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Title Fight

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Title Fight
Title Fight performing at Coachella in 2014
Title Fight performing at Coachella in 2014
Background information
OriginKingston, Pennsylvania, United States
Genres
Years active2003–2018 (inactive)
Labels
Spinoffs
Members
  • Jamie Rhoden
  • Ned Russin
  • Shane Moran
  • Ben Russin
Websitetitlefight.tumblr.com

Title Fight was an American rock band from Kingston, Pennsylvania, formed in 2003. They released three studio albums—Shed (2011), Floral Green (2012), and Hyperview (2015)—gradually shifting from a hardcore punk–oriented sound towards shoegaze and indie rock. Hyperview was released through Anti-, a record label to which the band signed in July 2014.

Although not publicly announced, the band has been on hiatus since 2018.

History

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Early years

[edit]

Title Fight formed in 2003 as a three-piece band consisting of Jamie Rhoden on guitar and vocals, Ned Russin on bass and Ned's twin brother Ben on drums, playing local shows in Kingston and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Ned Russin claims his older brother, Alex Russin, is a huge influence in their formation of Title Fight. Their name came from the cover of an old HBO showtime guide that Ned had read in the attic when he was younger. In addition to popular punk bands, Rhoden claims the Positive Numbers Fest, an annual hardcore/punk music festival in Wilkes-Barre, was an influence on the band's formation.[1] The band produced a demo titled "Down for the Count" in 2003 that is still available on the internet.

In 2005, the band added Shane Moran on second guitar and recorded two demos in 2005 and 2006, during which they played shows in what they call a "small, tight-knit community" around Kingston, Pennsylvania.[1] These included several shows at the Doylestown, Pennsylvania, YMCA Teen Center.

Progression

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They recorded a split with the Erection Kids in 2007 on FlightPlan Records. Members of the Erection Kids later went on to form Balance and Composure. The band quickly followed up their first release with the Kingston 7" (also on FlightPlan Records) in February 2008.[2] Title Fight played with Fireworks on their tour with Set Your Goals in the summer of 2007, ultimately leading to their discovery by Jeff Casazza, the owner of Run for Cover Records[3]; on October 16, 2008, it was announced that the band had signed to the record label.[4] The band recorded a 7", The Last Thing You Forget, in December 2008 at the Getaway Group in Massachusetts with Jay Maas. It was released in June 2009 on Run for Cover Records[3] and featured three new songs, while the CD version of the release featured all their releases to date. The artwork for the album was done by John Slaby, a friend from Wilkes-Barre.[3] Later in June, the band went on tour with Crime in Stereo and Fireworks,[5] followed by a US tour with New Found Glory.[6] The Kingston EP has also been re-released on Six Feet Under Records with Dave Sausage in order to revamp the EP.[3] During these years, Title Fight altered their sound to a more melodic hardcore–oriented style, with influences such as Jawbreaker, Seaweed, Lifetime, Knapsack, and the Promise Ring.[7]

In 2010, Title Fight was featured on the Triple B Records compilation America's Hardcore with a song titled "Dreamcatchers". They also toured the US with Bayside, Senses Fail, and Balance and Composure,[8] as well as Japan with H2O.

SideOneDummy Records

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Title Fight in 2011

On January 19, 2011, Title Fight signed to SideOneDummy Records and announced they had finished recording their debut full-length album, Shed, which was produced by Walter Schreifels (Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand, and Rival Schools)[9] and engineered by Will Yip at Studio 4 in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. The band also embarked on their first headline tour in 2011 with the Menzingers, Touché Amoré, Dead End Path, and Shook Ones.[10]

The band released their new album, Shed, on May 3, 2011.[11] In addition to the Shed album artwork, the album's lead single, "27", was released as a free download on February 10. On February 23, SideOneDummy Records opened preorders for a new 7" titled "Flood of '72", the album's second single; it was released on April 12 and included an acoustic version of the song.[12]

Title Fight toured Australia for the first time in September 2011 alongside Touché Amoré,[13] followed by a 22-date European tour in November and December. The band also played both dates of Reading and Leeds Festival earlier in the year.

