The Track Record
The Track Record was a pop punk band from Annapolis, Maryland that was formerly signed to Rushmore Records. Michael Strackbein plays bass and sings, Rob Elson plays guitars and does most of the writing, Hasani Martin plays drums, and Rob Viti plays guitar. Rob Elson and Hasani attended the University of Maryland, College Park until they decided to pursue the band full-time. Both Robs play on Fender Stratocaster guitars while Michael plays a Gretsch bass. They are influenced by New Found Glory, Blink 182, The Starting Line and U2.
The band formed in 2003 and soon after recorded what they call "the 2003 EP". The EP had six songs, including "Letters to Summer". "Letters to Summer" was also on their second EP recorded in 2004. This EP was re-released in 2005 after they were signed by Rushmore Records. They were the first band asked to be signed by Rushmore, but due to legal complications they were the fourth band signed after Self Against City, Day at the Fair, and Houston Calls.[1] Their first national tour was in the summer of 2005 with Rookie of the Year. They also played select dates of the 2005 Vans Warped Tour.
In September 2006, The Track Record left Rushmore records and entered the studio to record their debut full length titled "The Coolest Kind of Crazy" which would be released by the band, independent of any record label. The title is also the last line of the record. Soon after completion of the album, they left for their second national tour with Southcott and Upper Class Trash. The album was available on their website for pre-sale on Thanksgiving weekend 2006 while the band was in Yorba Linda, California. The band has also played with other bands such as Hidden in Plain View and Hellogoodbye.
The Track Record announced on their MySpace page on May 2, 2007 that they "decided to stop playing music as The Track Record….we are breaking up or going on "indefinite hiatus," if you will." Their final performance as a band was performed at Recher Theatre on August 19, 2007, with The Dangerous Summer, Gatsby Gets The Green Light, The Spotlight, and You Me and Everyone We Know.
Guitarist Rob Viti died in February 2011 at the age of 26.[2]
Discography
Albums
- "The Coolest Kind of Crazy" (2006)
EPs
- "The 2003 EP" (2003)
- "The Track Record EP" (2005) released on Rushmore Records
Non Album Tracks
- "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - on Happy Holidays from Drive-Thru Records December, 2004