Straylight Run
Encyclopedia
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 Space
. Before the announcement of the return, Nolan had stated that Straylight Run would release a live CD, would be going on indefinite hiatus, but might reunite in the future.
, John Nolan wrote several songs that he didn't feel would go well with the band. After their departure, John and Shaun Cooper
recorded several demos with Taking Back Sunday drummer Mark O'Connell. The band began to take its present form when drummer Will Noon
was invited to join after his former band, Breaking Pangaea
, broke up. Breaking Pangaea's former lead singer was Fred Mascherino
, who later took Nolan's place in Taking Back Sunday
. Shortly thereafter, John's sister, Michelle DaRosa, joined Straylight Run.
The band gained popularity after posting six demo songs for free download on their official site. By September of that year, they were playing to sold-out crowds in various cities in the Northeastern United States
. One of their songs, "Hands in the sky" (Big shot) was used in the second to last episode of the second season of the FX show "Sons of Anarchy".
The band's name was taken from the final section of William Gibson
's cyberpunk
science-fiction novel Neuromancer
.
. They began to record their first album in April 2004 and released their self-titled debut album Straylight Run
on October 12, 2004 after a one-month postponement. The album sold over 11,000 copies in the first week
, and made the Billboard Top 100 Albums list. In late 2005, the band toured with Simple Plan
.
's "With God On Our Side" and 3 new songs. The CD ended their contract with Victory Records
. Plans for a live DVD were in the works but were shelved.
, under Universal Records.
On December 8, 2007 the band was dropped from Universal Records.
The band toured in support of Bayside
in February and early March, 2008. The band toured in support of The Used
on the inaugural Get a Life Tour from March 31 through May 11, 2008.
On June 3, 2008 Michelle DaRosa announced that she would be leaving Straylight Run to pursue a solo career. In her MySpace message, she left the door open to rejoining the band at some future time. In late 2008, DaRosa formed the band Destry
which also features Sam Means of the indie rock
group The Format
, as well as Shaun Cooper
from Straylight Run.
. While the band made the three songs available on the EP available in streaming format through MySpace and other means, and began selling digital download cards at its tour beginning September 9, 2008, on September 16, 2008 the band released the album in a digital format. A vinyl format is also available.
After two tours in late 2008, the band is playing the Soundwave Festivals in Australia in February and March 2009, as well as two shows with Minus the Bear
. The band then plans to do further recording, towards another EP.
In February 2010, Straylight Run announced they were going on an indefinite hiatus due to financial complications. John Nolan stated that he would continue his solo act, and was not against the idea of returning to Straylight Run. Shaun Cooper wrote a blog saying that he was retiring from touring, thanking Straylight Run and also thanking Taking Back Sunday and saying he is really proud of the work and success they have accomplished. On March 31, 2010 it was confirmed that John Nolan and Shaun Cooper had returned to Taking Back Sunday.
On June 4, 2011, Nolan and Cooper teamed up with Taking Back Sunday drummer Mark O'Connell to play a show at Rogue Live Studios in Hicksville, NY, with their set featuring six Straylight Run songs.
The track "Hands In The Sky" was featured in season two of the show Sons of Anarchy.
The track "Existentialism on Prom Night" was featured in season one of the show Against the Wall.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
based in Baldwin
Baldwin, Nassau County, New York
Baldwin is a hamlet located in the town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 24,033 at the 2010 census.Baldwin is also a station on the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road....
, 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...
. Two of the members, Nolan and Cooper, had been members of 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 ....
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 Space
The Needles the Space
The Needles the Space is the second album by Straylight Run. The first single from the album is "Soon We'll Be Living in the Future". The Needles The Space debuted at #72 on the Billboard 200 chart, garnering first week sales of over 9,800....
. Before the announcement of the return, Nolan had stated that Straylight Run would release a live CD, would be going on indefinite hiatus, but might reunite in the future.
Biography
When he was still a member of Taking Back SundayTaking 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 ....
, John Nolan wrote several songs that he didn't feel would go well with the band. After their departure, John and Shaun Cooper
Shaun Cooper
Shaun Cooper is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Bournemouth.-Football career:...
recorded several demos with Taking Back Sunday drummer Mark O'Connell. The band began to take its present form when 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...
was invited to join after his former band, Breaking Pangaea
Breaking Pangaea
Breaking Pangaea was an emo/indie rock band from Philadelphia, PA. The band gained a small but passionate following from early 2000 to 2003, especially among college students....
, broke up. Breaking Pangaea's former lead singer was Fred Mascherino
Fred Mascherino
Frederick Paul Mascherino is an American musician best known for his work as lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist in alternative rock band Taking Back Sunday...
