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{{short description|American post-rock band}}
{{redirect|Eits|the torture techniques sometimes referred to as "EITs"|Enhanced interrogation techniques}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Explosions in the Sky
| image = Explosions in the Sky.jpg
| caption = From left to right: Mark Smith, Michael James, Munaf Rayani, and Chris Hrasky
| background = group_or_band
| origin = [[Austin, Texas|Austin]], [[Texas]], United States<br />[[Midland, Texas|Midland]], [[Texas]], United States
| genre = {{flatlist|
* [[Post-rock]]
* [[instrumental rock]]
}}
| years_active = 1999–present
| label = [[Temporary Residence Limited]], [[Bella Union]]
| associated_acts = [[Inventions (band)|Inventions]]
| website = [http://www.explosionsinthesky.com/ www.explosionsinthesky.com]
| current_members = Chris Hrasky<br />Michael James<br />Munaf Rayani<br />Mark Smith
}}

'''Explosions in the Sky''' is an American [[post-rock]] band from [[Texas]]. The quartet originally played under the name Breaker Morant, then changed to the current name in 1999. The band has garnered popularity beyond the post-rock scene for their elaborately developed guitar work, narratively styled [[instrumental]]s—what they refer to as "cathartic mini-symphonies"—and their enthusiastic and emotional live shows.<ref>{{cite web|last=Paper |first=The |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=8073247 |title=NPR Music |publisher=Npr.org |date=March 17, 2007 |access-date=November 10, 2011}}</ref> They primarily play with three [[electric guitar]]s and a [[drum kit]], although band member Michael James will at times exchange his electric guitar for a [[bass guitar]]. The band has later added a fifth member to their live performances. The band's music is almost purely instrumental.

==History==
Originally called [[Breaker Morant]], Explosions in the Sky was formed in [[Austin, Texas]], in 1999. Drummer Chris Hrasky is from [[Rockford, Illinois]], and the rest of the band hails from [[Midland, Texas]]. The new name of "Explosions in the Sky" came from a comment Hrasky made in reference to the noise<ref name="chronicle">{{cite news
| url = http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/print?oid=oid%3A183039
| title = Born on the Fourth of July
| author = Michael Chamy
| work = [[The Austin Chronicle]]
| date = October 24, 2003
| access-date = June 28, 2007
}}</ref> or sight<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.kvrx.org/locallive/performance.php?pid=183
| title = Explosions In The Sky, 4 July 1999
| publisher = [[KVRX]]
| date = March 24, 2006
| access-date = January 13, 2008
}}</ref> of fireworks when they left [[KVRX]] on the night they played their first set and recorded their first track, "Remember Me as a Time of Day", that would be released on a compilation.<ref name="chronicle"/> Their 2000 debut album, ''[[How Strange, Innocence]]'', was locally distributed in the form of [[CD-R]]s. Rehearsal footage is featured on the feature film ''Cicadas'', which won an [[Austin Film Festival]] award.<ref name="muze">{{cite web
| url = http://www.mywire.com/pubs/Muze/2006/10/01/728372?extID=10051
| title = Explosions in the Sky
| publisher = Muze
| date = February 1, 2007
| access-date = June 28, 2007
}}</ref>

[[Image:Eits central park.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Performing at [[Central Park SummerStage]] on June 30, 2009]]

Explosions in the Sky quickly gained a reputation for themselves among other established bands such as [[Lift to Experience]]. [[Temporary Residence Limited]] signed the band on the strength of their demo after only half a listen; the demo was submitted by fellow Austin band [[The American Analog Set]] with a brief note saying, "This totally fucking destroys."<ref>{{cite web
| url = {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p510449|pure_url=yes}}
| title = Explosions in the Sky > Biography
| website = [[Allmusic]]
| access-date = February 8, 2007
}}</ref>

