Mind Equals Blown

I So Called This: Kurt Travis Out of Dance Gavin Dance, Jonny Craig In.

UPDATE #2: We’ve done an in-depth analysis about how the original Dance Gavin Dance line-up’s reunion will affect the band, Jonny Craig, Emarosa, Kurt Travis, Downtown Battle Mountain and every other party involved.  Check it out and give your feedback.

UPDATE #1: Kurt Travis will be part of Jonny Craig’s backing band on the upcoming White Boys With Soul Tour.  Full article HERE.

You may remember in September 2009 when we at MEB wondered aloud if Jonny Craig and Jon Mess might rejoin Dance Gavin Dance to record a follow-up to their debut full-length, Downtown Battle Mountain.  Now almost a year later, the band made a shocking announcement.

Via AltPress:

“Dance Gavin Dance have officially parted ways with their vocalist Kurt Travis. The band and Kurt remain friends, and they wish Kurt the best in all of his future endeavors. The band know they’ve been dealing with a lot of member changes, but they assure their fans that it’s all for the best. They would also like to announce the return of original vocalist Jonny Craig. Jonny will join other returning vocalist Jon Mess in the studio this fall to record their forthcoming release on Rise Records due out next year. This will not effect Jonny Craig’s work with Emarosa or his solo project. The band are excited to start the next chapter of Dance Gavin Dance and are excited to revisit the days of [2007's] Downtown Battle Mountain.”

Throughout the last year, it had become clear that time had healed the wounds between Craig and his former bandmates.  Dance Gavin Dance toured with Emarosa, Craig’s current band, and the vocalist made guest appearances on his old songs nightly.  At Bamboozle California 2010, both Craig and original screamer Jon Mess came on stage to sing “Lemon Meringue Tie,” a fan favorite.  Since then, Mess has rejoined the band, recently completing the Scream It Like You Mean It Tour.

While we have long believed that DBM2 would happen eventually, but the dismissal/quitting of Kurt Travis was unexpected.  The vocalist has recorded two albums with the band, most recently Happiness, DGD’s most commercially successful record.

Surely this will pan out to be the largest member change of the year in music.