The Audition

The Audition are a pop/rock band from Chicago, Illinois. The band is composed of drummer Ryan O'Connor and guitarists Seth Johnson and Timmy Klepek who are from Chicago, with lead vocalist Danny Stevens who is from Detroit, Michigan. The band's first release was a six track EP entitled All In Your Head. In early 2005, they signed to record label Victory Records and released their debut album, entitled Controversy Loves Company. In early January 2008 they released their second studio album Champion. On April 28th they released their third studio album Self-Titled Album.

History

Drummer Ryan O'Connor and bassist Joe Lussa formed the core of the band in their hometown of Elmhurst Illinois in 2003, working with a revolving cast of musicians in their early years. Their first EP, titled "Every Scar Tells A Story," had 6 songs, including a song called 'A Lifetime In Six Months' which would later be called 'Fashion Hour'. They recorded their second EP, "All in Your Head", at The Gallery of Carpet before Danny Stevens, Seth Johnson and Timmy Klepek joined the group, and played some gigs with other local Chicago acts like The Academy Is....^[1] Stevens, who became the singer, was originally brought in to play guitar for the band.^[2] The Audition then signed to Victory Records; national touring followed,^[3][4][5][6] and Controversy Loves Company, their debut LP for the label, was released in September 2005 to mixed reviews.^[7] The band's lineup at the time of the CD release included O'Connor, Lussa, guitarists Seth Johnson and Timmy Klepek, and vocalist Danny Stevens. Touring with Silverstein and Spitalfield ensued in February 2006;^[8] more touring with Mae and Lovedrug followed later in 2006.^[9]According to lead singer Danny Stevens, states the band name came from "Whenever performing, it always felt like an audition".

In early 2007 the band joined Head Automatica and Jack's Mannequin on The West Coast Winter Tour,^[10] including dates in Canada. ^[11]. Shortly after this tour they scored the support slot for New Found Glory on their Australian tour in April 2007. Following this they headlined a nationwide tour, supported by Monty Are I, New Atlantic, and The Graduate.^[12] They have also toured nationally with Rock Kills Kid.^[13] They played on the Warped Tour in 2006^[14] and returned for Warped Tour 2007.^[15] They also supported Boys Like Girls on Tourzilla with All Time Low, We the Kings, and Valencia in late 2007.

Coming off an appearance at Austin's SXSW festival, the band went on a full US tour with Hit The Lights, with sets scheduled at both east and west coast Bamboozle events. Following some festival appearances throughout the UK, such as the Reading and Leeds Festivals, in May they took part on the entire 2008 edition of Van's Warped Tour and a visit back to Australia in May/June supporting Story of the Year.

In January 2008 they released their second full length LP entitled Champion to more positive reviews. It is the first album by the band to make it into the Billboard 200, entering at #157.

Throughout February and March 2009 The Audition took part in the Soundwave festival.

The band have just finished recording for their third album. It was released on April 28, 2009. The album is called 'Self-Titled Album'.^[16] Before release, the band released a preview to three songs off of the upcoming album on their MySpace page.^[17]

On January 28 it was announced on their official blog that original bassist and founding member Joe Lussa would be leaving the band.^[18] It is unclear whether the band will be recruiting a replacement for Lussa, or simply continuing as a four-piece. So far bass duties have been handled by guitarist Klepek.

The Audition have replaced Kill Hannah on the Madina Lake 2009 British tour. They're also touring with All Time Low in September and October of 2009 and are planned to be on Cobra Starship's "Hot Mess Across the U.S." Tour in late August with The Friday Night Boys and Skeet Skeet, replacing Plasticines.

Members

• Danny Stevens – vocals, guitar (2004-present)
• Seth Johnson – lead guitar (2004-present)
• Timmy Klepek – rhythm guitar (2005-2009), bass (2009-present)
• Ryan O'Connor – drums, percussion (2003-present)

Former members

• Robert (Bob) Morris - guitar (2003-2005)
• Evo Soria - vocals (2003-2005)
• Patrick Fanella (2003-2005)
• Joe Lussa – bass (2003-2009)
• Tom Bahri- Guitar (2004)
• Cory hedger-singer (2004)

Discography

• All in Your Head EP (2003)
• Controversy Loves Company (2005)
• Champion (2008) U.S. #157^[19]
• Self-Titled Album (2009) #7 U.S. Heatseakers

Singles

• "Dance Dance Revolution (Dance Halls Turn To Ghost Towns)" (2004)
• "You've Made Us Conscious" (2005)
• "Approach the Bench" (2005)
• "Don't Be So Hard" (2005)
• "Warm Me Up" (2008)
• "Make It Rain" (2008)
• "My Temperature's Rising" (2009)

Other recordings

• A demo for a song called "Summer" was included on the Get Around Records & friends 2003 Summer Sampler.
• The song "Approach the Bench" was part of the soundtrack in the video game MVP 06: NCAA Baseball
• The Audition contributed an acoustic rendition of their song "Don't Be So Hard" on the compilation CD Punk Goes Acoustic 2
• The band contributed a cover of "Livin' On A Prayer" to the Kerrang! Higher Voltage CD.
• Danny Stevens contributed vocals to Forgive Durden's album Razia's Shadow: A Musical.

References

External links

• Official website
• The Audition Online fansite
• The Audition at Last.fm
• The Audition at MySpace
• The Audition at PureVolume