Later Days

Last updated
Later Days
Origin Naples, Florida, United States
Genres Rock
Years active2001–present
Members
  • Mike Wassef
  • Derrick Peltz
  • John Faratzis
  • Paul Martello
Past members
  • Josh Eaton
  • Robert Curtin
  • Chris Knific
  • Patrick Coleman
Website http://www.facebook.com/laterdaysrock

Later Days is an American rock band from Naples, Florida formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Mike Wassef, guitarist John Faratzis, drummer Derrick "D-Rock" Peltz, and bassist Paul Martello.

Contents

Early years

The band was formed by lead singer Mike Wassef in 2001 in Naples, FL. For the 3 years, they released numerous demos and played shows throughout South Florida, many with good friends and contemporaries Fake Problems. This period culminated with the release of "I've Got My Fingers Crossed, But I'm Not Holding My Breath" in 2003, which was recorded at Skylab Studios in Gainesville, FL and Produced by Maharamzeez and John Faratzis

Catch This Epidemic...

In 2005 the band recorded with Incubus producer, Jim Wirt at 4th Street Studios in Santa Monica, California and Ameraycan/Paramount Studios in North Hollywood, California, releasing a five-song EP, featuring guest piano parts from Andrew McMahon of Something Corporate and Jack's Mannequin. [1]

The band toured on this release for the next year, playing with acts like Black Light Burns, Horse the Band, Foxy Shazam, and Forever the Sickest Kids at places ranging from small venues to ones as big as the Masquerade in Atlanta, GA. In the Summer of 2005 the band was chosen to play on the Ernie Ball Stage of the Vans Warped Tour battling with who would become pop-punk contemporaries We The Kings at Vinoy Park in Tampa, Florida.

I Heard They're Getting Huge

The band returned to the studio with Jim Wirt to record the follow-up "I Heard They're Getting Huge". Two of the tracks from the session, "Shake It" and "Everything", were then mixed by multi-platinum Grammy-nominated producer David Bendeth. [2] The album was quickly chosen for sale at Hot Topic stores nationwide, and Alternative Press dubbed them "damn good in our book". [3]

After this release, the Naples Daily News described Later Days as "writing and performing rock songs that would make party-boys Blink 182 envious." [4] Soon after, CSTV selected Later Days from over 2,000 submissions as their top collegiate band and sent them to Reno, Nevada to perform at the Collegiate Nationals Musical Festival. [5] While there, the band recorded an interview with skier Johnny Moseley for his show on Sirius Radio Channel 28 The Faction.

Later Days Decisions

Instead of booking a normal support tour in dive bars and nightclubs, the band adopted Patrick Coleman to play bass and founded the motivational speaking campaign Later Days Decisions, in a move that has been described as "pop-punk Mother Teresa." [3] The group teamed with SWAT and the Florida Department of Health to incorporate drummer Derrick Peltz's inspirational anti-substance abuse story into the setting of a rock concert. They took their act to middle schools across the state, receiving great reviews. [6] The program is active and currently plays throughout the Greater Los Angeles area.

Don't Forget the Name

In 2009, the group entered the studio with producer Steve Evetts, and in three months emerged with the break-out "Don't Forget the Name." They used their connections with Home Grown bassist Adam Lohrbach and News Years' Day singer Ashley Costello to bring her into the studio to record guest vocals. The band relocated to Los Angeles full-time to support it. Therecordrebellion.com called it a "crowd favorite" with "catchy riffs and lyrics" and an "upbeat tempo." [7]

Wango Tango & The Los Angeles Years

In January 2009, the band recruited Paul Martello to play bass. The foursome played multiple shows at The Canyon Club, El Rey Theatre, Whisky a Go Go, Troubador and a sold-out show at the Knitting Factory. In 2010, Los Angeles based radio station KIIS FM named Later Days the winner of their Taco Bell Breakout Star contest where they won $10,000 and a spot to play their annual Wango Tango concert. [8] From a video submission Later Days was picked to perform in the semi-finals at Universal CityWalk and then went on to win the finals one week later. After their performance at Wango Tango, online music blog "I Am Pop Culture" featured them as a band to keep an eye out for calling them, "great entertainers" and "really exciting to watch on stage." [9] Noted Upstate New York blogger Jeanie DiNapoli from Times Union (Albany) called their KIIS win "the big break they have been waiting for." [10] Their single P.C.H. (Hustle This Place) is currently in rotation on KIIS.