Title Fight supported Rise Against on the second leg of their 2012 Endgame Tour, followed by an appearance on the Vans Warped Tour. Around these two tours was when the band had started workshopping ideas for their following album.

Floral Green and Spring Songs (2012–2014)

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Title Fight announced via Tumblr in July 2012 that their next album, Floral Green, would come out on September 18,[14] and its lead single "Head in the Ceiling Fan", was released as a free download.[14][15] On August 14, the band premiered another song, "Sympathy", on NPR Music's All Songs Considered program.[16] On September 13, 2012, SPIN premiered a full stream of the record on their website.[17] Floral Green debuted at #69 on the Billboard 200. On October 19, 2012, Title Fight hosted a record release show in Warrior Run, Pennsylvania, along with the Menzingers, Tigers Jaw, Gypsy, and Grey Zine prior to headlining a US tour with supporting acts Tigers Jaw, Pianos Become the Teeth, Whirr, Young Beats, and Single Mothers.

Title Fight released the four-song EP Spring Songs on November 12, 2013, through Revelation Records,[18] with its second track, "Be a Toy", premiering on August 12 via SPIN. The music video for the track—directed by Suzy Cereijo and filmed on a Super 8 during the band's 2013 Spring European Tour—was released on November 20, 2013.[19]

ANTI- Records and Hyperview (2014–2018)

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In July 2014, the band announced on their Instagram account that they had signed to ANTI- and were in the process of recording a new album with producer Will Yip.[20] On December 1, the band announced that their new album would be called Hyperview and was set to be released on February 3, 2015; a music video for the album's lead single, "Chlorine", was released via The Fader the same day.[21]

Aside from a few select appearances, the band has been primarily inactive, with their last show taking place in January 2018 at the Magic Stick in Detroit, Michigan.

Hiatus (2018–present)

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Despite not being active since 2018, Title Fight's social media accounts occasionally post updates with information regarding merchandise and the members' other projects. In September 2023, it was revealed that the band had started a new record label called Purple Circle, which had been used to reissue Kingston. Around this time, Ned Russin said in an interview with BrooklynVegan that he did not consider Title Fight to be entirely broken up, though he wanted to keep the band's future ambiguous.[22]

Musical style

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Title Fight's style has been described as post-hardcore,[23][24] hardcore punk,[25][26] melodic hardcore,[27][26] punk rock,[28] shoegaze,[26] soft grunge,[29] and post-rock.[25] Formed as a hardcore band, they soon began to draw influences from a variety of other genres, such as alternative rock, shoegaze, and post-rock.[26][25] Bassist Ned Russin identified Title Fight musically as hardcore punk in a 2009 interview with PunkNews.org.[30]

Other projects

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The members of Title Fight are also known for their presence in many other Wilkes-Barre hardcore bands—most notably Bad Seed, which featured Shane on vocals and Jamie on bass. Ned later joined the band on bass, while Jamie switched to guitar. Bad Seed released a demo in 2008 and a self-titled EP in 2009 on 6131 Records, and they played Sound and Fury and This Is Hardcore Fest before disbanding in 2010. In addition to Bad Seed, Shane, Ned, and Ben played in the straight-edge band Disengage, which released a seven-song EP, Look Back, in 2010; a full-length album, Expressions, in 2011; and a self-titled EP in 2014. Ned also plays in straight-edge Wilkes-Barre band Stick Together, hardcore band Big Contest, and shoegaze/indie-rock act Noise Pet. Jamie also plays in a shoegaze punk band called Haze, which released a demo of rough mixes in 2014. Ned and Ben are the younger brothers of Alex Russin, guitarist/singer of Gypsy and hardcore band Cold World.[31]

Cafe Metropolis, the venue in Wilkes-Barre where Title Fight played their first show, closed in September 2010. To give back to the rising hardcore community, Title Fight and other local friends took action by opening the venue Redwood Art Space in the city in March 2011; however, the venue was forced into moving in June 2012.

