Spencer Chamberlain as vocalist
Tim McTague as guitarist
James Smith as Guitarist
Grant Brandell as Bassist
Christopher Dudley as Keyboardist
Aaron Gillespie as Drummer
Since their inception, Florida's Underoath has evolved from a run-of-the-mill Christian metalcore band into a fluid, dynamic, and energized rock group that adeptly blends emotive melody, charged punk rock rhythm, and chunky, engaging bottom end. Underoath formed in 1998 in vocalist Dallas Taylor's bedroom. Within a year, the group -- with guitarist Tim McTague, drummer Aaron Gillespie, and keyboardist Christopher Dudley -- had inked a deal with Alabama's Takehold record label. In July 1999, Underoath released the six-song Act of Depression CD, which sold over 2,000 copies. The five-song Cries of the Past followed a year later, selling over 3,000 copies.
In 2002, Takehold licensed all of its bands and releases to Seattle's Tooth & Nail/Solid State label. Underoath hit the studio and recorded the ten songs that would comprise their first album under the new partnership, appropriately titled The Changing of Times. Taylor abruptly left the group in the middle of 2003's Warped Tour, leaving distressed fans contemplating the band's uncertain future. Underoath -- which also included bassist Grant Brandell and guitarist James Smith -- continued on, however, enlisting ex-This Runs Through member Spencer Chamberlain as their new vocalist.
A year later, the new lineup released They're Only Chasing Safety and supported it on the road with bands like Thrice, the Bled, Hopesfall, and Fear Before the March of Flames. A special edition of the album was next released in fall 2005 that included four bonus tracks; touring continued with a spring 2006 headlining tour alongside Poison the Well, As Cities Burn, and others. Deciding to stick with Tooth & Nail instead of jumping to a major label, the sextet showcased substantial growth and maturity on their next effort, Define the Great Line, issued in June 2006.
A heavier, more emotional album than the breakout success of 2004's Chasing Safety, the record sold close to 100,000 copies in just its first week of release and was certified gold by the year's end. Embraced by fans and critics alike and considered the band's masterpiece by many, the group supported it on Warped's main stage that summer. But with a month of dates remaining, tensions within Underoath's ranks suddenly came to a head, causing them to drop off the traveling festival. Rumors swirled of their impending breakup, but the guys remained adamant that a much-needed break was merely due to sort things out. They proved themselves by returning in 2006 with Define the Great Line. Climbing all the way to number two, the album became the highest-charting Christian album on the Billboard 200 since 1997 when LeAnn Rimes took the number one spot with You Light Up My Life. Underoath returned to the studio in 2008 for Lost in the Sound of Separation, an 11-song behemoth of a record that saw the group adopt a darker, more experimental (yet still undeniably heavy) sound.
M. Shadows (vocals)
Zacky Vengeance (guitar)
Synyster Gates (guitar)
the Reverend (drums)
JohnnyChrist(bass)
The members of metalcore outfit Avenged Sevenfold (or A7X) were still attending high school in Huntington Beach, CA, when they formed their band in 1999. Nevertheless, it didn't take long for M. Shadows (vocals), Zacky Vengeance (guitar), Synyster Gates (guitar), the Reverend (drums), and Johnny Christ (bass) to make an impression with their aggressive hybrid of metal and punk-pop. The band made its official debut in July 2001, releasing Sounding the Seventh Trumpet on the Good Life label before moving to the Hopeless roster for 2003's Waking the Fallen. Warner Bros. took interest in the band's aggressive sound and issued its breakthrough release, City of Evil, in June 2005. The album reached number 30 on Billboard's Top 200, propelled in part by the Top Ten success of the single "Bat Country." The accompany music video was heavily rotated on MTV and Fuse, where live appearances also helped boost Avenged's growing profile, and the band ultimately won the Best New Artist Award (though they were hardly newcomers) at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards.
