Representative Albums: "It's Go Time," "Forty Hour Train Back to Penn," "This Time Next Year"
Biography
The Movielife comprised vocalist Vinnie Caruana, bassist Phil Navetta, guitarist Brandon Reilly, drummer Evan Baken, and guitarist Alex Amiruddin. (Future Taking Back Sunday guitarist Ed Reyes was a founding member, but left before anything notable was released.) Forming on Long Island in 1997, the punk revivalist, hardcore-influenced quintet soon went from basement shows to self-releasing its first LP, It's Go Time. A heavy tour load followed, further spreading the word. This Time Next Year was then issued in late 2000 through Revelation, but while on tour to support the record, the Movielife's van crashed, causing minor injuries and mental anguish. The band rallied hard, touring with New Found Glory and Glassjaw in the process. In 2001, the Movielife signed to Drive -Thru Records and issued the Movielife Has a Gambling Problem EP, which was tinged with a more punk-pop sound in line with that label's guiding principal. Navetta's younger brother Dan signed on for guitar duties in place of Amiruddin soon after, and two years later, Forty Hour Train Back to Penn appeared; the Movielife again set out on tour in support of the effort. But tensions in the group were rising and in September 2003, a note on the band's website revealed that the Movielife had decided to break up. Most notably, Caruana went on to form I Am the Avalanche and Reilly started Nightmare of You. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
The Movielife was a Long Island Melodic hardcore band, which was together from 1997 to 2003, composed of vocalist Vinnie Caruana, bassist Phil Navetta, guitarist Brandon Reilly, drummer Evan Baken, and guitarist Alex Amiruddin, until 2001 when Alex Amiruddin left and was replaced by Dan Navetta.
In 1997, The Movielife was formed and soon went from basement shows to supporting its debut album, It's Go Time, which was released on Fadeaway Records. In 2000, This Time Next Year was released by Revelation Records. In 2001, The Movielife signed to Drive-Thru Records, and the Has a Gambling Problem EP was released. While en route to their next show the band wrecked their van in Jamestown, North Dakota. While the accident luckily only caused minor injuries, the mental anguish and already stressed relationships between the band members began to tear. During the recording of the follow-up full length, founding member Alex Amiruddin quit to start Keep Breathing. He was replaced by Dan Navetta, Phil's younger brother. In 2003, Forty Hour Train Back to Penn was released, and The Movielife again set out on tour in support of the effort. All who listened closely to the album could tell that the band was hitting the rocks, and on September 27 2003, a note on the band's website revealed that The Movielife had decided to break up.
Most of the members of The Movielife went on to form other bands; Vinnie Caruana formed I Am the Avalanche, Brandon Reilly formed Nightmare of You, in which Phil Navetta also played briefly, but has since left and currently resides in Queens, NY. Dan Navetta went on to form Heavy Rescue. Evan Baken now works at the esteemed management group World Audience with Larry Jacobson and Kazy Brown in Los Angeles serving as Director of Artist Management where he manages Hot Water Music, Avenged Sevenfold and Moments in Grace.
In January 2008, Vinnie Caruana addressed rumours of a reunion by saying "The Movielife will not be reuniting. The Movielife has been offered ample opportunities to reunite for a show and no one wants to do it but me." On April 6 2008 at The Bamboozle Left in Irvine, California Vinnie performed a set of The Movielife with Set Your Goals backing. Vinnie also played a set of The Movielife with Set Your Goals on May 3 2008 at The Bamboozle in New Jersey.[citation needed]. Vinnie then repeated this set at the Peel in Kingston, England on May 14 and 15 2008 so that UK fans of the band could hear the songs played live for one last time.
