The Movies (band)

The Movies were formed out of the ashes of The Vehicle Birth (Crank! Records) in early 1999 in Boston. After playing their first show without a drummer in Boston, the band hooked up with an old friend Stevie Triechel in Arlington, VA. Soon afterwards, the band got four days of studio time at Trans Am's National Recording Studios in Washington DC. Here they recorded their first album "In One Era Out The Other" with Jonathan Krienik (who also recorded several albums for Trans Am among others). Shortly after recording, the band moved to Los Angeles in Silver Lake. The band played at CMJ in 2000 and 2002 as well as South By Southwest in 2003. In 2000, Houston Party Records of Barcelona, Spain got a tape of "In One Era..." by way of The Beachwood Sparks (Sub Pop). The label soon released the album overseas to great critical acclaim in the European press. The band toured Spain that year with The Tea Servants, drawing sizeable crowds and positive press. In 2002, Gern Blandsten Records (Ted Leo, Liars, Radio 4, Rye Coalition, Dalek, Canyon) released the album in the US, Australia, UK and elsewhere.

In the fall of 2003, the band toured the US with Trans Am, recording their second album just after the tour, "American Oil". 2004, the band toured Spain again, this time sharing the stage with Luna, Matthew Sweet, Matt Sharp (Weezer) and Goldenboy. The tour followed the release of "American Oil" on Houston Party.

In 2005, The Movies won the LA Weekly Music Award for "Best Rock/Pop band". The band have achieved somewhat of a cult status with a small but loyal following outside of Los Angeles. Theyhave been dubbed 'every band's favorite band' in the Silver Lake music scene. On their debut EP, The Silversun Pickups covered The Movies' "Creation Lake" and continue to close most of their live shows with the song. Despite a solid and loyal following, The Movies seem to continuously evade the L.A. music press. The Movies are known for erratic, highly energized/unpredictable live shows, partly due to the crazed antics of singer Timothy James. They added guitarist Marcos Lopez in 2006.

In 2008, the band recorded a new album with Dave Newton (formerly of UK 80's band The Mighty Lemon Drops) entitled "Based On A True Story". The album was recorded at The Movies' recording studio, Chermak Studios in Burbank, CA -- on the same equipment from National Recording Studios in DC which James moved to CA after purchasing the studio.

Members of The Movies also play in other bands. Tables & Chairs is an instrumental band with Cleary, Triechel, Lopez and Radar Bros. singer/songwriter Jim Putnam on bass. Cleary, Triechel and Putnam also play in Adeline & The Philistines along with Adeline Park (formerly of Panty Lions and Joe Lies) and Aaron Kyle of the band Le Switch.