As demand for their music increased, Avenged Sevenfold canceled their tour dates for fall 2006 and decamped to Houston, TX, where they set to work on a fourth studio album. Boasting a grittier sound than previous releases, the self-titled/self-produced disc appeared in October 2007, debuting at number four on the Billboard Top 200 and spinning off the radio single "Almost Easy." The album also fared well in England, where three songs cracked the Top Five of the U.K. rock charts, and Avenged Sevenfold helped support the release by touring North America on the Taste of Chaos tour. Released in September 2008, the CD/DVD package Live in the LBC and Diamonds in the Rough captured the band during a tour stop in Long Beach.
Story of the Year Bio
Dan Marsala - Vocals
Ryan Phillips - Guitar
Phillip Sneed - Guitar
Adam Russell - Bass
Josh Wills - Drums
Story of the Year is now getting paid to do what they have been doing for almost a decade now, that is creating and playing music that allows them to express themselves. The members, Dan Marsala (vocals), Ryan Phillips (guitar), Phillip Sneed (guitar), Adam Russell (bass), and Josh Wills (drums), of Story of the Year grew up in Saint Louis, Missouri. Even though they came from lower - middle class families, they found a way to pay for everything themselves, and sweat to make their dreams come true.
The story begins in early 1995 when Marsala and Phillips where in a rap n' roll band called '67 North'. Phillips was also in 'Means Well' with future Story of the Year member Wills. The band 'Locash' was graced with the talents of Russell and Phillips. Sneed spent his time forming the band 'Sound Advice' which later became 'Maybe Today'. Bernard's Pub in Saint Louis is where many of the local Saint Louis bands had their start. These bands were no different, and they began playing shows in Late 1995.
The band Big Blue Monkey (think Deftones) was formed by two Saint Louis guys named John (vocals) and Perry (bass). Marsala was the drummer for Big Blue Monkey and Philips was the guitarist when they played all of the popular Saint Louis venues, and while they toured the Midwest and recorded two EPs.
Soon it was time for high school graduation, attempts at college, and the new millennium. Around that same time John and Perry decided that they would leave Big Blue Monkey. Marsala though decided to stick with the band, but move from drums to vocals. Wills, knowing Phillips from their days in 'Means Well' had gone with Big Blue Monkey on road trips as the Drum tech, and guest vocalist on a few live songs, so it was only natural that such a great friend, and a fellow drummer, would replace Marsala behind the drum kit. Russell, though never having played bass before was one of their closest friends and had the heart and dedication needed to learn and become Big Blue Monkey's newest bassist. Phillips felt that they needed a second guitarist to round out the sound, so fellow Saint Louis Native, Gregory, was given the job as the final member of Big Blue Monkey's new lineup.
The band would wake up ever every afternoon and practice until 5 PM. Then until midnight, Phillips, Wills, and Marsala would deliver pizzas for Papa John's, while Russell was a manager for Imo's, a local pizza place. After getting off work they would get together to work on flyers, their video, and the website, before catching a few Zzz's and waking up to do it all again.
Big Blue Monkey members dedicated all of their time to the band, and worked only so they would have money to help pursue the greater interest of the band. With their own money they recorded 3 more EP's, had a street team, covered Saint Louis in flyers, burned thousands of sampler CDs, ran the bands website, and shot their own video. They went to practically every show in Saint Louis to promote themselves with flyers and CDs. if given the chance, they opened for every national act that came through the area, won local band contests, and even got some radio play.
The band decided that it was in their best interest to move from the Saint Louis to California, if they wanted a real chance at stardom. So the members worked as much as possible to save up money for their move to Orange County, California. It seemed that fate was on their side, and they were able to play Point-Fest, a music festival showcasing the best the Midwest has to offer, right before they moved. At Point-Fest the members of Big Blue Monkey passed out thousands of sampler CDs and videos to everyone they came in contact with. They ever snuck onto Goldfinger's tour bus and left four copies of their home video there.
When it was time for the members to drive across the country, they not only took what they needed for the band and themselves, they also took 900 pounds of sound proof foam that they stole from Saint Louis so that they could turn their garage into a sound proof practice studio. There were 8 people living in a three bedroom house in a Vietnamese ghetto, but they made the best of it, had fun practicing. Luckily they didn't have to stay in that living situation long.
