Hey Monday

Formation and Hold On Tight

Hey Monday was formed in March 2008 after Cassadee Pope and Mike Gentile's former band Blake broke up. Pope and Gentile wanted to continue playing music and began holding auditions for a new band around their local Florida music scene. Pope and Gentile quickly joined forces with drummer Elliot James who then recruited rhythm guitarist Alex Lipshaw. Soon afterward they enlisted bassist Michael "Jersey" Moriarty and Hey Monday was formed. They were discovered when Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz heard one of their demos while he was in the Crush Management office. Wentz wanted to sign them to his label, Decaydance, but Columbia Records was also interested so the band ended up signing a joint deal with both labels. They recorded their debut album, Hold On Tight, throughout the summer of 2008 and it released later that fall on October 7 to very minor commercial success; it charted on Billboard Heatseekers albums. Soon after their debut album dropped, Hey Monday began extensive touring with the likes of The Academy Is..., We The Kings, The Cab, This Providence, A Rocket To The Moon, VersaEmerge, and Cash Cash. That following year they supported Fall Out Boy on both their major U.S. and international tours. Their popularity grew and the band went on their first headlining tour with This Providence, The Friday Night Boys, Stereo Skyline, and The Bigger Lights as support. They also headlined a few dates in Europe. In the fall of 2009 they supported All Time Low on the Glamour Kills Tour.

Departure of Elliot James

Following the band's headlining tour in the UK, James left the band. James went on tour performing with the group The Scene Aesthetic and began writing and producing music for other artists. In mid 2015 he launched a solo career debuting the song "Honey" online. He is the founder of Blossöm Records.

Beneath It All (2010)

Hey Monday spent the beginning of 2010 finishing the writing and recording of Beneath It All, which was originally going to be their second full-length studio album. After the writing and recording process, they went on the 2010 Alternative Press Tour with The Summer Set, Every Avenue, The Cab and NeverShoutNever. The band also played Bamboozle's Main Stage on Sunday, May 2. Hey Monday then played the entire Warped Tour 2010 on the Altec Lancing stage. The band performed two songs from Beneath It All on Jimmy Kimmel live on September 22, 2010, the lead single "I Don't Wanna Dance" and "Wish You Were Here". Although Cassadee Pope and Mike Gentile were the only official members of the band at the performance the fill-in musicians wore shirts with the absent band member's pictures on them. Hey Monday appeared in the fourth episode of the TV series Hellcats, called "Nobody Loves Me But My Mother".

Departure of Michael "Jersey" Moriarty

Following the band's performance at Warped Tour, the group announced that Jersey would be leaving the band. Guitarist Mike Gentile's brother Chris Gentile has since then been filling in on bass. Jersey is now doing a solo project and has released an EP named Oh Boy Here We Go.

Christmas EP and hiatus (2011–present)

On February 8, 2011, Hey Monday re-released their second EP, Candles, digitally and a music video for "Candles" on March 9. "Candles" was used for a duet on Glee's episode Original Song done by Kurt Hummel and Blaine Anderson for a Regionals performance. In the spring of 2011, Hey Monday toured with All Time Low, Yellowcard, and The Summer Set on The Dirty Work Tour. In May 2011, Hey Monday played in Indonesia and went on a South American tour with Nevershoutnever that following August. In the fall of 2011, Hey Monday departed from the record labels Decaydance and Columbia. The band self-released The Christmas EP digitally on December 6, 2011, to iTunes and other digital outlets; it peaked in the top 10 of iTunes's Albums. On December 16 the band announced they were going on a hiatus. Pope went on to win the third season of NBC's The Voice. Mike and Chris Gentile also moved on to form Rescue Kid alongside Armando and Eddie.

Band members

Current members

Former members

Discography