The Exit
Encyclopedia
The Exit is a New York City
-based band indie
/punk
/reggae
group, formed in 2000. The band's music blends '80s dub
and reggae with '90s punk and indie rock. The band's members include Ben Brewer on lead guitar and vocals, and Gunnar Olsen on drums. Jeff DaRosa was formerly the band's lead vocals and bass player.
, grandson of billionaire Edgar Bronfman Sr., met Olsen in high school. The two have played in several bands together. One of these bands turned into an early incarnation of The Exit. In 2000 Brewer met Jeff DaRosa while attending Emerson College
in Boston
. DaRosa grew up in Somerville
, Massachusetts
and was the bassist of the local punk band The Vigilantes. Brewer convinced DaRosa to join the group, and they started practicing in basements around Boston. The band made a demo tape which made its way into the hands of Daniel Rey
known for his work with The Ramones. Rey produces the band's first record, New Beat, which came out on Some Records
, a label started by Walter Schreifels
.
The band started touring in early 2001, booking their own shows. New Beat received favorable reviews, many of which likened the band to The Clash, The Police and U2. The artwork was done by Damian Girardi of the Explosion.
The Exit then entered the studio with producer Ron Saint Germain
(Bad Brains, Tool, Sonic Youth) to produce a follow up, Home For An Island. The album featured Brewer singing lead for the first time, tribal rhythms, dubbed out guitars, and psychedelic bridges. The album was a political response to life in post-9/11
New York City. Songs include "Soldier," "Home For an Island," "Let's Go to Haiti" and "Back to the Rebels." The album was originally released in 2004 on Some Records, but in 2005 The Exit signed to Wind-Up Records
and re-released Home for an Island, adding three new songs "Sun Will Rise in Queens," "Pressure Cooker" and "Warm Summer Days." Reviews were good. The Exit supported Muse
on two different US tours.
On August 15, 2006, through a post on their MySpace
blog
, the band announced the departure of Jeff DaRosa. Olsen and Brewer noted the band will continue with a yet-to-be-announced lineup.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based band indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
/punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
/reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
group, formed in 2000. The band's music blends '80s dub
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
and reggae with '90s punk and indie rock. The band's members include Ben Brewer on lead guitar and vocals, and Gunnar Olsen on drums. Jeff DaRosa was formerly the band's lead vocals and bass player.
History
Ben Brewer, a.k.a. Benjamin BronfmanBenjamin Bronfman
Benjamin Zachary Bronfman , is an environmentalist, entrepreneur, and musician. Bronfman is currently a Strategic Advisor & principal of Global Thermostat and Algae Systems LLC. He was a member of rock band The Exit , and he is currently a member of the music collective, Teachers, and co-founder...
, grandson of billionaire Edgar Bronfman Sr., met Olsen in high school. The two have played in several bands together. One of these bands turned into an early incarnation of The Exit. In 2000 Brewer met Jeff DaRosa while attending Emerson College
Emerson College
Emerson College is a private coeducational university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," Emerson is "the only comprehensive college or university in America dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts in a liberal arts...
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...
. DaRosa grew up in Somerville
Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
, 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...
and was the bassist of the local punk band The Vigilantes. Brewer convinced DaRosa to join the group, and they started practicing in basements around Boston. The band made a demo tape which made its way into the hands of Daniel Rey
Daniel Rey
Daniel Rey is an American musician, music producer and songwriter from New York City best known for his work with the Ramones....
known for his work with The Ramones. Rey produces the band's first record, New Beat, which came out on Some Records
Some Records
Some Records is an independent record label in New York City whose acts include Earl Greyhound, Innaway, Hot Water Music, Walking Concert, Six Going on Seven, Form of Rocket, The New Transit Direction, The Exit, The Ghost and Rebecca Schiffman....
