Dearestazazel

The Story

DA formed in ATL at the dawn of 2006. At first it was me (Peter) and Chris Wall-bass. It was a fortuitous meeting completely by chance. Chris did the bass and I did the other songs for a Sex is a Sin demo.

After that we convinced Jesse Greene to leave a happy home in Florida and live in a practice space while we built the band. He was tenacious and patient, and lived in the cold warehouse that was our space for almost a year. His guitar playing and affable way were invaluable to us at the time.

Then came keyboardist Mike Shaw. He was and is far far above the standard of keyboardists. JC came after that on drums.

We rehearsed for a month or so, then recorded three more songs. That was the demo. Shows followed, with much rehearsing and an infinite number of press kits sent out. One Eleven Records contacted us around then.

In the meanwhile, we recorded a CD on our own. It was a goddamned nightmare like almost every recording process was. Arguments, too much talk, rush rush rush and the botched MIDI were a sign of things to come. In the end, we came out with Come Closer, which I believe the band was and is still proud of.

We toured to support it on our own. We ended up in New England in February 2007, with the first real freeze of the year. I remember my bones being so cold that movement in my arms was inhibited. I think the tour highlights were a minor riot in Chattanooga with hardcore dancing rednecks, a 17-hour overnight drive from NYC to Louisville, a slurred-voice classic «I never thought peer pressure would happen to me», half the band sloppily and loudly drunk in a Connecticut mall, a 3 foot long slice of pizza in DC, parallel parking a van and trailer in Brooklyn, cold, and DA opening for a bewildered all-core lineup in Nashville.

Mike quit after the tour. We cancelled the next 3 weeks worth of shows. In this time I learned to play keys and sing. Jesse also moved up to lead guitar and a two-amp setup. The DA «tiered dynamics» sound, akin to an audial-danceable assault of tanks, began around this time.

In April 2007, we self-released the Touch Me EP. It was rushed but golden, and certainly the least-miserable recording experience the band ever had. Producer Chris Unck pushed the band and kept everyone thoroughly happy. This release included the first appearance of Lovely Lovely. In the months following this, we were signed to One Eleven Records.

For the rest of 2007, DA toured regionally and rehearsed what was to become the Be Mine album. By this time, everyone had become well-accustomed to their roles and eyes were hopeful and to the future.

We decided to relocate to Florida, where Jesse and myself had family, for cheaper living with the idea being that we could tour easier. This happened around December, right before entering the studio with Matt Malpass for the Be Mine sessions.

In the turmoil that followed, we ended with an amazing album and one less member. The personal cost for Be Mine was high, but the result was a vivid rollercoaster of emotion put to sound. Ecstasy, shame, guilt, tongue-in-cheek sexuality, love, and religion rolled song to song. DA was and is wholly proud of the work on Be Mine.

After settling in Florida, we were first joined by Patrick Hutchinson, and then Johnny Ray on bass. The first half of the year was fairly quiet, then with the release of the CD things started happening.

In latter 2008, DA toured the states with MSI, playing to their beautiful fans. We slayed every night, saw most of the country, and had a no regrets blast. The stories of the tour could fill a small notebook.

At the tour’s end, most of the band quit. No hard feelings.

For whatever the future may be or the past was, everyone that is or was DA is ever thankful of the fans that let our sound into their lives. Every show was a blast and an honor.