The Medic Droid

The Medic Droid
Background information
OriginPhoenix, Arizona, United States
GenresSynthpop, dance-pop, alternative dance
Years active2003–2008, 2012–2013, 2015–2016
LabelsModern Art Records
Epic Records
Past membersChris Donathon
Hector Bagnod
Johnny Chavez
Greg Rudawski

The Medic Droid was an American synthpop band from Phoenix, Arizona.

History

Beginnings and Whats Your Medium (2003–2008)

The Medic Droid was started in 2005 with Chris Donathon, Hector Bagnod and Johnny Chavez (Droid).[1] Bagnod and Donathon first met in 2003, but Donathon moved away from the city after they met, only to return (and begin the band) a few years later. The group gained a strong initial following through the social networking site Myspace; by mid-2008 the song "Fer Sure" had logged almost 2 million plays on the site[2] and the group had accumulated over 100,000 friends there.[3] Soon they were noticed by manager Avery Andon[4] who brought the band to New York where they played their first live show opening for Enter Shikari at The Bowery Ballroom[5] and caught the eye of A&R's from Epic Records who would later go on to sign the band. The group eventually made two new songs "Keeping Up with the Joneses" and "FSCENE8", enlisting the help of Australian DJ S3RL to remix these songs. In late 2007, Johnny Droid left the band due to issues with the other members and created his own solo band called J0hnny.[6] In 2011, he announced he was making a band with S3RL called R0bots.[7]

They later hired Greg Rudawski as drummer for live shows and were signed to Modern Art Records, a local Phoenix indie label distributed by Epic Records. They wrote and recorded their debut album Whats Your Medium and it was released June 10, 2008. Whats Your Medium reached no. 33 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.[8]

The band was heavily inspired by 1980s popular culture, their name referencing a character from the Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back,[9] and recording a version of the Madonna anthem "Into the Groove".[10]

Touring and break-up (2008)

The Medic Droid went on a "Spring Tour" with A Cursive Memory in Spring 2008 across the U.S.. A Cursive Memory was the only band to go to every show with them. They co-headlined for every date. Breathe Carolina, The White Tie Affair, and The Morning Of joined the tour for select dates, but did not go for the whole tour. Kill Hannah's Hope for the Hopeless U.S. Tour 2008 was presented by Hot Topic. Kill Hannah was the headliner and had the tour for their recently released album of b-sides and rarities. The Medic Droid, Innerpartysystem, and The White Tie Affair joined them as special guests for the whole tour. The tour began in July, 2008 and ended August, 2008.

The Blackout's headlining tour, "Sleep All Day, Party All Night", toured in Japan, Europe, and the UK. The Medic Droid was on the road for the UK dates in October. From First to Last and We Are the Ocean also toured with them.

The Medic Droid headlined their final tour with supporting acts Hyper Crush and Chronic Future in November and December 2008.[11] It wasn't planned as their final tour, but the group's members showed strain from constant touring,[9] and on December 16, 2008, both Bagnod and Donathon posted notice on their MySpace pages that the band had dissolved.[12]

Reunion (2012–13)

On February 8, 2012, Chris Donathon created a Facebook page for the band. Then the next day, on February 9, he posted, "Hey every one thanks for all the likes. I'm currently working on putting together my new live set as well as some new tracks. I'm super excited to get back out on the road again and playing some shows but i need all your guys and girls help to spread the word."[13] On February 19, 2012, AbsolutePunk posted a blog stating that the band had reunited.[14]

On July 25, 2012 Donathon announced he would be selling limited edition T-shirts to help fund a new EP.[15] On November 10, 2012 the band announced that they would be returning to the stage at the "South by So What?!" festival on March 16, 2013.[16]

Second reunion (2015–2016)

On December 22, 2015, The Medic Droid added a new picture to their Facebook along with, "THE MEDIC DROID 2016." The following day they announced their first show back opening for Austin Jones on the Phoenix, Arizona date of his "We'll Fall Together Tour" on January 21, 2016 at Joe's Grotto. On May 19, 2016, The Medic Droid released their first song in 8 years titled "Closer".[17] A second song, "Disco Queen", was released on June 1, 2016. [18]

As of January 2017, The Medic Droid are considered to be on hiatus or disbanded.

