Dear and the Headlights
Encyclopedia
Dear and the Headlights was an indie
rock band
from Phoenix, Arizona
. They released two widely known demos, recorded by future bassist Chuckie Duff, before their debut album was released. These demos included five songs re-recorded for the album. The most notable change to the songs upon re-recording was the drop from standard guitar tuning to E-flat standard tuning. Two songs heard on their purevolume.com page, recorded acoustic on a local radio show, also later appeared on Small Steps, Heavy Hooves
. Small Steps, Heavy Hooves, the band's debut album, was released on February 6, 2007 on Equal Vision Records
.
On July 20, 2011 the band posted a goodbye message on their site announcing that they had broken up.
, Bob Hoag
. Near the album's completion, the band started talking to, and eventually signing a contract with the popular indie label, Equal Vision Records
. Small Steps, Heavy Hooves
was critically acclaimed, and the band grew to a much higher status through endless touring with major label bands such as Jimmy Eat World
, Paramore
, The Plain White T's, and Motion City Soundtrack
. Marquard left the band in September 2007 due to the heavy touring schedule and Robert Cissell was an obvious choice to replace him. They completed several more laps around the country and recorded Drunk Like Bible Times in early 2008. In September 2009, bassist Chuck Duffie left the group in order to "focus on graduate school and his studio." He was replaced by Patrick Taylor in January 2010. In mid July 2011, PJ announced that the band and broken up because of having a rough time with the music industry and felt they got all that they had wanted through the band. He then said that the band had drifted from what they originally began making music for. PJ also stated that they appreciate everything that they experienced and enjoyed doing what they we're doing. They have now broken up.
Former
was released, Dear and the Headlights toured on an opening slot with The Plain White T's, Boys Night Out
and Lovedrug
. The band also toured with As Tall As Lions
and headliners Mae
in the summer of 2007. Following this they toured with Dredg
and As Cities Burn
, and following this with Fear Before the March of Flames and Circa Survive
.
The band also played the 11:15 slot at the Chicago, IL music festival, Lollapalooza
, on August 4, 2007.
In earlier 2008, they toured the U.S. with Straylight Run
and had a headlining tour along with Cassino
and The Color Fred
.
In spring 2008, they opened for Jimmy Eat World
and Paramore
on their co-headlining tour.
They toured in support of Motion City Soundtrack
and separately with Steel Train
in fall of 2008.
They headlined a tour in early 2009 with Miniature Tigers
and Reubens Accomplice supporting.
They performed at Coachella 2009 on April 17, 2009.
They played on the 2009 Warped Tour
on the Smartpunk.com Stage.
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
from Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. They released two widely known demos, recorded by future bassist Chuckie Duff, before their debut album was released. These demos included five songs re-recorded for the album. The most notable change to the songs upon re-recording was the drop from standard guitar tuning to E-flat standard tuning. Two songs heard on their purevolume.com page, recorded acoustic on a local radio show, also later appeared on Small Steps, Heavy Hooves
Small Steps, Heavy Hooves
Small Steps, Heavy Hooves is an album by Dear and the Headlights. The album was released on February 6, 2007 on Equal Vision Records.- Track listing :#"Oh No!" - 4:14#"Sweet Talk" - 2:56#"Hallelujah" - 4:09#"Happy In Love" - 3:45...
. Small Steps, Heavy Hooves, the band's debut album, was released on February 6, 2007 on Equal Vision Records
Equal Vision Records
Equal Vision Records is a record label based in Albany, New York, which has a focus in metal or punk-based rock genres. Equal Vision Records was founded in the early 1990s by Ray Cappo ....
.
On July 20, 2011 the band posted a goodbye message on their site announcing that they had broken up.
