Frog (band)

Frog
OriginQueens, New York, US.
Genres
Years active2012–present
Labels
MembersDaniel Bateman
Steve Bateman
Thomas White
Websitefrog.band

Frog is an American indie rock band. The group was founded by Daniel Bateman and Thomas White in Queens, New York in 2012. In 2019, White left the band and was replaced on drums by Bateman's brother Steve.[1][2][3] White has since rejoined the band on bass.[3][2]

They have released five studio albums through labels like Audio Antihero and their own Tapewormies imprint, which have received praise from Pitchfork, Stereogum, and The Line of Best Fit[4][5][6] as well as airplay from various BBC stations.[7][8][9]

History

[edit]

Daniel Bateman and Thomas White began playing together in the folk group Uncles,[citation needed] a collaboration between Bateman and songwriter Will Schwartz.[9] After Uncles ended, Bateman and White formed Frog.[3][10] They released their self-titled debut album in 2013 via Monkfish Records.[11][12] After finding praise on sites like Gold Flake Paint and Drowned in Sound,[13][14] the duo signed with the UK-based Audio Antihero label for Kind of Blah in 2015.[15][16][17]

This second album received support from US-based radio (WPRB and WMBR)[18][19] press support (Magnet and Impose).[20][21] The band also performed for a BRIC Arts Media television broadcast.[22]

Kind of Blah received further coverage from UK press publications like Clash, Bearded, Artrocker, DIY Mag,[23][24][25] and The Digital Fix.[26][27] Tracks from the album were also aired on the BBC's Radio 1 (Huw Stephens)[28] and 6 Music (Gideon Coe, Steve Lamacq, and Tom Ravenscroft)[29][30][31] stations, and the band recorded a session for Dandelion Radio.[32][33] Their “Judy Garland” single later also placed at #17 in the 2015 Festive Fifty chart.[34] In addition to Frog's exposure via UK media, their “Catchyalater” single was remixed by British artists Benjamin Shaw, Jack Hayter (Hefner), and Broken Shoulder (Fighting Kites).[35][36][37]

In January 2016, Frog toured England and Scotland to promote Kind of Blah.[38][1] On this tour, they played a live session for Resonance FM,[39] and were interviewed for Amazing Radio,[39] in addition to performing in London, Colchester, York, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. One of the tour's lineups included The Drink, and another was well reviewed by The Skinny.[40][41] The tour was also filmed for the 2018 Kings of Blah documentary by Alex Coppola.[42][43][44]

After Kind of Blah, Frog reissued their self-titled album through Audio Antihero[45][46] and contributed a remix of Magana's “Golden Tongue” to the b-side of her “Inches Apart” single.[47][48][35]

Frog followed up Kind of Blah in November 2018 with Whatever We Probably Already Had It,[49][50][51] receiving airplay from Roddy Hart on BBC Radio Scotland and Robert Rotifer on FM4.[52][53]

White relocated to England in 2019[54][55] and Frog's August 2019 follow-up, Count Bateman, was a solo album from Bateman as a result.[56][57][58] Frog then went on hiatus due to changes in Bateman's professional and personal circumstances[59][1][60] but contributed a live version of “Rubbernecking” to the From the River to the Sea: The Terrible Truth About Palestine fundraiser compilation for the United Palestinian Appeal in 2021.[61][62][63]

Frog returned in November 2023 with their fifth album Grog,[64][65] for which Steve Bateman formally joined as the band's drummer.[4][66][46] The album's singles received support from Pitchfork and Stereogum[67][68] while the album was included in Bandcamp Daily’s weekly “Essential Albums,” received 9/10 from God Is In The TV, and was graded 7.4 in a review by Pitchfork's Nina Corcoran.[69][70][1]

Grog was the top debut in the North American College & Community Radio Chart[71] with airplay from KCRW, WKDU, and WUTC.[72][73][74] The “Maybelline” single was played by BBC Music Introducing,[75] and Grog was the “Record of Note” on Hart's November 17, 2023 show.[76] “U Shud Go 2 Me” was also added to the Amazing Radio playlist.[77] To support the album, Bateman appeared on Roddy Hart's January 1, 2024 show as the “Me-in-3” guest.[78][79]

