Loudermilk

The heavy rock outfit Loudermilk consists of Davey Ingersoll handling vocals and guitar, Mark Watrous on guitar, Shane Middleton playing bass, and Isaac Carpenter behind the drums. Loudermilk came together in 1995 within the suburban Tri-Cities area of Washington state, riding the wave created by the surging popularity of acts such as Guns N' Roses and Mötley Crüe while also drawing from the compelling grunge movement unfolding four hours to the north in Seattle. Still teenagers, the group launched a Guns N' Roses tribute act named .22s and Tulips, performing at nearby venues purely for enjoyment. Following their high school graduations, the Loudermilk members recognized that a standard corporate path would not suit them. Loudermilk issued Man With Gun Kills 3 independently via She's an Anchor in 1998. An unreleased demo reached American Recordings, elevating the band to major status. They gained road experience through tours alongside Mötley Crüe and Megadeth as their musical style developed. Although their aspirations in rock & roll seemed on track, the association with American proved brief, leaving their intended debut album unreleased. Undeterred, the band secured a deal with DreamWorks, which signed them at the start of 2002. Several months afterward, they put out their debut album The Red Record.