Wikipedia

The Griswolds

This article is about the Australian band. For other uses, see Griswold (disambiguation).

The Griswolds are an Australian two-piece indie rock band from Sydney, Australia. The band have cited influences such as Vampire Weekend, MGMT, Kanye West, Devendra Banhart, Of Montreal, and the Beach Boys.[1] The Griswolds signed with Wind-up Records in May 2013 and began recording their debut album shortly after with producer Tony Hoffer. They are named after the fictional family from the Vacation film series.

The Griswolds
OriginSydney, Australia
GenresAlternative dance, indie rock, pop, electronic
Years active2012 (2012)–present
LabelsNottinghill Music Masters
MembersChristopher Whitehall
Lachlan West
Past membersDaniel Duque-Perez
Tim John
Chris Riley
Robbie Balatincz
Websitewearethegriswolds.com

On 16 March 2017, Tim John, their bass player, left the band. [2] Lead singer Chris Whitehall was accused of sexual misconduct by several fans in September 2020.[3]

Background

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The Griswolds formed in February 2012.[4][5] The band's single "Heart of a Lion", reached #12 on the We Are Hunted emerging artists list.[6]

The Griswolds became a Triple J Unearthed feature artist after winning a slot on the 2012 Parklife Festival line-up alongside Passion Pit and The Presets.[7] Their Heart of a Lion EP, released in 2012, received positive reviews,[8][9][10] and helped start their touring career.[11] After success touring in their native Australia, the band made their first live appearance in New York City on 11 May 2013 at the Brooklyn Bowl.[12] The band began recording their debut album with producer Tony Hoffer in January 2014.[13]

The official music video for "Red Tuxedo" premiered on the VICE Noisey website on Valentine's Day (14 February), 2014.[14] The band's song "Beware the Dog" is the first song vocalist Chris Whitehall and lead guitarist Daniel Duque-Perez wrote together. Whitehall described it as being "about losing someone we were really close with to heavy drug use. [... It's] about that journey – the good and the bad times."[15]

In March 2015, the band confirmed that once they return to Australia, following their tour alongside Passion Pit, they were going to commence work on their second album.[13]

The first single off their second album, Out of My Head, was released on 12 August 2016. High Times for Low Lives, was released on 11 November 2016.[16]

In September 2016, the band was picked as Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month in the United States and was featured on NBC's Today show hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb and broadcast nationally where they performed live the single "Out of My Head".

On 30 August 2019, the band released Nice To Meet Ya!, the lead single off of their second EP and first release since 2016.

In September 2020, lead singer Chris Whitehall was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple underage fans. Whitehall apologized and admitted to the allegations, saying "It is with a heavy heart that I am confirming that the statements I have read are true and I am here to take full responsibility and ownership of my actions."[3]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
[17] 		US
[18]		 US
Heat.
[18]		 US
Ind.
[18]
Be Impressive 62 197 7 33
High Times for Low Lives
  • Released: 11 November 2016
  • Label: Relativity, Wind-Up
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
 —[A] — 21 —

Extended plays

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  • 2014: Heart of a Lion[21]
  • 2020: All My Friends

Singles

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Title Year Peak
chart positions		 Album
AUS
Hit.
[22] 		US
Rock
[18] 		US
Alt.
[18]
"Heart of a Lion" 2012 — — — Heart of a Lion (EP)
"Beware The Dog" 2014 3 33 18 Be Impressive
"If You Wanna Stay" 2015 — — 40
"Out of My Head"[23] 2016 — — — High Times for Low Lives
"Light Me Up"[24]
(with Max Styler) 		2018 — — — Non-album single
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Notes

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  1. ^ High Times for Low Lives did not enter the Australian ARIA Albums Chart but peaked at number eight on the ARIA Hitseekers Chart.[20]

