Rahul Sharma (Editor)

The Broken West

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Also known as
  
The Brokedown

Labels
  
Merge

Active until
  
2009

Years active
  
2004–2009

Associated acts
  
Apex Manor

Genres
  
Indie rock, Power pop

The Broken West wwwaquariumdrunkardcomwpcontentuploads20071

Website
  
myspace.com/thebrokenwest

Past members
  
Rob McCorkindale Scott Claassen Jon Shaw

Origin
  
Los Angeles, California, United States (2006)

Albums
  
Now or Heaven, I Can't Go On, I'll Go On

Members
  
Ross Flournoy, Dan Iead, Jeff Howell, Rob McCorkindale, Sean McDonald, Scott Claassen, Jon Shaw

Similar
  
Switches, Apex Manor, The Mary Onettes, Radar Bros, Portastatic

Profiles

The broken west so it goes


The Broken West was an American power pop band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 2004, and later signed to Merge Records. The members are Ross Flournoy (guitar, vocals), Dan Iead (guitar, backing vocals), Brian Whelan (bass, backing vocals), Rob McCorkindale (drums, percussion), and Scott Claassen (keys, backing vocals). Drummer Rob McCorkindale was later replaced by Sean McDonald. Jeff Howell (Dan Iead's high school friend from Connecticut) joined the Broken West as their touring keyboardist, playing synth, organ and piano.

Contents

The broken west perfect games


History

Initially named The Brokedown, they changed their name in 2006 because of legal concerns with a Chicago band with a similar name. Their debut full-length release is I Can't Go On, I'll Go On, referencing a Samuel Beckett quote.

Their single "Down in the Valley" was featured in an episode of Grey's Anatomy.

They have played the Austin City Limits Music Festival, and toured the U.S. and Canada with Fountains of Wayne and with The National.

None of the band members are originally from Los Angeles. Frontman Ross Flournoy was born in Memphis, Tennessee and moved with his family to Santa Barbara, California when he was 11 years old. His musical pleasures growing up included Big Star, Teenage Fanclub, and The Beatles. Dan Iead and Jeff Howell grew up in Branford, CT. Brian Whelan split time between Seattle and Northern California.

The band's second album Now or Heaven was released in 2008 through Merge Records.

The band has broken up and Ross Flournoy released his first record as Apex Manor on January 25, 2011, also on Merge Records. The band's song "Perfect Games" has been used as background music for current weather condition map segments on the Weather Channel in 2012.

Discography

  • 2005: The Dutchman's Gold EP (as The Brokedown)
  • 2007: I Can't Go On, I'll Go On
  • 2008: Now or Heaven
  • Songs

    Perfect GamesNow or Heaven · 2008
    Down in the Valley2007
    So It Goes2007

    References

    The Broken West Wikipedia