, who later took Nolan's place in 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 ....
. Shortly thereafter, John's sister, Michelle DaRosa, joined Straylight Run.
The band gained popularity after posting six demo songs for free download on their official site. By September of that year, they were playing to sold-out crowds in various cities in the Northeastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. One of their songs, "Hands in the sky" (Big shot) was used in the second to last episode of the second season of the FX show "Sons of Anarchy".
The band's name was taken from the final section of William Gibson
William Gibson
William Gibson is an American-Canadian science fiction author.William Gibson may also refer to:-Association football:*Will Gibson , Scottish footballer...
's cyberpunk
Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk is a postmodern and science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life." The name is a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk, and was originally coined by Bruce Bethke as the title of his short story "Cyberpunk," published in 1983...
science-fiction novel Neuromancer
Neuromancer
Neuromancer is a 1984 novel by William Gibson, a seminal work in the cyberpunk genre and the first winner of the science-fiction "triple crown" — the Nebula Award, the Philip K. Dick Award, and the Hugo Award. It was Gibson's debut novel and the beginning of the Sprawl trilogy...
.
Straylight Run (2004)
Due to John's and Shaun's involvement in their previous band, they were bound by contract to release an album under Victory RecordsVictory Records
Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....
. They began to record their first album in April 2004 and released their self-titled debut album Straylight Run
Straylight Run (album)
Straylight Run is the self-titled debut album from American indie rock band Straylight Run, released on October 12, 2004 by Victory Records.-Track listing:#"The Perfect Ending" – 4:53...
on October 12, 2004 after a one-month postponement. The album sold over 11,000 copies in the first week
Week
A week is a time unit equal to seven days.The English word week continues an Old English wice, ultimately from a Common Germanic , from a root "turn, move, change"...
, and made the Billboard Top 100 Albums list. In late 2005, the band toured with Simple Plan
Simple Plan
Simple Plan is a Canadian pop punk band from Montréal, Québec. The band has had no line up changes since its inception in 1999. Members are Pierre Bouvier , Jeff Stinco , Sébastien Lefebvre , David Desrosiers and Chuck Comeau...
.
Prepare to Be Wrong EP (2005)
On October 4, 2005 the band released their second record in the form of the Prepare to Be Wrong EP. The CD comprised two old demos ("A Slow Descent" from the bands original demo, and "It Never Gets Easier" a demo from the sessions for their first CD Straylight Run, although it was then known as "Costello"), a cover of Bob DylanBob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
's "With God On Our Side" and 3 new songs. The CD ended their contract with Victory Records
Victory Records
Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....
. Plans for a live DVD were in the works but were shelved.
The Needles the Space (2007)
On June 19, 2007 the band released their second album, The Needles the SpaceThe Needles the Space
The Needles the Space is the second album by Straylight Run. The first single from the album is "Soon We'll Be Living in the Future". The Needles The Space debuted at #72 on the Billboard 200 chart, garnering first week sales of over 9,800....
, under Universal Records.
On December 8, 2007 the band was dropped from Universal Records.
The band toured in support of Bayside
Bayside (band)
Bayside is an American punk rock band from Queens which formed in the winter of 2000. The band has released five full length albums since signing to Victory Records...
in February and early March, 2008. The band toured in support of The Used
The Used
The Used is an American rock band from Orem, Utah. The band was founded in 2001 and signed to Reprise Records the same year. They rose to fame in June 2002 after releasing their self-titled debut album. They followed up with their second album, In Love and Death, in September 2004 and their third...
on the inaugural Get a Life Tour from March 31 through May 11, 2008.
On June 3, 2008 Michelle DaRosa announced that she would be leaving Straylight Run to pursue a solo career. In her MySpace message, she left the door open to rejoining the band at some future time. In late 2008, DaRosa formed the band Destry
Destry (band)
Destry is an indie folk band centered around Michelle DaRosa. Formerly a vocalist for Straylight Run, on June 3, 2008 Michelle left Straylight Run on friendly terms to pursue a solo career, beginning Destry soon after....
which also features Sam Means of the indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
group The Format
The Format
The Format was an American indie rock band formed by Arizona natives Nate Ruess and Sam Means. The band announced a hiatus on February 4, 2008. Their style can be considered a mixture of indie, alternative, punk and folk music, with elements of 1960s and 1970s pop music...
, as well as Shaun Cooper
Shaun Cooper (bassist)
Shaun Cooper is the bassist in the rock bands Taking Back Sunday, Straylight Run, and Destry.- Biography :Shaun "Sweet Cheeks" William Cooper was born November 12, 1980 in Baldwin, New York. Like his band mates, John Nolan and Michelle DaRosa, he attended Baldwin Senior High School, graduating in...
from Straylight Run.
