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From The Editor's Floor: A Day To Remember

Alternative Press - Rob Ortenzi on 7/27/09 @ 7:00 AM - altpress.com

IMS, BALD HEADS AND THE SEAT OF POWER: The True Story Behind A Day To Remember's Victory Records Deal

A Day To Remember definitely have their own way of doing things, whether it be writing breakdowns or courting record labels. The story behind the band's signing with Victory Records is no exception, and to think, it all started over instant messaging.

ADTR bassist Josh Woodard says an acquaintance from a band in Orlando, Florida, gave Woodard a screen name purported to belong to a Victory Records staffer. The bassist, not believing the handle was legit, jokingly began a conversation that would have massive reverberations down the road.

"I was like, 'Hey dude, I hear you work for Victory,' just, like, being a smartass. He was like, 'Yeah I do. What's going on?'" remembers Woodard. "I hassled the hell out of him, sending him our old shitty stuff and some random demos."

The material was compelling enough to garner the band a showcase in Chicago, where Victory is based, so the band piled into the van, drove up and played the show, then headed back home to Florida, but received no feedback. The silence was confounding to ADTR, who were sure that while looking out into the crowd that night, they saw a certain label head-Victory boss Tony Brummel-furiously headbanging to the group's set.

"I know bands who have showcased after us, who would play, and Tony walked out halfway through the first song," says Woodard. "The last song of the showcase, I couldn't see anyone, but Jeremy was like, 'Dude-Tony B. is bald, right?' I'm like, 'Yeah.' He goes, 'There's this bald dude rocking out!'"

"Tony Brummel is the only person who gave a shit about us when no one did," adds McKinnon. "We wouldn't be a band without him."

Once home, the group decided to unwind by spending a leisurely day at their local swimming hole, hurtling themselves off of rope swings into the water. Woodard had left his cell phone in the car, so it wasn't until later that he would receive the call that would change their lives. Unbeknownst to the band, the showcase had made exactly the impression they'd hoped for.

"When I got home, I still didn't check my phone," Woodard says. "I'm shitting at home, and my phone beeps. I get this voicemail, 'This is Tony Brummel. I'd like to talk to you about Victory Records and A Day To Remember.' I was on the toilet dancing." --Brendan Manley

Comments

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xgaskarth Posted 08.03.09 at 10:45PM
i love a day to remember, i'm happy there was an article about them

mindovermatter666 Posted 08.14.09 at 04:44PM
lol that's awesome. I love adtr



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