Perhaps calling their band "Fall Out Girl" would have been a bit too on the nose, but the Orange County act New Years Day undeniably sound like the melodic and commercial pop-punk of Fall Out Boy -- whose lead singer, Patrick Stump, and bassist, Pete Wentz, were early supporters -- fronted by a young Gwen Stefani wannabe. (Not the recent gimmicky dance-pop Gwen, mind you, but Tragic Kingdom-vintage Gwen.) New Years Day formed in 2005 when bassist and primary songwriter Adam Lohrbach left the long-running first-generation pop-punk act Home Grown to form his own group. Featuring singer Ashley Hittesdorf (who usually just goes by "Ash"), guitarist and keyboardist Keith Drover, guitarist Mike, and drummer Russell Dixon, New Years Day began gigging locally and building up an online presence via MySpace and other social-networking sites. By early 2006, New Years Day were signed to the large indie label TVT Records after a flirtation with Decaydance, Wentz's Fueled by Ramen-affiliated vanity label. A self-titled five-song EP was released in the fall of 2006, featuring the catchy first single "I Was Right," which garnered some MTV buzz. The full-length debut by New Years Day, My Dear, followed in the spring of 2007, featuring a song co-written with Justin Pierre of Motion City Soundtrack. ~ Stewart MasonMySpace and other social-networking sites. By early 2006, New Years Day were signed to the large indie label TVT Records after a flirtation with Decaydance, Wentz's Fueled by Ramen-affiliated vanity label. A self-titled five-song EP was released in the fall of 2006, featuring the catchy first single "I Was Right," which garnered some MTV buzz. The full-length debut by New Years Day, My Dear, followed in the spring of 2007, featuring a song co-written with Justin Pierre of Motion City Soundtrack. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide
Ashley Costello
Russell Dixon
Keith Drover
Adam Lohrbach
Mike Schoolden
New Years Day is an American rock band formed in 2005 in Anaheim, California and currently recording for TVT Records. After building a reputation through promotion on the social networking websiteMySpace, the band released their debut EP in 2006. Their debut album My Dear followed in 2007. The band's music is categorized as pop punk and incorporates elements of emo.
New Years Day formed in 2005 after bassist Adam Lohrbach left the band Home Grown. Home Grown's final EP, 2004's When it All Comes Down, had diverged from the band's previous style of humorous pop punk and incorporated many emotional elements that Lohrbach carried over into New Years Day. Meeting with vocalist Ashley Costello and guitarist/keyboardist Keith Drover, the three began rehearsing songs that Costello and Lorhbach had written. These songs were heavily influenced by the members' shared emotional experiences, as Lohrbach and Costello had both recently been through difficult relationship break-ups.[1] The group soon added guitarist Mike Schoolden (formerly of Wakefield) and drummer Russell Dixon and took the name New Years Day.
The band began building a reputation through promotion and posting songs on the MySpace social networking website, and were featured on the MySpace Records Volume 1 compilation CD and in the soundtrack of the video gameSaints Row. After considering an offer from the Pete Wentz-run Decaydance Records label, the band signed to TVT Records and released a debut self-titled EP in 2006. Originally referred to as the RazorEP, it was primarily a digital release made available through download services such as iTunes, though CD copies were also available at the band's performances. They also performed at the South by Southwest music festival that same year.
From 2006–2007 New Years Day self-financed and self-produced their debut album My Dear, recorded over an eight-month period at the home of producer Eugene Perreras.[1] The album was released on May 8, 2007 and includes collaborations with members of Reel Big Fish and Motion City Soundtrack. The band's debut music video for the lead single "I Was Right" won an MTVU "Freshman Face" poll and was added to the channel's playlist.[2]
