins. Then again, I didn't look very hard.)
check out the Wildbirds here, if you want: http://www.patsrecordcompany.com/artistsdetail.php?id=4