Day at the Fair
Encyclopedia
Day at the Fair were a pop punk
band from Jefferson, New Jersey. They were signed to Rushmore Records
.
and Humble Beginnings
, Day at the Fair started as a half-electric, half-acoustic recording project. Former Drive-Thru Records
employee and main lyricist of the band Chris Barker
joined forces with Rob Heiner in 2000, to create the music that would three years later be released on the band's debut CD No Lights on Weldon for Small Records. No Lights on Weldon contained a Lanemeyer cover, Another Lonely Winter. Their line-up was completed by Mike Carrol on guitar and Frank Abruzzo on drums, while Rob played bass.
During the two and a half year recording process, Chris commuted back and forth between California and New Jersey (a subject matter that later appeared in several songs of his, including the single "Eastern Homes and Western Hearts"), until finally settling for the east coast. A Day at the Fair was now able to go on tour full-time.
On the Canadian Warped Tour
, A Day at the Fair caught the attention of the chairman of Springman Records
, who signed them right away. Simultaneously, the band dropped the "A" in their name, Mike left and Frank was replaced by Stephen Weir
. Their second CD The Prelude EP was released in March 2004.
Joined by Todd Maisano, they became the third band to be signed by Rushmore Records
later that year, given Chris' earlier connections with Drive-Thru Records. After contributing a track to the Drive-Thru/Rushmore Christmas compilation Happy Holidays from Drive-Thru Records
, the band released their third album The Rocking Chair Years
in May 2005.
While on tour with Allister
and Fenix*TX in November 2005, Maisano left the band in order to continue his studies of inorganic chemistry and working towards earning his degree. His replacement, Gary Bender, was announced on January 6, 2006 on the band's MySpace
profile.
A month later, the band announced the end of Day at the Fair as they had been known, with member changes and the promise of a new focus on the more melodic side of their music, as demonstrated in tracks such as "Here Lies Our Holiday" (as featured on Happy Holidays from Drive-Thru Records
) or "Monday Morning" (from The Rocking Chair Years
). They soon began writing and recording an acoustic EP.
On February 17, 2006 Day at the Fair announced what Barker describes as "not a break up, not a hiatus, just a big change..." in reference to the departure of Gary Bender, Rob Heiner and Steve Weir.
In March 2006, The new lineup of the band embarked on what would be their last tour, with Kevin Sant'angelo replacing Gary Bender on bass, Mike "Monkey" Cipriano replacing Steve Weir on drums and Heiner rejoining for the last 4 shows of the tour. They dropped off the last 2 weeks of that tour and played their last show at Maxwells in Hoboken,NJ in June 2006.
As of July 2, 2006, the band's website no longer functions, and their purevolume page has a message from Barker stating that the band is, for all intents and purposes, no more. However, he hints at forthcoming projects that are in the works.
Upon recent inspection of the band's Myspace profile, it appears that they have started playing local shows as Day At The Fair again. The reason for this as quoted by Barker is "Not a comeback, But more like a grave you visit to bring flowers." Since the band's "final" shows in Netcong and Hoboken, they have played a few dates every year (in Northern New Jersey, until this year's show in Philadelphia). They have covered Lanemeyer songs and taken requests at these shows as a thank you to long time fans.
One project that was started is Further North. Featuring Chris Barker on vocals and guitar, Steve Jaworski on guitar and vocals, Kevin Sant'Angelo on bass and Mike "monkey" Cipriano on drums. This NJPP supergroup is Jettison and Day at the Fair combined. They have released songs for download on their Myspace page.
Further North has also failed to meet the expectations they set forth for themselves, shortly after adding John Castaldo from Bigwig onto bass and Rob Heiner on guitar. In retrospect they've said, "When you get older, love and life stand as a human shield to your ego, till your ego gets old, and gives up on that as well..." "We've made some great memories... Now it's time to be grown up..."
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
band from Jefferson, New Jersey. They were signed to Rushmore Records
Rushmore Records
Rushmore Records was formerly a subsidiary of Drive-Thru Records. As of September, 2006, Rushmore became an Imprint label due to the project being largely unsuccessful.-History:...
.
History
Emerging from the remnants of the two now defunct bands LanemeyerLanemeyer
Lanemeyer was a pop punk band from northern New Jersey, United States.Lanemeyer was formed in 1997. Taking their name from John Cusack's character in the film Better Off Dead..., Lanemeyer were known for their humor and love of comedy. They broke up in 2001 after touring with bands such as The...
and Humble Beginnings
Humble Beginnings
Humble Beginnings was an American pop punk band from New Jersey. While never gaining large-scale success, many of the band's members went on to mainstream success with other outfits....
, Day at the Fair started as a half-electric, half-acoustic recording project. Former Drive-Thru Records
Drive-Thru Records
Drive-Thru Records, established in 1996, was a California-based record label owned by siblings Richard and Stefanie Reines. It has produced various pop punk bands, many with a distinct SoCal sound....
employee and main lyricist of the band Chris Barker
Chris Barker
Christopher Andrew "Chris" Barker is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Southend United. He has also represented Barnsley, Cardiff City, Stoke City, Colchester United, Queens Park Rangers and Plymouth Argyle since beginning his career in 1997...
joined forces with Rob Heiner in 2000, to create the music that would three years later be released on the band's debut CD No Lights on Weldon for Small Records. No Lights on Weldon contained a Lanemeyer cover, Another Lonely Winter. Their line-up was completed by Mike Carrol on guitar and Frank Abruzzo on drums, while Rob played bass.
During the two and a half year recording process, Chris commuted back and forth between California and New Jersey (a subject matter that later appeared in several songs of his, including the single "Eastern Homes and Western Hearts"), until finally settling for the east coast. A Day at the Fair was now able to go on tour full-time.
