Downplay

Downplay
Background information
Origin

Athens, Ohio, USA

Columbus, Ohio, USA
Genres Alternative metal, alternative rock
Years active 2003–Present
Labels Epic Records, True Anomaly Records, In De Groot Management, FEC Records
Associated acts Puddle of Mud, Sevendust, Starset, Live My Last
Members Dustin Bates
Ron DeChant
Brian Patrick
Past members George Andres
Brandon Hill
Greg Huzyak
Nick Kiser
Chad White
Mike Mealey
Bobby Withers
Derek Snowden
Brandon Zano
Trevor Connor
Kyle Leavitt
Corey Catlett
Evan McKeever

Downplay is an American rock band formed in Athens, Ohio in 2003 and now based in Columbus, Ohio. The band consists of Dustin Bates, Ron DeChant and Brian Patrick. The band has released seven albums to date and have recorded with producer Dave Fortman. Their song "Hated You From Hello" was featured for Game Changer of the Year in the 2011 WWE Slammy's.

History

Formation and Saturday (2001-06)

Downplay originated near Youngstown, OH, in Salem, in 2001. Originally a cover band, the band entertained crowds in bars before many of its members were old enough to drink. Soon after, the band (composed of Dustin Bates, Brandon Hill, Nick Kiser, and Chad White) moved to Ohio University in Athens, where two of the original members enrolled.[1] [2] Over the next three years the band developed its sound and live show and found a major fan base in the Athens area while attending school there.[3]

One story says that the band's name was ironically stumbled upon during one of the many fights that occurred during the early days of the original Downplay line-up (Bates, Hill, George Andres, and Greg Huzyak) as Bates accused another band member of "downplaying" his role in the argument.[4] But it has been said in interviews that Bates didn't want their original music to be downplayed whilst they were still a cover band.[5] [6]

In 2005, Downplay reorganized as an original band. Their first studio album,[7] 'Saturday,' was recorded "in about a day" on a $1,000 budget at Ohio University’s student ran audio production studio and released during its time at OU. It included a “bonus track,” a spoof hip-hop song about an OU frat bar "The Crystal," which became a student/bar favorite with over 3,000 downloads.[8] Downplay found its niche for energetic live rock shows at Ohio University, playing the famous events like the Halloween Block Party, PalmerFest,[9] [10] and the numbered fests (threefest,[11] [12] fourfest,[13] fivefest, etc). [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] In 2006, upon most of the members graduating from OU, the band moved to Columbus, OH, and played a mix of covers and original music.[20]

A Day Without Gravity (2007-09)

Downplay returned to the studio in late-2007, this time at Cleveland-based Jungle Recording Studio. Around the same time Bates, with the contribution of loyal friends, established an indie rock record label (True Anomaly Records, LLC), and signed Downplay to the label under a one album contract. 'A Day Without Gravity' was released in October.[21] The cost of the second studio album was approximately $16,000.[22] This record had a more polished sound and displayed the bands improvements in song writing over their first album, and helped the band begin to expand across the state of Ohio.[23] In 2008, Mike Mealey became Downplay's fifth member,[24] [25] [26] then the lineup changed save for Bates and Mealey in 2009.

The year of 2009 was full of showcases for Atlantic, Virgin/Capitol, Island, Mercury, and Epic Records, both in Columbus and in New York City for Downplay.[27] [28] On November 17th, they released their first EP, 'Rise. Fall. Repeat.'[29] From this time into the first half of 2010, Bobby Withers, Ron DeChant, Derek Snowden, and Brandon Zano were in the band for a short amount of time.[30] [31] [32] [33]

Line-up change and record deal (2010-11)

The band signed with In De Goot Management in April of 2010 and went on their first major tour with Puddle of Mudd and Sevendust.[34] In June, the band signed with Epic Records.[35] [36] [37] Immediately after, Bates went to Los Angeles to begin writing the first major-label debut. "We're the first hard rock band to sign with Epic Records in the last five years," said Bates.[38] Throughout this period, Downplay accumulated the lineup of Trevor Connor, Evan Mckeever, Brian Patrick and Corey Catlett.[39] [40] As a holder of an electrical engineering degree and a masters degree in avionic engineering, Bates said he was moving toward a PhD at Ohio University, "clear up until the record deal."[41]

In January of 2011, Downplay began recording their third record with producer Dave Fortman (Evanescence, Slipknot, Mudvayne, Godsmack)[42] [43] [44] in New Orleans where they cut their first album. The working title was "Sleep" and the album would have had 12 songs and two bonus tracks available for download from ITunes as well as a different track from Amazon.[45] [46] It was finished in May. Downplay played with a number of rock bands, including Chevelle, 10 Years, Theory of a Deadman, Crossfade and on a number of major rock festivals including Rock on the Range in Columbus and XFest in Dayton.[47] In October 2011, after realizing that the album that was recorded for Epic would not come out until 2012, the band quickly got in the studio and recorded an album that was to be released on December 1st for all the fans that they had promised a record to by the end of 2011, which turned out to be their third studio album, 'Beyond the Machine.'[48] [49] Then later in the month, the band was dropped by Epic Records so the label could sign bands from the new TV show The X-Factor.[50] In December, Downplay released their first music video for their song, 'Digging It Out.'[51] After the release of Beyond the Machine, their song 'Hated You From Hello' was used by WWE.[52] [53]

Extended plays and Connor's departure and death (2012)

In 2012, Downplay released their second EP, 'Radiocalypse' in May.[54] Their second music video, 'Where Did You Go,' was released the following month.[55] During this time, DeChant rejoined the band.

In July, Downplay announced that Connor was leaving the band to pursue other interests. On the day before the release of Downplay's third EP, 'The Human Condition,' Connor passed away.[56] Later in the week, the band performed a tribute to Connor on 99.7 The Blitz.

