New End Original

New End Original emerged as a Bay Area, California rock band fusing emocore punk rock with the unpolished, frayed edge associated with Nirvana while folding in strands of post-hardcore, indie rock, and a modest measure of Americana alternative country’s rural grounding. Formation occurred after former Far frontman Jonah Matranga, already active with solo performances and releases under the Onelinedrawing moniker, persuaded longtime acquaintance Norman Arenas to collaborate. Arenas, previously a member of the New York/New Jersey hardcore outfits Shelter and Resurrection, had set aside guitar duties following the 1997 breakup of emocore standard bearers Texas Is the Reason. At the time he was working as a DJ in Chicago yet began exchanging demo tapes through the mail with Matranga. In early 2001 Arenas relocated to the West Coast, where former Texas Is the Reason bassist and grapeOS label co-owner Scott Winegard had recently settled as well. Winegard opted to join forces with Arenas and Matranga, bringing along transplanted Indiana native Charlie Walker, who had previously handled drums for Split Lip and Chamberlain, relocated to New York to perform with Winegard in the Americans, and later supported former Quicksand bassist Sergio Vega on solo tour dates. Once the quartet convened, a single rehearsal convinced them to adopt a fresh band name distinct from Onelinedrawing, which Matranga would continue as his solo vehicle. New End Original secured a Jade Tree recording agreement before performing live even once. They first tracked a substantial collection of quickly written songs under the guidance of former Fudgetunnel leader Alex Newport, then committed the material to tape on the East Coast with producer Brian McTernan after only six rehearsals. The resulting album, bearing the allegedly un-ironically titled Thriller, appeared in fall 2001. That same year Jade Tree issued the non-album B-sides CD single Lukewarm, available solely at shows, via the Web, and through mail-order.