Vertical Horizon

Artist Image: Vertical Horizon

Biography

Vertical Horizon is an American alternative rock band formed at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. in 1991. The band is best known for a string of hits in 1999 and early 2000s, including "You're a God", "Everything You Want", and "Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)". Their most recent album, Burning the Days, was released in late 2009."Save Me From Myself” was the first single. Vertical Horizon stands for a commitment to superior music. It’s a concept that has always meant a steadfast striving for the artistically-creative high road. Consistently at the wheel, founder, writer, lead singer and guitarist, Matt Scannell drives and unites the group, always exploring new territories of inspiration. Perhaps the most significant key to Vertical Horizon’s success today is the freedom they have from the constraints of a major recording label. Vertical Horizon works at a tempo that fuels the creative process. “Our music is coming from the purest place – there are no other considerations beyond ‘Do we like this? Does it mean something to us?’” It’s no wonder why so many performers cite them as influences. They’re a musicians’ band, always user-friendly and highly accessible. Is there integrity in music? Listen for yourself and be the judge. Burning the Days, Vertical Horizon’s newest studio album (2009) is a true testament to their commitment to making brilliant music. Produced by Scannell, this album reflects the quest for balance in a journey from challenge to peace. According to Scannell, the album is “sonically as good as anything we have ever done. This album and our renewed sense of creativity really resonates with our fans.” Burning the Days features virtuoso drummer Neil Peart of Rush on “Save Me from Myself”, “Even Now,” and “Welcome to the Bottom.” Also featured is Richard Marx playing piano on “Here” and producing two of Matt’s lead vocal tracks. The two radio singles from the album, “Save Me from Myself” and “The Lucky One” have been successful on the Hot AC charts, and have given Vertical Horizon a current presence at radio. According to Alternative Addiction, “This album is a perfect showcase for Vertical Horizon’s return to the spotlight and could easily be one of the best albums of 2009.” Founded in the early 1990s, Vertical Horizon released three albums independently (There and Back Again, Running on Ice, and Live Stages) and toured extensively. In 1999, the band signed with RCA and experienced meteoric success with Everything You Want, selling over two million copies. The title song captured the #1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 and Adult Top 40 charts, and went on to become the most played single of 2000. Having carved out a page in the annals of music history, the band also garnered further radio attention with “You’re a God” (#4 on Billboard’s Adult Chart) and “Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning),” which became a 2005 top 20 country hit for country star, Gary Allan. As a follow-up, in 2003, the band released Go. Tracks such as “Inside” (a frequent concert opener), “I’m Still Here,” and “Forever” provided true commercial appeal, whereas the deeper tracks, like “When You Cry,” “Sunshine,” and “Echo” kept the band established as a formidable, no-nonsense rock entity. Unfortunately, typical music-industry waste and mismanagement drove the band to seek a hiatus from “the business,” and they took time to reevaluate the creative process and distribution model. After some time away, Vertical Horizon emerged with the same conclusion their fans had: you can’t keep a good band down. In 2007, the time was right to start work on a new album, so a fresh approach to writing and recording began. Burning the Days was released in 2009. Today’s Vertical Horizon shares the practices of most long-enduring acts: different creative personnel have entered and exited, adding to the ever-expanding sonic tapestry. Genres, styles, sounds are the band’s “tools of the trade,” but they’re used with such variety—such intricacy—that it’s a challenge to “classify” the band’s sound. Sure it’s rock, but nuances mean so much. “I’ve never worried about categories or groupings. I just write what’s inside and it sounds like Vertical Horizon.” If you want to know what Vertical Horizon is all about, go see them in concert. As a live (and a very “alive”) unit, they play off each other with an almost feverish dynamic energy, making musical wagers that only they can fulfill, instruments in hand. It’s nothing short of a riveting experience. Have you been to a show lately? If you haven’t done so already, pick up Burning The Days and play it loud (ok, really loud!). Explore the band’s back catalogue and scratch the surface with all the hits. Then, do what fervent fans and musicians do and discover why the “deeper cuts” draw out such sincere responses. You’ll truly understand the path they’ve blazed for others to follow. They’ve constantly met and exceeded their own demand for uncompromising excellence in art. Vertical Horizon is what it always has been: a vibrant, growing musical entity. It’s not a reissue: it’s bigger, better, and reloaded. The band’s “wheel of change” continues to turn. Hold on to the wheel, and you’ll be dragged. Instead, let it roll—and enjoy the ride.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1991
Number of Albums 10
Record Label
Website www.verticalhorizon.com
Wikipedia Vertical Horizon on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

When was Vertical Horizon formed?

