Fivespeed

Indie rock outfit Fivespeed originated in Peoria, Arizona, yet established its operations in Phoenix, where a dedicated audience gradually developed. Vocalist Jared Woosley fronted the ensemble, which also comprised guitarists Jesse Lacross and Brad Cole, bassist Rob Anderson, and drummer Shane Addington. Sunset Alliance, a Phoenix imprint, issued the band’s first EP, First of the Compact Cars, on May 22, 2001, and the full-length Trade in Your Halo followed on September 10, 2002. The group appeared on the 2002 Vans Warped Tour and soon obtained support slots with various acts, among them fellow Phoenix band Jimmy Eat World. Equal Vision released the subsequent EP Bella on August 2, 2005. After signing with Virgin Records, Fivespeed attracted wider notice when “The Mess,” taken from Bella, registered on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Virgin then issued the major-label debut Morning Over Midnight on January 24, 2006.