On April 9, 2011, they garnered over 100,000 online votes to win the LA Kings Live Music Nights contest to become the first act to perform live music during the intermission of an LA Kings game. [11] It marked the fourth time they played the Staples Center in less than a year. [12]

Television placement

In April 2011, television producers Bunim-Murray, creators of such reality shows as The Real World , placed the song "P.C.H (Hustle This Place)" as the theme for VH1's reality show Saddle Ranch . The song about the Pacific Coast Highway includes the chorus "Let's have fun tonight, let the cops come and pick a fight, we're gonna hustle this place until everybody knows our name." The show is based on the Sunset Strip restaurant called Saddle Ranch in Hollywood, California. [13] Ex's Bestfriend, off their 2009 release Don't Forget The Name , was featured in the Warped Tour episode of The Real World: San Diego. There have been continuous placements off Later Days album "Don't Forget The Name" featured on Oxygen network's TV show Bad Girls Club —a few of the featured songs have included angst anthems "Five Little Friends" and "Grady Scott (Goodnight, Goodbye)". On September 16, 2012, their song "Changes" off the album Don't Forget The Name was featured on the season finale of season 7 of Keeping Up With The Kardashians .

In August 2011, singer-songwriter-producer Mike Wassef got invited to join as a member of the Screen Actors Guild, as he appeared as a principal performer in a nationally run television advertisement for T-Mobile. [14]

Philanthropy

Mike Wassef is a presiding member, and president for non-profit organization Maria's Birthday Wishes For the Homeless, 501(c)(3).

Mike Wassef and the members of Later Days are frequently involved with the activities supporting the Emily Shane Foundation, 501(c)(3), a non-profit organization that was founded by producer Michel Shane in honor of his late daughter Emily Shane who was a loyal fan of the group.

Discography

Date of releaseTitleProduced ByMixed BySongwriter
2003I've Got My Fingers Crossed, but I'm Not Holding My Breath Mike Wassef Mike Wassef Mike Wassef, John Faratzis, Derrick Peltz --
2005Catch This Epidemic... EP Jim Wirt C.J. Eriksonn Mike Wassef, John Faratzis, Derrick Peltz
2007I Heard They're Getting Huge Jim Wirt David Bendeth ("Shake It") Mike Wassef, John Faratzis, Derrick Peltz
2009Don't Forget the Name Steve Evetts Steve Evetts Mike Wassef, John Faratzis, Derrick Peltz
2012Paige Miles—related act

"Affair W/The Industry (The Miles Chronicles)"

Mike Wassef & Robert Curtin Robert Curtin

Mastered by Robert Curtin

Mike Wassef, John Faratzis, Derrick Peltz
JAN 2012Gnar Gnar VS The World (Daywalker Anthem) Single Mike Wassef & Robert Curtin Robert Curtin Mike Wassef, John Faratzis, Derrick Peltz
FEB 2012#littlemonstersBIGPROBLEMS (alexWISEUPandSOLVEM) feat. Paige Miles Single Mike Wassef & Robert Curtin Robert Curtin Mike Wassef, Derrick Peltz

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Incubus (band)</span> American rock band

Incubus is an American rock band from Calabasas, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer José Pasillas while enrolled in Calabasas High School and later expanded to include bassist Alex "Dirk Lance" Katunich, and Gavin "DJ Lyfe" Koppell; both of whom were replaced by bassist Ben Kenney and DJ Kilmore, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turin Brakes</span> English rock band

Turin Brakes are an English band, comprising original duo of Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian, and long-term collaborators Rob Allum and Eddie Myer. They had a UK top 5 hit in 2003 with their song "Painkiller ". Since starting out in 1999, the band have sold around one million records worldwide. They are currently signed to Cooking Vinyl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kings of Leon</span> American rock band

Kings of Leon is an American rock band formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1999. The band is composed of brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill, and their cousin Matthew Followill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glass Tiger</span> Canadian music band

