I Voted for Kodos

Biography

I Voted for Kodos (often abbreviated IV4K) was an American ska punk and pop punk band, signed to Snapdragon Records.

History

The band was founded in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1999, after the singer-trombonist Rick Bisenius met the guitarist Chris Holdoya at a Reel Big Fish concert. They began playing together when they were in high school and college. The band's name comes from The Simpsons episode "Treehouse of Horror VII", in which Homer Simpson says "Don't blame me — I voted for Kodos." Although known for their tongue-in-cheek material (they have noted that celery is the band's official vegetable), their song lyrics have also tackled serious issues such as murder and teenage depression. Their first album, Close Enough for Ska, is considered the success story of a small independent record label, Close to Nothing, which was founded by three teenagers. The band later signed with Snapdragon Records from Milwaukee and released My New Obsession. Snapdragon Records later re-released all IV4K albums and a "compilation of unreleased and best of" songs.
The band members began shows with informal instruction on how to skank so that the audience would appreciate the style of dance associated with ska music. They toured nationally from 2003-2006, and were placed number 7 in PureVolume's top ten unsigned bands in the US. The band played the 2004–2006 Vans Warped Tours, and the music critic Joe Lynch described their 2006 performance as "freewheeling and energetic". During a separate national tour in early 2006, one music journalist wrote that the band "uses a hot horn section, plenty of guitar and on-the-mark lyrics to fuel a high-energy show."
The band stopped working together in 2007, although Bisenius and Holdoya continued to collaborate on a new band, Firefight, and Bisenius began a solo project, The Faster We Fall.
On Nov. 30th 2013, the band played in Madison, WI and released a 7" called "Dear Chris Demakes, I'm Also Never Going Back to New Jersey." I Voted for Kodos had a successfully funded Kickstarter on July 31, 2014, to record an E.P. called "Start Your Own Scene."
Also in 2014, the band played shows in New York and Madison, WI.

Line-up

Rick Bisenius (1999–2007) – lead vocals, trombone, alto saxophone (2005, 2013), tenor saxophone (2000), Moog, piano
Lee Gordon (1999-2007) – mellophone, backing vocals, rhythm guitar, French horn (2003–2007), synthesizer
Nick Rydell (1999–2004, 2007) – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone (2003–2004)
Tyler Christensen (2004–2007) – lead guitar, backing vocals
Chris Holoyda (1999–2004, 2007) – lead guitar, synthesizer
Ross Gilliland (1999–2005, 2007) – bass guitar, upright bass
Troy Riechenberger (2004–2005, 2007) – drums

Past members

Dave Bartov (2000–2003) – trumpet
Tom Kaboski (2000–2003) – tenor saxophone
Andrew "Dafe" Fenton (2000–2004) – lead guitar
Calum Lugton (2004–2006) – lead guitar, alto saxophone, backing vocals
Mo Olig (2004–2005) – bass guitar
Seamus Arena (2005–2006) – bass guitar
Michael Pulling (2006–2007) – bass guitar, keyboards, theremin, Mellotron
Andrew Anderson (1999–2003) – keyboards, piano, trumpet
Paul Reinke (1999–2004) – drums
David Gage (2005–2006) – drums

Touring members

Brian Lee (1999) – alto saxophone
Aaron Joneson (2000) – tenor saxophone
Tim Ford (2000–2001) – drums
Keith Cronin (2001–2002) – bass guitar
Dustin Frost (2004) – trombone
Andy Christoffersen (2004) – drums
Adam Dettwiler (2004) – bass guitar
Jim Bower (2005) – trombone
Rick Reichenberger (2005) – bass guitar, keyboards
Jeremy Braband (2005–2006) – bass guitar
Tim Lappin (2006) – bass guitar
Devin Munson (2005) – drums
JT Turret (2005–2006) – keyboards
Andrew Singer (2006) – bass guitar

Albums

2000: Close Enough For Ska (Close to Nothing. Re-released on Snapdragon Records 2008)
2006: My New Obsession (Snapdragon Records)

EPs

2003: Not Penis Cream (Classic Filth. Re-released on Snapdragon Records 2008)
2013: Dear Chris Demakes, I'm Also Never Going Back to New Jersey
2014: Start Your Own Scene

Compilations

2000: Wiskansin: Skankin' Til the Cows Come Home (Trapdoor Records)
2003: Kicked Squat in the Nuts (Danger Zone Records)
2006: Best of Minnesota Punk & Ska Compilation
2007: If You Can't Make It Big.....Just Give Up! (Snapdragon Records)