Ten Yard Fight
Encyclopedia
Ten Yard Fight was a straight edge
, football
-based band formed in 1995 in Boston
, Massachusetts
. Along with In My Eyes and Floorpunch, they spearheaded the youth crew
revival in 1997. Ten Yard Fight's "official" last show was in Boston on October 17, which would become the first National Edge Day
. They would later play additional shows with partial lineups.
Having sold 1,000 demos, Ten Yard Fight teamed up with Big Wheel Recreation to release the Hardcore Pride 7" in 1996. The initial pressing sold out in less than a week, helping generate a buzz that resulted in the band's signing to Equal Vision. During that time they also released a split 7" with Fastbreak. The first result of the partnership was a compiling of the demo and Hardcore Pride 7" onto a single CD. Ten Yard Fight would next release an album entitled Back on Track. Lineup changes followed, as the group toured Europe and the United States through 1997 and 1998. In 1998, the band recorded six new songs that would later surface on The Only Way EP.
In between these releases TYF appeared on many different compilation recordings. At the end of 1999, TYF played their last show together with friends Bane
, Reach the Sky
, and In My Eyes. This show was at the Karma Club on Lansdowne Street as the Yankees and Red Sox were playing right across the street in the ALCS at Fenway Park. The final lineup of the band included Anthony Moreschi, guitarist John LaCroix (who started out playing bass), guitarist Timmy Cosar (who later formed American Nightmare), bassist Brian "Clevo" Ristau, and drummer Ben Chused.
'The Only Way: 1995-1999', a DVD/video documentary, had its release celebrated a year later with Ten Yard Fight taking the stage, unannounced, at "Edge Day Two," coinciding with the final performance of Boston's In My Eyes. During the 4+ years that TYF was around, the band played all over the world, including several US tours, a European tour, many shows in Canada and even a weekend of 2 shows in Puerto Rico where Steve Reddy caused permanent spinal damage to LaCroix.
2007 in Haverhill, MA. 'First And Ten' played a show with Slapshot
in Haverhill, MA on November 8, 2008.
Moreschi went on to front 'Stand & Fight
' on Bridge 9 Records
, and currently sings in 'Resist' featuring members from DrugxTest and Since the Flood.
Straight edge
Straight edge is a subculture of hardcore punk whose adherents refrain from using alcohol, tobacco, and other recreational drugs. It was a direct reaction to the sexual revolution, hedonism, and excess associated with punk rock. For some, this extends to not engaging in promiscuous sex, following a...
, football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
-based band formed in 1995 in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. Along with In My Eyes and Floorpunch, they spearheaded the youth crew
Youth crew
Youth crew is a music subgenre of hardcore punk attributed to the band Youth of Today who were primarily active during the early to mid-1980s particularly during the New York hardcore scene of 1988...
revival in 1997. Ten Yard Fight's "official" last show was in Boston on October 17, which would become the first National Edge Day
National Edge Day
Edge Day is an unofficial holiday associated with members of the Straight edge movement. It is celebrated under the name of "Edge Fest" on October 17 and was first done so in 1999 in Boston, Massachusetts...
. They would later play additional shows with partial lineups.
Biography
Ten Yard Fight played their first show with Moreschi clad in a combination of football gear and punk rock clothing. After receiving positive feedback the band decided to become more serious. Ten Yard Fight began performing on the East Coast.Having sold 1,000 demos, Ten Yard Fight teamed up with Big Wheel Recreation to release the Hardcore Pride 7" in 1996. The initial pressing sold out in less than a week, helping generate a buzz that resulted in the band's signing to Equal Vision. During that time they also released a split 7" with Fastbreak. The first result of the partnership was a compiling of the demo and Hardcore Pride 7" onto a single CD. Ten Yard Fight would next release an album entitled Back on Track. Lineup changes followed, as the group toured Europe and the United States through 1997 and 1998. In 1998, the band recorded six new songs that would later surface on The Only Way EP.
In between these releases TYF appeared on many different compilation recordings. At the end of 1999, TYF played their last show together with friends Bane
Bane (band)
Bane, a hardcore punk band, began as a side project between Aaron Dalbec and Damon Bellardo. Aaron approached Matt Firestone to sing and they played under the moniker of Gateway for a few shows, before Firestone departed ways to focus on other projects...
, Reach the Sky
Reach the Sky
-History:Reach the Sky formed in 1997, and they released two EPs in 1999; their debut full-length, So Far From Home, followed on Victory Records later that same year....
, and In My Eyes. This show was at the Karma Club on Lansdowne Street as the Yankees and Red Sox were playing right across the street in the ALCS at Fenway Park. The final lineup of the band included Anthony Moreschi, guitarist John LaCroix (who started out playing bass), guitarist Timmy Cosar (who later formed American Nightmare), bassist Brian "Clevo" Ristau, and drummer Ben Chused.
'The Only Way: 1995-1999', a DVD/video documentary, had its release celebrated a year later with Ten Yard Fight taking the stage, unannounced, at "Edge Day Two," coinciding with the final performance of Boston's In My Eyes. During the 4+ years that TYF was around, the band played all over the world, including several US tours, a European tour, many shows in Canada and even a weekend of 2 shows in Puerto Rico where Steve Reddy caused permanent spinal damage to LaCroix.
Aftermath
Ristau and Moreschi reunited as 'First And Ten' at National Edge DayNational Edge Day
Edge Day is an unofficial holiday associated with members of the Straight edge movement. It is celebrated under the name of "Edge Fest" on October 17 and was first done so in 1999 in Boston, Massachusetts...
2007 in Haverhill, MA. 'First And Ten' played a show with Slapshot
Slapshot (band)
-History:Slapshot was formed in 1985 by Steve Risteen and Mark McKay, formerly of Terminally Ill; Jack "Choke" Kelly, formerly of Negative FX and Last Rights; and Jonathan Anastas, formerly of Decadence and DYS...
in Haverhill, MA on November 8, 2008.
Moreschi went on to front 'Stand & Fight
Stand and Fight
Stand and Fight is the third album by British band Northern Uproar, and the first after their reunion in 2005. It was released in 2007.-Track listing:#"Long time Coming"#"If Tomorrow"#"Don't Believe Her"#"Caught On A Bad Day"#"Stand And Fight"...
' on Bridge 9 Records
Bridge 9 Records
Bridge Nine Records is a contemporary hardcore punk record label located outside Boston, Massachusetts. Bridge Nine is owned by Chris Wrenn of Salem, Massachusetts, who began the label in 1995 and produced its first release in 1996...
, and currently sings in 'Resist' featuring members from DrugxTest and Since the Flood.
Members
- Anthony "Wrench" Moreschi - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- John LaCroix - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Timmy Cosar - guitar
- Brian Ristau - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Ben Chused - 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 ....
Discography
- Demo '95 (1995)
- Hardcore Pride (April 15, 1995)
- Back on Track (July 17, 1997)
- The Only Way (1999)