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The Solids
The Solids
The Solids
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The Solids are an American pop/rock band from Middletown, Connecticut. The band consists of Carter Bays (vocals, guitar), Craig Thomas (drums), Patrick Butler (keyboards), Doug Derryberry (lead guitar) and Josh Suniewick (bass). They have been writing, recording, and performing music since 1996. The Solids first became popular for their song "The Future Is Now," which was the theme song for the Fox television program Oliver Beene. A 12-second clip from their song "Hey, Beautiful" is the theme song for another show, the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother which was created by band members Bays and Thomas.[2]

Key Information

Background

[edit]

The band was formed in the summer of 1996 by Bays and Thomas. They were joined by Patrick Butler and Nick Coleman and played their first show September 28, 1996, at the Alpha Delta Phi chapter house located at 185 High Street, in Middletown, Connecticut, on the campus of Wesleyan University, where they all studied.

Following the exposure Oliver Beene granted the band, the official website of The Solids became somewhat popular among alternative music fans.[citation needed] Along with "The Future Is Now", various mp3 files were offered for free, including demos and live performances. In 1999, their song "Clowns like Candy" charted as #10 in "Top Alternative Internet Downloads" for issue #825 of Rolling Stone magazine, as well as an "Editor's Pick" for Rolling Stone Online. In 2001, the song was featured on an episode of NBC's Ed about a fictionalized version of the Solids. The band released its self-titled album on January 24, 2008.[3]

Throughout the 9 seasons of How I Met Your Mother, many original songs written by the band's founders appeared on the show and were turned into full-length music videos. Among these, CinemaBlend called "Let's Go to the Mall", performed by Cobie Smulders as her Robin Sparkles character "one of the best TV-created pop songs of all time",[4] and "Nothing Suits Me Like a Suit" was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics, charted at #50 in UK Singles Chart and peaked at 76 on the Canadian Top 100.

Since 2019, the band has been regularly performing sold-out charity concerts for pediatric cardiology at Rady Children's Hospital that have included guest performances by Josh Radnor, Cristin Milioti, Ashley Williams, Will Forte, Matthew Caws of Nada Surf, and other actors and musicians featured in How I Met Your Mother.[5]

References

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The Solids

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The Solids is an American rock band formed in 1996 at in , known for crafting hooky, melody-driven songs. The group gained widespread recognition for their song "Hey Beautiful", which served as the theme music for the long-running sitcom (2005–2014), a series co-created and executive-produced by core members and Craig Thomas. Originally a outfit, The Solids evolved through multiple iterations over the decades, with Bays (vocals and guitar) and Thomas (drums) relocating to in the early 2000s to focus on television production while incorporating their music into the show. After a hiatus, the band reunited in New York around 2016, expanding their lineup to include Pat Butler (keys), Josh Suniewick (bass), Doug Derryberry (lead guitar), and vocalists Becky L and Gaby Moss. Their discography features original tracks like "Hey Beautiful" and contributions to the How I Met Your Mother soundtracks, including songs such as "Super Date" performed live at benefit events. In recent years, The Solids have resumed live performances, highlighted by a January 2025 concert at in featuring How I Met Your Mother-era music to support charity initiatives.

History

Formation and early years

The Solids were formed in 1996 at in , as a band by students and Craig Thomas. The initial core lineup consisted of Bays on vocals and guitar, Thomas on drums, Patrick Butler on keyboards, and Josh Suniewick on bass. During their college years in the mid-, the band played early performances in , building a local following through campus and regional gigs. Following graduation in 1997, they expanded to shows in New York, performing extensively there throughout their twenties in the late 1990s and early . From the outset, the group emphasized collaborative songwriting, crafting hooky, melody-driven rock songs that defined their early sound, while undertaking initial recording efforts that produced demos during this formative period.

Hiatus and television connection

In the mid-2000s, The Solids entered a hiatus as its members pursued individual careers and personal lives, with co-founders and Craig Thomas relocating to to focus on television production. During this period, the band ceased active performances and recordings, allowing members to explore paths outside music, such as one pursuing technology ventures and another transitioning from corporate banking to early retirement as a stay-at-home parent. Bays and Thomas co-created the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, which premiered in 2005 and ran for nine seasons until 2014, serving as its writers, executive producers, and showrunners. For the show's opening credits, they selected and recorded a version of the band's existing track "Hey Beautiful" as the theme song, providing The Solids with their most significant mainstream exposure to date. The series' success, averaging around 9-10 million viewers per episode and achieving widespread international acclaim, indirectly boosted the band's visibility through repeated plays of the theme song, even as The Solids remained inactive in touring or new releases. This connection kept their music in the cultural spotlight globally without requiring active band involvement.

