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Join Songkick to track Icon for Hire and get concert alerts when they play near you.
Join 71,406 fans getting concert alerts for this artist
Icon for Hire is an alternative rock band from Decatur, Illinois, US. Since their formation in 2007, the band has achieved a record contract with Tooth & Nail Records and on this label has released two charting studio albums.
After putting up a couple of songs from their EPs, “Icon for Hire†and “The Grey†on Myspace, Tooth & Nail Records got in touch with the band, signing them in July 2010. The band entered the studio in the latter half of the year to record their debut full-length album, which would be called “Scriptedâ€. It was released the following year on August 23rd 2011, and made it to number 7 on the Hard Rock Albums Chart and number 95 on the Billboard 200, selling 4300 copies in its first week and breaking the record for first week of sales on a debut album with Tooth & Nail records. The band’s leading single, “Make a Move†made it to number 13 on the Christian Rock chart too.
Following the release of this album, the band embarked on long international tours promoting their debut album. They toured with I Am Empire and Sent By Ravens, and then P.O.D and Love and Death. At the beginning of 2013, the band headed back into the studio to release their follow up album. The hype began to generate organically following the release of the single “Cynics and Criticsâ€, where afterwards, the band announced that it would be an eponymous album, released on October 15th 2013. It reached number 66 on the Billboard 200, gaining predominantly positive reviews.
Being a female fronted rock outfit, they have always been compared to the likes of Paramore, Flyleaf and Firelight. Singer, Ariel has states that they are in fact not a Christian band despite consistently appearing in Christian charts. It is due to the band writing on the most part, very optimistic lyrics.
Read moreBeing a band of 2 musicians I didn't expected Icon for Hire to sound the same as in the recorded songs. Be it for heavy post production of their songs, common to contemporary bands especially small ones, or just because of prior disappointment with other independent bands. I kept my hopes reasonably low when I decided to go to their concert. However I must admit to be pleasantly surprised having them surpass my expectations by a long shoot.
Paying attention to what matters, they kept the stage production to a minimum, having the lighting and stage dressing compliment their act. Throughout the entire concert I had the impression of being in a selective and intimate presentation as opposed to a concert. A clear demonstration of Ariel's stage affinity, with beautiful vocals, energy and masterful stage presence she captivated the audience instantly. Recruiting the audience to participate of every song and every word.
Although I thoroughly enjoyed the concert, I must admit that the mid concert interruption in which she read a small passage from her book felt like a detraction and misplaced publicity push.
However as she remarked at the end of the concert; they are a self promoted band that does not rely on a music label to promote their endeavors and all the funding comes from merchandise, record sales and concert tickets. If such strange promotion allows for proliferation of their music, I'm OK with the little discomfort it brought me.
Icon for Hire, the American rock band from Illinois formed in 2007. The vocalist Ariel Bloomer and the guitar player Shawn Jump put the band together. The band originally first played at a local pub in front of family and friends, they claimed they played a terrible performance, but it was received well by their audience. The following 2 years saw the band tour the Midwest and release more EP's. Davis went on to leave the band in 2009 though but without much of an explanation. The band however were then signed by Tooth & Nail Records after they saw them play live, they must have displayed a lot of passion and enthusiasm in their performance to get noticed by them. The band even supported 'Red' on their 'Kill the Machine' tour in 2011, which made their fan base grow and they were seen at the Christmas Rock Night festival near Germany. The band does combine a lot of sounds, which include pop punk and alternative metal. I had heard of the band a few times and after seeing how enthusiastic they are on stage it becomes almost second nature to share in that enthusiasm. I don't really care much for this type of music, which is why I wouldn't rush to see them live, but for people into this genre of music, I would say they are up there with the best and recommend listening to them.
Icon put on a fantastic and special show for us in Dallas and I am thankful that I got to see it. First, Adam Kronshagen, who left the band to spend more time with his family, was surprisingly at the show playing with the band (apparently, he has agreed to play the shows in our area). WHat a treat!
Second, Ariel made the dreams of about six fans come true when she invited them up on stage to rap with her (one of the coolest things I've seen in a show that I've been to). A little drama came with that too, as unfortunately one of the fans got stage fright and threw up onstage. I felt bad for her, but the show went on and she seemed to be alright. Ariel, for her part soldiered on admirably despite being a huge germophobe.
Lastly, at the end of the show, Icon played "Conversational Rockstar," an old song that never even made it onto an album and which they rarely ever perform anymore. All in all, Icon really made the night awesome for everyone who went, and they deserve 5 stars out of 5!
NOT TO BE MISSED! I went with my daughter to the London event at Boston Music Room. Both of us enjoyed this tremendously. More than just a band, Icon For Hire organised their set following the spirit of "Turn your Pain into Art", Ariel's superb best-selling book for which this tour is named. Very moving - literally of course (danceable) but also figuratively (emotionally). For many of the songs, if you want to know all the words, it's best to listen to them beforehand (just e.g. search YouTube for: icon hire lyric) - a good idea anyway.
Shawn and Ariel came out to the merchandise stall a short while after the end, no doubt continuing their welcome custom of a free meet & greet.
The first set, before Icon, was by the fine supporting group Riot Child (including a ferociously capable drummer). They, like Ariel, are America-based and originally from Sweden.
what an amazing night! you guys are literally incredible! thank you so much for making the treck to canada, i'm so grateful to have spent the night with such talented musicians. it was an emotional night as I've been through hell and back as well with mental illness, so your songs hit deep. thanks for being able to put all of my feelings and emotions into words.
thank you for making me feel less alone, and thanks for surviving and showing the rest of us that there's always hope.
love you guys lots. <3
Your show was amazing! You two are really lovely. You have always been important for me, you have always shown that there is more to the sickness inside. That it's not just pathetic. That's why seeing you guys live in second row made me tear up, keep up that good work and remember.. You are never too loud:)
Except for my horrible, way too loud singing along to every song at the concert:') <3<3
The show was seriously amazing. They played a great set, there were COSTUME CHANGES, it felt very personal, and the stage was amazing. Overall, awesome performance. However, a lot of the crowd was on their phones and not that into it, so that can be kind of frustrating.
The concert was amazing!! There was a girl who puked on the stage, she's now a legend in the Icon For Hire fandom. I was pumped up the whole time, & I expected nothing more & nothing less from the amazing band Icon For Hire. The Icon Army is ALIVE!!
The Icon for hire concert was great, really good fun and I enjoyed it alot. The venue was great to because it was small so that you could see the band at all times and at the end they let people take pictures with them and gave autographs.
I saw them recently at The Masquerade in Atlanta, GA. They were absolutely amazing; The music, atmosphere, and just everything about the experience was great. I definitely look forward to seeing them again next time they hit up Georgia.
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