Jesse Thomas Lacey (born July 10, 1978) is an American musician from Levittown, New York. [1] He is the lead singer of the band Brand New.

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Biography

Musical career

In addition to being the lead singer of Brand New, Lacey plays guitar and writes most of the band's songs and lyrics. During a concert in St. Louis, Missouri, Lacey stated during his sophomore year in high school, he was persuaded to begin playing bass guitar for his high school talent show by friend John Nolan. Before Brand New, he played in The Rookie Lot, featuring fellow Brand New bassist Garrett Tierney and drummer Brian Lane, as well as future Movielife member Brandon Reilly. Previous to this, he had a short spell in Taking Back Sunday where he handled bass and backing vocals. Two notable songs he features on are: "Go On" and "Summer Stars" from the band's self-titled EP .

Jesse Lacey has close ties with fellow Long Island musician John Nolan. ^[2] Lacey attended South Shore Christian School, with Nolan, a former member of Taking Back Sunday and founding member of his current band Straylight Run.

Jesse Lacey has been featured in Kevin Devine's "Cotton Crush", "After Party", and "No One Else's Problem" off the 2005 album Split the Country, Split the Street . In 2007, Lacey did a solo tour of thirteen shows with Kevin Devine and special guest Grace Read. ^[3] During the summer of 2008 Jesse Lacey toured with Kevin Devine again, also featuring Brian Bonz.

In 2007, Lacey played bass on the song "Rocket" (featuring T.J. from Men, Women & Children) on the album This Is a Landslide by the band Intramural.

Musical influences

He is a well-known fan of The Smiths. ^[4] He has referenced them in the song "Mix Tape" on Brand New's debut album Your Favorite Weapon . Lacey's lyrical style has been compared to Morrissey's. Lacey had also taped the words "Hi Moz" to his guitar in a television appearance for Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He is also a fan of the band Neutral Milk Hotel. He has stated in various interviews that Neutral Milk Hotel's second LP, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is the most beautiful record ever written. At the 2009 Glastonbury Festival, he performed "Oh Comely" acoustically alone on stage. He has also stated in recent interviews that his friend , Kevin Devine, is his number one inspiration.

Lacey has stated in interviews that Archers Of Loaf is one of his all-time favorite bands, and that hearing their song "Web In Front" for the first time had changed his perspective on writing music.

Equipment

Jesse has been known to play Fender Telecasters, a Rickenbacker 330, numerous Fender Jazzmasters, and more recently, a Fender Mustang and Squier Super-Sonic. His acoustic guitars include a Takamine TF450SMSB Pro Series NEX, a Gibson Hummingbird, and a Taylor 314ce. His effects pedal board consists of (or has consisted of) a Line6 DL4, Boss DD-2, Boss DD-5, Morley ABY Selector Switch, Digitech Whammy, Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, MXR Blue Box, Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail, among many others. He has used multiple amp and cab combinations including a Marshall Super Lead, Vox AC30, Matchless Phoenix 35, Fender Hot Rod Deville 4x10, Fender Twin, and an Orange Rockerverb among others. He plays his amps through a THD Hot Plate.

Discography

Albums:

• The Rookie Lot/Yearly split 7" (As The Rookie Lot), (1999)
• Your Favorite Weapon (As Brand New), (October 19, 2001)
• Deja Entendu (As Brand New), (June 17, 2003)
• Split the Country, Split the Streets (Backing Vocals on "Cotton Crush", "Afterparty", and "No One Else's Problem"), (May 10, 2005)
• The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me (As Brand New), (November 21, 2006)
• This Is a Landslide (Bass Guitar on "Rocket"), (October 23, 2007)
• Brother's Blood (Backing Vocals on "Tomorrow's Just Too Late"), (April 24, 2009)
• Daisy (As Brand New), (September 22, 2009)

EPs:

• Taking Back Sunday EP (As Taking Back Sunday), (2001)
• Lullaby EP (As Taking Back Sunday), (2001)
• Brand New/Safety in Numbers Split EP (As Brand New), (2002)
• The Holiday EP (As Brand New), (December 15, 2003)

Demos:

• Five track demo tape (As The Rookie Lot), (1998)
• First four-track demo (As Brand New), (2000)
• Second demo (As Brand New), (2001)
• Third demo (As Brand New), (2006)

References

1. Hot Band: Brand New
2. Straylight Run: Existentialist Pop
3. Jesse Lacey Announces Solo Tour with Kevin Devine
4. Brand New: The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me