The Gloria Record

After Mineral, the emo band based in Austin, Texas, dissolved in 1997, singer and guitarist Chris Simpson joined forces once more with bassist Jeremy Gomez to form the Gloria Record. The pair pursued a markedly acoustic and organic sound unlike their prior work, quickly bringing guitarist Brian Hubbard and drummer Matt Hammon into the fold before releasing the Crank! single “Grace, the Snow Is Here” during autumn 1998. Once their self-titled EP was finished, keyboardist Ben Houtman joined, expanding the group to five members. Matt Hammon departed soon afterward and was succeeded by Jeremy Tappero, who accompanied the band on two U.S. tours; by autumn 1999 Brian Malone had stepped in as permanent drummer. The Lull in Traffic EP followed in spring 2000. Three years later the Gloria Record adopted a harder indie-rock edge and delivered their debut Arena Rock release, Start Here. Plans for a second album were eventually suspended when Chris Simpson began an extended hiatus, later reemerging fronting the indie-pop project Zookeeper.