Biography
Before their 2000 graduation from York High School, the five members of Maine’s Jeremiah Freed faced the prospect of four years at university. They had already completed the SAT, toured campuses, submitted applications, and secured acceptances at the institutions they preferred. Rather than enroll, however, the entire group chose instead to devote themselves to music after Ripchord Artist Management extended an offer of representation. Their preparation had consisted of years spent absorbing the recorded legacies of the Who and Led Zeppelin, and that immersion now yielded tangible results. A self-released, self-titled album appeared, two tracks of which—“How They All Got Here” and “Again”—were produced by Beau Hill, whose prior clients included Ratt, Bad Brains, and Alice Cooper. The songs received extensive local radio exposure and strong listener response, leading to an invitation to share a WCYY-sponsored regional holiday bill with Saliva and Nickelback before an audience of eight thousand. Only four weeks after the debut’s release—less than two years after the bandmates had left high school—both Island Records and Republic/Universal Records expressed serious interest and entered a bidding contest. Republic/Universal prevailed, and the group immediately began recording a second album with Hill.
Vocalist Joe Smith and guitarist Nick Goodale had been friends since childhood, often spending afternoons playing basketball. When Goodale’s father began teaching his son the guitar, Smith elected to take up singing so the friendship would not be lost; the pair soon began writing original material together. Drummer Kerry Ryan, bassist Matt Cosby, and rhythm guitarist Jake Roche joined in succession. The song “Out of Trust” honors Joe’s father, Charlie Smith, who died of cancer; the band dedicated the album to him. Although Charlie Smith had long valued a college education, he ultimately encouraged his son to follow a career in music.
Vocalist Joe Smith and guitarist Nick Goodale had been friends since childhood, often spending afternoons playing basketball. When Goodale’s father began teaching his son the guitar, Smith elected to take up singing so the friendship would not be lost; the pair soon began writing original material together. Drummer Kerry Ryan, bassist Matt Cosby, and rhythm guitarist Jake Roche joined in succession. The song “Out of Trust” honors Joe’s father, Charlie Smith, who died of cancer; the band dedicated the album to him. Although Charlie Smith had long valued a college education, he ultimately encouraged his son to follow a career in music.
Albums
