Boys Life was an American indie rock band from Kansas City, Missouri, formed in 1993. The band was foundational in the emo genre, especially influencing Taking Back Sunday.[1]

Boys Life
OriginKansas City, Missouri, U.S.
GenresMidwest emo, math rock, post-hardcore
Years active1993–1997, 2015
LabelsCrank!, Headhunter, Cargo, Topshelf, Hit It!, Numero Group
SpinoffsCanyon, Lullaby for the Working Class, Matt Suggs, The Farewell Bend, Six Bells
Past membersBrandon Butler
Joe Winkle
John Rejba
John Anderson
Dave Banaka

Band members went on to form other bands such as Canyon and Lullaby for the Working Class. Brandon Butler has also released several albums of solo material under his own name and formed the band Six Bells in 2014, who released their debut album in late 2015.[2] In 2015, the band announced a brief reunion tour to coincide with the vinyl-only reissue of its second full-length album.[3]

In 2024, Numero Group formally announced they would be reissuing the band's material.[4]

Members edit

  • Brandon Butler (vocals/guitar)
  • Joe Winkle (guitar)
  • John Rejba (bass)
  • John Anderson (drums)

Discography edit

Albums edit

Live albums edit

  • Live in Washington DC (2020)

EPs and singles edit

  • Boys Life demo (1993)
  • Split with Giants Chair (1993, Hit It! Recordings)
  • "Lister/Without Doubt" (1994, Synergy Records)
  • Split 7-inch with Secular Theme (1994, Flapjack Records)
  • "Breaker Breaker + 1" (Synergy Records)
  • Split with Vitreous Humor (1994, Crank! Records)
  • Split with Christie Front Drive (1996, Crank! Records)
  • "Sight Unseen" (2023, Numero Group)
  • "Breaker Breaker" (2023, Numero Group)
  • "Temporary" (2023, Numero Group)
  • "Worn Thin" (2023, Numero Group)
  • "Strike 3" (2024, Numero Group)
  • "Cloudy+47" (2024, Numero Group)

Compilation appearances edit

  • "Signing Off" on Kansas City Misery (1995, Red Decibel)
  • "Sight Unseen (live)" on (don't forget to) breathe (1997, Crank! Records)
  • "A Quarter's Worth" on Fuck That Weak Shit (1997, Crank! Records)
  • "Temporary" on Stay Tuned For The Holidays (2000, Crank! Records)

References edit

  1. ^ Ian Cohen; David Anthony; Nina Corcoran; Emma Garland; Brad Nelson (February 13, 2020). "The 100 Greatest Emo Songs of All Time". Vulture.com. Vox Media. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  2. ^ "Brandon Butler | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  3. ^ "Boys Life (Topshelf Records)". Topshelfrecords.com. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  4. ^ Group, Numero (March 14, 2024). "Boys Life: Now on Numero". Twitter. Retrieved March 18, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links edit