The Escape Engine
The Escape Engine | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Paramus, New Jersey, USA |
Genres | Post-Hardcore Alternative rock |
Years active | 2002 – 2006 |
Labels | Fidelity Records |
Past members | Dom Lettera George Leontaris Kevin B. Robbins John "Fitz" Fitzpatrick Amanda Klimek Chris Osborne Mike Carroll Conor Clark Aaron Elliott |
Website | theescapeengine.com |
The Escape Engine is a post-hardcore band from Paramus, New Jersey. They were signed to Fidelity Records.
History
The Escape Engine was founded in the spring of 2002 by vocalist Dom Lettera and guitarist/vocalist George Leontaris after the break-up of Two Weeks From Tomorrow. Soon after, Kevin B. Robbins, John "Fitz" Fitzpatrick (who, along with George Leontaris, played in Two Weeks From Tomorrow as well), and Amanda Klimek joined the line up.
The band's name comes from a Burning Airlines song titled "The Escape Engine". It wasn't until the band was at the recording studio, finishing up their 4 song demo, where the engineer asked what name should be put on the master that the band finally agreed on the name.
Within a matter of months of recording their demo the band was approach by Jon Strauss whose intentions were to start an independent record label. The band ended up becoming the first band to sign with the newly created Fidelity Records (Race The Sun, Madison, We're All Broken).
Celebrity Role Model
In February 2003, the band entered the studio with Jesse Cannon A Static Lullaby, Hot Rod Circuit, Northstar, Open Hand, Saves the Day, The Misfits, Shai Hulud to record their first full length record.
On May 27, 2003 the band released Celebrity Role Model. The album art featured photos taken of a young woman named Brittney Hammer, an friend of the band from California. She later appeared in the music video along with Eyerly St. James for the first single off the album titled "This Jagged Alibi" which was Produced/Directed by Darren Doane (Blink-182, AFI, Thursday (band), Jimmy Eat World, and Thrice) and shot by Shane Drake (Panic at the Disco, The Higher, Say Anything, Fall Out Boy). The video premiered on MTV2's Extreme Rock on July 13, 2003 and soon after was broadcasted on MTV, MTVX, and MuchMusic.
Alternative Press Magazine (August 2003) gave The Escape Engine's debut album Celebrity Role Model a 5-star rating and were selected as one of ten bands to perform on the 2003 Warped Tour (7/31 – 8/10).
The bands' video is featured on "XdoaneX - The Shape of Videos to Come" with A Static Lullaby, Far, Funeral for a Friend, Everytime I Die, A18, Spitalfield, Disengage, and Scars of Tomorrow.
"Welcome To The Conversation" was featured in Warren Miller's 2003 film titled "Journeys." While "In This Serenade" was the featured song for the movie's trailer.
Departures
Upon arriving back in New Jersey after 4 months of touring along the east coast and performing on the Warped Tour, John Fitzpatrick informed the other members that he was leaving the band. Shortly after, the band auditioned several drummers as a replacement; among them were Chris Osborne and Aaron Elliott. The band eventually selected Osborne as Fitzpatrick's replacement. Osborne officially joined The Escape Engine in early October. Later that month, on October 22, 2003, John Fitzpatrick returned to play his last show with The Escape Engine at Tobacco Road in New York City as part of the 2003 CMJ Music Marathon.
The group hit the road again on November 3, 2003, this time for their first U.S. cross-continental tour. By early January 2004 guitarist Kevin B. Robbins, mutually departed from the band over creative differences. Mike Carroll, Lettera’s longtime friend who often accompanied the band on tour, stepped in to replace Robbins. Robbins later partnered with Jonathan Strauss to assist in cultivating the Fidelity Records label.
Members
- Original
- Dom Lettera - vocals
- George Leontaris - lead guitar, vocals
- Kevin B. Robbins - rhythm guitar
- Amanda Klimek - bass
- John Fitzpatrick - drums, percussion
- Others
- Chris Osborne - drums, percussion
- Aaron Elliott – drums, percussion
- Mike Carroll - rhythm guitar
- Conor Clark - rhythm guitar
Discography
Full Length Album
|
Song: A Lesson In Futility
|
Song: This Jagged Alibi
|
Song: This Jagged Alibi
|
Song: This Jagged Alibi
|
Press
- All Ages at The Saint (live show review) - NJ Coast Newsletter (November 2002)
- The Engine's Mechanics - The Aquarian, East Coast Rocker (June 2003)
- Celebrity Role Model (cd review) thePRP.com (June 2003)
- Celebrity Role Model (cd review) - CD Baby (2003)
- Celebrity Role Model (cd review) Punknews.org (August 2003)
- Screamo? Emocore? Emo violence? - Wonkavision Magazine (August 2003)
- Alternative Press Magazine (August 2003)
- The Escape Engine offers repetitiveness Den Music (September 2003)
- Celebrity Role Model (cd review) - belchinwaffles.com (October 2003)
- Celebrity Role Model (cd review) - Skratch Magazine (October 2003)
- Forging their own scene - Washington Square News (November 2003)
- Celebrity Role Model (cd review) - Wickedland
- Honesty is the best Policy - The Aquarian, East Coast Rocker (November 2004)
External links
- The Escape Engine on PureVolume
- The Escape Engine on MTV.com
- The Escape Engine on MySpace
- Fidelity Records (label for The Escape Engine)