We live in a musical climate where change is unavoidable. These are tough times, and only those with talent, with the innovation to keep ahead of the pack, and the strength to work through the hard times will survive. It is a mantra HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS take to heart – as one of the biggest success stories in rock music in the last decade, they have had their share of career highlights, and crushing lows. But, sticking to the old adage “when the going gets tough, the tough get going,” lead vocalist JT Woodruff, guitarist Micah Carli, bassist Matt Ridenour and drummer Eron Bucciarelli know that taking the easy way out just isn’t the way for them.
Having formed in the unlikely musical breeding ground of Dayton, Ohio in 2001, HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS learned early on that adaptation and diligence were the keys in the development of a successful career. Playing relentlessly from the start on self-booked tours across the country gave them some initial national exposure. But it wasn’t until they signed to Victory Records in late 2003 that HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS became the face of a whole new generation of music fans.
As one of the first bands to utilize social networking to gain a fan base, HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS developed a huge MySpace following that became a catalyst that would launch them from underground heroes to international superstars. As the voice of a genre, the band became regulars on MTV, their signature hit Ohio Is For Lovers the anthem for the new wave of “emo”. Their debut album The Silence In Black And White soon went Gold, and with their second album If Only You Were Lonely, the band scored Victory Records’ biggest ever debut, landing at #3 on the Billboard 200 in 2006. The band appeared on Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Kimmel, and became magazine cover stars, sending sales of The Silence… to Platinum status. It was the dream many bands hope for, but few seldom achieve, and Hawthorne Heights were living it.
Sadly, as with every success story, the good times came at a cost. In October 2007, while in the midst of legal disputes, tragedy struck within the HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS family. Casey Calvert, the much loved guitarist and resident “screamer” of the band lost his life while on tour due to an accidental overdose of medications prescribed by his doctor and dentist, which proved to be lethal combination. The effects on the band were evident, both personally and musically, and the decision to carry on was the toughest they would ever have to make.
On August 5 2008, Hawthorne Heights return with Fragile Future, a brand new album. Although the sound is still distinctly Hawthorne Heights, the music, as with the band, has understandably evolved.
“After spending the last 2 years in a deep dark place, we decided to try to find the bright lights again with Fragile Future,” noted singer J.T. Woodruff. “We, as a band, noticed that everyone has tremendous ups and downs, so we wanted this record to communicate that. We chose the title Fragile Future, because it sums up the current state of our band, as well as what is going on in the outside world. We must all make good choices to create a better situation in our lives.”
"With the loss of Casey, and no plans to replace him, we've had to make some obvious changes to our sound on this record,” added drummer Eron Bucciarelli. “Originally there were less screams planned for this record than the second one, but sadly we never got the chance to do even that. This forced us to take a creative approach to certain songs. We've beefed up the guitars in parts, added gang vocals, choirs and all sorts of effects to still capture some of the energy that Casey brought.”
With their trademark strong melodies and hooks still intact, Hawthorne Heights have broadened their sound to emerge with a collection of 12 deliciously genre-free songs that will set the airwaves alight across the world. Hawthorne Heights may have already set on the path to global domination, but with the release of Fragile Future, the road in front of them will lead them to the biggest, most impressive heights of all.
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