The band had roots in the influential Long Island, NY scene, having played everywhere from backyards to bar mitzvahs, to opening on huge tours with veteran bands like Taking Back Sunday. Their energetic live performances and the desire to extract all traces of the "rockstar attitude" from their music garnered them a huge fanbase, especially in the Northeast. Over time, the band has been fortunate to have met some people who have jumped aboard to help the band in ways that they couldn't for themselves. Bryan Russell, who engineered the band's first EP at his Brooklyn loft, passed the record on to Will Noon, who at the time played drums in Long Island favorite Straylight Run. Noon offered to help the band gain exposure to booking agents and record labels.
As the band grew frustrated and disgusted at being courted by the labels, they were fortunate enough to meet booking agent Matt Galle, who gave their record a listen and offered to help the band. Galle was the piece to the puzzle that Envy needed. He quickly befriended the band and saw eye-to-eye with their plan to tour incessantly, and made it happen. The band went on to release 2007's Lucy Gray, which saw the band having minor success with single, "Sugar Skulls" especially on networks like FuseTV, where the video aired in heavy rotation.
In 2009, drummer Dan Gluszak made a decision to leave, with the band offering a statement via Myspace: "We, as a band, have decided to part ways with our drummer, Dan. I can't overstate how much it pains me and the rest of the guys to have to announce the departure of one of our founding members but at the end of the day, we truly believe it is in the best interest of all parties involved to go our separate ways."
During 2010, the band released their darkest and deepest work, a full length entitled "Lowcountry" that drew on a number of musical influences, from metal to Southern roots and blues. It would be the last release the band would put out before announcing their split, which some speculate was due to growing frustrations and differences with the label over future success of the band.
In July 2010, Envy on The Coast announced their breakup with three final farewell shows, ending the band's six year run. The band stated in a message on their Facebook page that members Sal Bossio and Jeremy Velardi had approached the rest of the band, informing them of their impending departure. Vocalist Ryan Hunter stated in the message, "They explained that they are no longer happy being a part of this, and there was nothing Brian and I could do or say to change that. Because Envy on the Coast was founded upon the musical and personal relationships between the four of us, Brian and I have decided that we would rather move forward rather than finding musicians to replace Sal and Jer."
In a separate Myspace message announcing the final shows, Hunter explained that guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist Sal Bossio and bassist Jer Velardi had decided to leave the group, causing the band to decide it was time “to pull that curtain down.” Hunter wrote, “Brian and I decided a long time ago that we wanted to be artists. That can mean a lot of things, but to us it just means we want to keep making art and music together. And that’s what we plan on doing. I doubt anyone’s mentally ready to swallow ‘what’s next’ yet, so we’ll just leave it at that for now. In the coming weeks, we’ll be announcing our three final shows and together, we will celebrate the death of something beautiful. Thank you all for being a part of this.”
Their sold out last show took place at NYC's Irving Plaza on August 28th, 2010. Byrne and Hunter have moved on to form North Korea, while Bossio and Velardi are reportedly working on new music endeavors.
Mirrors
Envy on the Coast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, damn this night
Wouldn't believe how much it snows
In the summer heat
With red iron feet
You'll be nursing a bloody nose
Princess Wrecked
But I wouldn't dare to sit too close
I can't be your Prince
Though your secrets are safe
I am the mirror that can't let go
With hair as black as night
Her skin, it is that perfect white
And the red on the bathroom wall
With every breath
And every intake
Tip-toe further away
Further away from his mistakes
I'm no savior; I'm no saint, saint
It's not what you needed anyway
All the cold that you've caught
The bones that you brought
The blood that you've lost
You built your body in the coffin where you sleep
Let this apartment breathe
'Cause its what it needs
I'm suffocating the clock to keep you
I think like a saint
But swing like a thief
And inadvertently leading you
To leave on your wits
And go in your bedroom with hits
Take the red from your eyes
And ink it into your skin
Now watch what you say
Because there's nothing gray
About the color of your skin
With hair as black as night
Her skin, it is that pearly white
And the red on the bathroom wall
With every breath
And every intake
Tip-toe further away
Further away from his mistakes
I'm no savior; I'm no saint, saint
It's not what you needed anyway
All the cold that you've caught
The bones that you brought
The blood that you've lost
You built your body in the coffin where you sleep
With every breath
And every intake
Tip-toe further away
You're bleeding, your bloodshot
Tired mistake
I'm no savior; I'm no saint, saint
You need to see the pieces you've thrown away
All the cold that you've caught
The bones that you brought
The blood that you've lost
Keep your body and the hell away from me
The lyrics of Envy on the Coast's "Mirrors" suggest a complicated relationship between the singer and "Miss White." The first verse paints a vivid picture of a snowy night in the summer heat, and Miss White nursing a bloody nose with "red iron feet." It's unclear who or what caused the injury, but there's a sense of danger and recklessness that permeates these lines. The second verse introduces a new character, a "princess wrecked" with black hair and "perfect white" skin. The mention of "red on the bathroom wall" implies violence and tragedy forming a morbid contrast to the image of her beauty. The song's chorus repeats the phrase "All the cold that you've caught, the bones that you brought, the blood that you've lost" as if echoing the haunting consequences of past actions.
