The Track Record
Encyclopedia
The Track Record was a pop punk
band from Annapolis, Maryland
that was formerly signed to Rushmore Records
. They are significant because they are a popular band in Maryland and surrounding areas, and are an established band that tours nationally. Michael Strackbein plays bass and sings, Rob Elson plays guitars and does most of the writing, Hasani Martin plays drums, and Rob Viti plays guitar. Rob Elson and Hasani attended the University of Maryland, College Park
until they decided to pursue the band full time. Both Robs play on Fender Stratocaster
guitars while Michael plays a Gretsch
bass. They are influenced by New Found Glory
, Blink 182, The Starting Line
and U2
.
The band formed in 2003 and soon after recorded what they call "the 2003 EP". The EP had six songs, including "Letters to Summer". "Letters to Summer" was also on their second EP recorded in 2004. This EP was re-released in 2005 after they were signed by Rushmore Records. They were the first band asked to be signed by Rushmore, but due to legal complications they were the fourth band signed after Self Against City
, Day at the Fair
, and Houston Calls
. Their first national tour was in the summer of 2005 with Rookie of the Year
. They also played select dates of the 2005 Vans Warped Tour.
In September 2006, The Track Record left Rushmore records and entered the studio to record their debut full length titled "The Coolest Kind of Crazy" which would be released by the band, independent of any record label. The title is also the last line of the record. Soon after completion of the album, they left for their second national tour with Southcott
and Upper Class Trash. The album was available on their website for pre-sale on Thanksgiving weekend 2006 while the band was in Yorba Linda, California
. The band has also played with other bands such as Hidden in Plain View
and Hellogoodbye
.
The Track Record announced on their MySpace page on May 2, 2007 that they "decided to stop playing music as The Track Record….we are breaking up or going on "indefinite hiatus," if you will." Their final performance as a band was performed at Recher Theatre on August 19, 2007, with The Dangerous Summer
, Gatsby Gets The Green Light, The Spotlight, and You Me and Everyone We Know.
EPs
Non Album Tracks
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 Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
that was formerly 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:...
. They are significant because they are a popular band in Maryland and surrounding areas, and are an established band that tours nationally. Michael Strackbein plays bass and sings, Rob Elson plays guitars and does most of the writing, Hasani Martin plays drums, and Rob Viti plays guitar. Rob Elson and Hasani attended the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
until they decided to pursue the band full time. Both Robs play on Fender Stratocaster
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
guitars while Michael plays a Gretsch
Gretsch
The Gretsch Company was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Gretsch, a twenty-seven year old German immigrant recently arrived in the US. Friedrich Gretsch manufactured banjos, tambourines, and drums, until his death in 1895. His son, Fred, moved operations to Brooklyn, New York in 1916...
bass. They are influenced by New Found Glory
New Found Glory
New Found Glory is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida. Formed in the summer of 1997, founding members were lead vocalist Jordan Pundik, guitarists Chad Gilbert and Steve Klein, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Joe Marino...
, Blink 182, The Starting Line
The Starting Line
The Starting Line is an American pop punk band based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that formed in 1999.- Formation and history :In 1999, the band that would become The Starting Line was initiated in Churchville, Pennsylvania via an e-mail from guitarist Matt Watts to vocalist/bassist Kenny Vasoli...
and U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
.
The band formed in 2003 and soon after recorded what they call "the 2003 EP". The EP had six songs, including "Letters to Summer". "Letters to Summer" was also on their second EP recorded in 2004. This EP was re-released in 2005 after they were signed by Rushmore Records. They were the first band asked to be signed by Rushmore, but due to legal complications they were the fourth band signed after Self Against City
Self Against City
Self Against City is a pop rock band from Sacramento, California best known for their single "The Process." They formed in 2004 and were the first band to sign to Rushmore Records...
, Day at the Fair
Day at the Fair
Day at the Fair were a pop punk band from Jefferson, New Jersey. They were signed to Rushmore Records.-History:Emerging from the remnants of the two now defunct bands Lanemeyer and Humble Beginnings, Day at the Fair started as a half-electric, half-acoustic recording project...
, and Houston Calls
Houston Calls
Houston Calls was an American power pop/punk band, based in Rockaway, New Jersey. They formed in 2003 and were signed to Drive-Thru Records. On June 9, 2009 they announced their official breakup.-Formation :...
. Their first national tour was in the summer of 2005 with Rookie of the Year
Rookie of the Year (band)
Rookie of the Year is an indie rock/acoustic band from Fayetteville, North Carolina . They were signed to One Eleven Records, though the fourth release of their latest EP fulfilled their contractual obligation to 111 and allow them to sign with a new label. The band is fronted by lead...
. They also played select dates of the 2005 Vans Warped Tour.
In September 2006, The Track Record left Rushmore records and entered the studio to record their debut full length titled "The Coolest Kind of Crazy" which would be released by the band, independent of any record label. The title is also the last line of the record. Soon after completion of the album, they left for their second national tour with Southcott
Southcott
Southcott was a five piece pop punk band from Haverstraw, NY formed in 2001. The band's releases included the album Flee The Scene, on Less Avenged Records / Rust Records, which received national distribution through Universal Records....
and Upper Class Trash. The album was available on their website for pre-sale on Thanksgiving weekend 2006 while the band was in Yorba Linda, California
Yorba Linda, California
Yorba Linda is a suburban city in northeastern Orange County, California, approximately northeast of Downtown Santa Ana, and southeast of Downtown Los Angeles....
. The band has also played with other bands such as Hidden in Plain View
Hidden in Plain View
Hidden in Plain View was a five-piece Pop Punk band from northern New Jersey. They formed in 2000 and disbanded in 2007. During their six and a half year run, the group released records with four different record labels , including two full-length albums and three EPs...
and Hellogoodbye
Hellogoodbye
Hellogoodbye is a power pop band that was formed in Huntington Beach, California in 2001 by singer Forrest Kline. They were signed to Drive-Thru Records and released their first full-length album Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! in 2006, in addition to their previously released EP Hellogoodbye...
.
The Track Record announced on their MySpace page on May 2, 2007 that they "decided to stop playing music as The Track Record….we are breaking up or going on "indefinite hiatus," if you will." Their final performance as a band was performed at Recher Theatre on August 19, 2007, with The Dangerous Summer
The Dangerous Summer
The Dangerous Summer is a book written by Ernest Hemingway published in 1985, which describes the rivalry between bullfighters Luis Miguel Dominguín and his brother-in-law Antonio Ordóñez during the "dangerous summer" of 1959...
, Gatsby Gets The Green Light, The Spotlight, and You Me and Everyone We Know.
Discography
Albums- "The Coolest Kind of Crazy" (2006)
EPs
- "The 2003 EP" (2003)
- "The Track Record EP" (2005) released on Rushmore Records
Non Album Tracks
- "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - on Happy Holidays from Drive-Thru RecordsHappy Holidays from Drive-Thru RecordsHappy 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...
December, 2004