In 2017, Ned Russin started a solo project called Glitterer, which later expanded into a full band in 2023.[32][33] Ben Russin took over as the drummer for Citizen in 2023.

Members

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  • Jamie Rhoden – guitar, vocals (2003–2018)
  • Ned Russin – bass, vocals (2003–2018)
  • Shane Moran – guitar (2005–2018)
  • Ben Russin – drums (2003–2018)

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[34] 		US
Alt.
[35] 		US
Ind.
[36] 		US
Rock
[37] 		AUS
[38]
Shed — — — — —
Floral Green
  • Released: September 18, 2012
  • Label: SideOneDummy
  • Format: LP, CD, cassette, digital download, streaming
 — — — — —
Hyperview
  • Released: February 3, 2015
  • Label: Anti-
  • Format: LP, CD, cassette, digital download, streaming
 78 6 4 10 50

Compilation albums

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Title Compilation album details
The Last Thing You Forget
  • Released: September 15, 2009
  • Label: Run for Cover
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming

EPs

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Title EP details
Kingston
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: Six Feet Under (initial release), Purple Circle (2023 re-release)
  • Format: 7", CD, cassette, digital download
Live on WERS
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: Run for Cover
  • Format: Cassette
The Last Thing You Forget
  • Released: July 21, 2009
  • Label: Run for Cover
  • Format: 7", CD, cassette, digital download
Spring Songs
  • Released: November 12, 2013
  • Label: Revelation
  • Format: 7", CD, cassette, digital download, streaming

Demo EPs

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Title Demo EP details
Down for the Count
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Demo 2004
  • Released: 2004
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Demo 2005 (#1)
  • Released: 2005
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Demo 2005 (#2)
  • Released: 2005
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download

Split EPs

[edit]
Title Split EP details
Erection Kids vs. Title Fight (with The Erection Kids)
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: Flight Plan
  • Format: CD
Split (with Touché Amoré)
  • Released: April 20, 2013
  • Label: Sea Legs
  • Format: 7"

Singles

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Title Year Album
"27" 2011 Shed
"Flood of '72"
"Shed"
"Missed" non-album single
"Head in the Ceiling Fan" 2012 Floral Green
"Sympathy"
"Secret Society"
"Face Ghost" (Touché Amoré cover) 2013 Split
"Be a Toy" Spring Songs
"Chlorine" 2014 Hyperview
"Rose of Sharon" 2015
"Your Pain Is Mine Now"

Compilations

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Title Album details Notes
Peep Show
  • Released: 2006
  • Label: 1120 Studios
 Contributed "Let Down"
America's Hardcore
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Triple-B Records
 Contributed "Dreamcatcher"
Off The Board - A Studio 4 Family Compilation
  • Released: October 8, 2013
  • Label: Memory Music
 Contributed "Another One"
Forever Beautiful: a collection of love for Orlando
  • Released: June 17, 2016
  • Label: SRB Productions
 Contributed "Dust Collector"

Music videos

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Song Year Director
"Let Down" 2006 "Rulio"
"27" 2011 Hannah Roman
"Shed" Kevin Custer
"Coxton Yard" Jerry Joint
"Head in the Ceiling Fan" 2012 Evan James
"Secret Society" Hannah Roman
"Be a Toy" 2013 Susy Cereijo
"Chlorine" 2014 Johnny Look
"Rose of Sharon" 2015 Hannah Roman