Outside of the UK and US, Frog received airplay from national radio outlets Kosmos 93.6, Radio 3, and FM4[80][81][82] as well as the Politiken, Polityka, Bant Magazine,[83][84][85] and Rolling Stone Argentina publications.[86]

Discography

[edit]

Albums and EPs

[edit]
  • Frog (Monkfish Records, 2013 / Audio Antihero, 2015)
  • Kind of Blah (Audio Antihero, 2015)
  • Whatever We Probably Already Had It (Audio Antihero, 2018)
  • Count Bateman (Tapewormies / Audio Antihero, 2019)
  • Grog (Tapewormies / Audio Antihero, 2023)

Singles

[edit]
  • Judy Garland (Audio Antihero, 2015)
  • Photograph (Audio Antihero, 2015)
  • Catchyalater' (Audio Antihero, 2015)
  • Something to Hide (Audio Antihero, 2018)
  • American (Audio Antihero, 2018)
  • Bones (Audio Antihero, 2018)
  • God Once Loved a Woman (Audio Antihero, 2019)
  • Black Friday (Tapewormies / Audio Antihero, 2019)
  • It’s Something I Do (Tapewormies / Audio Antihero, 2019)
  • Black on Black on Black (Tapewormies / Audio Antihero, 2023)
  • Maybelline (Tapewormies / Audio Antihero, 2023)
  • New Ro (Tapewormies / Audio Antihero, 2023)

Compilation appearances

[edit]
  • A Collective Sigh of Relief (Gold Flake Paint, 2013) – contributes "Arkansas"
  • Elder Statesman: Nine Long Years of Audio Antihero Records (Audio Antihero, 2019) – contributes "Judy Garland"
  • Vinyl Post: Volume 6 (Vinyl Post, 2021) – contributes "Bones"
  • From the River to the Sea: The Horrible Truth About Palestine - a Fundraiser for the United Palestinian Appeal (Audio Antihero, 2021) – contributes "Rubbernecking (Live in Edinburgh)"