Awards and accolades

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  • "Beware the Dog" was voted #28 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2014[25]
  • "Beware the Dog" was voted #4 on the Sirius XM Alt Nation Alt 36 annual countdown [26]
  • "Beware the Dog" was nominated by Rolling Stone as Best Video Clip and Single of the year for 2014[27]
  • "Beware the Dog" Spent 4 weeks at #1 and a total of 16 weeks on the Sirius XM Alt Nation Alt 18 Countdown in 2014 [28]
  • "Beware the Dog" Was chosen as the 4th best Alternative Rock Single of 2014 by Billboard [29]
  • "If You Wanna Stay" Debuted at #18 on the Sirius XM Alt Nation Alt 18 countdown the day after the single was released on US radio climbing to #17 the following week [28]
  • Debut album "Be Impressive" Charted at #5 on the USA iTunes Charts [30]
  • "Heart of a Lion" was voted #141 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2012[31]
  • "Heart of a Lion" charted at #12 on the We Are Hunted Emerging Artists chart[32]
  • "Mississippi" charted at #8 on US college radio's (CMJ) indie chart[33]
  • Featured on festival line-ups across the globe[34]

References

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  1. ^ "The Griswolds". Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  2. ^ http://blog.wearethegriswolds.com
  3. ^ a b Martin, Josh (9 September 2020). "The Griswolds' Chris Whitehall responds to sexual misconduct allegations: "I am here to take full responsibility for my actions"". NME. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  4. ^ "MUSEXPO | Showcase Artists". www.musexpo.net. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  5. ^ "The Griswolds | whatisthehaps | Life enthusiasts talk travel, music, art & culture". whatisthehaps. 11 June 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  6. ^ "Signs The Griswolds". Wind-up Records. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  7. ^ Newstead, Al (4 October 2012). "The Griswolds". Tonedeaf. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  8. ^ "REVIEW: The Griswolds 'Heart of a Lion' EP". Purple Sneakers. 14 October 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  9. ^ "Hipsters, meet your new faMvourite band – The Griswolds « A Thousand Guitars". Athousandguitars.com. 25 December 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  10. ^ "The Griswolds – Heart Of A Lion EP - The GROUND Magazine". Thegroundmag.com. 5 October 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  11. ^ "The Griswolds Announce Heart Of a Lion Tour | Beat Magazine". Beat.com.au. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  12. ^ "The Griswolds Hurl a Strike at Brooklyn Bowl". Review Fix. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  13. ^ a b "Interview: The Griswolds – "Tony Hoffer Pushed Us To Our Absolute Creative Limits"". Inveterate. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  14. ^ "Play The Griswolds' Video for "Red Tuxedo" on Your Valentine's Date Tonight | NOISEY". Noisey.vice.com. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  15. ^ Law, Tarynn (13 May 2014). "The Griswolds - 'Beware the Dog' | New Music | The 405". Thefourohfive.com. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  16. ^ "The Griswolds Announce New Album and Premiere Title Track". Entertainment Weekly.
  17. ^ "ARIA Report: Issue 1279" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  18. ^ a b c d e "The Griswolds Awards at AllMusic". AllMusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  19. ^ ""Be Impressive" by The Griswolds at Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Discogs. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  20. ^ "ARIA Report: Issue 1395" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 December 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  21. ^ "Heart of a Lion (EP) by The Griswolds at MusicBrainz". musicbrainz.org. MusicBrainz. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  22. ^ "ARIA Report: Issue 1286" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  23. ^ The Griswolds get 'Out of My Head' with new single premiere
  24. ^ "Light Me Up - Single by Max Styler & The Griswolds on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  25. ^ "1-100 List | Hottest 100 2014 | triple j". Abc.net.au. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  26. ^ "Top 36 of 2014 - The Unofficial Alt-18". Theunofficialalt18countdownplaylists.com. 27 December 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  27. ^ "Rolling Stone Australia — Nominees Announced For The 6th Annual Rolling Stone Awards". Rollingstoneaus.com. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  28. ^ a b "The Unofficial Alt-18 - The Unofficial Alt-18". Theunofficialalt18countdownplaylists.com. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  29. ^ "Year in Music 2014: The 10 Best Rock & Alternative Singles From Sleater-Kinney, Grimes & More". Billboard.com. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  30. ^ "Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  31. ^ "200-101 | Hottest 100 - 2012 | triple j". Abc.net.au. 26 January 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  32. ^ "Lime Cordiale & The Griswolds at The Lair at Metro Theatre (Sydney) on 15 Sep 2012 –". Last.fm. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  33. ^ "HOMEBAKE 2012 » the Griswolds". Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  34. ^ "The Griswolds". Chuggentertainment.com. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
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