History
Joel Marquard (guitarist and keyboardist) and Ian Metzger (lead vocals and acoustic) started playing together in roughly 2002. Marquard convinced Metzger that they needed to start a band, but Ian was reluctant due to a somewhat negative experience with the Christian band called Justifide he co-founded in 1999. He finally gave in and Marquard quickly found PJ Waxman, who initially, started out playing drums for the band until they realized what a talented guitar player he was. PJ is also known for voicing the character of "Plucky", which is Ducky's little sister in the animated film "The Land Before Time", though it didn't make it into the film officially. Despite the film's success, PJ felt his calling was in music. Once PJ took the role of guitarist, DATH were still left without a drummer and bass player. They tried out several people but nothing worked. Joel received a phone call from an old friend and former band mate named Chuckie Duff who played bass and had recently bought some recording equipment that he wanted to try out. So that next day he came over and recorded three songs (Sweet Talk, Daysleeper, Run in the Front.) The songs were successful but Ian was burnt out on trying to find people for the band, and determined to move to California. Duff kept listening to the demo and fell more and more in love. He was determined to not let them give up. He called Marquard and offered to play bass and promised him they'd find a drummer. Ian decided to give it a shot. Duff was right and Marquard found drummer Mark Kulvinskas through an ad on Craigslist. So Joel, PJ, Duff and Mark practiced the songs with Ian still in California, and got them down. Chuckie booked a show at Borders Bookstores and flew Ian down. He met the drummer, they practiced with Ian and played that night. Several more shows were played like this and Ian decided to move back. The decision was made to make an album famed Arizona record producer, songwriter of The Go Reflex and former keyboardist of The AtarisThe Ataris
The Ataris are a rock band from Anderson, Indiana. They have released five studio albums, and their most recent E.P. was released on November 25, 2010 on the Gainesville, Florida based label, Paper + Plastick. It contained the brand new tracks "All Souls' Day" and "The Graveyard of The Atlantic"...
, Bob Hoag
Bob Hoag
Bob Hoag is a record producer, songwriter and musician based in Mesa, Arizona. In 2005, he was recruited to be the pianist and keyboardist for American rock band The Ataris.-Career:...
. Near the album's completion, the band started talking to, and eventually signing a contract with the popular indie label, Equal Vision Records
Equal Vision Records
Equal Vision Records is a record label based in Albany, New York, which has a focus in metal or punk-based rock genres. Equal Vision Records was founded in the early 1990s by Ray Cappo ....
. Small Steps, Heavy Hooves
Small Steps, Heavy Hooves
Small Steps, Heavy Hooves is an album by Dear and the Headlights. The album was released on February 6, 2007 on Equal Vision Records.- Track listing :#"Oh No!" - 4:14#"Sweet Talk" - 2:56#"Hallelujah" - 4:09#"Happy In Love" - 3:45...
was critically acclaimed, and the band grew to a much higher status through endless touring with major label bands such as Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....
, Paramore
Paramore
Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York...
, The Plain White T's, and Motion City Soundtrack
Motion City Soundtrack
Motion City Soundtrack is an American rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, formed in 1997. The band consists of founding members Justin Pierre and Joshua Cain , along with keyboardist and moog synthesist Jesse Johnson, bassist and backing vocalist Matthew Taylor, and drummer, percussionist and...
. Marquard left the band in September 2007 due to the heavy touring schedule and Robert Cissell was an obvious choice to replace him. They completed several more laps around the country and recorded Drunk Like Bible Times in early 2008. In September 2009, bassist Chuck Duffie left the group in order to "focus on graduate school and his studio." He was replaced by Patrick Taylor in January 2010. In mid July 2011, PJ announced that the band and broken up because of having a rough time with the music industry and felt they got all that they had wanted through the band. He then said that the band had drifted from what they originally began making music for. PJ also stated that they appreciate everything that they experienced and enjoyed doing what they we're doing. They have now broken up.
Members
Current- Ian Metzger - vocals, guitar
- P.J. Waxman - guitar, backing vocals
- Patrick Taylor - bass
- Robert Cissell - guitar, keys, bass
- Mark Kulvinskas - drums
Former
- Joel Marquard - guitar, keys
- Chuckie Duff - bass
Touring
In early 2007, around the time Small Steps, Heavy HoovesSmall Steps, Heavy Hooves
Small Steps, Heavy Hooves is an album by Dear and the Headlights. The album was released on February 6, 2007 on Equal Vision Records.- Track listing :#"Oh No!" - 4:14#"Sweet Talk" - 2:56#"Hallelujah" - 4:09#"Happy In Love" - 3:45...
was released, Dear and the Headlights toured on an opening slot with The Plain White T's, Boys Night Out
Boys Night Out
Boys Night Out may refer to:* Boys Night Out , a Canadian emo/post-hardcore band** Boys Night Out , their self-titled album* Boys' Night Out , a 1962 comedy...
and Lovedrug
Lovedrug
Lovedrug is an indie rock band from Canton, Ohio that formed in 2001. The band’s name is something of a word play; singer Michael Shepard initially left music to attend film school but his first ‘love’ of the music medium ‘dragged’ him back .- History :Lovedrug released their first EP, the...
