H2O

H2O came together in 1994 when Toby Morse, at the time a roadie for Sick of It All, assembled a circle of friends around a shared vision. The group quickly stood out as one of the stronger acts in the second wave of straight-edge hardcore. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s they maintained a near-constant touring schedule, becoming closely identified with the East Coast hardcore style whose gritty New York City character emerged in melodic guitar work, lyrics guided by clear principles, and brisk tempos. A short period with major label MCA produced the 2001 album Go and the 2002 EP All We Want before the band returned to independent outlets for 2008’s Nothing to Prove.

What began as informal performances of the song “My Love Is Real” during shows that lacked an opening act soon turned into a committed project after audiences responded strongly. The earliest lineup featured Morse on vocals, Rusty Pistachio on guitar, Eric Rice on bass, and Max Capshaw on drums. Persistent roadwork helped build a loyal following along the East Coast, where the band opened for Rancid and No Doubt early in their career. After a 1995 European tour Capshaw departed; ex-Outcrowd members Todd Morse—Toby’s brother—on guitar and Todd Friend on drums stepped in. Further support dates followed with the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Quicksand, and CIV. The self-titled debut appeared in 1996, and Epitaph issued the second album, Thicker Than Water, the following year once Adam Blake, formerly of Shelter, had joined on bass. F.T.T.W. arrived in 1999.

During their MCA years the band also drew notice for their version of Ice Cube’s “It Was a Good Day.” Live performance remained a defining element of their appeal, allowing them to reach fans directly and placing them among the early participants on package events such as Warped Tour. Although they kept touring heavily while on the major label, new studio material did not surface again until Nothing to Prove on Bridge 9 Records. Don’t Forget Your Roots, released in 2011, offered covers of artists who had shaped the band, while 2015’s Use Your Voice marked the twentieth anniversary with a fresh set of originals. Additional touring followed, during which Todd Morse left briefly before returning. Around 2017 the group announced that Use Your Voice would stand as their final studio album, though their future activities remained unspecified at the time. Later that year Bridge 9 issued The Don Fury Demo Session, presenting the six tracks from their earliest 1994 recordings; previously available only on a self-released cassette and a two-song EP, the material was remastered by Don Fury himself two decades after it was first captured.