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Northstar

 
Artist: Northstar
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Northstar

Group Members:

Nick Torres, Gabe Renfroe, Jake Fisher, Tyler Odom, Shawn Reagan

Similar Artists:

Say Anything, The Junior Varsity, The Early November, Taking Back Sunday, Brand New, The June Spirit, The Stryder, Hot Rod Circuit, Saves the Day, Jimmy Eat World

Influenced By:

Jawbreaker, Sunny Day Real Estate

Formal Connection With:

Cassino
  • Formed: 1997, Hunstville, AL
  • Disbanded: 2005
  • Genres: Rock
  • Representative Albums: "Pollyanna," "Is This Thing Loaded?," "Broken Parachute"

Biography

Emo rock outfit Northstar formed in 1997 in Huntsville, AL, and underwent so many lineup changes (and some sonic ones) during those early years that they probably should have changed their name when things finally settled down in the early 2000s. Regardless, Northstar played around Alabama and the Southeast for a time before finally deciding it was time to hit the nationwide circuit around 2000. With a strong D.I.Y. work ethic, they booked and promoted several tours themselves, and a self-produced demo (which sold a few hundred copies) helped to further spread their name. Northstar hooked up for tours with like-minded bands such as Brand New, the Stryder, and Taking Back Sunday, becoming especially close friends with the latter band. That friendship in particular didn't hurt as TBS exploded out of the underground and hyped the guys any chance they got (they even declared Northstar "the greatest band in the world" in the liner notes of their 2002 debut, Tell All Your Friends). By the time Northstar inked a deal with New York-based Triple Crown in June 2002, the only remaining original member was drummer Gabe Renfroe. And though the group would endure more bassist changes, the lineup was pretty well solidified by that time with vocalist/guitarist Nick Torres and guitarist Tyler Odom, who became the band's primary songwriters. With bassist Shawn Reagan on board, the band debuted on Triple Crown that October with the well-received Is This Thing Loaded? Their sophomore full-length, the Matt Squire-produced Pollyanna, followed in April 2004, featuring a tighter sound and new bassist Jake Fisher. More people were starting to take notice, but by the year's end, Northstar had gone on hiatus. And though the quartet regrouped by February 2005 to head out on co-headlining dates with Lucero, the reunion was short-lived; Northstar officially called it quits that April. The DVD The Uncomfortable Camera was released posthumously in June, and few months later, Odom and Torres resurfaced with a new project, Cassino. ~ Corey Apar, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Northstar (band)
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
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 This article needs references that appear in reliable third-party publications. Primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject are generally not sufficient for a Wikipedia article. Please add more appropriate citations from reliable sources. (February 2008)
Northstar
Origin Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Genres Indie rock
Years active 1997–2007
Labels Triple Crown Records
Associated acts Cassino
Stars Below
Members
Nick Torres
Tyler Odom
Jake Fisher
Gabe Renfroe
Former members
Shawn Regan

Northstar was an American emo band formed in 1997 in Huntsville, Alabama.

Since the band's inception, they have had around five guitarists and three different bassists, have been a three-piece, four-piece, and a five-piece. Due to a lack of a dedicated music scene in the Huntsville area, the band decided to start touring the country in 2000. They booked their first tour, bought a van, and set out on the road. Since then, they have been on several U.S. and Canadian tours with bands including Taking Back Sunday, Hot Rod Circuit, Piebald, Moneen and The Jealous Sound. While touring to promote Pollyanna the band also made a brief visit to the U.K. with Modest Mouse.

After two years of booking, promoting, and producing everything themselves, the band signed a deal with Triple Crown Records of New York in June 2002.

With all the band's numerous changes to the setup of band members over the years, the final and most common line-up was Nicolas Torres on lead vocals and guitar, Tyler Odom on guitar, Jake Fisher on bass and backing vocals, and Gabe Renfroe on Drums. This was the line-up on their last album Pollyanna, although Shawn Regan did replace Jake Fisher right before their signing to Triple Crown Records. Shawn took over bass duties on recording the band's debut Is This Thing Loaded? and toured for over a year in support of the album until Jake's return to the band.

Northstar broke up in April 2005. Nicolas Torres and Tyler Odom created Cassino. The demos for Cassino were recorded with Matt Squire and used drummer Will Noon, of Straylight Run fame.

A collection of B-sides and alternate recordings, entitled Broken Parachute, has been announced by Nashville-based Speak Music Media. The original release date was summer 2006, but this date has been pushed back frequently. The five track EP has been expanded to a nine track full-length upon the discovery of an old Northstar demo. It was released on January 8, 2008.

Discography

  • Hardcore Demo(1997)
  • Early Demo 2 (?)
  • Is This Thing Loaded? (Triple Crown Records, 2002)
  • Pollyanna (Triple Crown Records, 2004)
  • The Uncomfortable Camera (2005 - DVD)
  • Broken Parachute (Speak Music Media, 2008)

External links


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

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Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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