Stripped (2013-present)

In July 2013, the band released an acoustic record, their fourth studio album, entitled 'Stripped'.[57]

During an AMA on Reddit in August 2014, Bates revealed that he's still working on new music for Downplay, but hasn't received the "blessing" of the label to release it.[58]

On February 6th, 2016, Dechant posted a band reunion photo of himself and Bates together with former members of Downplay including Hill, Kiser, McKeever, Mealey and White.[59]

Band members

Current
Past members

Discography

Albums
EPs
Singles

Notable appearances

References

  1. ↑ https://www.sonicbids.com/band/downplay/
  2. ↑ http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/10052/rec/1
  3. ↑ http://www.artisttrove.com/artist/9731115630/Downplay
  4. ↑ http://downplay.musikear.com/
  5. ↑ http://reviewonline.com/page/content.detail/id/545622/-Epic--achievement.html?nav=5039
  6. ↑ http://thelantern.com/2008/05/video-local-rockers-fly-to-stardom/
  7. ↑ http://www.thepostathens.com/band-mixes-its-straight-up-rock-with-plenty-of-beer/article_b34a8226-75e3-5cac-ad69-cd76102c0af5.html
  8. ↑ https://www.sonicbids.com/band/downplay/
  9. ↑ http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/11208/rec/7
  10. ↑ http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/9881/rec/13
  11. ↑ http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/11255/rec/35
  12. ↑ http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/11264/rec/38
  13. ↑ http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/12611/rec/67
  14. ↑ http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/13633/rec/9
  15. ↑ http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/15025/rec/5
  16. ↑ http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/15156/rec/45
  17. ↑ http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/16084/rec/70
  18. ↑ http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/16172/rec/19
  19. ↑ http://www.last.fm/music/Downplay/+wiki
  20. ↑ http://www.artisttrove.com/artist/9731115630/Downplay
  21. ↑ http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/12958/rec/10
  22. ↑ https://www.sonicbids.com/band/downplay/
  23. ↑ http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/14104/rec/8
  24. ↑ http://www.morningjournalnews.com/page/content.detail/id/506675/Band-with-Salem-ties-gets-chance-at-big-time-record-contract--concert-set.html?nav=5019
  25. ↑ http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/nov/20/downplay-to-perform-for-capitol-records-scout/?print
  26. ↑ http://www.salem.lib.oh.us/SalemHistory/Quakernewspapers/2008/Vol_96_No_3_Dec_2008_Part3.pdf
  27. ↑ http://www.artisttrove.com/artist/9731115630/Downplay
  28. ↑ http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/15973/rec/7
  29. ↑ "Downplay on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
  30. ↑ http://adamwagner1990.weebly.com/uploads/2/8/5/0/28509427/clipdownplay.pdf
  31. ↑ http://article.wn.com/view/WNAT10d648cb7c7095b59013ae4390a64886/
  32. ↑ http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/weekender/2010/03/25/local-limelight.html
  33. ↑ "Interview – DOWNPLAY | Musician Photo Journal". www.musicianphotojournal.com. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  34. ↑ http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/16200/rec/2
  35. ↑ http://www.artisttrove.com/artist/9731115630/Downplay
  36. ↑ http://www5.vindy.com/news/2010/jul/29/downplay-signs-with-epic-will-release-de/?print
  37. ↑ http://rm64.com/2010/08/03/ar-briefs/
  38. ↑ http://www.morningjournalnews.com/page/content.detail/id/533290/-Epic--achievement.html?nav=5019
  39. ↑ http://www.artisttrove.com/artist/9731115630/Downplay
  40. ↑ http://noise.typepad.com/local_music_beat/2012/05/qa-with-downplay-singer-dustin-bates-playing-ulis-haus-of-rock-thursday.html
  41. ↑ http://www.morningjournalnews.com/page/content.detail/id/533290/-Epic--achievement.html?nav=5019
  42. ↑ http://www.artisttrove.com/artist/9731115630/Downplay
  43. ↑ http://www.thepostathens.com/culture/downplay-explores-with-new-album/article_5bfac8c4-bf38-5719-af97-cd624c713dc6.html
  44. ↑ http://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2011/05/18/downplay-at-rock-on-the-range.html
  45. ↑ http://www.morningjournalnews.com/page/content.detail/id/533290/-Epic--achievement.html?nav=5019
  46. ↑ http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/17231/rec/8
  47. ↑ http://www.artisttrove.com/artist/9731115630/Downplay
  48. ↑ http://www.onesheet.com/downplay/profile/#description
  49. ↑ http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/play/3066783
  50. ↑ http://www.artisttrove.com/artist/9731115630/Downplay
  51. ↑ "weChameleon | DOWNPLAY's debut video". www.wechameleon.com. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  52. ↑ "Downplay | Rock from Columbus, OH". ReverbNation. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  53. ↑ "Downplay on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
  54. ↑ "Downplay is upbeat about new freedom and projects". www.vindy.com. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  55. ↑ "Downplay on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
  56. ↑ "Former Downplay guitarist Trevor Connor passes away". Alternanoise. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  57. ↑ "Downplay | Rock from Columbus, OH". ReverbNation. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
  58. ↑ "I am Dustin Bates, the singer and primary songwriter of the cinematic rock band STARSET from Columbus, OH, and this is my AMA. • /r/Music". reddit. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  59. ↑ "Instagram photo by @rondechant • Feb 6, 2016 at 5:42pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2016-04-17.

http://www.artisttrove.com/artist/9731115630/Downplay https://www.sonicbids.com/band/downplay/ http://www.morningjournalnews.com/page/content.detail/id/533290/-Epic--achievement.html?nav=5019 https://www.reverbnation.com/downplay

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, May 01, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.