Within two weeks of living in California Goldfinger's manager called them and asked them to come out on tour with Goldfinger. The band was thrilled by the offer and decided that it was a great opportunity. While in Portland, Maine the band decided that they have changed a lot since their early beginnings. Though their sound could once be compared to the Deftones it was now a lot more like The Used, with an Emo-inflected post-grunge feel. The members of Big Blue Monkey thought a name change would best suit them. In 2002 they had released an EP with a song that was basically saying that they would move to California, and they would make it big, at whatever cost. That song was entitled 'Story of the Year', and was the title track off of the record. The band thought the song had a lot of meaning to them and decided it was to be the new name of their band.
As the tour progressed John Feldmen (Goldfinger vocalist) who has produced The Used decided he wanted to produce the newly named Story of the Year's album. When there was a break from touring Feldman took Story of the Year's video to Maverick Records (Madonna's label). Maverick was interested in their sound, so they set up a showcase for Story of the Year at The Viper Room for a 10 AM set. Within two hours of performing Maverick Record's offered Story of the Year a record deal.
Once the tour with Goldfinger was finished, the band started writing new music specifically for the album. At the end of the first month Story of the Year went into the studio to record "Anthem of Our Dying Day", "Until the Day I Die", and "Razorblades". Unfortunately as with many bands on their way up, tension began to grow between members. Due to creative and personal differences Gregory decided it was time to part ways with Story of the Year.
The next seven weeks after Gregory's departure the band spent their time writing and auditioning new guitarist to fill the now vacant spot. Sneed who's band Maybe Today had played many shows with Story of the Year while they were still living in Saint Louis and known as Big Blue Monkey. The band realized how talented Sneed was, and decided that since Maybe Today was on rocky ground they would fly Sneed out to California to audition for Story of the Year. Immediately the band decided Sneed was exactly what they were looking for.
Story of the Year wrote a magnitude of songs and within a week or two of being in the studio narrowed it down to the 10 songs they wanted on the album. They spent almost every day of the week, and up to 15 hours a day, recording. Feldmen was tough, but also knew how to have a good time as well. So Feldmen told the record company that the band should record the strings part of their songs in Hawaii. The trip to Hawaii lasted 6 days, and was spent mostly in the sun.
The album was finally finished in the spring of 2003 and named 'Page Avenue' as homage to where they grew up in Saint Louis. The day the last song was recorded the band packed up all of their things and made the trek across the U.S. once again to move back to their homeland of Saint Louis. On the fourth night after they finished recording the band was to set out on tour. On this tour they had a tour bus and a crew of people from Saint Louis.
The band new that radio stations could be very fickle so they set out on tour to win a fan base from live shows, rather than radio air play. This method worked well for them, since they went from playing headlining shows with an audience attendance of 30 people to 2,500 people. Page Avenue was released in September of 2003 and within 6 months had gone gold. They spent almost 20 months crossing the U.S. 10 times, non stop. Winter 2004/2005 Story of the Year has finally taken a hiatus from touring to go back to the studio to begin working on their sophomore album.
ALESANA
Shawn Milke: vocals, guitar, piano
Dennis Lee: vocals
Adam Ferguson: guitar, vocals
Patrick Thompson: guitar
Steven Tomany: bass
Jeremy Bryan: drums
The crowd is still screaming at a sold out show in Anaheim, California as the sweetcore phenomenon known as Alesana exits the stage.
"I don't think I’ll ever get used to this," says frontman Dennis Lee as he tips back the last swallow of his water bottle. "Seeing kids go crazy like that thousands of miles away from home reminds me that I have the best job in the world. Oh, and that wearing cowboy boots on stage probably isn't the best idea in the world...but it simply must be done." Crowd response like this is something that the six-piece from Raleigh, North Carolina is quickly becoming accustomed to all over the country and other parts of the world: and this is only the beginning.
The band's debut full length record On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax, in stores nationwide on March 20th, 2007, is built around a dynamic, emotionally charged, three guitar, three vocal attack. "We're all about dynamics, both musically and vocally," says vocalist/guitarist Shawn Milke about why the band elected to employ three guitarists and three vocalists. "We don't try to be like anyone else or to be something we're not. By having six members we are able to pull off the same guitar and vocal harmonies in a live setting that we have on the record."