They garnered a small amount of media attention with their second album, ''[[Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever]]'', due to rumors linking it to the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]]. The band denied any connection in interviews. The album art shows an airplane with the caption "This plane will crash tomorrow." There were false reports that the last track was called "This Plane Will Crash Tomorrow" and that the album was released on September 10, 2001;<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2002/11/15/179685
| title = Post-rock explodes in Taipei
| author = David Frazier
| page = 17
| work = [[Taipei Times]]
| date = November 15, 2002
| access-date = June 28, 2007
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.blacktable.com/mayle050126.htm
| title = The day the music died an accidental death
| author = Adam Mayle
| publisher = The Black Table
| date = January 26, 2005
| access-date = June 27, 2007
| quote = And the creepiest detail of all is that the record had a track that was titled, unbelievably, "This Plane Will Crash Tomorrow," which was subsequently removed from the album.
}}</ref> the concept had actually originated in 2000, and the album was officially released on September 4, 2001. Bassist Michael James was detained in an airport as a threat to security, and had to explain why his guitar contained the words "this plane will crash tomorrow".<ref name="chronicle"/>

The band also received a considerable amount of attention playing before large audiences as the opening act of [[Fugazi]]'s spring 2002 US tour in support of ''[[The Argument]]''.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.gigposters.com/poster/5741_Fugazi.html
| title = Fugazi/Explosions in the Sky - International Ballroom
| publisher = Gigposters.com
| date = November 14, 2006
| access-date = February 8, 2007
}}</ref>

The band released ''[[The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place]]'' in 2003 and this is generally considered their most famous album.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/dec/05/popandrock.shopping2
| title = Explosions In The Sky, The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place
| website = The Guardian
| date = December 5, 2003
| access-date = June 16, 2020
}}</ref> The album has been described as a ''[[concept album]]'' and was stated by guitarist Munaf Rayani as the band's attempt at love songs.<ref>{{cite podcast |url=http://www.podfeed.net/episode/A+Slice+of+the+Shiny+15+-+Explosions+in+the+Sky/545411 |title=A Slice of the Shiny 15: Explosions in the Sky |website=A Slice of the Shiny
|date=January 22, 2007
|access-date=June 4, 2010
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806101344/http://www.podfeed.net/episode/A+Slice+of+the+Shiny+15+-+Explosions+in+the+Sky/545411 |archive-date=August 6, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

After being contacted by Brian Reitzell, Explosions in the Sky wrote the soundtrack for the 2004 film ''[[Friday Night Lights (film)|Friday Night Lights]]''. Despite having access to rare equipment in the studio for that project, the band kept to their songwriting style in creating original material.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.explosionsinthesky.com/fnl.html
|title = Friday Night Lights Original Soundtrack
|author = Explosions in the Sky
|access-date = February 8, 2007
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070209224206/http://www.explosionsinthesky.com/fnl.html
|archive-date = February 9, 2007
|df = mdy-all
}}</ref>

Their album ''[[The Rescue (Explosions in the Sky album)|The Rescue]]'' was written and recorded in eight days as part of the TRL ''Travels in Constants'' series. As such, the album was originally only available at the band's live shows.

Explosions in the Sky's fifth studio album, ''[[All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone]]'', which debuted February 20, 2007, exists as both a one-disc version and a two-disc special edition featuring [[remix]]es by multiple artists.<ref>{{cite magazine
| url = http://www.spin.com/features/news/2006/11/061114_explosionsinthesky/
| title = Explosions in the Sky Album Details Surface
| magazine = [[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]
| date = November 14, 2006
| access-date = February 8, 2007
}}</ref>
The band began touring on February 19 in the U.S. and Canada.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.explosionsinthesky.com/shows.php
|title = Shows
|publisher = ExplosionsInTheSky.com
|date = February 3, 2007
|access-date = February 8, 2007
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070209224406/http://www.explosionsinthesky.com/shows.php
|archive-date = February 9, 2007
|df = mdy-all
}}</ref>

On April 26, 2011, the band released their sixth studio album, ''[[Take Care, Take Care, Take Care]]''.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.explosionsinthesky.com/home.php
|title = Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
|publisher = ExplosionsInTheSky.com
|date = January 25, 2011
|access-date = January 25, 2011
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101122032919/http://explosionsinthesky.com/home.php
|archive-date = November 22, 2010
|df = mdy-all
}}</ref>