References

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  1. ^ a b Ham, Robert (November 2011). "Small Town Sound". Alternative Press Magazine: 70–74.
  2. ^ August, Justin (January 9, 2008). "Title Fight, X-AM, Brainworms and Dynamite Arrows". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Interviews: Title Fight". Kill Your Stereo. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  4. ^ "Run For Cover signs Title Fight and Transit". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. October 16, 2008. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  5. ^ "Crime In Stereo / Fireworks / Title Fight to tour". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. April 23, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  6. ^ "Title Fight". Punknews.org. 4 November 2009. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  7. ^ "Title Fight". The Music. October 19, 2009. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  8. ^ Paul, Aubin (July 29, 2010). "Bayside / Senses Fail / Title Fight / Balance & Composure". Punknews.org. Aubin Paul. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  9. ^ "Title Fight - Shed". SideOneDummy Records. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  10. ^ "We signed TITLE FIGHT!!!!". Side One Dummy. 2011-01-19. Archived from the original on 2012-03-13. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  11. ^ Ableson, Jon (2009-08-20). "New Title Fight Album Title + Release Date". Alter The Press!. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  12. ^ "Title Fight Flood of '72". Sideonedummy.com. 2011-07-16. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
  13. ^ "Title Fight and Touche Amore announce Australian tour - Music News, Reviews, Interviews and Culture". Musicfeeds.com.au. 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  14. ^ a b "Title Fight". Titlefight.tumblr.com. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  15. ^ "Twitter / titlefight: September 2012". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  16. ^ Fight, Title (2012-08-14). "Song Premiere: Title Fight, 'Sympathy' : All Songs Considered Blog". NPR. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
  17. ^ Brown, Harley (2012-09-13). "Title Fight Break Down 'Floral Green': Exclusive Stream". Spin.com. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  18. ^ "Title Fight Spring Songs EP". Alternative Press. 2013-11-12. Archived from the original on 2013-11-14.
  19. ^ Title Fight - "Be A Toy", retrieved 2023-09-15
  20. ^ Fight, Title. "We're proud to announce that we have signed with @antirecords. We are currently in the studio working on a new LP with @willyipmusic. #titlefight". Title Fight. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  21. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry. "Watch The Video For Title Fight's Dreamy, Smeared "Chlorine"". Thefader.com. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  22. ^ Sacher, Andrew (2023-08-28). "Ned Russin discusses Title Fight never technically announcing a breakup in 'Anti-Matter'". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  23. ^ Deller, Alex. "Title Fight Floral Green Review". BBC Music. BBC. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  24. ^ Cohen, Ian. "Title Fight: "Be A Toy"". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  25. ^ a b c Rettman, Tony (March 6, 2015). "Shoegazi: how Title Fight went from hardcore to post-rock". The Guardian.
  26. ^ a b c d Troper, Morgan (September 7, 2016). "From Hardcore to Shoegaze, Title Fight Pledge to Remain Versatile". OC Weekly.
  27. ^ Brown, Harley (2012-09-13). "Title Fight Break Down 'Floral Green': Exclusive Stream". Spin.com. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  28. ^ Lang, Elizabeth (September 10, 2015). "Punk rock band Title Fight to play for the first time in Costa Rica". The Tico Times.
  29. ^ Enis, Eli (16 April 2021). "12 albums where a band did something totally unexpected". Kerrang!. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  30. ^ Yancey, Bryne (4 November 2009). "Interviews: Title Fight". Punknews.org. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  31. ^ "l'actualité de la scène Alternative / Emo / Punk / Hardcore: Interview Exclusive : Title Fight". AlternativNews.com. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  32. ^ "Interview: Ned Russin on His Newest Band, 'Glitterer' - TheWaster.com". Thewaster.com. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  33. ^ "Glitterer announce new album 'Rationale,' share "Plastic"". 25 October 2023.
  34. ^ "Title Fight - Chart history (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  35. ^ "Title Fight - Chart history (Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  36. ^ "Title Fight - Chart history (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  37. ^ "Title Fight - Chart history (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  38. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". ARIA. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
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