Glass Tiger is a Canadian rock band from Newmarket, Ontario that formed in 1983. The band has released five studio albums. Its 1986 debut album, The Thin Red Line, went quadruple platinum in Canada and gold in the United States. Two singles from that album, "Don't Forget Me " and "Someday", reached the U.S. Top 10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ween</span> American rock band

Ween is an American rock band from New Hope, Pennsylvania, formed in 1984 by Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo, better known by their respective stage names, Gene and Dean Ween. Generally categorized as an alternative rock band, the band are known for their irreverent, highly eclectic catalog of songs inspired by funk, soul, country, gospel, prog, psychedelia, R&B, heavy metal, and punk rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings</span> American funk/soul band

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings were an American funk and soul band signed to Daptone Records. They were part of a revival movement of mid-1960s to mid-1970s style funk and soul music. They released their debut album Dap Dippin' in 2002, the first of seven studio albums. Their 2014 album Give the People What They Want was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. Following Sharon Jones' death in 2016, the band released the posthumous album Soul of a Woman in 2017 and a compilation of cover songs in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Bachmann</span> American musician/producer

Eric Emil Bachmann is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer. He rose to prominence as the frontman of Archers of Loaf and Crooked Fingers. Originally a saxophone major at Appalachian State University, Bachmann’s music is distinctive for its creative and innovative arrangements. In addition to the guitar, he plays the piano and banjo regularly on tour. He was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, and grew up throughout the Southern United States. He currently lives in Athens, Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First (Lindsay Lohan song)</span> 2005 single by Lindsay Lohan

"First" is a song recorded by American actress and singer Lindsay Lohan for her debut studio album Speak (2004). It was released as the album's third and final single on May 9, 2005. "First" was also released to help promote the Disney film Herbie: Fully Loaded, in which it appears on the soundtrack. Lohan starred in the film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Whigs (band)</span> American rock band

The Whigs are an American garage rock band from Athens, Georgia, consisting of lead singer and guitarist Parker Gispert, drummer Julian Dorio and bassist Timothy Deaux.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tokyo Police Club</span> Canadian indie rock band

Tokyo Police Club is an indie rock band from Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 2005, it consists of vocalist and bassist Dave Monks, keyboardist Graham Wright, guitarist Josh Hook, and drummer Greg Alsop. The band found early success with their 2006 debut EP A Lesson in Crime, which they followed with several popular releases including the albums Elephant Shell and Champ in 2008 and 2010, respectively. During the 2010s, they released three other studio albums. Among other nominations, the band has been twice nominated for the Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year, in 2011 for Champ and in 2019 for TPC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Twilight Sad</span> Scottish post-punk/indie rock band

The Twilight Sad are a Scottish post-punk/indie rock band, comprising James Graham (vocals), Andy MacFarlane (guitar), Johnny Docherty (bass), Brendan Smith (keyboards) and Grant Hutchison (drums). They have released five studio albums, as well as several EPs, live recordings and singles. Their 2007 debut album, Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters, drew widespread acclaim from critics, who noted Graham's thick Scottish accent and MacFarlane's dense sonic walls of shoegazing guitar and wheezing accordion. The Twilight Sad's notoriously loud live performances have been described as "completely ear-splitting", and the band toured for the album across Europe and the United States throughout 2007 and 2008. Sessions inspired by stripped-down and reworked live performances yielded the 2008 mini-album, Here, It Never Snowed. Afterwards It Did.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We the Kings</span> American rock band

We the Kings is an American rock band formed in Bradenton, Florida, in 2005. The band's eponymous full-length debut album, released in 2007, included the platinum single "Check Yes Juliet", and went on to sell over 250,000 copies in the US. The group's second album Smile Kid (2009) included Top 40 singles "Heaven Can Wait" and "We'll Be a Dream", as well as the single "She Takes Me High".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Back (Demi Lovato song)</span> 2008 single by Demi Lovato

"Get Back" is the debut non-soundtrack single by American singer Demi Lovato. It was written by Lovato, Joe Jonas, Nick Jonas and Kevin Jonas and produced by the Jonas Brothers alongside John Fields, for Lovato's debut studio album, Don't Forget. The song features Jack Lawless on drums and John Taylor and the Jonas Brothers on guitars. The initial writing of the song took place when Lovato wanted to write a song about getting back together with an old boyfriend, as opposed to writing mean or heartbroken songs. "Get Back" was released by Hollywood Records as the lead single for Don't Forget on August 12, 2008. Musically, the song is an upbeat punk rock song with a guitar-driven sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chickenfoot</span> American rock supergroup

