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» Add News | The Army of Freshmen
For over 8 years one band has fought against the odds and without the help of a major label or booking agent, Army of Freshmen have managed to play over 600 shows in 39 states and 6 countries, sharing the stage with bands such as AFI, Alkaline Trio, The Ataris, Fallout Boy, Good Charlotte, Sugarcult, Sum 41, Yellowcard and many more. It’s been a hard fought battle to get to their current point but if AOF has proved one thing it’s that all the money and connections in the world don’t make up for hard work.
Army of Freshmen started in late 1997 when lead singer, Chris Jay fresh fr ...read more
For over 8 years one band has fought against the odds and without the help of a major label or booking agent, Army of Freshmen have managed to play over 600 shows in 39 states and 6 countries, sharing the stage with bands such as AFI, Alkaline Trio, The Ataris, Fallout Boy, Good Charlotte, Sugarcult, Sum 41, Yellowcard and many more. It’s been a hard fought battle to get to their current point but if AOF has proved one thing it’s that all the money and connections in the world don’t make up for hard work.
Army of Freshmen started in late 1997 when lead singer, Chris Jay fresh from high school graduation drove cross country from New Jersey to California in hopes of starting a rock band. After writing over 500 songs, he formed Army of Freshmen after meeting the rest of the band members at an open mic in Ventura, CA.
The Freshmen wasted no time and honed their original two keyboard, melodic pop meets punk by playing all over Ventura County. The band scored a reputation their fun and energetic live show and before they knew it they were playing up and down the entire state and just two years after forming, AOF was off on self booked tours throughout the country in the same mini van Chris had left home in.
After a few demos, the band caught the ear of a small local label, Blue Hand Records who agreed to put out The Freshmen’s self titled record. Released in the summer of 2001, Blue Hand almost instantly lost their distribution. With the brand new record now having no hope of getting into stores, The Freshmen took matters into their own hands and hit the road, sound scanning records at every venue. The band sold over 10,000 copies, a virtually unheard of feet for a record with no distribution or promotional budget.
In 2003 the band’s hard work came back in a big way when a Japanese label heard a copy of AOF’s self titled record and licensed it in that country. The record took off and the band was invited to play at Summersonic, Japan’s premiere music festival in the summer of 2003. The only unsigned artist to play the festival, AOF appeared alongside rock royalty like Radiohead, The Strokes, The Doors, Blondie and more.
Back from the brush with stardom in Japan in the fall of 2003 and still with no label, AOF went in the studio on their own dime with producer Angus Cooke (The Ataris, Lagwagon) to record their second record, Beg, Borrow, Steal. The record was first released in Japan in April 2004 to rave reviews and sales and the band was asked back for a two week whirlwind tour of Japan in May 2004 including shows with The Living End, Sugarcult, and Bowling for Soup. « hide |
Contributors: Hep Kat,
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