They were one of the support acts for [[Nine Inch Nails]] on their North American leg of the [[Twenty Thirteen Tour]] in late 2013, alternating dates with [[Godspeed You! Black Emperor]].<ref name="NIN">{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/51053-nine-inch-nails-announce-massive-tour-with-godspeed-you-black-emperor/|title=Nine Inch Nails Announce Massive Tour With Godspeed You! Black Emperor|access-date=2013-06-06|publisher=Pitchfork|year=2013|author=Minsker, Evan|work=Pitchfork}}</ref>

[[Image:ExplosionsInTheSky WebsterHall.jpg|left|thumb|300px|On stage in the [[Webster Hall]], [[New York City]], 2007]]

==Musical style and characteristics==
Although the band's music deviates from [[pop music|pop]], Hrasky said that they have similar goals "like immediately grabbing your attention and getting to your emotions."<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://media.www.dailynebraskan.com/media/storage/paper857/news/2004/10/15/Arts/Explosions.In.The.Sky.To.Light.Up.Sokol-1743264.shtml
|title = Explosions in the Sky to light up Sokol
|author = Billy DeFrain
|work = [[Daily Nebraskan]]
|date = October 15, 2004
|access-date = June 28, 2007
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070813164718/http://media.www.dailynebraskan.com/media/storage/paper857/news/2004/10/15/Arts/Explosions.In.The.Sky.To.Light.Up.Sokol-1743264.shtml
|archive-date = August 13, 2007
|df = mdy-all
}}</ref> Rayani said, "We don't consider ourselves post-rock at all; we consider ourselves a rock band."<ref name="washingtonpost">{{cite news
| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/24/AR2006092401053_pf.html
| title = Out of Texas, a Wordless Wonder
| author = Juliet Eilperin
| work = [[The Washington Post]]
| date = September 25, 2006
| access-date = June 28, 2007
}}</ref>

