# Royal Bangs > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Royal_Bangs > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Royal_Bangs.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Bangs > Source revision: 1311510400 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Royal Bangs** are an [indie rock](/source/Indie_rock) group from [Knoxville, Tennessee](/source/Knoxville,_Tennessee). The band is composed of [drummer](/source/Drummer) Chris Rusk, singer and [multi-instrumentalist](/source/Multi-instrumentalist) Ryan Schaefer, and [guitarist](/source/Guitarist) Sam Stratton.[1] ## History While attending high school in 2001, Schaefer and Rusk began performing together and using the moniker Royal Bangs when Stratton joined in 2005. The band recorded *[We Breed Champions](/source/We_Breed_Champions)* in their basement preceding Schaefer's departure to France and an indefinite hiatus. During the time apart, [Patrick Carney](/source/Patrick_Carney) of [The Black Keys](/source/The_Black_Keys) discovered the band on [Myspace](/source/Myspace) and signed them. Royal Bangs released their debut [LP](/source/LP_album) *We Breed Champions* in 2008 through Carney's independent [Audio Eagle Records](/source/Audio_Eagle_Records).[2] The following year, German label [City Slang](/source/City_Slang) released the album in Europe where British music publication *[Uncut](/source/Uncut_(magazine))* described the record as "one smart and super-confident package, rather like a chirpier, younger, less navel-gazing [Radiohead](/source/Radiohead)."[3][4] Their second [LP](/source/LP_album), *[Let It Beep](/source/Let_It_Beep)*, was released in late 2009 by both [Audio Eagle Records](/source/Audio_Eagle_Records) and City Slang. [BBC Music](/source/BBC_Music) editor Mike Diver reviewed the record, describing it as "varied but never lacking cohesion, Let It Beep is a charming and entirely unforeseen hit for tastes demanding their rock a little rough-hewn and happily unaffected. That it makes KoL ([Kings of Leon](/source/Kings_of_Leon)) sound as sonically redundant as U2 and Oasis is merely an accidental bonus."[5] The band signed to [Glassnote Records](/source/Glassnote_Records) in September 2010 and released their third album, *Flux Outside*, on March 29, 2011.[6][7] Royal Bangs played at [Bonnaroo](/source/Bonnaroo) in 2008[8] and in 2010 they played the [Bonnaroo](/source/Bonnaroo) and [Lollapalooza](/source/Lollapalooza) festivals. Royal Bangs made their TV network debut on *[Late Show with David Letterman](/source/Late_Show_with_David_Letterman)* on April 1, 2011. In early 2012, Royal Bangs made an addition to their lineup by bringing Dylan Dawkins to play bass guitar. On June 24, 2013, *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)* premiered the video for "Better Run", a song from the upcoming LP *Brass*, recorded with Carney in May 2012 and set for a September 17 release.[9] ## Discography ### Albums - *We Breed Champions* (2008) - *[Let It Beep](/source/Let_It_Beep)* (2009) - *[Flux Outside](/source/Flux_Outside)* (2011) - *Brass* (2013) ### Singles - Better Run (2013)[10] ## References 1. Shani Silver, [Radiofreechicago.typepad.com](http://radiofreechicago.typepad.com/reredesign/2010/10/review-royal-bangs-at-hideout-.html), *Radio Free Chicago*, October 6, 2010. 1. Lowri Jenkins, [Clashmusic.com](http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/royal-bangs), *Clash Magazine*, January 1, 2009. 1. Ceiri O'Driscoll, [Musicomh.com](http://www.musicomh.com/albums/royal-bangs_0409.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090525022945/http://www.musicomh.com/albums/royal-bangs_0409.htm) 2009-05-25 at the Wayback Machine, *Music OHM*, April 2, 2009. 1. Peter Shepherd, [Audioeaglerecords.com](http://www.audioeaglerecords.com/rb_Press.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090620002844/http://www.audioeaglerecords.com/rb_Press.html) 2009-06-20 at the Wayback Machine, *Uncut Magazine*, April 2009 1. Mike Diver, [BBC.co.uk](https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/8vrj/), *BBC Music*, November 2009 1. Peter Menniti, [Baeblemusic.com](http://www.baeblemusic.com/musicblog/9-15-2010/announcing-the-royal-bangs-sign-to-glassnote.html), *Baeble*, September 2010 1. [Baeblemusic.com](http://www.baeblemusic.com/pressbuzz/ROYAL-BANGS-ANNOUNCE-RELEASE-FLUX-OUTSIDE.html), *Baeble*, January 2011 1. Austin Scaggs, [Rollingstone.com](https://web.archive.org/web/20080723125113/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/07/21/smoking-section-pearl-jam-tom-petty-and-steely-dan/), *Rolling Stone: Smoking Section*, July 21, 2008. 1. John D. Luerssen, [Rollingstone.com](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/royal-bangs-battle-attacking-balloons-in-better-run-premiere-20130624), "Royal Bangs Battle Attacking Balloons in 'Better Run' – Premiere," June 24, 2013. 1. ["Future Releases on Alternative Radio"](http://www.allaccess.com/alternative/future-releases). All Access Music Group. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140713212901/http://www.allaccess.com/alternative/future-releases) 13 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine. ## External links - [Myspace profile](http://www.myspace.com/royalbangs) - [Facebook profile](http://www.facebook.com/royalbangs) - [Rolling Stone magazine feature](https://web.archive.org/web/20080723125113/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/07/21/smoking-section-pearl-jam-tom-petty-and-steely-dan/) - [Spin Magazine feature](http://www.spinmagazine.com/articles/bonnaroo-reviewed-royal-bangs) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090608023445/http://spinmagazine.com/articles/bonnaroo-reviewed-royal-bangs) 2009-06-08 at the Wayback Machine - [Live Session with Daytrotter.com](http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/royal-bangs-sweet-dreams-as-the-night-barreled-in-concert/20030418-3737813.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090417085100/http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/royal-bangs-sweet-dreams-as-the-night-barreled-in-concert/20030418-3737813.html) 2009-04-17 at the Wayback Machine - [Nashville Scene alt-weekly feature](http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/knoxvilles-royal-bangs-make-impressive-indie-rock-dont-care/Content?oid=1201060) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120913030101/http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/knoxvilles-royal-bangs-make-impressive-indie-rock-dont-care/Content?oid=1201060) 2012-09-13 at the Wayback Machine --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Royal Bangs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Bangs) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Bangs?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.