Chicago natives THE AUDITION don’t have much to sweat with their brand new release as Self- Titled Album is an ultimate culmination of all of their work to date, that will surely put them into the historic ranks of their predecessors. Mixing the well-crafted lyrics of their first release, Controversy Loves Company, with the punchy, spirited rock of their follow-up Champion, singer Danny Stevens refers to this Frankenstein-of-an-album as “The Audition Power Record.” Four simple words couldn’t ring more true. Suburban Chicago teenagers Ryan O’Connor and Seth Johnson formed THE AUDITION in 2003 and started playing local shows with bands such as Plain White T’s, Spitalfield, and The Academy Is. Instantly gaining the attention of Victory Records, the band was signed within weeks of playing a showcase in O’Conner’s parent’s basement.
Tour Dates:
Apr 28 Met University Leeds *
Apr 29 Nottingham Rock City Nottingham *
Apr 30 Glasgow GMU Glasgow, Scotland *
May 1 Manchester University Manchester *
May 2 Newcastle University Newcastle *
May 4 Sheffield Corporation Sheffield *
May 5 Birmingham Academy Birmingham (SOLD OUT) *
May 7 Cardiff Solus Cardiff, Wales *
May 8 Electric Ballroom London *
May 13 The School Of Rock South Hackensack, New Jersey */
May 14 The Note West Chester, Pennsylvania */
May 17 Sokol Underground Omaha, Nebraska **
May 19 The Blue Note Columbia, Missouri **
May 20 The Village Little Rock, Arizona **
May 21 Outland Ballroom Springfield, Missouri **
May 22 New Daisy Theatre**
May 24 SLAM DUNK FESTIVAL w/You Me At Six Leeds
Releasing Controversy Loves Company was a first step in the right direction for THE AUDITION. The incredibly catchy melodies and hooks drove the album to sell over 50,000 copies, land a feature on MTV’s TRL, and score them a spot on tours with bands like Jack’s Mannequin, 30 Seconds To Mars, and Boys Like Girls. Being exposed to a wide variety of audiences made it clear to the world that their poppy, rock music didn’t just resonate with one type of crowd; it worked for everyone. “Pop music isn’t evil,” says O’Conner, “You shouldn’t be ashamed to like a catchy song. If the music was written with heart and soul, then that should be conveyed through the music.” More adult and sensual vibe, reflecting their maturation since Controversy and bonding their quality of sound with their level of confi dence and delivery. The album was given 4.5 out of 5 stars by Alternative Press, and debuted on the Billboard Top 200.
Since Champion, THE AUDITION has spent their time touring the entire globe, growing as artists and musicians, and fine-tuning what is their ground-breaking third release, Self-Titled Album. The album, produced by Mark Trombino (JIMMY EAT WORLD, BLINK 182), was the result of a diligent five month writing process and a little elbow grease. The band refused to use the digital audio workstation to fix the little mistakes in the recording, making this album a derivative of their actual live performance and an artistic step up from a lot of recent releases. No frills, no fakery, just rock ‘n’ roll. Chock full of those familiar sing-along choruses and rear-shaking riffs, Self-Titled Album ranges from fast-paced dance-pop with uncontrollable hooks like those in “My Temperature’s Rising” to lyrically intense and mellow as heard in “It’s Gonna Be Hard (When I’m Gone)” “These songs are fun and catchy, but not contrived or predictable,” says O’Connor. His statement holds true as every song on the album gives off an entirely different vibe, merging only to create the magical melting pot that is Self-Titled Album. Following suit to those bands whose third albums shaped their entire career, THE AUDITION are poised and ready to kick it up a notch. O’Conner adds, “We love music above all things in this world. We have never forgotten why we started doing this and will never forget why we still do it every day. We have been a band for four years and the ‘honeymoon’ isn’t over yet…” It’s only the beginning.
Tour Dates:
Apr 28 Met University Leeds *
Apr 29 Nottingham Rock City Nottingham *
Apr 30 Glasgow GMU Glasgow, Scotland *
May 1 Manchester University Manchester *
May 2 Newcastle University Newcastle *
May 4 Sheffield Corporation Sheffield *
May 5 Birmingham Academy Birmingham (SOLD OUT) *
May 7 Cardiff Solus Cardiff, Wales *
May 8 Electric Ballroom London *
May 13 The School Of Rock South Hackensack, New Jersey */
May 14 The Note West Chester, Pennsylvania */
May 17 Sokol Underground Omaha, Nebraska **
May 19 The Blue Note Columbia, Missouri **
May 20 The Village Little Rock, Arizona **
May 21 Outland Ballroom Springfield, Missouri **
May 22 New Daisy Theatre**
May 24 SLAM DUNK FESTIVAL w/You Me At Six Leeds
* w/ Madina Lake
*/* Headline Show
** w/ Forever The Sickest Kids
*/* Headline Show
** w/ Forever The Sickest Kids
More On The Audition:
