Parquet Courts is an American rock band from New York City. The band consists of Andrew Savage (vocals, guitar), Austin Brown (vocals, guitar, keyboard), Sean Yeaton (bass, vocals), and Max Savage (drums).

History

Band members Andrew Savage and Austin Brown met in Denton, Texas while both students at the University of North Texas, in a student club named Knights of the Round Turntable, where they listened to and shared new records. Andrew had a number of musical projects during college, including Teenage Cool Kids and Fergus & Geronimo. Andrew and brother Max Savage, Parquet Courts' drummer, were both born and raised in Denton. The three relocated to Brooklyn after college and soon started Parquet Courts.

The band released their debut album, American Specialties, as an independent, limited cassette release in 2011. The album was later reissued with Rough Trade Records in 2021.

The band's second studio album, Light Up Gold (2012), was initially released on Savage's Dull Tools label and later reissued on What's Your Rupture? in 2013. Light Up Gold received critical acclaim, and entered the UK Record Store chart.

In 2014, the band reached number 55 on the UK albums chart with its third studio album, Sunbathing Animal.

Later in 2014, the band released "Uncast Shadow of a Southern Myth" as a single under an alternative name, Parkay Quarts. Soon afterward they released their fourth studio album, Content Nausea, on which Sean and Max were absent due to other commitments.

The following year the band released a collaboration LP Ramsgate with PC Worship under the name PCPC. They also released a mostly instrumental, experimental EP, entitled Monastic Living.

On February 4, 2016, the band announced their fifth studio album, entitled Human Performance. The album was released on April 8 through Rough Trade. Co-frontman and the artist of the album's packaging and art, Andrew Savage, received a Grammy Award nomination for his work.

On October 13, 2017, Andrew Savage released his first solo album, Thawing Dawn, through Dull Tools under the stage name A. Savage. That same month the band released Milano, a collaboration album with Daniele Luppi featuring Yeah Yeah Yeahs lead singer Karen O.

Parquet Courts at Solid Sound Festival, 2015

On May 18, 2018, the band released their sixth LP, Wide Awake! It was named "album of the year" by Australian radio station Double J. Their song "Almost Had to Start a Fight/In and Out of Patience" is featured in the video game EA Sports NHL 19, "One Man No City" was featured in an Episode of The Blacklist, and "Wide Awake" appeared as soundtrack in Konami football game eFootball Pro Evolution Soccer 2020.

The band's seventh full-length album, Sympathy for Life, was released on October 22, 2021.

Between February and March 2022, Parquet Courts headlined a North American tour, with Nigerien afro-psychedelic guitarist Mdou Moctar as their opening act.

Musical style

Their musical style has been described as indie rock, post-punk, art punk, and garage punk.

Band members

  • Andrew Savage – lead and backing vocals, lead guitar, keyboards
  • Austin Brown – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards
  • Sean Yeaton – bass guitar, backing and occasional lead vocals
  • Max Savage – drums, percussion, backing vocals

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
USAUSBEL (FL)BEL (WA)FRAGERNLDSCOSWIUK
American SpecialtiesReleased: 2011 Label: Play Pinball!
Light Up GoldReleased: August 18, 2012 Label: Dull Tools, What's Your Rupture?
Sunbathing AnimalReleased: June 3, 2014 Label: What's Your Rupture?, Rough Trade (UK)55691816555
Content Nausea (as Parkay Quarts)Released: November 28, 2014 Label: What's Your Rupture?
Human PerformanceReleased: April 8, 2016 Label: Rough Trade118841094250
Wide Awake!Released: May 18, 2018 Label: Rough Trade1229342117106116196427
Sympathy for LifeReleased: October 22, 2021 Label: Rough Trade264911816096941442
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Collaborative albums

TitleAlbum details
Milano (with Daniele Luppi)Released: October 27, 2017 Label: Columbia

Live albums

  • Live at Third Man Records (2015)

EPs

Singles

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US AAABEL (FL)MEXUK Phys.
"Picture of Health"201299Light Up Gold
"Borrowed Time"2013
"Black & White"201441Sunbathing Animal
"Sunbathing Animal"23
"This is Happening Now"Non-album single
"Dust"201643Human Performance
"Human Performance"4211
"Captive of the Sun"8
"Almost Had to Start a Fight/In and Out of Patience"201837Wide Awake!
"Wide Awake!"4810
"Mardi Gras Beads"9
"Total Football"2
"Hey Bug"2020Non-album single
"Plant Life"2021Sympathy for Life
"Walking at a Downtown Pace"
"Black Widow Spider"
"Homo Sapien"
"Watching Strangers Smile"202233Non-album single
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Other

  • Ramsgate, PCPC (2015) (collaboration with PC Worship)

Notes

External links