Manchester Orchestra

Manchester Orchestra is an American alternative rock and indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, active since 2005. The group forms around singer and rhythm guitarist Andy Hull, lead guitarist Robert McDowell, keyboardist, percussionist and backing vocalist Chris Freeman, bassist Andy Prince, drummer Tim Very and Trevor Dowdy, with Christopher Freeman also listed among the members. The band’s earlier lineup includes Jonathan Corley on bass and Jeremiah Edmond on drums; Edmond leaves the group in 2010.

Background and name

The band originates in the suburbs of Atlanta. Its name comes from the English city of Manchester, which is associated with a long list of influential bands, including The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Joy Division, Oasis, New Order and Happy Mondays. Andy Hull grows up in a small-town Georgia Christian high school environment and spends his senior year studying at home after becoming increasingly alienated there.

Releases and recording history

Before its first official album, the band records an unreleased set of songs titled Nobody Sings Anymore. Material from that period later appears instead on the EP You Brainstorm, I Brainstorm, but Brilliance Needs a Good Editor, which is followed by the debut album I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child. That record helps attract industry attention and leads to a contract with Canvasback; Robert McDowell does not appear on it. The song “Wolves At Night” is used in the video game NHL 08.

Manchester Orchestra then releases the EP Let My Pride Be What's Left Behind, recorded with producer Dan Hannon and engineer Brad Fisher, and the second album Mean Everything to Nothing, produced by Joe Chiccarelli. The band follows that with the digital split EP I Could Be The Only One with Kevin Devine. Devine and members of Manchester Orchestra then form Bad Books, which releases a self-titled album. Manchester Orchestra’s third album, Simple Math, is described by the band as a concept album. Later studio albums include Cope, along with its acoustic companion Hope, A Black Mile To The Surface and The Million Masks of God. Across its career, the band also releases several extended plays.

Labels and collaborations

The band signs to Favorite Gentlemen Recordings, which is distributed through Sony Music Entertainment, and also works with Loma Vista Recordings. Favorite Gentlemen is run by former drummer Jeremiah Edmond. In addition to the collaboration with Kevin Devine, Manchester Orchestra works with Dan Hannon, Brad Fisher, Joe Chiccarelli and, on the earlier album cycle, records at Blackbird Studios in Nashville and Favorite Gentlemen Studios in Atlanta.

Musical style

Manchester Orchestra is associated with alternative rock, emo, indie rock, post-hardcore and progressive rock. The group’s work moves through indie rock, alternative rock and more expansive rock arrangements across its albums and EPs.