Set It Off is an American rock band formed in 2008 in Tampa, Florida. The band consists of lead vocalist Cody Carson, guitarist and bassist Zach DeWall, and drummer Maxx Danziger.
The band initially gained a large following through singer Cody Carson's YouTube channel. