Driving East
Encyclopedia
Driving East is an American
pop punk
band
from Fairfax, VA.
shortly after they signed with Capitol Records
. However, the lure of playing drums brought him back to the East Coast and back to Driving East. Before leaving the West Coast, Jester recruited Aaron Hubbard, who earned a master's degree in music, to become the band's bassist.
The union of Jester, Steve Zapp, Nate Taylor, and Barrett Mullins makes up Driving East today. Producer Matt Squire
, who worked with the band on A Black Eye or a Broken Heart, said of the band, "Many people try to write songs to get them on the radio but with Driving East what you’re hearing is what comes naturally to them."
Following the 2005 release of their debut EP, A Black Eye or a Broken Heart, on Brand Name Records and performances with national headliners such as Maroon 5
, Acceptance
, Fall Out Boy
and Cartel
, the then-five-piece outfit of Virginia natives was signed by The Militia Group
, who released their self-title digital EP in late 2006. The EP was recorded prior to their signing by the production team of Kenneth Mount and Zach Odom. The band was on the East Coast legs of 2005 and 2006 Warped Tour
.
In 2007, Driving East has continued to tour in support of their EP, which Steve Henderson
of AbsolutePunk.net
commended for its "unparalleled, monstrous hooks." In the summer of 2007, the band returned to the studio to record a new album, The Future of the Free World is Riding on This One, their long-awaited full-length debut which was released digitally on January 15, 2008. Tony Pascarella of AbsolutePunk.net
has called it "an insanely poppy, catchy album" that "evokes the raw fiery passion of Cartel
's The Ransom EP." The band was also recently listed as one the of the "Next Big Thing(s) of 2008" by the website's founder and CEO, Jason Tate.
In early 2009, drummer Jon Jester joined notable DC pop rock group The Dance Party
and is recording the band's debut record for HellYa! Records/Atlantic Records
in Los Angeles, California.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
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 Fairfax, VA.
History
Driving East formed in 2002 after numerous line-up changes. Jon Jester, the original drummer, had moved to Los Angeles to work with his friends in the South African band Just JingerJust Jinger
Just Jinjer is a contemporary rock group originally from South Africa and now based in California. Just Jinjer is the number one selling rock band in South African history, with over 240,000 units sold...
shortly after they signed with Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
. However, the lure of playing drums brought him back to the East Coast and back to Driving East. Before leaving the West Coast, Jester recruited Aaron Hubbard, who earned a master's degree in music, to become the band's bassist.
The union of Jester, Steve Zapp, Nate Taylor, and Barrett Mullins makes up Driving East today. Producer 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,...
, who worked with the band on A Black Eye or a Broken Heart, said of the band, "Many people try to write songs to get them on the radio but with Driving East what you’re hearing is what comes naturally to them."
Following the 2005 release of their debut EP, A Black Eye or a Broken Heart, on Brand Name Records and performances with national headliners such as Maroon 5
Maroon 5
Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. While they were in high school, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adam Levine, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, bass guitarist Mickey Madden, and drummer Ryan Dusick formed a garage band called Kara's Flowers and released one album...
, Acceptance
Acceptance (band)
Acceptance was an alternative rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1998. They released their first EP, Lost for Words, in 2000, followed by Black Lines to Battlefields in 2003...
, Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
and Cartel
Cartel (band)
Cartel is a American pop rock band from Conyers, Georgia that formed in 2003. The band is best known for their single "Honestly", featured on their 2005 debut album Chroma, and for their 2007 appearance on MTV's Band in a Bubble....
, the then-five-piece outfit of Virginia natives was signed by The Militia Group
The Militia Group
-History:The Militia Group was founded in 1998 by Chad Pearson as a booking agency, booking for artists such as Slick Shoes, Craig's Brother, Dogwood, twothirtyeight, Acceptance, and Element 101. Rory Felton and Chad Pearson partnered in 2000 to turn the booking agency into a record company...
, who released their self-title digital EP in late 2006. The EP was recorded prior to their signing by the production team of Kenneth Mount and Zach Odom. The band was on the East Coast legs of 2005 and 2006 Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
.
In 2007, Driving East has continued to tour in support of their EP, which Steve Henderson
Steve Henderson
Steven Curtis Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who is best remembered for being one of the players the New York Mets acquired in the infamous "Midnight Massacre."-Cincinnati Reds:...
of AbsolutePunk.net
AbsolutePunk.net
AbsolutePunk is a website, online community, and alternative music news source founded by Jason Tate . The website mainly focuses on artists who are relatively unknown to mainstream audiences, but it has been known to feature artists who have eventually achieved crossover success, including Fall...
commended for its "unparalleled, monstrous hooks." In the summer of 2007, the band returned to the studio to record a new album, The Future of the Free World is Riding on This One, their long-awaited full-length debut which was released digitally on January 15, 2008. Tony Pascarella of AbsolutePunk.net
AbsolutePunk.net
AbsolutePunk is a website, online community, and alternative music news source founded by Jason Tate . The website mainly focuses on artists who are relatively unknown to mainstream audiences, but it has been known to feature artists who have eventually achieved crossover success, including Fall...
has called it "an insanely poppy, catchy album" that "evokes the raw fiery passion of Cartel
Cartel (band)
Cartel is a American pop rock band from Conyers, Georgia that formed in 2003. The band is best known for their single "Honestly", featured on their 2005 debut album Chroma, and for their 2007 appearance on MTV's Band in a Bubble....
's The Ransom EP." The band was also recently listed as one the of the "Next Big Thing(s) of 2008" by the website's founder and CEO, Jason Tate.
In early 2009, drummer Jon Jester joined notable DC pop rock group The Dance Party
The Dance Party
The Dance Party is an American pop rock band from Washington, DC.-Formation, EP, Friction! Friction Friction!:The Dance Party formed in 2005 in College Park, Maryland by singer Mick Coogan, guitarist Kevin Bayly, drummer Jeff David, and bassist Danny Hoag, and soon released their first EP, "The...
and is recording the band's debut record for HellYa! Records/Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in Los Angeles, California.
Members
- Barrett Mullins – vocals
- Nate Taylor – guitar, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
- Steve Zapp – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Jon Jester – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Non-album tracks
- "Family Reunion/Online Songs" (blink-182Blink-182Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
cover) – released on A Tribute to Blink 182: Pacific Ridge Records Heroes of Pop Punk, Vol. 2 (2005)
External links
- Driving East – official website
- Driving East's profile at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Driving East's profile at PureVolumePureVolumePureVolume was the first independently run website of its type, allowing for the upload and stream of music files. It was created in 2003 by Jennifer Welch , in conjunction with the Unborn Media team; Brett Woitunski, Nate Hudson, and Mitchell Pavao; all from the University of...
- Review of The Future of the Free World Is Riding On This One at Absolutepunk.netAbsolutePunk.netAbsolutePunk is a website, online community, and alternative music news source founded by Jason Tate . The website mainly focuses on artists who are relatively unknown to mainstream audiences, but it has been known to feature artists who have eventually achieved crossover success, including Fall...