Van Atta High

Van Atta High (or VAH) was a four member rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2006, and disbanded on May 14, 2010.

History

Van Atta High was a band born in the heart of the New Jersey music scene. Founding member Manuela formed the band with a few friends in June 2006. At this time, the band put together their first EP entitled We Are The Captivated. These members were Steve Kellner (Vocals), Socrates Moutsakis (Guitar) and Santino Locunte (Drums). Current members Stephen Jasko (guitar) and Clark Starace (bass) were later recruited to the group. Armed with this first EP and their charming stage presence, Van Atta High quickly became a crowd favorite among the local New Jersey band circuit. Some of their most well-known songs include "Call Me Jersey," "Birthday Girl," and their pop rock cover to the Starland Vocal Band 70's hit "Afternoon Delight" (contracted with S1 Songs, a music publishing company).[1]

With the addition of Jasko and Starace, the band released Run Like Hell EP in fall 2007.[2] After establishing a core fan-base in New Jersey and releasing Run Like Hell, the band managed to land spots in Taste of Chaos 2007, Vans Warped Tour 2007/2008 and The Bamboozle 2008/2009.[3] These shows further escalated the band's exposure, generating local and national press coverage including being named Alternative Press Magazine's "Unsigned Band of the Month" in August 2008.[4] Some venues they have played include the Starland Ballroom (Sayreville, NJ), the School of Rock (South Hackensack, NJ), Webster Hall (NYC), the Landmark Theater (Long Island), the Knitting Factory (NYC) and Crocodile Rock Cafe (Allentown, PA).[5] Van Atta High has shared the stage as local openers for The Used, Senses Fail, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Just Surrender, Billy Talent, Pierce the Veil, Every Avenue, Jet Lag Gemini and Emarosa, to name just a few.

Glenn Petnel (Drums) and Justin Maikisch (Guitar) joined the band in fall of 2008, replacing Moutsakis and Loconte. Moutsakis was replaced after it was discovered that he had sex with Kellner's former longtime girlfriend, Erica; and Loconte for having under aged sex with a 13 year old girl, inebriated after a show during one of their 2007 tour stops in Ohio. Both have discontinued connection with the band and members since. However, Maikisch left the band during summer 2009 to pursue other projects.

Van Atta High inked a licensing agreement for one EP with indie label Thriving/Tragic Hero Records (prior home to Sky Eats Airplane and Emarosa). On March 10, 2009 Van Atta High released their first nationally distributed record entitled Doin' Somethin' Right (EP).

Van Atta High released a new album in January 2010.[6] called Love Blitz:United.


Jarret Gallipoli Tragedy

Former VAH bass player and original member Jarret Gallipoli was killed in a car accident on April, 11th 2010. Jarret was driving late night on Interstate I-95, either to or from school during winter break when the car drifted to the highway side and flipped. Jarret was killed instantly when his chest hit the steering wheel, stopping his heart. The other fatal injury was a passenger sleeping in the back seat, unbuckled, and was jettisoned through the windshield. Out of the three occupants in the car, there was only one sole survivor from the front passenger seat. Toxicology confirmed that the incident was not alcohol or drug related. Jarret was a student at Bergen Community College who had just recently been accepted to Pace University and West Virginia University. Not only was Jarret extremely involved and passionate towards his music, but he was completely devoted to those he loved and was a blessing to everyone who knew him.

The End of VAH

On May 13th, 2010 the band released a blog post on their MySpace informing their fans the band would break up and also mentioned their last show at School of Rock in South Hackensack, NJ. Details of the announcement stated the band's career longevity would not be strong enough to carry out as full-time careers. Despite the band gaining massive popularity in the NJ underground, they failed to impress record label representatives, which would have put the band on the map and further advance their career. The would be pop-rock stars since then have dispersed in different directions to pursue other careers. [7]

Reunion Show

Van Atta High reunited for a one-night only show, on August 24, 2012, at Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ. [8]

Members

Past members

Steve Kellner: vocals/guitar
Stephen Jasko: guitar
Clark Starace: bass guitar
Glenn Petnel: drums

Former members


Kyle "Little Penis" Brazier: guitar (2006-2007)
Socrates Moutsakis: guitar (2006–2008)
Santino Loconte: drums (2006–2008)
Justin Maikisch: guitar (2008–2009)
Mike Costello: guitar (2007) fill-in only
Will Gipe: bass (2006) fill-in only
Jarret Gallipoli: bass (2006–2007)[9]

Discography

We Are the Captivated EP (2006, Self-released)
Run Like Hell EP (2007, Self-released)
Doin' Somethin' Right EP (2009, Thriving/Tragic Hero Records)
Love Blitz:United EP (2010, Self-released)

Videography

"Call Me Jersey" (2008)
"Afternoon Delight" (2009)
"Birthday Girl" (2009)
"Little Fingers" (2010)

External links


VAH's Purevolume
S1 Songs

References

  1. ↑ http://www.myspace.com/vanattahigh
  2. ↑ "On A National Note... Van Atta High." The Circuit Mar. 2009: 26. Web. 30 November 2009
  3. ↑ http://www.myspace.com/vanattahigh
  4. ↑ "Unsigned Bands of the Month." Alternative Press Magazine Aug. 2008: 47. Print.
  5. ↑ Kerwick, Mike. "Basement sessions paying off." The Record [Bergen County, NJ] 25 June 2009: F3. Print.
  6. ↑ http://www.myspace.com/vanattahigh
  7. ↑ http://www.myspace.com/vanattahigh/blog/534301598
  8. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM-GM9xTIII
  9. ↑ http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=63905183&blogId=532659225