As the song progresses, the singer describes feeling suffocated, unable to save Miss White from her self-destructive tendencies, and ultimately admitting that he is "no savior; [he's] no saint." He wants her to see "the pieces you've thrown away" and keep her distance from him. The song's title suggests that perhaps the singers are seeing "mirror images" of each other's struggles and faults. The overall mood of "Mirrors" is dark and introspective, with vivid and sometimes unsettling imagery.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear Miss White
Addressing a person, probably a woman, with an honorable title.
Oh, damn this night
Expressing frustration with the events of the night.
Wouldn't believe how much it snows
Surprised by an unexpected change of weather conditions.
In the summer heat
Contrasting the snow with the expected hot weather during summer.
With red iron feet
Describing someone or something with heavy, clumsy feet.
You'll be nursing a bloody nose
Warning of a potential physical altercation that may result in injury.
Princess Wrecked
Addressing another person who may be in a state of distress or disarray.
We'll talk in our sleep
Sharing an intimate moment of trust and comfort that occurs during sleep.
But I wouldn't dare to sit too close
Acknowledging a personal boundary or discomfort with intimacy.
I can't be your Prince
Declaring that one cannot fulfill the role of a savior or rescuer in another person's life.
Though your secrets are safe
Assuring confidentiality and trust in personal matters.
I am the mirror that can't let go
Acknowledging one's own limitations as an impartial observer, unable to intervene in the affairs of others.
With hair as black as night
Describing someone with dark, striking features.
Her skin, it is that perfect white
Noticing the beauty of someone's skin tone.
And the red on the bathroom wall
Alluding to a violent or gruesome event that occurred in the bathroom.
With every breath
Noting a repeated action of breathing, possibly during a moment of stress or anxiety.
And every intake
Further emphasizing the act of breathing, as if it is a struggle.
Tip-toe further away
Suggesting a need for distance or separation from someone or something.
Further away from his mistakes
Moving away from a person or situation associated with negative experiences or regret.
I'm no savior; I'm no saint, saint
Reiterating a lack of ability to save or fix someone else's problems, or even one's own.
It's not what you needed anyway
Implying that the person's past or current actions were not beneficial or helpful.
All the cold that you've caught
Referring to physical or emotional distress that the person is carrying.
The bones that you brought
Suggesting a personal burden or responsibility that the person must carry.
The blood that you've lost
Referring to a past injury or trauma.
You built your body in the coffin where you sleep
Implying that the person is harming themselves by dwelling on negative thoughts and past traumas, leading to a sense of entrapment or confinement.
Let this apartment breathe
Allowing oneself or others to have space or freedom.
'Cause its what it needs
Recognizing the importance of allowing a space to be free or open.
I'm suffocating the clock to keep you
Suggesting that the desire to protect or guard someone is becoming overwhelming.
I think like a saint
Feeling like one's thoughts or actions are noble or selfless.
But swing like a thief
Contrasting one's thoughts with one's actions.
And inadvertently leading you
Unintentionally guiding someone towards a solution or resolution.
To leave on your wits
Encouraging someone to think for themselves and rely on their own judgement.
And go in your bedroom with hits
Retreating to a private space to reflect or recover from emotional distress.
Take the red from your eyes
Wiping away tears, possibly signifying a sense of determination or clarity.
And ink it into your skin
Preserving a memory or moment of personal significance through physical means.
Now watch what you say
Warning against speaking impulsively or without consideration.
Because there's nothing gray
Suggesting that there is no room for ambiguity or uncertainty in the situation.
About the color of your skin
Alluding to the idea of race, with an implication of conflict or tension.
You're bleeding, your bloodshot
Noticing physical symptoms of exhaustion or stress.
Tired mistake
Acknowledging an error or misjudgment brought on by fatigue or stress.
You need to see the pieces you've thrown away
Encouraging someone to reevaluate their actions and make the most of what they have left.
Keep your body and the hell away from me
Declaring a need for physical and emotional distance from someone or something that is causing distress.
Lyrics © THIS ISN'T MUSIC, DYNAMITE MONEY SONGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mashuata
Still listening to this day. I will never understand why they weren't one of the biggest bands around.
Moody Shooty
Maybe because it was a pretty big rip off of The Receiving End Of Sirens…
panicfanatd
really?
Jordan Dyal
Same
jeffrey maina
Me. Fucking. Too.
Ryan Peterson
these guys are musical geniuses!!!
Colin Meyerson
I remember seeing them by mistake in warp tour 2007, fell in love instantly and bought lucy gray from them. still one of my favorite albums
Espíritu
Best accident, 10/10 would buy it again.
Cody Gardner
This band brings me back and reminds of the true "emo" scene in the early 2000's.
Like this band is the epitome of my 6th grade year.
Griffith Johnson
Oh, man. This band is too good.