Forming in November of 2004, Alesana has always focused a great deal of their attention on having an energetic and memorable live show. The raw, honest intensity of the band's performance on stage has played a huge role in their growing popularity over the last year. "Our music is always fun," says drummer Jeremy Bryan. "There isn't a single night on tour that I don't have a blast on stage. We give everything we have each and every night and it is a great feeling to see that same energy increasingly coming back from the crowd everywhere we go...and always play 'til you puke." Having already completed tours with Drop Dead Gorgeous and Greeley Estates in 2006, the band is ready to continue hitting the road hard and strong. At the start of 2007, Alesana already has over 200 shows booked including their first headlining tour they’ve sold-out shows in Detroit MI, Anaheim CA, New York, and Texas. Starting in March ’07 they will support Haste The Day and From Autumn to Ashes, and then in June and July a spot on the first half of the 2007 Vans Warped Tour.
The Alesana love has even begun to spread down below the border. The band did their first ever Mexican tour in October 2006 and played to the largest, craziest crowds in the bands short history. "It felt like a dream when we were there," says guitarist Patrick Thompson. "I was in total disbelief of what was happening. The Mexican fans are so passionate and truly excited that I found myself forgetting that it was even us they were screaming for." Upon arriving at shows the band had to be escorted by security to avoid being swarmed by the over 500 fans waiting in line nearly six hours before the doors would even be open for the show. Even more insanity is expected during their second Mexican tour scheduled to kick off on February 20th, 2007.
In June of 2005, Alesana released their debut EP Try This With Your Eyes Closed on Tragic Hero Records. After selling nearly 3,000 copies of the EP at shows and online, the band hit the studio with producer Kit Walters to record their first full length record On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax. After nearly two months of pre-production and two solid weeks in the studio, the band felt that they had finally locked up the exact sound that they were striving to achieve. The record did a soft release which included being sold at smartpunk.com where it remained in the top 10 for six months running. The success of the record prompted Fearless Records to come check out the band live near their headquarters in California. Less than one month later, the band was signed to their new label. "We feel very at home with Fearless," says guitarist/vocalist Adam Ferguson. "I feel like I can pick up the phone anytime and call anyone on the entire staff. Plus, with a smaller roster of bands than some of the other labels out there, it feels more like family." Bassist Steven Tomany adds, "Our success is their success and vice versa. We don't feel like all of the pressure is on us to do this by ourselves because Fearless is working just as hard as we are with the record. Its a great feeling to have such good people in your corner." Fearless is re-releasing On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax as an enhanced disc with plenty of extras including all new artwork, two bonus tracks, four live videos from a performance in San Antonio, Texas, and a 20-minute interview with the band.
Alesana will be shooting their first music video with producer Jeremy Jackson at the end of March. The debut single Ambrosia finds the band at their lyrical best. "Shawn and I write all of our lyrics together, completely 50/50," says Dennis. "We like to tell stories from two different perspectives in every song, constantly intertwining both points of view. It creates an almost 'stream of conscience' effect where its hard to tell where one side ends and the other begins." Shawn adds, "Writing with Dennis makes the songs that much more fun for me because we are both writing the same story but from different conclusions. In Ambrosia, for example, we are telling the story of a man who has been given a sort of divine gift. Dennis is singing about his obsession with the power his new gift has given him, while I sing about the simpler things of life and love that he has left behind in spite of it." A complex story-telling lyrical style is what listeners can expect to find all throughout On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax.
2007 is shaping up to be the year that Alesana breaks completely into the scene. With a vigorous touring schedule, a national record release, and a rapidly growing and strongly dedicated fan base, the band is looking to just keep working as hard as they've been accustomed to for the past two years. "Touring and playing shows for the fans is what its all about," says Shawn. "We've made some great friends and had the privilege of sharing the stage with not only awesome bands, but good guys as well. It is a really special thing when you can share your passion and art with people everyday for a living. There isn't a minute that goes by that we are not eternally grateful for the opportunities we've been given."
With the sincerity of their lyrics, the energy of their music, and the passion of their live show, there is no doubt that Alesana will fight its way into your stereos and into your hearts.
And when asked what kind of toast he would like with his breakfast, frontman Dennis Lee simply states, "Buttered."
