Biography
During the mid-'90s straight-edge and hardcore revival, By the Grace of God emerged as the most genuine, extreme, and politically vocal outfit. The group gradually stepped away from both scenes once its members grew more politically engaged and voiced sharper critiques of hardcore's embrace of mainstream attitudes and commercial packaging. Vocalist Rob Pennington and guitarist Duncan Barlow launched the project simply to resume creating uplifting, politically charged, high-energy hardcore. Both had previously led the emotionally intense Louisville band Endpoint before pursuing separate post-hardcore, metal, and indie endeavors, most prominently Barlow's work in Guilt. The pair began with intimate performances that swiftly built an audience through their fervent, outspoken delivery. They assembled a lineup drawn from the local scene—Thommy Browne of Enkindels on drums, Jay Palumbo of Empathy and Elliott on guitar, and Benny of Elliott on bass—each participating in the band's between-song declarations of an anti-corporate, local-business-supporting stance. The quintet soon signed with Chicago's Victory label and released the For the Love of Indie Rock EP, whose title served as a lighthearted critique of onetime associates in the Indianapolis band Split Lip. Those musicians had turned toward an indie direction following their For the Love of the Wounded LP on Doghouse, the label once home to Endpoint, thereby distancing themselves from the hardcore roots that By the Grace of God continued to display openly. The EP also featured a Poison Idea cover alongside the group's own anthemic material. A subsequent, more refined Perspective LP was tracked with producer Steve Evetts in his New Jersey facility. Following several regional appearances, Palumbo and Benny departed to devote themselves fully to Elliott and were succeeded by bassist Brian Roundtree and guitarist Robby Scott. The revised lineup then toured nationally alongside Avail, AFI, and Good Riddance. Barlow's growing frustration with violent right-wing elements inside the broader hardcore community prompted him to declare his retirement from the scene, placing the band on hiatus. A pair of purported farewell performances took place in Indiana while additional material intended for a closing EP was captured, after which ties to Victory were cut. Following a short break, the band reconvened with Ohio native George taking Browne's place behind the kit. This configuration remained active while the remaining recordings appeared as the Three Easy Steps to a Better Democracy CD on the Louisville imprint Three Little Girls. Barlow's subsequent relocation to Colorado triggered another dissolution, marked by a final appearance at Krazy Fest 3 in 2000 that included former Endpoint drummer Lee Fitzer sitting in for a pair of Endpoint covers. Several months afterward the group assembled once more, this time to mark Pennington's own move to Colorado, with the lineup consisting of Browne, Palumbo, Scott, and Roundtree. In 2001 Pennington came back to Louisville and formed Black Widows alongside Browne and members of the National Acrobat.
Albums