The Anthem Sound

History

In a small suburb of Boston, childhood friends Alex Moore, Aram Bajakian, and Billy delGiudice began playing music together at the age of twelve as Thingummy. In 1995, the band self produced and released Red, distributed regionally to retailers such as Newbury Comics. More than a decade later, they would travel to New York, NY, where they would form Lancaster. Their unique brand of instrumental rock would be often compared to Explosions in the Sky and Sigur Rós. Produced by Jason Raboin, Lancaster released their debut EP, Goodbye From The Airport, supporting it as often as they could by playing as many New York venues as possible.

Evan Grove and Ethan Fixell met at the University of Pennsylvania in 2000. By 2002, they formed Jonah Can Explain (shortly afterward maturing into a band called Sunken Ships Rest). Sunken Ships Rest released a self-titled EP produced by Marc Goodman in 2003. In 2004, Grove and Fixell holed up in Philadelphia, PA, and amassed a collection of thoughtful pop songs. Under the name Camilla, they released their debut album, Of Bees And Flies. Frustrated by their limitations as a twosome, however, they took off for New York City in search of new bandmates in the Fall of 2004.

Collaboration

Forces collided when the Philly duo witnessed the Bostonians perform one night in New York at the Knitting Factory. The five musicians sat down together afterward and in 2005, The Anthem Sound was born.

After struggling in the murk and filth of a tiny rehearsal space in Brooklyn, they assembled an inspired set. Immediately upon playing their first shows together, they began attracting label, publicity, and management attention. The interest sparked a sense of urgency to complete material for a debut EP.

4 Songs EP

Following extensive pre-production sessions, the band employed engineer George Fullan (Action Action, Taking Back Sunday) with General Studios in Douglaston, NY, to record drums and bass. Guitars and vocals were finished in Philadelphia soon after. Finally, teaming up with producer John Naclerio (My Chemical Romance, Brand New), The Anthem Sound released the 4 Songs EP on Hello My Name Is Records/Eyeball Records in March 2007.