Vanna is an American post-hardcore band from Boston, MA. Their first full length album, Curses, was released on April 24, 2007.
The band formed in December 2004 by both guitarists Evan Pharmakis and Nick Lambert. The duo recorded their first demo in a dorm room at MassArt, using a drum machine. Soon after, they recruited drummer Brandon Davis (who at the time was playing guitar for the band Therefore I Am), bassist Shawn Marquis, and vocalist Joe Bragel.
They then recorded and self released their first EP entitled This Will Be Our Little Secret. It was stated by bassist Shawn Marquis that only four or five pressings of forty copies each were produced. The five song EP quickly helped the band gain a strong local fan base. It was this EP that got them noticed, and on November 15, 2005 the band was signed to Epitaph Records.
In March 2006 they released a split 7" vinyl with Therefore I Am, of which only 500 hand numbered copies were pressed (100 pink colored vinyl, 100 blue and 300 white). They then began recording their debut album, The Search Party Never Came in February 2006. During the recording process, Vanna decided to part ways with original vocalist Joe Bragel. Nick filled in and took over on vocals for the recording of that album. After the departure of Joe and the release of their debut record in June 2006, they recruited Chris Preece as a full time vocalist.
After the release of The Search Party Never Came, The band toured for the whole summer and fall, and on October 25, 2006, they traveled to Seattle, Washington to record their first full length album with Producer Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Norma Jean, The Fall of Troy, Pearl Jam). They recorded through November, 2006 and up until December 19, 2006. In February 2007 after recording the album, the band began touring again with The Esoteric and played a few dates on the 2007 Epitaph Tour. Their debut full length Curses was released on April 24, 2007.
On February 15, 2008, drummer Brandon Davis played his last show as a member of Vanna and parted ways with the band during a tour with Knives Exchanging Hands and My Hero Is Me. Brandon states that there is no bad blood between anyone and will go to future Vanna shows. Brandon currently plays guitar in a post-hardcore band from Boston called Lions Lions and occasionally plays shows with Vanna.
The band finished up the tour with fill-in drummer and good friend of the band, Ryan Seaman. As the band began writing their second full length, they recruited Chris Campbell as the full time drummer. Chris Campbell joined Vanna from the New Hampshire based band, The Jonah Veil, where he also played drums. This came during the process of The Jonah Veil ending their band and playing their last show. Chris Campbell played his debut show at The Living Room in Providence, Rhode Island on March 22, 2008.
Vanna's next album titled A New Hope was released on March 24, 2009. A New Hope reached #31 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.
In July 2009, vocalist Chris Preece decided to part ways with the band. Preece, who had contributed his vocals to Curses and A New Hope, left the band citing "personal reasons" and left on good terms with the band. Following the band's summer 2009 tour with A Static Lullaby, Preece was replaced by Davey Muise of Seeker Destroyer.[4] Preece recently played his last show with Vanna at the Mansfield, MA stop of the 2009 Warped Tour where Muise was brought to the stage and introduced. Muise played his first official show with Vanna on Saturday July 25, 2009 at the Palladium in Worcester, MA. They are also known for their series of "webisodes", "Tough Life", and "Band VS. Road".
On May 25, 2010, an unofficial music video was released for the song "Into Hell's Mouth We March". It can be found on YouTube.
In August 2010, Vanna announced their signing to Artery Recordings. Their debut release through the label will be an EP titled The Honest Hearts, expected to be released on October 12, 2010.
Vanna has released their new single "Passerby" from the EP The Honest Hearts and a rerecording of "Trashmouth" as well as "Dead Language For A Dying Lady" with Davey Muise. On January 2, 2011, the band confirmed that they were going to Glow In The Dark Studios to record the new full-length album titled And They Came Baring Bones with producer Matt Goldman. Album was released on June 21, 2011.
