The Sour Notes - History

History

The Sour Notes formed initially as the moniker for singer-songwriter Jared Boulanger's solo recording project while living in Houston, Texas. Upon finishing what would later be his debut album The Meat of the Fruit in 2008, Boulanger asked long-time friend Chris Page to join him in creating a performing band in Austin. There, they met drummer Travis Hackett and bassist Brandi Dipietro through mutual friends and after having played only eight shows together, recorded their second album, Received in Bitterness.

In Winter 2009, the band hit the road on their first East Coast tour just before releasing 7-inch single "Never Mix, Never Worry", which displayed a new direction for The Sour Notes' characteristically evolving sound. Later that year, bassist Brandi Dipietro left the band and keyboardist Elaine Greer joined the band during the recording of their third album, It's Not Gonna Be Pretty, which was released in January 2010 to much critical acclaim. Following a two-week tour in support of the album, The Sour Notes were selected as an official showcasing artist at the 2010 SXSW Music Festival, opening for We Are Scientists at the Official SXSWi Closing Party and Daniel Johnston's only Austin, Texas show that summer.

The band spent a majority of 2010 touring with new members Amarah Ulghani, Kelly DeWitt, Erin Mikulenka and Taylor Steinberg, playing over 60 shows in and around the US that year, including the Free Press Summer Fest in Houston, Pitter Patter Fest in Toronto and the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City. At the turn of 2011, The Sour Notes released 7-inch single Hot Pink Flares and their fourth album Last Looks, which featured orchestral-pop band Mother Falcon, who performed on the album. The band then set out on another East Coast tour and were invited to play at the 35 Conferette in Denton and the 2011 NXNE Music Festival in Toronto.

2012 brought the release of split 7-inch record Wait//White on DIY label No Play Music with fellow Austin band Marmalakes and the U.S. television series Shameless featured The Sour Notes songs "Do-ers & Say-ers" and "One Fell Swoop" during its second season premiere on Showtime. The band added guitarist Rene Chavez and drummer Justin Selman and were again selected as official artists for SXSW and NXNE 2012. That summer, the band re-released their remixed/remastered fourth album, Last Looks on vinyl and toured the East Coast with new members Jessica June Kim and Courtney & Erin Howell.

In March 2013, The Sour Notes we're first round picks at SXSW and played 8 shows in Austin during the festival. They are scheduled to tour this Summer, making an appearance at NXNE before the release of their fifth album Do What May.