, a label started by Walter Schreifels
Walter Schreifels
Walter Schreifels is a rock musician and producer from New York City.In the late 1980s, he played in many New York hardcore bands, most notably Youth Of Today and Gorilla Biscuits . After Gorilla Biscuits broke up, he formed the short lived Moondog...
.
The band started touring in early 2001, booking their own shows. New Beat received favorable reviews, many of which likened the band to The Clash, The Police and U2. The artwork was done by Damian Girardi of the Explosion.
The Exit then entered the studio with producer Ron Saint Germain
Ron Saint Germain
Ron Saint Germain is a record producer, engineer, and mixer who was born in post-war Frankfurt, Germany into a career Air Force Family. He has helped several up and coming artists enjoy a long career in the music industry, and has even taken to naming bands...
(Bad Brains, Tool, Sonic Youth) to produce a follow up, Home For An Island. The album featured Brewer singing lead for the first time, tribal rhythms, dubbed out guitars, and psychedelic bridges. The album was a political response to life in post-9/11
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
New York City. Songs include "Soldier," "Home For an Island," "Let's Go to Haiti" and "Back to the Rebels." The album was originally released in 2004 on Some Records, but in 2005 The Exit signed to Wind-Up Records
Wind-Up Records
Wind-up Entertainment, Inc. is a record label based in New York City. It was formed in 1997 by Alan Meltzer, former owner of CD One Stop, following his 1996 purchase of Grass Records. Wind-up is currently the largest independently-owned record label in the world...
and re-released Home for an Island, adding three new songs "Sun Will Rise in Queens," "Pressure Cooker" and "Warm Summer Days." Reviews were good. The Exit supported Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
on two different US tours.
On August 15, 2006, through a post on their MySpace
MySpace
Myspace 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....
blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
, the band announced the departure of Jeff DaRosa. Olsen and Brewer noted the band will continue with a yet-to-be-announced lineup.
Tours
- Toured with Taking Back SundayTaking Back SundayTaking 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 Coheed and CambriaCoheed and CambriaCoheed and Cambria is an American progressive rock band from Nyack, New York. Formed in 1995, the group incorporates aspects of progressive rock, punk rock, metal and post-hardcore....
in 2002 - Toured with RX BanditsRx BanditsRX Bandits is a four-piece band based in Seal Beach, California. The band formed in 1995 in Orange County, California. They have appeared on the Vans Warped Tour, at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and at The Bamboozle.-Early years :Originally known as...
in 2002, 2003, and 2005, playing both the US and the UK - Supported MuseMuse (band)Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
during spring and winter of 2004 - Supported for 311311 (band)311 is an American rock band from Omaha, Nebraska. The band was formed in 1988 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Nick Hexum, lead guitarist Jim Watson , bassist Aaron "P-Nut" Wills and drummer Chad Sexton...
during the winter of 2005 - Supported OAROf a RevolutionO.A.R. is an American rock band composed of Marc Roberge , Chris Culos , Richard On , Benj Gershman , and Jerry DePizzo...
- Supported Against Me
Albums
- New BeatNew Beat (album)-Track listing:#"Worthless"#"Lonely Man's Wallet"#"Sit and Wait"#"Scream and Shout"#"Trapped"#"Find Me"#"Still Waiting"#"When I'm Free"#"Defacto"#"Question the Chorus"#"Watertown"...
(May 4, 2002) - Home for an IslandHome for an IslandHome for an Island is the second studio album by The Exit. It was originally released on September 7, 2004 on Some Records. On October 11, 2005 the album was re-released by Wind-up Records with a different track list and a number of changes to the recording....
(original release September 7, 2004; re-released October 11, 2005)
Music videos
- "Lonely Man's Wallet" (2002), directed by Major Lightner
- "Let's Go to Haiti" (2004), directed by Major Lightner
- "Don't Push" (2005), directed by Terry Timely
- "Soldier" (2005), directed by Lightner
- "Back to the Rebels" (2006), directed by Lightner and Javier Hernandez