Midtown (band)
Encyclopedia
Midtown was an American pop punk
band from Springfield, New Jersey. Midtown was formed in November 1998 by three Rutgers University
students, but soon became a quartet. The band took advantage of the fertile New Jersey punk scene to develop a sound that combined elements of pop punk
and punk rock
and began recording shortly after their formation. Their first EP, The Sacrifice of Life
, was released by Pinball Records in 1999. Their debut album, Save the World, Lose the Girl
, was released in early 2000 by the Drive-Thru Records
label. The band was then upstreamed to MCA
for their following album, Living Well Is the Best Revenge
(2002). Their next album, Forget What You Know
(2004), was produced while the band was not under contract with a record label and was later picked up by Columbia Records
. This was the band's final studio album; they disbanded shortly after its release, in 2005. Former frontman Gabe Saporta
is now the lead singer of alternative dance
/synthpop
band Cobra Starship
. Former guitarist Heath Saraceno joined the band Senses Fail
in 2005 but decided to leave them in 2009 to pursue personal endeavors.
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 Springfield, New Jersey. Midtown was formed in November 1998 by three Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
students, but soon became a quartet. The band took advantage of the fertile New Jersey punk scene to develop a sound that combined elements of pop punk
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...
and punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and began recording shortly after their formation. Their first EP, The Sacrifice of Life
The Sacrifice of Life
The Sacrifice of Life is the first EP by pop punk band Midtown, released in 1999.-Track listing:# "Direction" - 2:23# "The Easy Way Out" - 2:17# "Sacrifice of Life" - 3:07# "Living in Spite" - 1:53# "Come On" - 5:04...
, was released by Pinball Records in 1999. Their debut album, Save the World, Lose the Girl
Save the World, Lose the Girl
Save the World, Lose the Girl is an album by Midtown and was released on Drive-Thru Records on March 9, 2000.-Track listing:#"Just Rock And Roll" – 3:08#"Direction" – 2:29#"Recluse" – 3:22#"Another Boy" – 0:44#"Let Go" – 2:55...
, was released in early 2000 by the 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....
label. The band was then upstreamed to MCA
Music Corporation of America
MCA, Inc. was an American talent agency. Initially starting in the music business, they would next become a dominant force in the film business, and later expanded into the television business...
for their following album, Living Well Is the Best Revenge
Living Well is the Best Revenge
Living Well Is the Best Revenge is the second full-length album by Midtown and was released on Drive-Thru Records on April 14, 2002.-Track listing:# "Become What You Hate" – 2:50# "Still Trying" – 2:58# "Get It Together" – 3:28...
(2002). Their next album, Forget What You Know
Forget What You Know
Forget What You Know is the third and final full-length album, and fourth overall release, by New Jersey rock band Midtown. The album was their first released by a major record company after leaving their long-time home, the indie label Drive-Thru Records...
(2004), was produced while the band was not under contract with a record label and was later picked up by Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. This was the band's final studio album; they disbanded shortly after its release, in 2005. Former frontman Gabe Saporta
Gabe Saporta
Gabriel Eduardo "Gabe" Saporta is the lead singer and primary creative force behind the synthpop band Cobra Starship. He was previously the lead singer, bassist, and lyricist for the pop punk band Midtown....
is now the lead singer of alternative dance
Alternative dance
Alternative dance or indie dance is a musical genre that mixes rock subgenres with electronic dance music...
/synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
band Cobra Starship
Cobra Starship
Cobra Starship is an American synthpop band created by former Midtown bassist and lead vocalist Gabe Saporta in 2003 in New York City, New York...
. Former guitarist Heath Saraceno joined the band Senses Fail
Senses Fail
Senses Fail is an American post-hardcore band from Ridgewood, New Jersey. Formed in 2002, the line up initially consisted of vocalist Buddy Nielsen, drummer Dan Trapp, guitarists Dave Miller and Garrett Zablocki and being completed by bassist Mike Glita. The band quickly issued their debut EP, From...
in 2005 but decided to leave them in 2009 to pursue personal endeavors.
Full-length albums
- 2000: Save the World, Lose the GirlSave the World, Lose the GirlSave the World, Lose the Girl is an album by Midtown and was released on Drive-Thru Records on March 9, 2000.-Track listing:#"Just Rock And Roll" – 3:08#"Direction" – 2:29#"Recluse" – 3:22#"Another Boy" – 0:44#"Let Go" – 2:55...
- 2002 Living Well Is the Best RevengeLiving Well is the Best RevengeLiving Well Is the Best Revenge is the second full-length album by Midtown and was released on Drive-Thru Records on April 14, 2002.-Track listing:# "Become What You Hate" – 2:50# "Still Trying" – 2:58# "Get It Together" – 3:28...