1990

...Vertical Horizon is an alternative rock band that was formed in 1990 by Georgetown University undergrads Matthew Scannell and Keith Kane. They're best...
Who formed Vertical Horizon?

Matthew Scannell and Keith Kane

...that was formed in 1990 by Georgetown University undergrads Matthew Scannell and Keith Kane . They're best known today for their 1999 megahit Everythin...
When was Everything You Want released?

1999

...rads Matthew Scannell and Keith Kane. They're best known today for their 1999 megahit Everything You Want, which was 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart....
Who wrote the book The Hobbit?

J.R.R. Tolkien

...s appearing on that album, with its name taken from 'The Hobbit' by J.R.R. Tolkien , though they both mostly played acoustic guitar. The duo toured for...
What type of guitar did Matt and Keith play?

acoustic

...en from 'The Hobbit' by J.R.R. Tolkien, though they both mostly played acoustic guitar. The duo toured for several years after this, mostly appearing ...
What band did the duo tour with?

Jackopierce

...several years after this, mostly appearing with similar bands such as Jackopierce . Guests included members of Jackopierce band as well as Carter Beauf...
Who played the drums for the Duo?

Ed Toth

...on drums. More touring followed, and soon Matt and Keith were joined by Ed Toth on drums. In 1997, a live album, Live Stages, was released. This featu...
When was Live Stages released?

1997

...ng followed, and soon Matt and Keith were joined by Ed Toth on drums. In 1997 , a live album, Live Stages, was released. This featured Matt, Keith, and...
What was the name of the live album released in 1997?

Live Stages

...att and Keith were joined by Ed Toth on drums. In 1997, a live album, Live Stages , was released. This featured Matt, Keith, and Ed, as well as Ryan Fi...
Where did Matt Scannell and Keith Kane first perform together?

Georgetown University

...entury. Matt Scannell and Keith Kane first performed together at Georgetown University , where the two undergraduates honed their harmonized vocals at ...
What was the name of their debut album?

There and Back Again

...raduation, they relocated to Boston to record a debut LP, 1992's There and Back Again , and returned to their native D.C. after the album's release. Th...
Where did they relocate to after graduating?

Boston

...ies and local coffeehouses. Shortly after graduation, they relocated to Boston to record a debut LP, 1992's There and Back Again, and returned to thei...
Who was hired to fill out Vertical Horizon's sound?

Backup musicians

...package tour that introduced Vertical Horizon to a wider audience. Backup musicians were hired to fill out Vertical Horizon's evolving sound, and a to...
What band did Horizon tour with?

Dave Matthews Band

...l out Vertical Horizon's evolving sound, and a tour alongside the Dave Matthews Band proved to be especially fortuitous, as drummer Carter Beauford a ...
Who was the drummer on Horizon's sophomore album?

Carter Beauford

...e Dave Matthews Band proved to be especially fortuitous, as drummer Carter Beauford a newfound fan of the band agreed to handle percussion duties on t...
What was the name of the bassist added to the Horizon lineup?

Sean Hurley

...dle percussion duties on the sophomore effort Running on Ice. Bassist Sean Hurley and drummer Ed Toth were added to the lineup in 1996, thus making Ve...
Who was added to the Vertical Horizon lineup in 1996?

Bassist Sean Hurley and drummer Ed Toth

...rcussion duties on the sophomore effort Running on Ice. Bassist Sean Hurley and drummer Ed Toth were added to the lineup in 1996, thus making Vertical...
Who offered Vertical Horizon a contract as the '90s drew to a close?

RCA

...s strength in concert. Such momentum wasn't lost on the major labels, and RCA ultimately offered the group a contract as the '90s drew to a close. Ver...
What was the name of Vertical Horizon's majorlabel debut?

