Envy On The Coast

The emo-rock outfit Envy on the Coast originated on Long Island among a group of friends that included Brian Byrne on guitar and vocals, Ryan Hunter handling vocals and guitar, Jeremy Velardi on bass, and Sal Bossio on piano. Although shaped by the Foo Fighters and Queen, their sound bore closer resemblance to Something Corporate and Saves the Day. After playing together for a year, they added drummer Dan Gluszak to the lineup in January 2005. The band then linked up with Bryan Russell, a former Hit Factory producer and engineer, who agreed to record their debut effort at no cost. Sessions started that April, and the resulting early demos impressed Straylight Run’s Will Noon along with booking agent Matt Galle, whose prior clients included Taking Back Sunday and My Chemical Romance. Those connections led to opening slots with Angels and Airwaves, Hit the Lights, and 30 Seconds to Mars. The group capitalized on the exposure to promote its self-titled debut EP, released in September 2006 via the independent Photo Finish Records. Their first full-length album, Lucy Gray, surfaced in summer 2007 and was followed by a tour alongside Circa Survive and As Tall as Lions. After Dan Gluszak exited in 2009, the remaining members tracked their second album, Low Country, as a four-piece and issued it in 2010. Shortly afterward they posted a Facebook announcement that the band was ending, prompting a six-year hiatus. In February 2016 Ryan Hunter and Bryan Byrne revived the project, leading to the EP Ritual, which Equal Vision released the next year.