H.U.M.A.N.W.I.N.E. (often stylized HUMANWINE) is an American Vermont-based band with early roots in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 2002 by Holly Brewer and Matthew McNiss, HUMANWINE has had a long history of rotating lineups of supporting musicians. In recent years, the band has primarily performed and recorded as a duo, as heard on their 2016 four-volume release "aether".[1]

H.U.M.A.N.W.I.N.E
"Wrench in the Works", HUMANWINE's logo
"Wrench in the Works", HUMANWINE's logo
Background information
OriginVermont, United States
Genres
Years active2002–present
LabelsNervous Relatives, Cordless Recordings
MembersHolly Brewer
Matthew McNiss
Past membersPaul Dilley
Nate Greenslit
Tony Metsiou
Jeremy John Pilny
Andrew Dole
Patrick Dole
Websitehumanwine.org

HUMANWINE has received various nominations and awards. The band has been featured in articles in many sources including the Boston Phoenix,[2][3] the Boston Herald,[4][5] The Pitch, The Dallas Morning News,[6] and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette,[7] as well as being featured on the cover of Northeast Performer Magazine.[8]

HUMANWINE has opened for acts at both the Orpheum Theatre[9] in Boston and Webster Hall[10] in New York. They have also opened for the Squirrel Nut Zippers at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston[11] as well as headlining their own show at the venue.[12]

Their name is said, with tongue in cheek, to be an acronym of the phrase, "Humans Underground Making Anagrams Nightly While Imperialistic Not-Mes Enslave",[13] a reference to the subtly-coded lyrics that comprise most of their songs.

Awards and nominations edit

Touring edit

 
HUMANWINE performing at AS220 in 2006

HUMANWINE has made two national tours as well as making a West Coast tour.[18]

Their first U.S. national tour was billed as the "Double Dipping Tour" and took place in November 2006. They traveled with Reverend Glasseye and shared members between the two bands, hence the tour title. After this tour, Paul Dilley of Reverend Glasseye became a staple of HUMANWINE.

Their second national tour came after they were signed to Cordless Recordings.[19] While Cordless Recordings handled the digital distribution, Nervous Relatives Records handled the physical distribution. This tour was used as promotion for their new album, Fighting Naked, and took place from March through April 2007. For this album and tour, rather than using their primary drummer of Nate Greenslit (who went on a personal hiatus), they recruited Brian Viglione,[20] Holly Brewer's childhood next-door neighbor from Greenville, New Hampshire.

For their West Coast tour they took a different approach for their lineup. Holly Brewer and Mat McNiss left the rest of the band behind and trained local musicians that they knew on a show-by-show basis, resulting in a different lineup and feel for each performance. This tour began in December 2008 and lasted through May 2009.

Vinlandia edit

On July 30, 2011, HUMANWINE hosted a small music festival called "Vinlandia" in West Chesterfield, New Hampshire. The festival featured several acts, an open mic, and overnight camping.[21] It is yet to be determined if Vinlandia will be an annual event.

Members edit

Core members:

  • Holly Brewer
  • Matthew McNiss

Select musicians of the rotating lineup:

  • A Far Cry
  • Adam Glasseye Beckley
  • Brian Carpenter
  • Nathan Cohen
  • Paul Dilley
  • Esther "E-Star"
  • Nate Greenslit
  • Jeremy Harman
  • Kaethe Hostetter
  • Brian King
  • Tim Maher
  • Ashley Vandiver
  • Courtenay Vandiver
  • Brian Viglione
  • Jen "Mary" Widow

Discography edit

Albums edit

  • Xe. (as Veil) [2002]
  • For Burning Cities Present [2004]
  • Fighting Naked [2007]
  • Mass Exodus (Full Length) [2009]
  • aether [2016]

Extended plays edit

  • Kalifornia [2003]
  • Rivolta Silenziosa [2007]
  • Mass Exodus [2009]

Miscellaneous releases edit

  • The Sepiachord Companion [2009] - includes the track Rivolta Silenziosa[22]
  • Humanwine/Absinthe Rose Split Vinyl Bronze 12" Record (Limited Edition) [2010]
  • Tired (Single) [2019]

Publications edit

  • Codex [2016]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ https://nervousrelatives.com/humanwine/release/aether/2016/04/07/HUMANWINE-releases-aether.html/[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Eclectic collective - Music Features - Portland Phoenix". July 17, 2011. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
  3. ^ "The Phoenix > Music Features > Wandering stars". Archived from the original on 2009-08-26. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
  4. ^ "MUSIC". Archived from the original on 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  5. ^ "Bands with very long names tonight @ Church". Bostonherald.com. Archived from the original on 2010-02-26. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  6. ^ "Boston band plays songs from a parallel universe". Dallasnews.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
  7. ^ Victor D. Infante. "What you're listening to: HUMANWINE". Telegram.com. Archived from the original on 2015-06-15. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
  8. ^ "PerformerMag : Northeast Performer : June 2008". July 22, 2011. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
  9. ^ "Article on HUMANWINE including information on the Orpheum show". Lowbudgetsuperhero.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  10. ^ "NEW YORK NIGHT TRAIN: SHOW LIST". Newyorknighttrain.com. Archived from the original on 2016-09-22. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
  11. ^ "Squirrel Nut Zippers + HUMANWINE @ Paradise Boston 7-18-2008 | xrayspx.com". Xrayspx.com. Archived from the original on 2016-09-17. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
  12. ^ "Concert Review: Humanwine CD Release Party at the Paradise Rock Club - Bostonist". February 10, 2010. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
  13. ^ Acronym solution was provided on stage by Holly during their "Naked Residency" at the Lizard Lounge, March 2010 as well as being listed on the band's MySpace page.
  14. ^ http://thephoenix.com/BMP/Boston/2008/FemaleVocalist/ [dead link]
  15. ^ "2007 Boston Music Award Nominations Announced - on the Download". Archived from the original on 2010-02-07. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  16. ^ "2007 Best 2007 Album (Arts and Entertainment) - Boston, MA - CityVoter". July 12, 2010. Archived from the original on July 12, 2010. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
  17. ^ "NEMO and the Boston Music Awards - New England Music News - Providence Phoenix". July 17, 2011. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
  18. ^ "List of past HUMANWINE shows". Archived from the original on March 17, 2011.
  19. ^ "Warner Music Group - Investor Relations - News Release". Archived from the original on 2013-02-09. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
  20. ^ Cross-link to a note on another Wikipedia page
  21. ^ "Vinlandia Promo information". Archived from the original on 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  22. ^ "The Sepiachord Companion" – via Amazon.

External links edit