Midtown

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Midtown
Midtown performing in 2000
Background information
Origin	Springfield, New Jersey
Genres	Pop punk, punk rock
Years active	1998–2005
Labels	Columbia, MCA, Drive Thru
Associated acts	Cobra Starship, Senses Fail, Band of Thieves, Humble Beginnings
Website	www.midtownrock.com
Past members
Gabe Saporta Tyler Rann Heath Saraceno Rob Hitt

Midtown was an American pop punk band from Springfield, New Jersey. Midtown was formed in November 1998 by three Rutgers University students, but soon became a quartet. The group released three full-length studio albums and three extended plays before disbanding in 2005. Vocalist/bassist Gabe Saporta later went on to form synthpop band Cobra Starship, while guitarist Heath Saraceno later joined Senses Fail.

History

Midtown was formed in 1998 by Rutgers University students Gabe Saporta (vocals/bass), Rob Hitt (drums), Tyler Rann (guitar/vocals).^[1] The group added Heath Saraceno on guitar/vocals, and used its roots in the New Jersey punk scene to develop a sound that combined elements of pop punk and punk rock. Midtown began recording shortly after its formation. The band's first EP, The Sacrifice of Life, was released by Pinball Records in 1999, followed by a debut album, Save the World, Lose the Girl, released in early 2000 by the Drive-Thru Records label. The band was then upstreamed to MCA for its following album, Living Well Is the Best Revenge (2002).

Midtown's next album, Forget What You Know (2004), was produced while the band was not under contract with a record label and was later picked up by Columbia Records. This was the band's final studio album; they disbanded shortly after its release, in 2005. Former frontman Gabe Saporta is now the lead singer of alternative dance/synthpop band Cobra Starship.^[2] Former guitarist Heath Saraceno joined the band Senses Fail in 2005 but decided to leave them in 2009 to pursue personal endeavors.^[3] Tyler Rann now sings for Band of Thieves.

Discography

Full-length albums

• 2000: Save the World, Lose the Girl
• 2002 Living Well Is the Best Revenge
• 2004 Forget What You Know

EPs

• 1999 The Sacrifice of Life
• 2000 Donots vs. Midtown Split 7"
• 2001 Millencolin/Midtown Split

Collaborations

• Punk Goes 80s
  • Midtown provided a cover of "Your Love" by The Outfield for this compilation album

Compilations

• Punk Goes Acoustic ("Knew It All Along")

Band members

• Gabe Saporta - lead vocals, bass (1998–2005)
• Tyler Rann - vocals, guitar (1998–2005)
• Heath Saraceno - vocals, guitar (1998–2005)
• Rob Hitt - drums, percussion (1998–2005)

Post-Midtown projects

• Cobra Starship is the new project of Midtown's bassist and lead singer, Gabe Saporta. Their first single, "Bring It (Snakes on a Plane)", was featured on the soundtrack for the movie Snakes on a Plane. Their first album, While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets came out October 2006, their second album ¡Viva La Cobra! came out on October 23, 2007, their third album, Hot Mess, came out on August 11, 2009, and their fourth album Night Shades, came out on August 29, 2011.
• Heath Saraceno played guitar and shared vocal duties in the New Jersey based rock band Senses Fail until leaving the band after the 2009 Warped Tour. He and Senses Fail drummer, Dan Trapp, have a side-project called The Jettonnes.
• Rob Hitt works for Crush Management and also has a record label, I Surrender Records. He shares the label with friend, Alex Sarti, and has signed I Am The Avalanche, Four Year Strong, Valencia, and Dragonette.
• Tyler Rann sings in the band Band of Thieves.

References