The Afters

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The Afters

Background information
Origin Dallas, Texas, USA
Genre(s) Pop, rock, Alternative
contemporary Christian
Christian rock
Label(s) Columbia Records
Simple/INO Records
Sony BMG
Website TheAfters.com
Members
Matt Fuqua
Josh Havens
Marc Dodd
Brad Wigg

The Afters is a Rock band founded by Joshua Havens and Matt Fuqua. Havens and Fuqua first worked together in a Starbucks coffee shop in Mesquite, Texas, where they played for customers, before deciding to form a band. They added Brad Wigg and Marc Dodd, who were also employed at the same Starbucks, under their original name of Blisse.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Blisse (2000-2002)

Under the name Blisse, the band recorded a six-song EP in 2000. From this they made enough money to cut their first album, When the World Is Wonderful, which was released independently in 2001. This album contains songs also released on their major label debut album I Wish We All Could Win. In 2002 they released a live concert DVD filmed at a local Dallas club called The Door.

[edit] I Wish We All Could Win (2002–2006)

The band changed its name after discovering that another "Blisse" already existed. Settling on "The Afters", they continued to play local clubs in the Dallas area. They were eventually discovered by INO Records and was signed to a four-record deal. After this, word of the band got to Epic Records, which signed the band on for mainstream promotion and distribution. Their first major label album, I Wish We All Could Win, was released on February 22, 2005. The first single from the album was "Beautiful Love" written by Josh Havens about a time when his wife was abroad doing humanitarian aid. The single's music video led The Afters to a 2005 MTVu "Streaming Woodie" award. In addition, "Beautiful Love" became the theme song for the MTV show, "8th and Ocean" about the life of female and male fashion models living in Miami, Florida. The song was also featured in the 2006 film, "Just My Luck".

[edit] Never Going Back to OK (2006–present)

The Afters are currently promoted through INO Records and Columbia Records. In an update posted on their official website, the band went into the studio in August of 2006 to start recording their second album, Never Going Back to OK. It was originally scheduled to be released on December 26, 2007 as per a post on their MySpace blog, but was ultimately delayed and released on February 26, 2008.[1]

The first single from the album, the title track "Never Going Back to OK" premiered on October 16, 2007 on Total Axxess. It was also released as a streaming file on The Afters' MySpace page on November 10, 2007.[2]. The song hit the R&R magazine charts in December 2007, and it hit #1 on the R&R CHR chart in March 2008.[3]

In spring of 2008, the band began their own headlining tour along with Falling Up, Ruth, and Everyday Sunday.[4]

[edit] "Myspace Girl" Viral Video Released (February 13, 2008)

On February 13, 2008 The Afters released a viral video of the first single "Myspace Girl" from their latest album Never Going Back to OK.[5] Following the tongue and cheek feel of the song, the video is a blend of a cartoon, real photos of the band's fans, and footage of the band. The video has already had over 300,000 plays on MySpace and YouTube. The song is based on the true story of how the band's former bass player met his wife. [6]

[edit] Band members

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio Albums

[edit] Live albums and DVDs

  • Live @ the Door (2002) (As Blisse)

[edit] EPs

[edit] Tours

The Afters have toured and played shows with artists such as MercyMe, Lifehouse, Vertical Horizon, Styxx, Anna Nalick,Better Than Ezra, Howie Day, Everclear, Jeremy Camp, TobyMac, Hawk Nelson, Family Force 5 and others.

[edit] Awards

Awards
Preceded by
Building 429		 GMA's New Artist of the Year
2006		 Succeeded by
Aaron Shust

[edit] References

  1. ^ Never Going Back To OK by The Afters NewReleaseTuesday.com, retrieved February 2, 2008
  2. ^ MySpace.com - The Afters
  3. ^ March 8, 2008 R&R chart as reported at Weekend 22; Retrieved March 11, 2008.
  4. ^ Tony Cummings (2008-03-16). The Afters: The Dallas pop rockers who are Never Going Back To OK. CrossRhythms.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-06-08.
  5. ^ The Afters; March 1, 2008; Weekend 22; Retrieved March 11, 2008
  6. ^ Interview with The Afters ChristianMusicToday.com, retrived March 23, 2008

[edit] External links