. The band also toured with As Tall As Lions
As Tall as Lions
As Tall as Lions was an Indie Rock band from Long Island, New York.- History :High school friends Dan Nigro , Saen Fitzgerald , Brian Fortune and Cliff Sarcona founded the band in December 2001 as they were looking to continue the momentum of a previous project.- Blood and Aphorisms :"Blood and...
and headliners Mae
Mae
Mae was an American alternative/indie band that formed in Norfolk, Virginia in 2001. The band's name is an acronym for "Multi-sensory Aesthetic Experience," based on a course taken by drummer Jacob Marshall while a student at Old Dominion University....
in the summer of 2007. Following this they toured with Dredg
Dredg
Dredg is an American rock group formed in 1993 in Los Gatos, California. The band consists of vocalist Gavin Hayes, guitarist Mark Engles, bassist Drew Roulette and drummer Dino Campanella....
and As Cities Burn
As Cities Burn
As Cities Burn was an indie/post hardcore band from Mandeville, Louisiana that formed in 2002 and broke up in 2009.-Early beginnings and Son, I Loved You at Your Darkest :...
, and following this with Fear Before the March of Flames and Circa Survive
Circa Survive
Circa Survive is an American alternative rock band from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania suburb of Doylestown, formed in 2004. The band consists of vocalist Anthony Green, former singer of Saosin and members of the now-defunct This Day Forward....
.
The band also played the 11:15 slot at the Chicago, IL music festival, Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
, on August 4, 2007.
In earlier 2008, they toured the U.S. with Straylight Run
Straylight Run
Straylight Run was an indie rock band based in Baldwin, New York. Two of the members, Nolan and Cooper, had been members of Taking Back Sunday and have now rejoined that band. Their final releases are the EPs About Time and Un Mas Dos, preceded by the full-length album entitled The Needles The...
and had a headlining tour along with Cassino
Cassino (band)
Cassino is a folk band from Huntsville, Alabama, created from the remnants of the band Northstar.In April 2005, Cassino was birthed from the remnants of the two principal songwriters of the Alabama rock group Northstar – an inevitably organic genesis that came to light through a creative bond that...
and The Color Fred
The Color Fred
The Color Fred is a band headed by former Taking Back Sunday guitarist and singer Fred Mascherino. The band got their name by a poll taken on the internet and The Color Fred was declared as the fans' favorite name. The band was started while he was in the band Breaking Pangaea. The Color Fred was...
.
In spring 2008, they opened for Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....
and Paramore
Paramore
Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York...
on their co-headlining tour.
They toured in support of Motion City Soundtrack
Motion City Soundtrack
Motion City Soundtrack is an American rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, formed in 1997. The band consists of founding members Justin Pierre and Joshua Cain , along with keyboardist and moog synthesist Jesse Johnson, bassist and backing vocalist Matthew Taylor, and drummer, percussionist and...
and separately with Steel Train
Steel Train
Steel Train is an indie rock band from New Jersey. They have toured with Tegan and Sara, Girl in a Coma, Ben Folds, The Fray, Silversun Pickups, Hanson, The Format, Gomez, O.A.R., Barenaked Ladies, Fun and others...
in fall of 2008.
They headlined a tour in early 2009 with Miniature Tigers
Miniature Tigers
Miniature Tigers is an Indie rock band with elements of indie pop based in Brooklyn, NY. The band is made up of frontman-guitarist Charlie Brand, Rick Schaier on drums and vocals, Algernon Quashie on guitar, keyboard....
and Reubens Accomplice supporting.
They performed at Coachella 2009 on April 17, 2009.
They played on the 2009 Warped Tour
Warped Tour 2009
Warped Tour 2009 was the 15th installment of the annual Summer Warped Tour festival. Vans Shoes was again the tour's primary sponsor. Tour founder/organizer Kevin Lyman announced that this year's tour would feature only one main stage with bands playing 40 minutes each instead of two main stages...
on the Smartpunk.com Stage.