Chickenfoot is an American hard rock supergroup formed in 2008. The group consists of vocalist Sammy Hagar, bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Joe Satriani, and drummer Chad Smith. Due to Smith's consistent recording and touring commitments with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kenny Aronoff joined the group in 2011 as a touring replacement drummer. While the band has not formally announced a breakup, in June 2016 Smith said that he had doubts about its survival due to their busy schedules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Young Guns (band)</span> English alternative rock band

Young Guns are an English alternative rock band from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The members, working with each other in various musical interests throughout the 2000s, formally formed the band in 2008, and rose to prominence after their debut EP, Mirrors, earned them spots opening live shows for Bon Jovi and Guns N' Roses. Their debut album, All Our Kings Are Dead, on 12 July 2010. Their second album, Bones, was released in February 2012. Their single "Bones" reached no. 1 on the Billboard Active Rock charts in the US in May 2013. Their third album, Ones and Zeros, was released on 9 June 2015. The band's fourth album, Echoes, was released on 16 September 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Bacolas</span> American musician (born 1969)

Johnny Bacolas is an American musician, composer and producer. He is best known for his work with the post-grunge band Second Coming, where he played bass guitar. He was also a founding member of the band Sleze, which was later renamed Alice N' Chains, The Crying Spell, Lotus Crush, and The Rumba Kings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallon Weekes</span> American musician and singer-songwriter from Utah

Dallon James Weekes is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is best known as a member of Panic! at the Disco from 2009 to 2017, performing in the band as a bassist, keyboardist, backing vocalist, and songwriter. He was also the frontman of the power pop band and later solo musical project The Brobecks. Weekes currently performs as the frontman of I Dont Know How But They Found Me.

<i>Party Heard Around the World</i> 2010 studio album by Lonestar

Party Heard Around the World is the eighth studio album by American country music group Lonestar, released on April 27, 2010. It is the band's first studio album since 2006's Mountains. It debuted at No. 20 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and No. 100 on the Billboard 200, selling 5,000 copies in its first week. It is the only album to feature Cody Collins on lead vocals since Richie McDonald left in 2007 to pursue a solo career then returned the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Year Without Rain Tour</span> 2010–11 concert tour by Selena Gomez & the Scene

The A Year Without Rain Tour was the second concert tour by American band Selena Gomez & the Scene. Marked as the band's headlining tour, it supported their second studio album, A Year Without Rain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(I Can't) Forget About You</span> 2013 single by R5

"(I Can't) Forget About You" is a song by American pop rock band R5, taken from their debut studio album, Louder. The song was released as the third single on December 25, 2013.

References

  1. "Later Days Demo". AbsolutePunk.net. 2009-05-29. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  2. "Later Days Leaves Fla. for the big time in LA". Naples Daily News. 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  3. 1 2 "// AP: APR - Later Days". Altpress.com. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  4. "Later Days Makes Music, Motivational Speeches". Naples Daily News. 2007-06-08. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  5. "Collegiate Nationals Rocks out Reno". Laterdaysrock.com. Archived from the original on 2010-07-26. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  6. "Later Days Decisions. Hear the Music. Live the Dream". Laterdaysrock.com. Archived from the original on 2010-11-25. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  7. "Album Review - Later Days - Don't forget the Name". Therecordrebellion.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
  8. "102.7 KIIS FM - L.A.'s #1 Hit Music Station!". Kiisfm.com. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  9. "Keep an Eye Out for Later Days". Iampopculture.com. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  10. "Later Days". Timesunion.com. 14 May 2010. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  11. "Rocco's Live Music Night - Later Days - February 24, 2011". Kings.NHL.com. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
  12. "Later Days to Perform at Staples Center". therecordrebellion.com. Archived from the original on 2011-05-13. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  13. "Saddle Ranch". VH1.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  14. "T-Mobile MyTouch 4G". youtube.com. Retrieved 2011-10-25.[ dead YouTube link ]