Biography
Downstage was first brought together in 1995 when Charlie Berezansky and Jim Regan met on a bus ride home from school. An instant bond developed between the two young musicians and, by 2000, the current line up (consisting of Berezansky on lead vocals and guitar, Regan on guitar and 2nd vocals, Todd Raupp on bass and Justin Hetrick on drums) took final shape and they have not looked back since.
Dispensing a uniquely accessible blend of alternative hard rock and deliberate song craft (some similar comparisons have been made to Chevelle, Incubus, Quicksand, Cold, Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots), this hard-working, hard-hitting, hard-as-nails four piece is a music force to be reckoned with, amassing more stellar accomplishments in their short time together than other bands have in twice as much time.
In early 2002, Downstage played over 50 shows in little more than five months, expanding on an already fervent fan base in the process. That same year Downstage was nominated for “Best Hard Act” at the Asbury Music Awards; was awarded semi-finalist status in the 3rd Annual New Jersey Battle of the Bands and contributed to the “Live and Loud Vol. 1” compilation disc on Media 5’s record label produced by John Seymore (Thursday/Mighty Mighty Bosstones).
Not a band to rest on its laurels, Downstage demonstrated a definitive skill for delivering compelling performances at top-rated music venues by kicking off a rigorous tour in early 2003 throughout the east and west coasts, packing them in at CBGB’s, The Continental, The Village Underground in New York; The Stone Pony, The Whiskey Bar and The Saint in New Jersey; and The Pontiac in Philadelphia-to name a few on the east coast. On the west coast, in SF the band played in front of a sold-out and extremely receptive crowd at The Pound. At The Troubadour in Hollywood Downstage opened for The Ataris for a secret, sold-out event-playing for more labels and winning the crowd completely over. Then, it was back to the east coast for a steady stream of on-going performances.
It was during this period the band completed work on FLIRTING WITH DISASTER. This debut EP – produced by Chris Gibson (Quicksand, Rival Schools)– was a breakout success, attracting interest from radio and the record industry-at-large. Featuring high-powered, guitar-driven and groove-laden songs such as “Truly”, “Set on the Sun”, “Today is Everything” and “If You Return”, the release established a new benchmark for heavy rock with mainstream appeal, a level to which other bands will be hard pressed to attain.
Downstage is now poised to step onto the larger world stage, taking its energetic live show and a fresh canon of intense, original songs to a wider, highly expectant audience.
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