Static Thought

The East Bay section of San Francisco has long functioned as fertile ground for developing punk bands, and Static Thought's gritty, street-rooted hardcore approach aligned closely with that legacy. Drawing primary inspiration from late-'70s groups including G.B.H., U.K. Subs, and Black Flag, plus the area's leading act Rancid, the band performed live for several years before issuing the 2003 EP Outta Control. The effort earned modest regional notice, and after a personnel shift two years later the group delivered a five-song album that reached the attention of Rancid's Tim Armstrong. This opportunity produced a slot at one of Hellcat's noted club showcases at Los Angeles' the Echo, leading Static Thought to confirm their signing to Hellcat Records in August 2006. After completing a full year of recording, vocalist/guitarist Eric Urbach (then still a high-school senior), bassist/vocalist Mike Have-Not (aka Mike Leon), drummer Travis Davant, and guitarist/vocalist Danny Garcia unveiled their first release for the label, In the Trenches, in late January 2007.