Finch (U.S. band)
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| Finch | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Background information | ||
| Origin |  Temecula, California, USA |
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| Genre(s) | Post-Hardcore Rock Alternative Rock |
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| Years active | 1999–2006 | |
| Label(s) | Drive-Thru Geffen MCA Records |
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| Associated acts |
The Sound of Animals Fighting, Cosmonaut (US Band), Gazillionaire, Quadruple Duo, Helen Earth Band | |
| Website | Official website | |
| Members | ||
| Marc Allen (drums) Derek Doherty (bass) Nate Barcalow (vocals) Randy "R2K" Strohmeyer (lead guitar) Alex "Grizz" Linares (rhythm guitar) |
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| Former members | ||
| Alex Pappas (drums) | ||
Finch was an American rock band from Temecula, California. The band is currently on an indefinite hiatus.
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[edit] History
Finch began in the late 1990's, originally as a Deftones cover band called "Numb". The band soon added guitarist Randy "R2K" Strohmeyer to their lineup as the band signed to Drive-Thru Records. The group then officially changed their name to Finch and released their first EP Falling Into Place in 2001. The EP sold over 6,000 copies within a few months of its release.
[edit] What it is to Burn
In August 2001 the band entered Big Fish Studios in Encinitas, California, along with producer Mark Trombino (blink 182, Jimmy Eat World) to record their successful album What it is to Burn. The album was released on March 12, 2002. The title track would later be released as a single, and became the band's largest success to date.
Finch also contributed a song to the 2003 Underworld soundtrack, entitled "Worms of the Earth". The track was also included on Atticus: ...dragging the lake, Vol. 2 under the title "Worms of the Universe", which is a compilation album released by Atticus Clothing.
During this period the band was at the height of their career and soon began the writing process for their next album. Derek Doherty and Randy Strohmeyer were involved in the progressive rock band The Sound of Animals Fighting which was recorded during their Say Hello to Sunshine sessions.
On July 31, 2004, members of the band were involved in a conflict with members of the band Disturbed at The Rolling Rock Town Fair in Latrobe, PA. The quarrel is thought to have rooted from comments made by members of Finch about Disturbed singer David Draiman and his band, as explained in the following article, taken from www.blabbermouth.net:
DISTURBED and FINCH got into an onstage brawl at the Rolling Rock Town Fair in Latrobe, PA earlier today. The fight, which took place while FINCH were preparing to take the stage, was reportedly the culmination of an ongoing feud between the two bands stemming from an interview FINCH gave to MeanStreet magazine in late 2002. In that interview, FINCH guitarist Randy Strohmeyer said about DISTURBED singer David Draiman, "I'd shoot him in the fucking head. I'd rip his stupid little piercings out. They're just cheesy. It bums me out because their music is terrible, and what they're about, it's just shit. Hopefully all that music will die out soon, and hopefully it will make room for the good music."
A posting at the FINCH web site regarding today's incident reads as follows:
"To anyone who either witnessed or heard about today's incident at the Rolling Rock Town Fair. While we were setting up, one of the members of DISTURBED, [guitarist] Dan Donegan, was harassing us from the side of the stage. Before we were to play, Randy (our guitarist) walked over to Dan to explain that the comments he made a few years ago were a joke, and to give him a friendly handshake. Dan proceeded to assault Randy and DISTURBED's singer, David Draiman, attacked Mike Herrara (our drum tech), which caused a fight to ensue. We want everyone to know that FINCH did not start this fight. However, we do not take kindly to being assaulted or having our lives threatened. We would like this little conflict to be resolved as soon as possible, but we will not give in to bullying bands threatening us or our fans."
[edit] Say Hello to Sunshine
During the recording of this time the band largely fell from the public eye, and the band faced some changes for the recording of its sophomore effort, Say Hello to Sunshine. The group also went through major changes first by going through three different labels Drive-Thru Records then MCA Records which was then purchased by Geffen Records before its release. Founding band member drummer Alex Pappas left the band due to musical differences; he was replaced by Marc Allen. Pappas would later form Redgun Radar. The band took their time recording the album and often scrapped songs in order to record new ones. Finch finally released Say Hello To Sunshine on June 7, 2005. The first single of the album was "Bitemarks & Bloodstains" and was also the first song the band wrote for the album. In an interview Nate Barcalow stated that "Bitemarks makes the transition between the old and the new sound." [1] The album failed to please their core fanbase which didn't bother the band at all as they continued to tour in support of the album.
[edit] Current status
On February 19, 2006, it was revealed that the group is "officially on an 'indefinite hiatus'. Members of the band are currently jamming with other projects." [2] The hiatus was confirmed shortly after with a post by the band on their official website, www.finchmusic.com. The posting reads as follows:
"Through much thought and deliberation, the five of us have decided to take an indefinite break from Finch. Amongst the many reasons for our decision, our individual priorities just lie in different places. We can’t express how grateful we are to all of you for the past five years. We’ve had the opportunity to play the music we love for a living. The five of us will always feel lucky for that. Again, thank you all so much for the love and support you’ve given us. A special thanks as well, to all who have worked closely with us over the years to make things happen. A list of names would just be too long. You know who you are."
- Marc Allen is currently in the group Helen Earth Band with his brother Adam.
- Randy Strohmeyer is currently working on a project called Gazillionaire with former Finch touring manager, Nick Mendoza, and managing bands through Sargent House MGMT, including indie rock band Days Away, These Arms Are Snakes, Maps and Atlases, Nurses and Rx Bandits.
- Nate Barcalow is currently working with a group called Cosmonaut. The band includes members of Beta Factor and Shoot Out The Lights.
- Alex Linares is currently attending school to become an engineer.
- Derek Doherty is currently working in real estate.
[edit] Members
[edit] Current
- Marc Allen - Drums
- Derek Doherty - Bass
- Nate Barcalow - Vocals
- Randy "R2K" Strohmeyer - Lead Guitar, Back-up Vocals
- Alex "Grizz" Linares - Rhythm Guitar
[edit] Former member
- Alex Pappas - Drums
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
[edit] EPs
[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Modern Rock | US Mainstream Rock | UK | |||
| 2002 | "Letters to You" | - | - | #39 | What It Is to Burn |
| 2003 | "What It Is to Burn" | #35 | #15 | - | What It Is to Burn |
| 2003 | "New Beginnings" | - | - | - | What It Is to Burn |
| 2004 | "Worms of the Earth" | - | - | - | Underworld [Soundtrack] |
| 2005 | "Bitemarks and Bloodstains" | #18 | #13 | - | Say Hello to Sunshine |
[edit] Trivia
- Guitarist Alex Linares is a vegetarian and did a video interview with PETA.
- Mark Trombino, the producer and mixer of What It Is To Burn, was taken off the job of helping with Say Hello To Sunshine due to creative differences, and was replaced with band friend and engineer Jason Cupp (The Kite-Eating Tree, The Living End, Jimmy Eat World).
- Jeff Soto created the album artwork for Say Hello To Sunshine.
- Vocalist Nate is the younger brother of Endor vocalist Matt Barcalow.
- Finch's song, "Ink" appeared in EA's Madden NFL '06 (2005) and Burnout Revenge (2005)
- Randy "R2K" Strohmeyer designed much of Finch's merchandise.
- Finch used to hate letters to you and stay with me and try to run away from the fact that they wrote them, thus would never play them live and ignore requests for them. They felt mean for this later on, however.