Un Mas Dos EP and indefinite hiatus (2008-present)
On June 10, 2008 the band entered the studio for pre-production on their next CD, an EP entitled Un Mas DosUn Mas Dos
Un Mas Dos is the second EP by American indie rock band Straylight Run, released on September 16, 2008. The EP is the band's first release since they were dropped by Universal Republic and since the departure of vocalist, guitarist and pianist, Michelle DaRosa...
. While the band made the three songs available on the EP available in streaming format through MySpace and other means, and began selling digital download cards at its tour beginning September 9, 2008, on September 16, 2008 the band released the album in a digital format. A vinyl format is also available.
After two tours in late 2008, the band is playing the Soundwave Festivals in Australia in February and March 2009, as well as two shows with Minus the Bear
Minus the Bear
Minus the Bear is an American indie rock band from Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2001, the group features current and former members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving...
. The band then plans to do further recording, towards another EP.
In February 2010, Straylight Run announced they were going on an indefinite hiatus due to financial complications. John Nolan stated that he would continue his solo act, and was not against the idea of returning to Straylight Run. Shaun Cooper wrote a blog saying that he was retiring from touring, thanking Straylight Run and also thanking Taking Back Sunday and saying he is really proud of the work and success they have accomplished. On March 31, 2010 it was confirmed that John Nolan and Shaun Cooper had returned to Taking Back Sunday.
On June 4, 2011, Nolan and Cooper teamed up with Taking Back Sunday drummer Mark O'Connell to play a show at Rogue Live Studios in Hicksville, NY, with their set featuring six Straylight Run songs.
Albums
- Straylight RunStraylight Run (album)Straylight Run is the self-titled debut album from American indie rock band Straylight Run, released on October 12, 2004 by Victory Records.-Track listing:#"The Perfect Ending" – 4:53...
(2004) - The Needles the SpaceThe Needles the SpaceThe Needles the Space is the second album by Straylight Run. The first single from the album is "Soon We'll Be Living in the Future". The Needles The Space debuted at #72 on the Billboard 200 chart, garnering first week sales of over 9,800....
(2007)
EPs
- Prepare to Be WrongPrepare to Be WrongPrepare to Be Wrong is an EP from Straylight Run, released on October 4, 2005 by Victory Records. The song "It Never Gets Easier" was originally titled "Costello".-Track listing:All songs written by Straylight Run, except where noted...
(October 4, 2005) - 3 Track EP3 Track EP3 Track EP is a 2007 release from indie rock band Straylight Run. The album contains the three tracks that were released as Newbury Comics bonus tracks from their 2007 album The Needles the Space.-Track listing:...
(2007) - Un Mas DosUn Mas DosUn Mas Dos is the second EP by American indie rock band Straylight Run, released on September 16, 2008. The EP is the band's first release since they were dropped by Universal Republic and since the departure of vocalist, guitarist and pianist, Michelle DaRosa...
(September 16, 2008) - About Time (May 20, 2009)
Demos
Demo (2003)- "It’s Everybody’s Fault But Mine"
- "Existentialism on Prom Night"
- "A Slow Descent"
- "It’s For The Best"
- "Mistakes We Knew We Were Making"
- "The Tension and the Terror"
Singles
- 2004 "Existentialism on Prom Night"
- 2005 "Hands in the Sky (Big Shot)"
- 2007 "Soon We'll Be Living in the Future"
- 2007 "Still Alone"
Videography
- 2004 "Existentialism on Prom Night"
- 2005 "Hands in the Sky (Big Shot)"
- 2007 "Buttoned Down" (video only; no single; included on enhanced CD of The Needles the SpaceThe Needles the SpaceThe Needles the Space is the second album by Straylight Run. The first single from the album is "Soon We'll Be Living in the Future". The Needles The Space debuted at #72 on the Billboard 200 chart, garnering first week sales of over 9,800....
) - 2007 "Soon We'll Be Living in the Future"
- 2007 "How Do I Fix My Head" (video only; no single; included on enhanced CD of The Needles the SpaceThe Needles the SpaceThe Needles the Space is the second album by Straylight Run. The first single from the album is "Soon We'll Be Living in the Future". The Needles The Space debuted at #72 on the Billboard 200 chart, garnering first week sales of over 9,800....
) - 2007 "The Miracle That Never Came" (video only; no single; released on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
) - 2009 "Wait and Watch" (video only; no single; released on Youtube)
The track "Hands In The Sky" was featured in season two of the show Sons of Anarchy.
The track "Existentialism on Prom Night" was featured in season one of the show Against the Wall.