Group

Relient K

US | christian pop-rock

From: Canton, United States
Since: 1998–present
Rating: ★ 4.6 (5 votes)
Releases: 46

christian rock
pop punk
rock

About

Relient K () is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio, by Matt Thiessen, Matt Hoopes, and Brian Pittman during their third year in high school and time at Malone University in Canton. The band is named after guitarist Hoopes' automobile, a Plymouth Reliant K car, with the spelling intentionally altered to avoid trademark infringement over the Reliant name.

The group is associated with the contemporary Christian music culture, most notably the Christian rock and punk scene. They have also performed alongside secular artists. The band has reached critical success with mainstream pop-punk and alternative rock; additionally, their sound incorporates piano and acoustic elements. Since its formation, Relient K has released nine studio albums, seven EPs, one Christmas album, and one collection of rarities. The band has received numerous awards including a Grammy Award nomination in 2004 for Best Rock Gospel Album and two Dove Awards.
Relient K has found commercial success with their studio albums, three of which peaked in the top 15 of the U.S. Billboard 200 chart: 2004's Mmhmm, which debuted at No. 15, 2007's Five Score and Seven Years Ago, their fifth and most successful album, which debuted at No. 6; and 2009's Forget and Not Slow Down, which debuted at No. 15. The band has sold over 2 million records, with three albums being given a gold certification by the RIAA. The band is also highly successful throughout the Christian albums and contemporary Christian music charts. On October 4, 2011, the band released a cover album Is for Karaoke. On July 2, 2013, the band's seventh full-length album, Collapsible Lung, was released. On July 22, 2016, the band's eighth full-length album, Air for Free, was released. On April 24, 2020, they released Relient K: Live, which includes 15 tracks that were only previously available on vinyl and were recorded at shows in 2009 and 2016.

From Relient K on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Members

Matt Hoopes 1997–now · original member background vocals, guitar
Matt Thiessen 1997–now · original member guitar, keyboard, lead vocals, percussion, piano
Dave Douglas 2001–now background vocals, drums (drum set)
Jonathan Schneck 2005–now background vocals, guitar
Todd Frescone 1997–1998 · former drums (drum set)
Brian Pittman 1997–2004 · original member · former electric bass guitar
Stephen Cushman 1998–2000 · former background vocals, drums (drum set)
Jared Byers 2000–2000 · former
John Warne 2005–2013 · former background vocals, bass guitar
Ethan Luck 2007–2013 · former drums (drum set)