Balance and Composure | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Doylestown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Genres | |
Years active | 2007–2019, 2023–present |
Labels | Vagrant, UNFD (AU/NZ), No Sleep, Big Scary Monsters (EU), Memory Music |
Members |
|
Past members | Bailey Van Ellis |
Balance and Composure is an American rock band from Doylestown, Pennsylvania.[2] They formed in the winter of 2007, after the breakup of two local Doylestown bands.[5]
The band's musical style has been compared those of Nirvana and fellow Pennsylvanians Title Fight.[6] Their early influences included Nirvana, Neutral Milk Hotel, Sunny Day Real Estate,[7] Jawbreaker, and Braid.[8]
They released three studio albums and two EPs over the initial course of their career. Their second album The Things We Think We're Missing reached number 51 on the Billboard 200, number 10 on the Independent Albums, number 13 on the Modern Rock/Alternative Albums and number 16 on the Rock Albums charts.[9]
On December 14, 2017, on Taylor Madison's Strange Nerve podcast, vocalist Jon Simmons announced that their upcoming anniversary tour would be their last.[10] On January 14, 2019 a press release went out on the band's Twitter account announcing a farewell tour. Six dates were confirmed, saying that "These shows are the only shows we have planned in our future, we would love if you joined us one last time."[11] The band later added extra dates due to high demand. These shows had select support from Tigers Jaw, mewithoutYou, and Touche Amore.
On April 11, 2023, the band reunited and surprise released the 7-inch single Too Quick to Forgive with two new songs, "Savior Mode" and "Last to Know". The release was produced by longtime collaborator Will Yip and released via his label, Memory Music. The band also announced a handful of reunion shows with select support from Webbed Wing, Grist Mil, Fleshwater, Seahaven, Death Bells, Choir Boy, and Toledo.[12] Simmons, Andy Slaymaker (guitar), Erik Petersen (guitar), and Matt Warner (bass) returned in the formation of the 2023 iteration of the band. They were joined by new drummer Dennis Wilson, formerly of Saves the Day and Every Avenue.
The band released their fourth studio album (and first in eight years), With You in Spirit, on October 4, 2024, via Memory Music.
Current members
Former members
Timeline
Studio albums
EPs
Music videos
Year | Song | Director |
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2012 | "Quake" | Dan Centrone |
2013 | "Reflection" | |
"Tiny Raindrop"[13] | Alex Henery | |
2016 | "Postcard" | Jason Michael Roberts |
"Afterparty" | ||
2023 | "Savior Mode" | Jon Simmons, Erik Petersen, Britain Weyant |
"Last to Know" | Dessie Jackson | |
2024 | "Cross to Bear" | Drew Horen |
"Sorrow Machine" | Dessie Jackson | |
"Believe the Hype" | Drew Horen | |
"Any Means" | Britain Weyant | |
"With You in Spirit" | Dessie Jackson |
He was also joking, but then again, post-hardcore isn't known for its sense of humor. Despite his claims that he was making a tongue-in-cheek statement, this so-called new wave of friends and scene compatriots were some of the most exciting bands going; Touché Amoré, La Dispute, Defeater, Pianos Become the Teeth, and Make Do and Mend were considered the core, and the already-elastic boundaries stretched to include classicist alt-rock acts like Balance and Composure, melodic punk such as Title Fight and even Into It. Over It., a decidedly non-hardcore singer-songwriter vehicle.
I guess our main influence is 90's bands like Neutral Milk Hotel, Nirvana, and Sunny Day Real Estate.