Reunion and recent activity

After a long hiatus focused on individual careers in television production, technology, finance, and family life, the members of The Solids reunited in New York around 2016, approximately 20 years after their graduation from . This revival was sparked by a renewed passion for amid their established professional paths, with co-founders and Craig Thomas returning to songwriting and performance following the conclusion of How I Met Your Mother in 2014. The band expanded its lineup by adding lead guitarist Doug Derryberry and vocalists Becky L and Gaby Moss, both Wesleyan alumni, transforming it into a more collaborative ensemble. The reunion led to a series of live performances at intimate New York venues, including Rockwood Music Hall, where they played sets blending original material with tracks tied to their television legacy. These shows emphasized a balanced approach, accommodating members' day jobs and family commitments while fostering occasional live outings. The band's resurgence was bolstered by the enduring popularity of their theme song "Hey Beautiful" on streaming platforms, which amassed over 4 million streams on by 2025, drawing renewed attention to their catalog and enabling new recordings in the post-HIMYM era. Challenges included navigating post-TV fame and scheduling around demanding careers, yet this period marked an evolution toward sporadic, meaningful engagements rather than full-time touring. In the 2020s, The Solids continued releasing music digitally, with singles such as "Hey Good News" in 2023, "Coxswain" and "Shake Your Booty Booty" in 2024, and "Change of Address" in 2025, distributed via platforms like and . These efforts highlighted their adaptation to streaming's accessibility, allowing fan reconnection without constant live commitments. A notable highlight was their January 11, 2025, performance at , a one-night featuring How I Met Your Mother music and special guests, with proceeds supporting pediatric cardiology research at Rady Children's Hospital in . This event underscored the band's ongoing activity as a passion project, prioritizing impact and collaboration over commercial pressures.

Band members

Current members

As of 2025, The Solids' active lineup consists of seven members who collectively drive the band's signature sound through layered melodies, rhythmic drive, and harmonic depth. Formed in 1996 by co-founders and Craig Thomas, the group has evolved to emphasize hook-driven songs with a balance of guitar riffs, keyboard textures, and vocal harmonies that define their accessible yet energetic style. Carter Bays serves as the lead vocalist and guitarist, anchoring the band's melody-driven rock compositions as the primary songwriter; his contributions, including co-writing the theme for How I Met Your Mother, infuse the music with witty, narrative-driven lyrics and guitar lines that propel the pop sensibilities. Craig Thomas, on drums, provides the rhythmic foundation that underpins the band's upbeat tempo and groove, enabling a solid backbone for their rock anthems while sharing songwriting credits that enhance thematic cohesion. Pat handles keyboards, adding atmospheric and melodic layers that enrich arrangements and contribute to the band's polished hybrid by bridging acoustic warmth with electronic accents. Josh Suniewick plays bass, delivering steady basslines that lock in the rhythm section and support the hooky, infectious choruses central to their sound. Doug Derryberry, the lead guitarist, brings dynamic solos and riffs that elevate live performances and recordings, adding a rock edge that contrasts and complements the pop elements since joining in the . The vocal team includes Becky L and Gaby Moss, who provide backing vocals and harmonies; Becky L's versatile range adds emotional depth to choruses, while Gaby Moss's complementary style creates a fuller, more immersive sonic texture in their 2020s shows, enhancing the band's overall harmonic pop/rock dynamic.

Former members

The Solids' original lineup in the late 1990s included several contributors from their Wesleyan University days who later departed as the band evolved. Patrick Butler (now known as Pat Butler) served as the keyboardist during the formation and early performances, joining Carter Bays and Craig Thomas alongside Nick Coleman for the group's debut show on September 28, 1996. C.C. DePhil played bass in the late 1990s through the early 2000s, contributing to the band's initial recordings and live setups during their active years in New York. These early members included transient contributors from the college era, where additional guitarists and vocalists like Nick Coleman participated in demos and formative sessions but did not feature on full albums. Departures occurred amid the band's hiatus in the mid-2000s, as members pursued individual career shifts; notably, DePhil and Coleman stepped away around this time to focus on personal and professional endeavors outside music, while continued his involvement with the band. Butler, DePhil, and Coleman made key contributions to the band's foundational sound, including co-writing early tracks that influenced the power pop style and handling live arrangements during the New York phase. Despite these changes, the core duo of Bays and Thomas ensured continuity by retaining songwriting collaboration and reforming the group upon reunion, incorporating new members for recent activity.

Musical style and influences

Genre and sound characteristics

The Solids' primary genre encompasses with prominent indie elements, centered on catchy hooks and infectious melodies that define their melodic core. Their sound is built around upbeat rhythms and guitar-driven arrangements, featuring harmonious vocals layered over keyboard accents to produce a bright, accessible tone suitable for broad appeal. The band's instrumentation revolves around a foundational trio of guitar, vocals, and drums, expanded by bass, keyboards, and additional lead guitar to create fuller, more dynamic arrangements throughout their recordings. From their origins as a raw outfit in the , The Solids evolved toward a polished, theme-song-like pop sensibility in subsequent works, reflecting a shift from unrefined energy to refined, hook-oriented structures. Early productions leaned toward DIY approaches during their years, transitioning to studio environments after , incorporating echoes of in their layered, melodic polish.

