The Class of 98
The Class of 98 | |
---|---|
Origin | Nashville, Tennessee |
Genres | Emo, indie rock |
Years active | 2004–2007, 2010-2014 |
Labels | The Militia Group |
The Class of 98 (sometimes written as The Class of '98) was an American rock band from Nashville, Tennessee.
History
[edit]The Class of 98 was founded by Steve Wilson in 2005, who had moved to the Nashville, TN area in 1998.[1] (The group's members did not graduate from any educational institutions in 1998.)[2] Wilson made home demos before putting together a four-piece influenced by second-wave emo acts such as Braid and Jimmy Eat World.[3] The group played locally in Nashville and opened for John Davis of Superdrag and The Juliana Theory over the next year.[4] They signed with The Militia Group in 2005 and recorded their debut full-length in less than three weeks.[3] It was released under the title Touch This and Die! in 2006,[5][6] and won comparisons to Jimmy Eat World, Gin Blossoms,[2] Third Eye Blind, and Copeland.[7] Along with playing shows/touring with Relient K, Cartel, Jonezetta, and others, they also played both Cornerstone festivals. Songs from the album were featured on MTV, E!, and The WB television programs.[8]
The group went on hiatus in 2007, with Wilson continuing his producing/songwriting career, Harms going on to play with The Glorious Unseen, Baumhardt with Thousand Foot Krutch, Stellar Kart, and Fireflight, and Pitts moving to Phoenix, AZ to pursue other ventures.[9] The group returned in 2010 with Matt Fine, formerly of Celebrity on drums, with an EP Eye of the Needle and a full-length album Heaven in 2011.
In 2016, with all four original members residing in Nashville, TN again, the band reunited for a "10 year anniversary" show.
In 2022, Wilson and Pitts released the "Rehab EP".
All involved in the band over the years are still friends and write & record together from time to time.
Members
[edit]- Steve Wilson - guitar, vocals
- Colby Pitts - drums
- Ben Harms - bass
- Nick Baumhardt - guitar
- Matt Fine - drums
Discography
[edit]- Touch This and Die! (The Militia Group, 2006)
- Eye of the Needle EP (Self-released, 2010)
- Heaven (Legion of Boom, 2011)
- Rehab EP (Ghosthood Records, 2022)
References
[edit]- ^ The Class of 98, SPIN
- ^ a b Review of Touch This and Die!, Allmusic
- ^ a b The Class of 98 at Allmusic
- ^ The Class of 98, Blogcritics.org
- ^ Review of Touch This and Die, Alternative Press, 2006.
- ^ Review of Touch This and Die, PopMatters
- ^ Review of Touch This and Die, Impact Press.
- ^ Interview, Mammoth Press.
- ^ The Class of 98's New Bands. Absolutepunk.net, July 17, 2008.