- 2004 Forget What You KnowForget What You KnowForget What You Know is the third and final full-length album, and fourth overall release, by New Jersey rock band Midtown. The album was their first released by a major record company after leaving their long-time home, the indie label Drive-Thru Records...
EPs
- 1999 The Sacrifice of LifeThe Sacrifice of LifeThe Sacrifice of Life is the first EP by pop punk band Midtown, released in 1999.-Track listing:# "Direction" - 2:23# "The Easy Way Out" - 2:17# "Sacrifice of Life" - 3:07# "Living in Spite" - 1:53# "Come On" - 5:04...
- 2000 Donots vs. Midtown Split 7"
- 2001 Millencolin/Midtown Split
Collaborations
- Punk Goes 80s
- Midtown provided a cover of "Your LoveYour LoveYour Love may refer to:* "Your Love" * "Your Love" * "Your Love" * "Your Love" * "Your Love" * "Your Love"...
" by The OutfieldThe OutfieldThe Outfield are an arena rock-influenced English pop rock/power pop power trio based in London, England. The Outfield are unusual for a British band in that they enjoyed commercial success in the U.S., but never reached the album or singles charts in their homeland...
for this compilation albumCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
- Midtown provided a cover of "Your Love
Band members
- Gabe SaportaGabe SaportaGabriel Eduardo "Gabe" Saporta is the lead singer and primary creative force behind the synthpop band Cobra Starship. He was previously the lead singer, bassist, and lyricist for the pop punk band Midtown....
- lead vocals, bass (1998–2005) - Tyler Rann - vocals, guitar (1998–2005)
- Heath Saraceno - vocals, guitar (1998–2005)
- Rob Hitt - drums, percussion (1998–2005)
Post-Midtown projects
- Cobra StarshipCobra StarshipCobra Starship is an American synthpop band created by former Midtown bassist and lead vocalist Gabe Saporta in 2003 in New York City, New York...
is the new project of Midtown's bassist and lead singer, Gabe SaportaGabe SaportaGabriel Eduardo "Gabe" Saporta is the lead singer and primary creative force behind the synthpop band Cobra Starship. He was previously the lead singer, bassist, and lyricist for the pop punk band Midtown....
. Their first single, "Bring It (Snakes on a Plane)Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)"Snakes on a Plane ", is the debut single of dance rock band Cobra Starship from the soundtrack album Snakes on a Plane: The Album...
", was featured on the soundtrack for the movie Snakes on a PlaneSnakes on a PlaneSnakes on a Plane is a 2006 American horror-action-thriller film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006 in North America...
. Their first album, While the City Sleeps, We Rule the StreetsWhile the City Sleeps, We Rule the StreetsWhile the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets is the debut album from Cobra Starship. It was released on October 10, 2006 in the U.S., and on October 17, 2006 in Canada...
came out October 2006, their second album ¡Viva La Cobra!¡Viva La Cobra!¡Viva la Cobra! is the second studio album by alternative dance band Cobra Starship. The album was released October 23, 2007. It was produced by Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump.- Background :...
came out on October 23, 2007, and their third album, Hot Mess, came out on August 11, 2009. - Heath Saraceno played guitar and shared vocal duties in the New Jersey based rock band Senses FailSenses FailSenses Fail is an American post-hardcore band from Ridgewood, New Jersey. Formed in 2002, the line up initially consisted of vocalist Buddy Nielsen, drummer Dan Trapp, guitarists Dave Miller and Garrett Zablocki and being completed by bassist Mike Glita. The band quickly issued their debut EP, From...
until leaving the band after the 2009 Warped Tour. He and Senses Fail drummer, Dan Trapp, have a side-project called The Jettonnes. - Rob Hitt works for Crush Management and also has a record label, I Surrender Records. He shares the label with friend, Alex Sarti, and has signed I Am The AvalancheI Am the Avalanche-History:I Am the Avalanche was formed by vocalist Vinnie Caruana after the break-up of his previous band The Movielife, and followed his short stint playing in Head Automatica....
, Four Year StrongFour Year StrongFour Year Strong is an American pop punk band from Worcester, Massachusetts, formed in 2001. The group consists of vocalists and guitarists Dan O'Connor and Alan Day, bassist Joe Weiss, and drummer Jackson Massucco...
, ValenciaValencia (band)Valencia is an alternative rock/punk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are currently on hiatus.-History:Valencia met by playing local shows together around the tri-state area in separate bands. George Ciukurescu and JD Perry grew up together; attending elementary school, high school, and...
, and DragonetteDragonetteDragonette is a Canadian electropop group active since 2005. Dragonette consists of singer-songwriter Martina Sorbara, bassist and producer Dan Kurtz and drummer Joel Stouffer....
. - Tyler Rann sings in the band Band of Thieves.