Other credits

[edit]
  • Magana - Inches Apart (Audio Antihero, 2017) - Remixer (Track 2)
[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Frog: Grog". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  2. ^ a b Cole, Henderson (January 9, 2024). "Track by Track: Frog – 'Grog'". The Alternative. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  3. ^ a b c Anastasakos, Evgenia (November 15, 2023). DePaulo, Paulina (ed.). "Danny Bateman on Grog and the rules of form". Firebird. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  4. ^ a b "9 Albums Out This Week You Should Listen to Now". Pitchfork. November 17, 2023. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  5. ^ "Frog Share New Song "New Ro": Listen". Stereogum. 2023-11-10. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  6. ^ "Listen: Frog - "Judy Garland" [Premiere]". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  7. ^ "Huw Stephens, The Bohicas + Benjamin Clementine, Will from The 405 delivers his new music tips". BBC Radio 1. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  8. ^ "Gideon Coe, Icicle Works in concert". BBC Radio 6 Music. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  9. ^ a b Greenberg, Nate (April 20, 2010). "AEM092 Uncles". Ampeater Music. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  10. ^ "Ya Herd #10: Frog". Herd of Gorillas. 2019-09-20. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  11. ^ Cholst, Rachel (September 6, 2013). "frog — frog". Adobe & Teardrops. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  12. ^ "Album Review | Frog by Frog". Goldflake Paint. Archived from the original on 2013-07-10. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  13. ^ Johnson, Tom (August 14, 2013). "Blogger's Delight: GoldFlakePaint's 20 Favourite New Acts of 2013". Drowned In Sound. Archived from the original on 2024-01-12. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  14. ^ Doyle, Jon (December 19, 2023). "Hits from the Swamp: An Introduction to Frog by Audio Antihero Records". Various Small Flames. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  15. ^ "Stream Kind Of Blah, the second LP from lo-fi country-garage duo Frog, on Best Fit". The Line of Best Fit.
  16. ^ "Frog – Kind of Blah // Album Review". Archived from the original on 2015-09-06.
  17. ^ "Introducing labels: Audio Antihero – Start Track".
  18. ^ "Search for the Artist "Frog"". www.track-blaster.com.
  19. ^ "Jon Solomon : WPRB DJ » Blog Archive » 10/7/15 : 19:00 – 22:00 pm ET".
  20. ^ "MP3 At 3PM: Frog". April 24, 2015.
  21. ^ "Frog, "All Dogs Go to Heaven" – Impose Magazine". www.imposemagazine.com. June 2015.
  22. ^ "B-Side | Frog". 5 June 2015 – via www.youtube.com.
  23. ^ Murray, Robin (June 19, 2015). "Premiere: Frog - 'Judy Garland'".
  24. ^ "Artrocker Magazine". Archived from the original on 2015-06-14.
  25. ^ "Introducing… Frog | Bearded Magazine: The Home of Independent Music". Archived from the original on 2015-05-24.
  26. ^ "June 2015's Best Bandcamp releases". DIY. July 7, 2015.
  27. ^ "Music @ the Digital Fix - Frog". Archived from the original on 2015-09-02.
  28. ^ "BBC Radio 1 - Huw Stephens, The Bohicas + Benjamin Clementine, Will from The 405 delivers his new music tips". BBC.
  29. ^ "BBC Radio 6 Music - Steve Lamacq, Robin Ince, Music Profiler". BBC.
  30. ^ "BBC Radio 6 Music - Gideon Coe, Tom Ravenscroft sits in". BBC.
  31. ^ "BBC Radio 6 Music - Gideon Coe, George Harrison in concert". BBC.
  32. ^ "Dandelion Radio - September 2015 Tracklistings". www.dandelionradio.com.
  33. ^ "Dandelion Radio Sessions (2015), by Frog". Frog.
  34. ^ "Dandelion Radio - 2015 Festive 50". www.dandelionradio.com.
  35. ^ a b Doyle, Jon (December 21, 2023). "From the Depths: Frog's Under-the-Radar Bangers by Audio Antihero Records".
  36. ^ Doyle, Jon (January 19, 2016). "Song Premiere(s): Frog - Catchyalater Single (w/ God's Tinnitus + Remixes)".
  37. ^ "Catchyalater - Single, by Frog". Frog.
  38. ^ Champion, Paper (December 30, 2015). "Interview: Frog".
  39. ^ a b "Podcast + playlist: Hello GoodBye – 23.01.16 – Ft: Frog + Hamilton Yarns". January 23, 2016.
