AP&Revisited: Bands we previewed before they got big

Every month since November 2004 with issue 196, AP has spotlighted unsigned bands in the AP&R section and if we may toot our own horn for a second, we’ve picked some damn good ones throughout the years. Here are 10 bands we picked up on early in the game that ended up making a name for themselves in the scene.

Envy On The Coast
Issue: 214 (May ’06)
The band formed in 2004, and we caught up with them in 2006 before their first EP as Envy On The Coast came out—they were previously named Writ In Water. Even then, frontman Ryan Hunter expressed his dedication to integrity and a visceral live performance, saying, “Don’t look for a gimmick, because we’re the farthest thing from it…We pride ourselves on our live show. Don’t expect backflips, because you won’t find them here, [but] we leave the show with bruises, blood and headaches and put everything we have into it.” The band went on to release two full-lengths, Lucy Gray and Lowcountry, that peaked at 11 and 5, respectively, on Billboard’s heatseekers chart before disbanding just months after Lowcountry’s release in July 2010.

You, Me, And Everyone We Know
Issue: 227 (June ’07)
Independently releasing their debut full-length, Party For The Grown and Sexy, and the follow-up EP, So Young So Insane, the band ended up on Doghouse for 2010’s Some Things Don’t Wash Out, which has been heralded across the internet since its release. Intra-band turmoil may have stopped them from reaching long term, chart-worthy potential, but their EPs and full-length serve as a great internet-built underdog success story. The band, which are known for their upbeat, party-centric rock a la Say Anything, aren’t fully disbanded with frontman Ben Liebsch promising a new EP this fall, but the mass exit of members in April 2011make for a rocky future.

Closure In Moscow
Issue: 229 (August ’07)
We caught up with the band just as they were finishing up what would become their 2008 debut EP, The Penance And The Patience, with post-hardcore producer extraordinaire Kris Crummet. Kickin’ out some of the most forward-thinking post-hardcore jams this wave has seen, it’s no surprise the Aussie-natives were picked up by Equal Vision for their 2009 full-length, First Temple, and have been making in-roads within the US scene ever since.

PM Today
Issue: 231 (October ’07)
The prog-emo rockers had just put out their self-released debut full-length, …And Then The Hurricane, when they hit our radar. We described their sound as full of “complex guitar arrangements, three-part harmonies and stratospheric lead vocals that could stop Anthony Green in his tracks,” which definitely rang true on their Rise Records debut, In Medias Res. The band hit the scene hard, spreading quickly through the music blogosphere and forming a strong friendship with Emarosa. The band were slated to for a 2012 follow-up, but disbanded abruptly in 2011 stating on their Facebook, “To clarify the rumors people are making up: This band is done and is never coming back.”

Anarbor
Issue: 235 (February ’08)
Right before 2008’s Hearing Colours, Seeing Sounds hit the airwaves, Anarbor landed in our AP&R section and were still unsigned, even though they had shared the stage with the likes of Jimmy Eat World and were gearing up for their first national tour. The band signed with Hopeless, who have released all of their material since then. They’re still going strong with a consistent tour and release schedule, continuing to pave their way to being a long-lasting legacy act in the future.

Go Radio
Issue: 236 (March ’08)
So we may have cheated a little by choosing ex-Mayday Parade Jason Lancaster’s new band, but Go Radio hadn’t even released an EP at the time we picked them up. They went on to sign with Fearless, who have released all of their material outside of the self-released debut EP, Welcome To Life. The band have branded themselves as a huge player in pop-rock and their latest album, Close The Distance, may take them to the stratosphere with huge radio-ready hooks and tight production.

Conditions
Issue: 239 (June ’08)
Releasing a slew of EPs and touring with everyone from the Dangerous Summer to Paramore, we caught up with Conditions as they were releasing their self-titled EP in 2008 (not the 2011 EP—also self-titled—which was released through Good Fight). The band are currently riding the waves of 2010’s Fluorescent Youth and have had a consistent touring schedule and outspoken social media presence, making them a continually growing name in alternative rock.

Never Shout Never
Issue: 243 (October ’08)
Although it is now an Internet graveyard, Myspace was where acoustic-pop sensation Christofer Drew became known for his cutesy GarageBand-crafted ditties, and loveable persona. He may have been in our AP&R in 243, but he became an AP cover star with issue 271 and was featured on our 2010 spring tour. Drew became a staple name in every high school girl’s heart for a while, and he’s still releasing music under the moniker today, though it’s a bit more acid-trip-inducing than teddy-bear-and-ice-cream-sundae adorable.

A Loss For Words
Issue: 245 (December ’08)
Spending almost a decade without a proper full-length, we first discovered A Loss For Words around the time of Webster Lake’s release. They went onto self-release their first full-length, The Kids Can’t Lose, but eventually signed with Rise in 2011 and have toured with the likes of Four Year Strong and the Wonder Years. With pop-punk’s continued resurgence, the band are sure to continue climbing from here as they snag bigger and bigger tours.

The Ready Set
Issue: 253 (August ’09)
Just like Never Shout Never, Jordan Witzigreuter’s success is in large part due to the internet and a working Macbook. Eventually signing with Pete Wentz’s Decaydance imprint on Fueled By Ramen, he went on to release an EP and a full-length before hitting the majors and signing to Sire. The Ready Set has toured with the likes of the All-American Rejects and Boys Like Girls and is currently working on his major-label debut. His first single, “Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever),” is out now.