Key influences and evolution

The Solids drew inspiration from the college rock scene, forming in 1996 at as a band crafting hooky, melody-driven rock songs that echoed the era's indie sensibilities. Over the decades, their sound evolved through lineup changes and periods of inactivity, transitioning from raw in their early years to a more polished pop approach in later iterations, while always prioritizing melodic hooks. The hiatus during the 2000s, as core members and Craig Thomas focused on television writing, marked a pivotal shift; their experience composing concise, character-driven songs for —including the theme "Hey Beautiful" and comedic tracks like ""—honed a tighter, narrative-focused songwriting style that emphasized brevity and emotional punch. Post-2014, following the show's end, The Solids reunited around 2017 in New York, incorporating new members such as keyboardist Pat Butler, lead guitarist Doug Derryberry, and vocalists Becky L and Gaby Moss to refresh their lineup, and began channeling their music into public benefit performances that blend original material with HIMYM-inspired tunes, adapting to modern indie elements like collaborative guest appearances while retaining core pop-rock roots. Their television work refined their songwriting craft, influencing a more versatile, hook-centric approach in their band output.

Discography

Studio albums

The Solids have released one studio album, self-produced and distributed independently. It reflects their roots from the era. The band's self-titled debut album, The Solids, was released on January 24, 2008, and features 7 tracks, including "Across the Overpass" and "You Don't Know What You've Begun." Self-released following a post-college hiatus, it was recorded in . Notably, the band's theme song for , "Hey Beautiful," originated as a non-album single but influenced their album aesthetics.

Singles and other releases

The Solids' most prominent single, "Hey Beautiful," was released digitally in 2005 as the theme song for the sitcom , co-written by band members and . The track, a number with elements, gained widespread recognition through its 12-second clip in the show's across nine seasons from 2005 to 2014, exposing the band to millions of viewers and contributing to their cultural footprint in television music. A full three-minute version appeared on the 2012 soundtrack album , further amplifying its reach, though it did not chart commercially. In 2013, the band released the single "If Anything." Independently released, the track (3:38 duration) expands on their signature hooks. "Coxswain," a single released on March 26, 2024 (4:16 duration), emphasizes indie pop arrangements with the title track. Produced independently in New York studios, it highlights the band's renewed energy post-reunion. The band's latest release as of November 2025, the single "Change of Address," was issued on March 13, 2025 (4:23 duration). Independently produced, it captures themes of change and relocation. In June 2024, the band released "Shake Your Booty Booty" as a digital single, a playful, upbeat pop track (1:00 duration) available on platforms like and . This song was distributed independently via CDBaby without vinyl or physical formats. It received modest streaming attention but highlighted the band's ongoing evolution toward concise, digital-first releases. Other releases include standalone digital singles from the and , such as "Thin Tan Lines" in 2023, often tied to live performances or informal compilations without broader chart impact. During their formation in the late 1990s at , the Solids recorded early demos in college sessions, which remain largely unreleased or limited to private circulation among band circles. These recordings captured their initial sound but were not commercially issued, serving primarily as foundational material before the band's television ties emerged. Live versions of tracks like "Across the Overpass" have surfaced from shows, though not formally released as EPs or albums.

References

  1. https://www.thesolids.com/
  2. https://screenrant.com/how-met-mother-theme-song-solids-band/
  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rYrnBn0aB4
  4. https://pix11.com/things-to-do/the-solids-to-perform-music-from-how-i-met-your-mother-in-nyc/
  5. https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2022/09/01/how-i-met-the-creator-of-how-i-met-your-mother/
  6. https://magazine.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2014/12/10/from-soul-band-to-television-gold/
  7. https://www.foxsoundi.com/artist/3298423/the-solids
  8. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460649/
  9. https://genius.com/The-solids-hey-beautiful-lyrics
  10. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/tv-ratings-how-i-met-your-mother-finale-692548/
  11. https://deadline.com/2015/06/how-i-met-your-mother-no-1-world-ncis-monte-carlo-awards-1201449191/
  12. https://open.spotify.com/artist/1AuYolaUw6oIbP1bP97iZq
  13. https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-solids/263196751
  14. https://www.vulture.com/2011/05/a-whos-who-of-sitcom-theme-song-composers.html
  15. https://people.com/how-i-met-your-mother-creator-craig-thomas-son-elliot-rare-disorder-inspired-cast-crew-fans-unite-for-good-exclusive-8773178
  16. https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-solids-mw0001304636
  17. https://open.spotify.com/album/00ZD5TAWZdg7rCqZdHv2Dr
  18. https://www.discogs.com/release/12286708-The-Solids-Hey-Beautiful-Theme-From-How-I-Met-Your-Mother
  19. https://music.apple.com/us/album/if-anything-single/1440855339
  20. https://www.deezer.com/en/album/565898601
  21. https://music.apple.com/us/album/change-of-address-single/1802007196
  22. https://music.apple.com/us/album/shake-your-booty-booty-single/1754367651
  23. https://open.spotify.com/album/3IskW4QL7XtFPX50orN3r3
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