  40. ^ "Plastic Animals / Frog @ Wee Red Bar - Review". www.theskinny.co.uk.
  41. ^ Godley, Simon (January 27, 2016). "The Drink/frog/Missing Kids – Fulford Arms, York, 25th January 2016 - God Is In The TV".
  42. ^ Coppola, Alex (February 1, 2018). "Kings of Blah" – via Vimeo.
  43. ^ "Highly Recommended W/ Alex Coppola". High Five For... February 20, 2018.
  44. ^ "[Premiere] Frog - 'Whatever We Probably Already Had It' - Cereal and Sounds". www.cerealandsounds.com.
  45. ^ "The humble beginnings of Frog, reassessed". The Line of Best Fit.
  46. ^ a b "Get to Know Cult Indie Pop band frog From Audio Antihero's Jamie Halliday – Adobe & Teardrops". November 21, 2023.
  47. ^ "video: "Inches Apart" - Magana". The Grey Estates. July 13, 2017.
  48. ^ "Magana — "Inches Apart" – Adobe & Teardrops". July 14, 2017.
  49. ^ "Review: Frog - Whatever We Probably Already Had It | Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com.
  50. ^ Layland, Edward (November 29, 2018). "Under The Radar: November 2018".
  51. ^ "Track By Track Breakdown of Frog's New Album". The Alternative. December 8, 2018.
  52. ^ "BBC Radio Scotland - Roddy Hart, 08/01/2019". BBC.
  53. ^ "FM4 Heartbeat - Playlist vom 12.11.2018 - fm4.ORF.at Radio". fm4.ORF.at. November 12, 2018.
  54. ^ "Frog announce fourth album with lead single "Black Friday"". The Line of Best Fit.
  55. ^ ""Modern recording requires too many decisions." Danny Bateman on Frog". August 9, 2019.
  56. ^ "Review: Frog - Count Bateman | Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com.
  57. ^ "Track by Track: Frog - "Count Bateman"". The Alternative. August 19, 2019.
  58. ^ "Frog // In Five | LONDON IN STEREO". Archived from the original on 2020-09-28.
  59. ^ Barwin, Mike (November 17, 2023). "Danny Bateman on Grog, Odysseus, and Tom Thibodeau".
  60. ^ "Frog". April 12, 2015.
  61. ^ "MENA Albums Spreading Awareness & Raising Funds for Palestine Relief". www.scenenoise.com.
  62. ^ "Audio Antihero Brings The World Together on United Palestinian Appeal Compilation – Adobe & Teardrops". July 23, 2021.
  63. ^ "Highly Recommended W/ Audio Antihero". High Five For…. November 9, 2023.
  64. ^ "New Music Friday: Stream projects from Danny Brown, MJ Lenderman, Neil Hamburger, and more". The Fader.
  65. ^ Halliday, Jamie (November 16, 2023). "Frog Premieres / #1 on Hype Machine! / "Grog" is out Tomorrow (Nov 17th)!".
  66. ^ "Frog - "Grog" | Album Review". Post-Trash. December 29, 2023.
  67. ^ "13 Songs You Should Listen to Now: This Week's Pitchfork Selects Playlist". Pitchfork. November 6, 2023.
  68. ^ "Frog Share New Song "Maybelline": Listen". November 7, 2023.
  69. ^ "Essential Releases, November 17, 2023". Bandcamp Daily. November 17, 2023.
  70. ^ Elkin·Reviews·, Trev (November 17, 2023). "Frog - Grog (Audio Antihero) - God Is In The TV".
  71. ^ "You are being redirected..." naccchart.com.
  72. ^ "WUTC Staff Picks: Top of 2023". WUTC. December 7, 2023.
  73. ^ "Music for Pseudo-Intellectuals on Mon 11/6/23 | WKDU Philadelphia 91.7FM". wkdu.org.
  74. ^ "José Galván's playlist, December 4, 2023". KCRW. December 5, 2023.
  75. ^ "BBC Music - BBC Music Introducing, Oxfordshire & Berkshire, The Sleeping Souls". BBC.
  76. ^ "BBC Radio Scotland - Roddy Hart, 21/11/2023". BBC.
  77. ^ "Amazing Radio US". Archived from the original on 2024-01-12.
  78. ^ "BBC Radio Scotland - Roddy Hart, 09/01/2024". BBC.
  79. ^ Halliday, Jamie (January 9, 2024). "SWAMP TALK: Frog features on BBC Scotland, The Alternative & Resonance FM".
  80. ^ "Fresh Unlimited – November 25th @ Kosmos 93.6 - It's My Blender !". November 26, 2023.
  81. ^ "Dj Bombín - "Bailando en el techo"". RTVE.es. November 12, 2023.
  82. ^ "FM4 Heartbeat - Playlist vom 6.11.2023 - fm4.ORF.at Radio". fm4.ORF.at. November 6, 2023.
  83. ^ "Hun er tilbage. Og hun er lige uimodståelig". Politiken. November 10, 2023.
  84. ^ Chaciński, Bartek. "Taśma tygodnia #137".
  85. ^ "André 3000, Kurt Vile ve bu hafta başka ne dinlesek?". bant mag. November 10, 2021.
  86. ^ "Iggy invoca a Depeche, Porno For Pyros vuelve a encenderse y el hijo de Thom Yorke la rompe". November 18, 2023.
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