Northstar (band)
Encyclopedia
Northstar was an American band formed in 1997 in Huntsville, Alabama
.
Since the band's inception, they have had around five guitarists and three different bassists, have been a three-piece, four-piece, and a five-piece. Due to a lack of a dedicated music scene in the Huntsville area, the band decided to start touring the country in 2000. They booked their first tour, bought a van, and set out on the road. Since then, they have been on several U.S. and Canadian tours with bands including Taking Back Sunday
, Say Anything
, Lucero
, Hot Rod Circuit
, Piebald
, Moneen
and The Jealous Sound
. While touring to promote Pollyanna the band also made a brief visit to the U.K. with Modest Mouse
.
After two years of booking, promoting, and producing everything themselves, the band signed a deal with Triple Crown Records
of New York
in June 2002.
With all the band's numerous changes to the setup of band members over the years, the final and most common line-up was Nick Torres
on lead vocals and guitar, Tyler Odom
on guitar, Jake Fisher on bass and backing vocals, and Gabe Renfroe on Drums. This was the line-up on their last album Pollyanna, although Shawn Regan did replace Jake Fisher right before their signing to Triple Crown Records. Shawn took over bass duties on recording the band's debut Is This Thing Loaded? and toured for over a year in support of the album until Jake's return to the band.
Northstar broke up in April 2005. Nick Torres
and Tyler Odom
created Cassino
. The demos for Cassino were recorded with Matt Squire
and used drummer Will Noon
, of Straylight Run
fame.
A collection of B-sides
and alternate recordings, entitled Broken Parachute, has been announced by Nashville
-based Speak Music Media. The original release date was summer 2006, but this date has been pushed back frequently. The five track EP has been expanded to a nine track full-length upon the discovery of an old Northstar demo. It was released on January 8, 2008.
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
.
Since the band's inception, they have had around five guitarists and three different bassists, have been a three-piece, four-piece, and a five-piece. Due to a lack of a dedicated music scene in the Huntsville area, the band decided to start touring the country in 2000. They booked their first tour, bought a van, and set out on the road. Since then, they have been on several U.S. and Canadian tours with bands including Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday is a rock band from Long Island, NY, formed in 1999 by guitarist Eddie Reyes. Current members of the band are Adam Lazzara , John Nolan , Eddie Reyes , Shaun Cooper and Mark O'Connell ....
, Say Anything
Say Anything
Say Anything... is a 1989 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Cameron Crowe. It was Crowe's directorial debut. In 2002, Entertainment Weekly ranked Say Anything... as the greatest modern movie romance, and it was ranked number 11 on Entertainment Weeklys list of the 50 best...
, Lucero
Lucero (band)
Lucero is an American punk/Texas Country infused rock band that is based in Memphis, Tennessee.-Biography:Lucero's punk rock roots flavor their now "country-ish" music, while their Southern roots give them the twang that they have come to be known by. They had their start in Memphis, TN. The band...
, Hot Rod Circuit
Hot Rod Circuit
Hot Rod Circuit is an American emo band from New Haven, Connecticut established in 1997.-Early years:The band was originally known as Antidote under which they released the album Mr. Glenboski, which won the group the award of Best Unsigned Band of 1998 by Musician Magazine...
, Piebald
Piebald
A piebald or pied animal is one that has a spotting pattern of large unpigmented, usually white, areas of hair, feathers, or scales and normally pigmented patches, generally black. The colour of the animal's skin underneath its coat is also pigmented under the dark patches and unpigmented under...
, Moneen
Moneen
Moneen is an indie rock band from Brampton, Ontario, Canada.-History:The band formed in 1999 after the dissolution of another band, called Perfectly Normal. Moneen's original bass player, Mark Bowser, was replaced by Chris Slorach, who left the band after the release of The Theory of Harmonial Value...
and The Jealous Sound
The Jealous Sound
The Jealous Sound is a Los Angeles indie rock band composed of vocalist and guitarist Blair Shehan , guitarist Pedro Benito , bassist Nate Mendel, and drummer Bob Penn. The band has recently reunited to support Sunny Day Real Estate on tour.-History:The band's self-titled debut EP The Jealous Sound...