Discography

Studio albums

Whats Your Medium
Studio album by
The Medic Droid
ReleasedJune 10, 2008 (2008-06-10)
GenreTechno, electropop, synthpop, power pop
Length30:27
32:56 (iTunes release)
LabelModern Art
ProducerBack Ted N-Ted
The Medic Droid chronology
''Whats Your Medium''
(2008) 		Irrelevant
(2008)

Whats Your Medium is the debut album by The Medic Droid, it was released in the United States on June 10, 2008, by Modern Art Records.[19]

Track listing

All tracks are written by The Medic Droid, except where noted

No.TitleLength
1."Keeping Up with the Joneses"3:46
2."Saddle Up"2:53
3."Fscene8"2:33
4."Into the Groove" (Madonna and Steve Bray; Madonna cover)4:13
5."It's About Love"4:48
6."Tease"4:37
7."Fer Sure"4:14
8."The Killer Anna"3:28
9."Sho-Fer" (iTunes bonus track)3:48

Extended plays

  • Irrelevant (2008)

Music videos

List of music videos, showing year released and director
Title Year Director(s)
"The Killer Anna" 2008 Ben Sheppee[20]

Band members

Former members
  • Chris Donathon – lead vocals (2005–2008, 2012–2013, 2015–2016)
  • Hector Bagnod (aka Hekti, Hekti 3000) – programming, synths, guitars (2005–2008, 2012–2013, 2015–2016)
  • Johnny Chavez (aka Johnny Droid) – programming, synths, vocals, guitars (2005–2007)

References

  1. ^ "TMD first video update..." Google. YouTube. September 30, 2007. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  2. ^ Escudero, Nicki (May 20, 2008). "5/24: The Medic Droid". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved May 24, 2008.
  3. ^ Lymangrover, Jason. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  4. ^ "The Medic Droid j0hnny's new band is R0BOTS w/ S3RL (first interview @ manager Avery Andon house)". Google. YouTube. September 15, 2007. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  5. ^ "Enter Shikari The Bowery Ballroom, NYC, 9.11.07: Sentimentalist Magazine Review". Sentimentalist Magazine. September 19, 2007. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  6. ^ "I know there's..." J0HNNY on Facebook. March 21, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  7. ^ "d=_Ob R0BOTS is j0hnny". R0BOTS on Facebook. March 28, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  8. ^ "Medic Droid – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  9. ^ a b Leatherman, Benjamin (December 11, 2008). "The Medic Droid's Electro Power-Pop and Ambisextrous Antics are Driving Kids Wild Nationwide". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  10. ^ D'Andrea, Niki (December 11, 2008). "Don't Avoid the Droid". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  11. ^ "The Medic Droid, Chronic Future, and Hyper Crush". Chicago Decider. Archived from the original on April 28, 2009. Retrieved April 19, 2009.
  12. ^ Leatherman, Benjamin (December 17, 2008). "The Medic Droid Breaks Up". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  13. ^ "Hey every one..." The Medic Droid on Facebook. February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  14. ^ Wagner, Christian (February 19, 2012). "Small Band Round-Up (02/19/12)". AbsolutePunk. Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  15. ^ "Hey what's up you guys". The Medic Droid on Facebook. July 25, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  16. ^ "Exciting news". The Medic Droid on Facebook. November 10, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  17. ^ "CLOSER". The Medic Droid on Facebook. May 19, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  18. ^ "Alright ok alright we were gonna hold off on..." The Medic Droid on Facebook. June 1, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  19. ^ "What's Your Medium". Amazon.com. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  20. ^ ""The Killer Anna"". The Medic Droid. Myspace. June 24, 2008. Archived from the original on June 29, 2008. Retrieved June 2, 2016.