On the Canadian Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
, A Day at the Fair caught the attention of the chairman of Springman Records
Springman Records
Springman Records is an independent record label founded in 1998 by Avi Ehrlich that was run out of his parent's garage in Cupertino, California until late 2005, when Ehrlich moved the label to Sacramento...
, who signed them right away. Simultaneously, the band dropped the "A" in their name, Mike left and Frank was replaced by Stephen Weir
Stephen Weir
Major General Sir Stephen Cyril Etterick Weir was a New Zealand army officer and diplomat.During World War II, he served as commander of artillery in the 2nd New Zealand Division , and X British Corps...
. Their second CD The Prelude EP was released in March 2004.
Joined by Todd Maisano, they became the third band to be signed by Rushmore Records
Rushmore Records
Rushmore Records was formerly a subsidiary of Drive-Thru Records. As of September, 2006, Rushmore became an Imprint label due to the project being largely unsuccessful.-History:...
later that year, given Chris' earlier connections with Drive-Thru Records. After contributing a track to the Drive-Thru/Rushmore Christmas compilation Happy Holidays from Drive-Thru Records
Happy Holidays from Drive-Thru Records
Happy Holidays from Drive-Thru Records is a compilation album, released on December 14, 2004, carrying solely Christmas-themed songs by Drive-Thru Records and Rushmore Records artists. All the recordings were previously unreleased, though five of the eight songs were cover versions of famous...
, the band released their third album The Rocking Chair Years
The Rocking Chair Years
The Rocking Chair Years is Day At The Fair's debut album on Rushmore Records, released on May 5, 2005.-Track listing:#"The Rocking Chair Years"#"Coda"#"And My Name's Dignan, So What?"#"Who You Guna Believe, Me Or Your Lying Eyes"...
in May 2005.
While on tour with Allister
Allister
Allister is an American pop punk band from Chicago, Illinois. The four-piece formed in 1996 and were one of the first bands to sign to Drive-Thru Records...
and Fenix*TX in November 2005, Maisano left the band in order to continue his studies of inorganic chemistry and working towards earning his degree. His replacement, Gary Bender, was announced on January 6, 2006 on the band's MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
profile.
A month later, the band announced the end of Day at the Fair as they had been known, with member changes and the promise of a new focus on the more melodic side of their music, as demonstrated in tracks such as "Here Lies Our Holiday" (as featured on Happy Holidays from Drive-Thru Records
Happy Holidays from Drive-Thru Records
Happy Holidays from Drive-Thru Records is a compilation album, released on December 14, 2004, carrying solely Christmas-themed songs by Drive-Thru Records and Rushmore Records artists. All the recordings were previously unreleased, though five of the eight songs were cover versions of famous...
) or "Monday Morning" (from The Rocking Chair Years
The Rocking Chair Years
The Rocking Chair Years is Day At The Fair's debut album on Rushmore Records, released on May 5, 2005.-Track listing:#"The Rocking Chair Years"#"Coda"#"And My Name's Dignan, So What?"#"Who You Guna Believe, Me Or Your Lying Eyes"...
). They soon began writing and recording an acoustic EP.
On February 17, 2006 Day at the Fair announced what Barker describes as "not a break up, not a hiatus, just a big change..." in reference to the departure of Gary Bender, Rob Heiner and Steve Weir.
In March 2006, The new lineup of the band embarked on what would be their last tour, with Kevin Sant'angelo replacing Gary Bender on bass, Mike "Monkey" Cipriano replacing Steve Weir on drums and Heiner rejoining for the last 4 shows of the tour. They dropped off the last 2 weeks of that tour and played their last show at Maxwells in Hoboken,NJ in June 2006.
As of July 2, 2006, the band's website no longer functions, and their purevolume page has a message from Barker stating that the band is, for all intents and purposes, no more. However, he hints at forthcoming projects that are in the works.
Upon recent inspection of the band's Myspace profile, it appears that they have started playing local shows as Day At The Fair again. The reason for this as quoted by Barker is "Not a comeback, But more like a grave you visit to bring flowers." Since the band's "final" shows in Netcong and Hoboken, they have played a few dates every year (in Northern New Jersey, until this year's show in Philadelphia). They have covered Lanemeyer songs and taken requests at these shows as a thank you to long time fans.
One project that was started is Further North. Featuring Chris Barker on vocals and guitar, Steve Jaworski on guitar and vocals, Kevin Sant'Angelo on bass and Mike "monkey" Cipriano on drums. This NJPP supergroup is Jettison and Day at the Fair combined. They have released songs for download on their Myspace page.
Further North has also failed to meet the expectations they set forth for themselves, shortly after adding John Castaldo from Bigwig onto bass and Rob Heiner on guitar. In retrospect they've said, "When you get older, love and life stand as a human shield to your ego, till your ego gets old, and gives up on that as well..." "We've made some great memories... Now it's time to be grown up..."
Discography
- No Lights On Weldon (2003)
- The Prelude EP (2004)
- The Rocking Chair YearsThe Rocking Chair YearsThe Rocking Chair Years is Day At The Fair's debut album on Rushmore Records, released on May 5, 2005.-Track listing:#"The Rocking Chair Years"#"Coda"#"And My Name's Dignan, So What?"#"Who You Guna Believe, Me Or Your Lying Eyes"...
(2005)
Members
- Chris Barker – vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Rob Heiner – vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Todd Maisano – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Steve Weir – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Former members
- Andrew Bowman Spratt
- Frank Abbruzzo
- Mike Carrol
- Gary Bender
- Kevin Sant'Angelo
- Mike "monkey" Cipriano