Animo

Animo was a rock and roll band from Denver, Coloardo. They used to be called DORK. The band played over 550 shows all over North America, including the entire Vans Warped Tour in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. They've had songs appear on MTV, FUSE TV, and the movie American Pie Presents: Band Camp. In January 2007 they had a drumhead put in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the Vans Warped Tour display. They are also featured in the video that accompanies the display. Animo has placed Number 2 on Billboard's Heat Seeker Chart and they placed Number 1 in a Clear Channel radio contest for best song. They have been named Best Punk Rock Band by the Westword newspaper twice and have been featured in the publication several times. Legendary artist, Arturo Vega of The Ramones, is their art director.
History
The band Animo started on January 30, 2007. After a successful run with D.O.R.K., frontman Bryan Knoble left the band and the remaining members (Ankele, Johannsen, Blair, Welsh) decided to rename the project and give the band image a major facelift. It was a huge turning point in their career and a decision that changed them musically and professionally as Knoble had been an integral part of their success. Left without a frontman, the band decided to continue on as a four-piece and not seek an outside replacement. Schuyler Ankele moved to the center of the stage and a new era began.
Nameless and bewildered, the band scrapped all previous recordings with Knoble and started fresh. Ankele and Johannsen, the main writers of the group, used the opportunity to change the tone of their music and touch on more serious subject matter. As the group began to adjust to life without Knoble, they turned to long time mentor and current art direct, Arturo Vega, of the Ramones. To this point, Vega has created all of the bands' album artwork and designed their logo, his only one since his legendary Ramones logo. Vega proposed the new band name, "Animo". Bassist Welsh has also noted that the name is Spanish slang for "get going". The name is also Latin for "spirit, heart, soul, essence".
The new found Animo lived up to their name as they wrote and recorded an entire album all by themselves while at the same time playing shows and preparing for a summer on Warped Tour. One Hope, One Mind was released in July 2007. The band continued their usual summer as they worked Setup Crew for Kevin Lyman in exchange for stage time. The band began their long, uphill battle of dealing with a name change.
After Warped Tour 2007, the band returned home and went right back into the studio. This time they honed their new writing direction and both Ankele and Johannsen turned out hits. Johannsen's "The Addicition" and Ankele's "Left Out (Between The Sheets)" both received critical acclaim and momentum was mounting as the band was finishing their second album without Knoble. Blood In The Water was released in May 2008, just weeks before the band headed back out on Warped Tour. Arriving in California early, the band filmed their wildly popular music video in Venice Beach for Ankele's "Left Out". The video was produced by long time friend, Jake Loskutoff, of Life In A Van Productions.
Warped Tour 2008 greeted the band with fantastic sets and press. Rolling Stone.com picked up on the band calling them a "breakout artist" and a heart throb for young women. The band also strengthened their relationship with Sean Hammond, professional band manager, who had also been on the tour working for Kevin Lyman. They hired Hammond as tour manager to help lighten the load, as the band was still doing their work-for-play agreement with Lyman. The tour ended and the band returned to Denver, CO.
Relentless, the band went back into the studio, this time with a breath of fresh air. Ankele and Johannsen slowed the writing and recording process and became meticulous over their new work. After talking to Loskutoff about their new music, Life In A Van Productions extended an offer to produce a web based documentary "DIY: Making A Record, Animo Style" and followed the band throughout their writing and recording process. In November, 2008 Animo officially engaged Hammond as their band manager.
In 2009, the band announced its dissolution, stating that they had moved on to other things.

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