Everything You Want

...ious LPs after signing with RCA, and the band's majorlabel debut, Everything You Want , followed in July 1999. The album went double platinum on the su...
How many additional singles did Vertical Horizon release?

three

...double platinum on the success of the title track (a number one hit) and three additional singles, and Vertical Horizon supported its release with a s...
Neil Peart was a percussionist for what band?

Rush

...an tour dates. The band continued to work on a new record in his absence, with famed Rush percussionist Neil Peart lending his help to several tracks....
What is Matt Scannell's profession?

singerguitarist

...guitarist Keith Kane told Frank Tortorici of SonicNet.com. Kane and singerguitarist Matt Scannell met as Georgetown University students in Washington,...
What was the name of the website Frank Tortorici worked for?

SonicNet.com

...ssroots approach, singerguitarist Keith Kane told Frank Tortorici of SonicNet.com . Kane and singerguitarist Matt Scannell met as Georgetown University...
What genre of music was the band's sound anchored in?

folk

...n. According to the band's official website, their sound was anchored in folk music and harmonized vocals, and their catalog consisted of mostly cover...
I've always tried to steer clear of nailing the meaning of what song?

too far on the head

...ve always tried to steer clear of nailing the meaning of the song too far on the head . It's almost more like you're looking at a photo album, and in b...
What did Scannell later write with?

Nashville songwriters

...es you have to connect the dots. Scannell would later write with Nashville songwriters , which differed from what he's always known, he says, because t...
What is the name of the guitarist that drives and unites Vertical Horizon?

Matt Scannell

...nsistently at the wheel, founder, writer, lead singer and guitarist, Matt Scannell drives and unites the group, always exploring new territories of in...
How many tracks does Vertical Horizon have?

twelve

... at a tempo that fuels the creative process. Produced by Scannell, this twelve track rock album reflects the quest for balance in a journey from challe...
What are the two radio singles from the album that have been successful on the Hot AC?

Save Me from Myself and The Lucky One

...we have ever done. The two radio singles from the album, Save Me from Myself and The Lucky One have been successful on the Hot AC charts, and have giv...
In what year did the band release Go?

2003

... and went on to become the most played single of 2000. As a followup, in 2003 , the band released Go. Tracks such as Inside (a frequent concert opener)...
What was a frequent concert opener for the band?

Inside

...e of 2000. As a followup, in 2003, the band released Go. Tracks such as Inside (a frequent concert opener), I'm Still Here, and Forever provided true ...
What were the deeper tracks?

When You Cry, Sunshine, and Echo

...ed true commercial appeal, whereas the deeper tracks, like When You Cry, Sunshine, and Echo kept the band established as a formidable, nononsense rock...
What did Matt begin composing in 2007?

Burning the Days

...lbum, Matt began composing the songs which would eventually become Burning the Days . The album was released in 2009 on Vertical Horizons own label, Ou...
When was Burning the Days released?

2009

...hich would eventually become Burning the Days. The album was released in 2009 on Vertical Horizons own label, Outfall Records. One of the songs, Even ...
Who co-wrote Even Now?

Neil Peart

... the songs, Even Now, was cowritten by Scannell with his close friend Neil Peart , the muchheralded drummer from Rush. Peart played drums on that song ...
Who won season 3 of NBC's hit reality show?

Cassadee Pope

...010, he wrote Wish You Were Here for the band Hey Monday, featuring lead singer Cassadee Pope , who went on to win season 3 of NBCs hit show The Voice....
When did Matt Scannell and Keith Kane start the band?

1991

...Vocalist Matt Scannell and guitarist Keith Kane started the band in 1991 when they were students at Georgetown University. The band is best known for ...
Who produced Running on Ice?

John Alagia

... Jackopierce. Their next album was 1995's Running on Ice, produced by John Alagia (Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer), Doug Derryberry, and Scannell. Dru...
When did Ed Toth join the band?

1996

...ayer), Doug Derryberry, and Scannell. Drummer Ed Toth joined the band in 1996 . The band released a live album, Live Stages, in January 1997. In 1998, ...