In a post-show interview clip on [[Austin City Limits]], guitarist Munaf Rayani said about their status as [[instrumental]]ists, "I mean, I think we discussed singing for half a second, and then it just kinda, we just dropped it. We just didn't go back to it because we were comfortable enough." Drummer Chris Hrasky added, "I think we just liked the idea of a band that there was not a leader or main songwriter, everyone sort of collaborating and has their own say. I don't think any of us want the sort of 'leader role', so a leaderless band is kind of the best option for us."<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.pbs.org/klru/austin/artists/3302_eits_interview.html
| title = Austin City Limits
| publisher = PBS.ORG
| date = June 25, 2007
| access-date = October 17, 2007
}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
Most notably, Explosions in the Sky's music is heavily featured in the ''Friday Night Lights'' [[Friday Night Lights (film)|movie]] and [[Friday Night Lights (TV series)|television show]]. It is a common misconception that the band wrote and recorded the television show's theme song. Instead, it is an original composition by [[W. G. Snuffy Walden]]. Music by Explosions in the Sky has been used in several television programs and commercials: "The Birth and Death of the Day" for the [[BBC]] documentary ''Lost Land of the Jaguar'', ''[[All the Real Girls]]'', ''[[Shopgirl]]'', ''[[One Tree Hill (TV series)|One Tree Hill]]'', ''[[Love the Beast]]'' and ''[[The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (film)|The Diving Bell and the Butterfly]]'', as well as various songs for the [[PBS]] documentary ''The Street Stops Here''. A number of ''[[List of One Tree Hill episodes|One Tree Hill episodes]]'' are named after the band's songs.
* The song "It's Natural To Be Afraid" is featured in the narrative sports documentary series ''[[24/7 (HBO series)|24/7]]'', "Mayweather vs. De La Hoya", and was also used in the [[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (season 8)|season 8]] finale of ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]'', "For Gedda (Part 1)".
* The song "Catastrophe and the Cure" is used during the intro to ''Get Collins'', an Irish documentary on [[Michael Collins (Irish leader)|Michael Collins]] and the film ''[[Kaboom (film)|Kaboom]]'' by director [[Gregg Araki]] in which the male lead is also given a signed copy of ''[[All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone]]'' as a birthday gift.
* In 2009, the song "First Breath After Coma" is used for the introduction of feature presentations on the television network, ''[[Versus (TV channel)|Versus]]''. The song is also used in the trailer for the documentary ''Focus'', directed by [[Steve Wang|Steve Hwang]]. "First Breath After Coma", along with "Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean", were featured in the 2010 film ''[[Kalamity (film)|Kalamity]]''.
* The song "The Only Moment We Were Alone" is shortly featured in [[Michael Moore]]'s documentary ''[[Capitalism: A Love Story]]''. It is also featured in the 2008 film ''[[Sleepwalking (film)|Sleepwalking]]''.
* The song "Your Hand in Mine" is featured in the films ''[[Friday Night Lights (film)|Friday Night Lights]]'', ''[[The Big Empty (2005 film)|The Big Empty]]'', ''[[Love Happens (2009 film)|Love Happens]]'', ''[[The King of Staten Island]]'', the TV series ''[[Prisoners' Wives]],'' the documentary ''[[Gideon's Army]]'' and the [[Pacífico (beer)|Cerveza Pacifico]] TV commercial "Anchors Up".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ispot.tv/ad/w3mI/cerveza-pacifico-anchors-up|title=Cerveza Pacifico TV Commercial, 'Anchors Up'|website=iSpot.tv|language=en|access-date=2019-08-19}}</ref>
* The song "A Poor Man's Memory" is featured in the TV show ''[[Blue Mountain State]]''.
* The song "Glittering Blackness" is featured in the film ''[[Ghosts of Girlfriends Past]]''.
* The song "Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean" is featured in the film ''[[Lunopolis]]''.
* The song "So Long, Lonesome" is featured in the 2010 film ''[[Last Night (2010 film)|Last Night]]''.
* The song "An Ugly Fact of Life" was featured in the film adaptation of ''[[The Kite Runner (film)|The Kite Runner]]''.
* The song "Human Qualities" is featured in the 2012 film ''[[This Means War (film)|This Means War]]''.
* The song "Trembling Hands" is featured on the 2012 video game ''[[Major League Baseball 2K12]]''.
* The song "First Breath After Coma" is used for an [[Adidas]] commercial featuring [[Chicago Bulls]] player [[Derrick Rose]], the end of the television series ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]'', the 2005 Israeli film ''[[Close to Home (film)|Close to Home]]'' and in the first episode of ''John Bishop's Australia''.
* The song "The Birth and Death of the Day" is used in the final scene of the mountain biking documentary ''Life Cycles''
* The song "Waking Up" was featured in the film ''[[Lone Survivor]]''.
* The song "Postcard From 1952" was used in the episode "Chicago" of ''[[Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways]]'', and a snippet of the song is used in the ''[[Welcome to Night Vale]]'' episode "The September Monologues".
* The song "The Only Moment We Were Alone" was used in the teaser reveal of ''[[Street Fighter V]]''.
* Along with David Wingo, Explosions in the Sky wrote the entire soundtrack to the 2013 comedy-drama film ''[[Prince Avalanche]]'', starring [[Paul Rudd]] and [[Emile Hirsch]]. The idea itself came when the band proposed working on a film with director [[David Gordon Green]].
* The band is filmed performing "Last Known Surroundings" for [[Terrence Malick|Terrance Malick's]] 2015 film [[Knight of Cups (film)|Knight of Cups]].
* The song "Remember Me as a Time of Day" was used in the 2015 film ''[[Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (film)|Me and Earl and the Dying Girl]]''.
* Their song "The Birth and Death of the Day" was used at the end of the 2015 mountaineering documentary ''[[Meru (film)|Meru]]''.
* Their song "Logic of a Dream" was used in the trailer of the 2016 film ''[[Deepwater Horizon (film)|Deepwater Horizon]]''.
* Their song "The Ecstatics" was used in the 2017 film ''[[Power Rangers (film)|Power Rangers]]''.
* Their song "Your Hand in Mine" was used in the 2020 film "[[The King of Staten Island]]."

==Band members==
* Chris Hrasky – [[drum kit|drums]]<ref name="equipment">{{cite web|url=http://www.rectangular.org/explosions/equipment.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=March 18, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321003737/http://rectangular.org/explosions/equipment.htm |archive-date=March 21, 2009 }}</ref>
* Michael James – [[guitar]], [[bass guitar|bass]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]].
* Munaf Rayani – [[guitar]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]], [[percussion]].
* Mark Smith – [[guitar]], [[synthesizer]].