. While touring to promote Pollyanna the band also made a brief visit to the U.K. with Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse is an American indie rock band formed in 1993 in Issaquah, Washington, by singer/lyricist/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. They are based in Portland, Oregon. Since their 1996 debut album, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think...
.
After two years of booking, promoting, and producing everything themselves, the band signed a deal with Triple Crown Records
Triple Crown Records
Triple Crown Records is a New York-based record label. It is home to Hit the Lights, The Receiving End of Sirens, The Dear Hunter, Moving Mountains, and As Tall as Lions, among others...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in June 2002.
With all the band's numerous changes to the setup of band members over the years, the final and most common line-up was Nick Torres
Nick Torres
Nick Torres is an American songwriter from Huntsville,AL. He was most notably recognized as the singer for the now defunct indie rock quartet Northstar. He currently performs under the moniker Cassino. He lives in Nashville, TN....
on lead vocals and guitar, Tyler Odom
Tyler Odom
Tyler Odom was the lead guitarist of the Alabama-based emo band Northstar. After the band's dissolution, Odom and another former bandmate, Nick Torres, formed Cassino. He also records in indie rock band Destry.-References:...
on guitar, Jake Fisher on bass and backing vocals, and Gabe Renfroe on Drums. This was the line-up on their last album Pollyanna, although Shawn Regan did replace Jake Fisher right before their signing to Triple Crown Records. Shawn took over bass duties on recording the band's debut Is This Thing Loaded? and toured for over a year in support of the album until Jake's return to the band.
Northstar broke up in April 2005. Nick Torres
Nick Torres
Nick Torres is an American songwriter from Huntsville,AL. He was most notably recognized as the singer for the now defunct indie rock quartet Northstar. He currently performs under the moniker Cassino. He lives in Nashville, TN....
and Tyler Odom
Tyler Odom
Tyler Odom was the lead guitarist of the Alabama-based emo band Northstar. After the band's dissolution, Odom and another former bandmate, Nick Torres, formed Cassino. He also records in indie rock band Destry.-References:...
created 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...
. The demos for Cassino were recorded with Matt Squire
Matt Squire
Matt Squire is an American multi-platinum music producer and writer. He has produced, engineered, or written tracks for One Direction, 3OH!3, Good Charlotte, New Boyz, Selena Gomez, David Archuleta, Taking Back Sunday, HIM, The Used, All Time Low, Panic! at the Disco, Boys Like Girls, The Cab,...
and used drummer Will Noon
Will Noon
Will Noon is the drummer of Straylight Run and the former drummer of Breaking Pangaea. He has performed as a studio musician with bands such as Cassino, Destry, and The Scarlet Ending as well as a touring musician for Fun...
, of 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...
fame.
A collection of B-sides
B-Sides
B-Sides is an iTunes-exclusive album from the Coventry Trio The Enemy, consisting of ten songs that were B-sides to the single releases from their debut album We'll Live and Die in These Towns.-Track list:#Fear Killed the Youth of Our Nation...
and alternate recordings, entitled Broken Parachute, has been announced by Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
-based Speak Music Media. The original release date was summer 2006, but this date has been pushed back frequently. The five track EP has been expanded to a nine track full-length upon the discovery of an old Northstar demo. It was released on January 8, 2008.
Discography
- Hardcore Demo(1997)
- Early Demo 1 (1998)
- Blindcrush Demo(1999)
- There's More Where This Came From Demo(2000)
- Is This Thing Loaded Demo(2001)
- Is This Thing Loaded? (Triple Crown RecordsTriple Crown RecordsTriple Crown Records is a New York-based record label. It is home to Hit the Lights, The Receiving End of Sirens, The Dear Hunter, Moving Mountains, and As Tall as Lions, among others...
, 2002) - Pollyanna (Triple Crown RecordsTriple Crown RecordsTriple Crown Records is a New York-based record label. It is home to Hit the Lights, The Receiving End of Sirens, The Dear Hunter, Moving Mountains, and As Tall as Lions, among others...
, 2004) - The Uncomfortable Camera (2005 - DVD)
- Broken Parachute (Speak Music Media, 2008)
- Pollyanna (Triple Crown RecordsTriple Crown RecordsTriple Crown Records is a New York-based record label. It is home to Hit the Lights, The Receiving End of Sirens, The Dear Hunter, Moving Mountains, and As Tall as Lions, among others...
, 2010) - Vinyl