Front Porch Step

Front Porch Step
Birth name Jake Mcelfresh
Also known as Front Porch Step
Born November 6, 1991
Newark, Ohio
Genres Acoustic, Emo, pop rock
Instruments Acoustic guitar
Years active 2012–present
Labels Pure Noise (formerly)
Website frontporchstepmusic.com

Front Porch Step is the solo acoustic project of Newark, Ohio musician Jake Mcelfresh.[1]

History

Front Porch Step began in 2012. In 2013, Front Porch Step signed to Pure Noise Records and released his debut album Aware. In 2013, he supported Never Shout Never on four of their tour dates.[2] In the summer of 2014, Front Porch Step played on the Vans Warped Tour. In the fall of 2014, Front Porch Step played on the Pure Noise Records Tour with State Champs, Handguns, and Forever Came Calling.[3] In February and March 2015, Front Porch Step planned to go on his first headlining tour, with support from Have Mercy, Alcoa, and Head North. Due to sexual assault allegations, Mcelfresh has suspended his tour until further notice.[4] Front Porch Step was going to partake in the 2015 Vans Warped Tour, which is held annually throughout the summer, but was removed from the tour due to the allegations brought up against him.[5]

Sexual assault controversies

Jake Mcelfresh has been accused by several young people of sexual harassment through mobile phones, including sending nude pictures of himself to underage girls.[6] This led to a petition demanding he be removed from the 2015 Warped Tour. His record label, Pure Noise Records, and Kevin Lyman, creator of Warped Tour, have announced they are aware of the allegations (Front Porch Step also announced that he is aware of the allegations but has currently still not made a statement).[7][8]

On 4 January 2015 Mcelfresh announced via his Facebook page that he had suspended all current tour dates due to these allegations.[9] On 3 April 2015, Mcelfresh issued a public statement via Facebook. In it, he described how growing up, he had self esteem issues and "certainly was not a ladies man", and when he finally got his breakthrough with music, he was surprised at how much attention from female fans he received. He admit that he did indeed correspond with women through text messages, some of which were underage, but reinforced that they were "not as one sided as they seem", also revealing that no charges have been brought up against him. He also stated that even though some of the conversations were sexual in nature, "(he) only had conversations with willing participants". He described how for the past months, when allegations were brought up, he "wondered if (he) wanted to be alive anymore", and took a break from social media after being dropped by his label and removed from all tours, considering it the "greatest thing (he) could have ever done". He also stated he that he intends to return to music in the summer.[10]

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album Chart positions
Top Heatseekers
2013 Aware[11][12] 39

EPs

Year Album details
2014 Whole Again[13]

  • Released: December 2, 2014
  • Label: Pure Noise Records
  • Format: CD, Vinyl, music download

References

  1. ↑ Whitt, Cassie. "Song Premiere: Front Porch Step, "Drown"". Alternative Press. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  2. ↑ Crane, Matt. "Front Porch Step to tour with Never Shout Never". Alternative Press. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  3. ↑ Sharp, Tyler. "Handguns, Forever Came Calling added to Pure Noise Records Tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Sharp, Tyler. "Front Porch Step announces tour with Have Mercy, Alcoa, Head North, more". Alternative Press. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  5. ↑ Crane, Matt. "Neck Deep, Palisades, Front Porch Step, Handguns, more announced for Warped Tour 2015". Alternative Press. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  6. ↑ Coscarelli, Joe. "A Pop-Punk Singer and the Blurred Line Between Digital Fan Mail and Trouble". New York Times. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  7. ↑ Shotwell, James (30 December 2014). "FRONT PORCH STEP ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, LABEL RESPONDS". Under the Gun Review (SpinMedia). Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  8. ↑ Montgomery, Candice. "Take Front Porch Step off Warped Tour". Change.org. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  9. ↑ Shotwell, James (4 January 2015). "Front Porch Step Issues New Statement, Cancels All Tour Plans". Under the Gun Review (SpinMedia). Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  10. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/frontporchstep/posts/610329782401197
  11. ↑ Slessor, Dan. "Front Porch Step - Aware". Alternative Press. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  12. ↑ Zarrillo, Zack. "POZ Stream: Front Porch Step - Aware". Property of Zack. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  13. ↑ Crane, Matt. "Front Porch Step - "A Lovely Mess" song premiere and EP announcement". Alternative Press. Retrieved 13 October 2014.

External links