;Touring musicians
* Jay Demko – [[bass guitar|bass]], [[guitar]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]], [[percussion]]

;Former touring musicians
* Carlos Torres
* David Wingo

==Discography==

===Studio albums===
* ''[[How Strange, Innocence]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever]]'' (2001)
* ''[[The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place]]'' (2003)
* ''[[The Rescue (Explosions in the Sky album)|The Rescue]]'' (2005)
* ''[[All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Take Care, Take Care, Take Care]]'' (2011)
* ''[[The Wilderness (Explosions in the Sky album)|The Wilderness]]'' (2016)

===Soundtracks===
* ''[[Friday Night Lights (film soundtrack)|Friday Night Lights]]'' (2004)<ref>{{cite web| title = Explosions in the Sky Discography | access-date = October 14, 2013| url = http://www.explosionsinthesky.com/discography/7}}</ref>
* ''[[Prince Avalanche#Soundtrack|Prince Avalanche]]'' (2013)<ref>{{cite web| last = Colwell| first = Matthew| title = Explosions in the Sky to score new film 'Prince Avalanche'| work = [[Alternative Press (music magazine)|Alternative Press]]| date = June 15, 2012| url = http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/explosions_in_the_sky_to_score_new_film_prince_avalanche| access-date = June 15, 2012}}</ref>
* ''[[Lone Survivor (film)#Music|Lone Survivor]]'' (2013)<ref>{{cite web| title = IMDB - Explosions in the Sky Composer credits section| url = https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1146294/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr31#composer| access-date = February 4, 2014}}</ref>
* ''[[Manglehorn]]'' (2014)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/08/explosions-in-the-sky-to-score-al-pacino-film-mang.html |title=Explosions in the Sky to Score Al Pacino Film Manglehorn :: Music :: News :: Paste |website=Pastemagazine.com |access-date=2016-05-12}}</ref>
* ''Big Bend (An Original Soundtrack for Public Television)'' (2021)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explosions in the Sky: Big Bend (An Original Soundtrack for Public Television) |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/explosions-in-the-sky-big-bend-an-original-soundtrack-for-public-television/ |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Compilations===
* "Remember Me as a Time of Day" on ''Refurbished Robots'' (1999)
* "The Long Spring" on ''Thank You (TRR50)'' (2004), [[Temporary Residence Limited]]
* "Welcome Ghosts" sampler on ''Destroy Independent Music!'' (2007), [[Temporary Residence Limited]]
* "First Breath After Coma" on ''[[Friday Night Lights (television soundtrack)]]'' (2007), Adrenaline Records
* "Your Hand in Mine" on ''The Steel People'' (2009)
* "Your Hand in Mine" on the ''[[Love Happens (soundtrack)|Love Happens]]'' soundtrack (2009)
* "You Knew Joe?" on the ''[[Joe (2013 film)|Joe]]'' soundtrack (2013)
* "Remember Me as a Time of Day" on the ''[[Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (film)|Me and Earl and the Dying Girl]]'' soundtrack (2015)


===Singles===
* "A Song for Our Fathers" (2000)
* "Last Known Surroundings" (2011)
* "Be Comfortable, Creature" (2011)
* "Postcard from 1952" (2011)
* "The Ecstatics" (2017)

==See also==
* [[List of ambient music artists]]
* [[List of post-rock bands]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Explosions in the Sky}}
* {{official website|http://www.explosionsinthesky.com/}}
* [https://archive.org/details/ExplosionsintheSky Explosions in the Sky] at the [[Internet Archive]]'s [[Live Music Archive]]
* {{IMDb name|1146294}}
* [http://webinfront.net/?p=862 Podcast of Explosions in the Sky's 2008 Lollapalooza performance]
* [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9146453 Explosions in the Sky live show, 930 Club in DC] at NPR.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080724070951/http://www.groundcontrolmag.com/detail/1/209/1/ Explosions in the Sky interview with Chris Hrasky] at Ground Control.
* [http://www.webcutsmusic.com/news56.html Explosions in the Sky interview] at Webcuts (February 2008)

{{Explosions in the Sky}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rock music groups from Texas]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1999]]
[[Category:American post-rock groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Austin, Texas]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Bella Union artists]]
[[Category:Temporary Residence Limited artists]]

Explosions in the Sky - Revision history

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