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Punchline (band)

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Punchline

Punchline is a pop-punk band from Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, formed in 1998. The band is currently unsigned. Fans of Punchline are referred to as "Punchkids" by the band and themselves. The band are currently recording Just Say Yes, the follow-up to 2006's 37 Everywhere, aiming for a summer 2008 release for the upcoming record.

1998-2002: Early career

Punchline began with the meeting of lead singer/guitarist Steve Soboslai, bassist Chris Fafalios and drummer PJ Caruso, who attended high school together; they formed Punchline when Chris was a senior and PJ and Steve were both juniors. As a three-piece in 1998, Punchline played local shows and recorded poppy and sometimes ska-influenced punk, especially notable on the band's first release How to Get Kicked Out of the Mall.

In 1999 the band self-produced and self-released the full-length Punchline, and co-produced Major Motion Picture with Billy Rossi for an August 2001 release after the trio was joined by guitarist/vocalist Paul Menotiades. The four recorded The Rewind EP in 2002, again collaborating with Billy Rossi. By this point the band's sound had shifted from the previous ska-influenced punk to a more solid pop punk style.

2003-2005: Gaining popularity

In 2003 the band signed to Fueled by Ramen Records. The Rewind EP was remixed and remastered by Shelly Yakus for its Fueled by Ramen re-release, the early pressings of which included The Rewind Documentary DVD.

On February 2004's full-length Action, produced by Sean O'Keefe, Punchline set itself apart in the over-saturated world of pop-punk music with bright three-part harmonies and unique melodies, catchy riffs and a strong rhythm section. Soboslai, Menotiades, and Fafalios all contributed vocals to the disc, and this release's early pressings also included a DVD, entitled The Action DVD.

During a tour, guitarist/vocalist, Paul Menotiades left the band. The remaining members enlisted long-time friend Greg Wood to fill in on guitar and vocals for the remaining shows of the tour. Wood, who previously performed as a solo artist and was a member of Connecticut's now defunct West Beverly, later joined the band as a permanent member, and plays keys/piano in addition to guitar on Punchline's 2006 release 37 Everywhere.

TDR Records (formerly known as To Define Records) released an Over It/Punchline split 7 inch vinyl in 2005 featuring two exclusive songs. The Over It side features an acoustic version of "Partner in Crime," while the Punchline side features a previously unreleased acoustic version of "Battlescars."[1]

2006: 37 Everywhere

37 Everywhere, produced by Shep Goodman and Kenny Gioia, was released by Fueled by Ramen Records on April 11, 2006. The album is dedicated to the life and times of John "Beatz" Holohan (1974-2005) of Bayside.

As made evident by the title, the theme of the album is based on the theory suggesting that 37 is the most commonly seen number. The album's liner notes state that "the number 37 is everywhere. It is in your daily routine and it will surprise you. Look for it and it will look for you." The liner notes are said by the artist/designer Jason Sho Green to contain 37 instances of the number 37.

Album track "The Getaway" is said to be about ex-band member, Paul Menotiades. While the album does contain songs referencing him, this is not one of them. The title of the album's tenth track, "They Are Strong Hands," is a reference to the track "They Looked Like Strong Hands" on Bayside's 2005 album Bayside, which features guest vocals from Punchline's vocalist and lyricist Steve Soboslai.

The album features guest vocals from Anthony Raneri, lead vocalist, and Jack O'Shea, guitarist, of New York's Bayside. It also features Ryan Mendez of Yellowcard and Staring Back playing guitar on the track "Don't Try This at Home", vocals from John Johansen of the defunct Stryder on "Caller 10", and Josh Bonner of the defunct Unsung Zeroes on "Wars Will Always Happen".

On August 28, 2006, the band announced the departure of Greg Wood. Wood is said to be in good standing with the band, and left the band to pursue other interests, specifically a solo career and teaching guitar. Long time Punchline friend Jon Belan, previous member of The Berlin Project replaced Greg Wood for his first tour with the band, the "Better Than Knowing Where You Are Tour". This tour featured Spitalfield, Over It, Valencia, and Boys Like Girls in addition to Punchline. As it currently stands, Belan is a permanent member of Punchline.

2007: The present and future

Punchline is currently in the studio recording the follow-up to 37 Everywhere. Part 1 of the new album was recorded at Room Sound Studios in Tempe, Arizona with producer Jamie Woolford (formerly of The Stereo, now member of the band Let Go). Part 2 of the new album is being recorded at Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin with Sean O'Keefe, who previously produced Punchline's Action album.

On "37 day" March 7, 2007, Punchline posted a 30 second clip from a new song on the website Heavy.com.

In May 2007, Punchline toured the UK for the first time as a support act on the Good To Go Tour 2007 with Wheatus, MC Lars and Army Of Freshmen as rotating headliners.

2008

In February 2008, Punchline will tour the United Kingdom for the second time with MxPx and The Get Go on the fourth instalment of the Good To Go Tour.

The band expects a Spring 2008 release of the new album.

On February 7th, 2008 the band announced their departure from Fueled By Ramen records. They are now looking for a new label to release their new cd which is already recorded, and should be out in the summer of 2008.

On "37 day" 2008 (March 7, 2008), Punchline announced in their AIM chatroom that the new album would be titled Just Say Yes.[2]

Touring

Punchline has toured the United States with bands including Bayside, Less Than Jake, Hidden in Plain View, Hellogoodbye, Mest, Reel Big Fish, Hawthorne Heights, The Juliana Theory, No Use for a Name,The Fold, and Sullivan, among others. The band embarked on their first proper headlining tour, "The Now or Never Tour," in Spring 2005.

Internationally, the band once toured Japan with the then Fueled by Ramen labelmates Fall Out Boy in the summer of 2004.

Members

Former Members

Discography

Albums

Release date Title Label
1998 How to Get Kicked Out of the Mall self-released
1999 Punchline self-released
2004 Action Fueled by Ramen
2006 37 Everywhere Fueled by Ramen
2008 Just Say Yes unannounced

EPs

Release date Title Label
2001 Major Motion Picture self-released
2002
2003 (reissue) 		The Rewind EP self-released
Fueled by Ramen (reissue)

Compilations

Trivia

  • Punchline fans are known as "Punchkids".
  • The band has a strong relationship with their fans, particularily online. They make their online sceennames available to fans, and are said to be one of the only bands of their size to reply to messages sent to them by fans on social networking websites such as MySpace.
  • Punchline bassist Chris Fafalios hosts several short series on the video sharing website YouTube and currently HEAVY.com including the Chris Fafalios show and a cartoon called "Texas Toast" which he cowrites and edits.
  • The band has a chatroom on AOL Instant Messenger named punchlinechat. The chatroom was used for fans to speak to the band during the recording of 37 Everywhere. While band members occasionally make an appearance, the chatroom is usually frequented by several regulars. When a band member is to join, it is often announced it an AOL Instant Messenger away message which results in many users joining and participating.
  • Punchline wrote a song about their friend, drummer John "Beatz" Holohan of the band Bayside, who died in a car crash when Bayside's van hit a patch of ice and flipped over on October 31, 2005. The song is titled "They Are Strong Hands" in reference to a Bayside song Steve Soboslai (lead vocalist) had sung guest vocals on, "They Looked Like Strong Hands".
  • Patrick Stump once came on stage during a Punchline show in Japan and sang a verse of the song "Heart Transplant".
  • The band were the winners of the $25,000 grand prize from the Heavy.com contraband contest. This was announced by the band on their official website on June 28, 2007.

References

  1. ^ Discography
  2. ^ AbsolutePunk.net "Punchline Album Title"
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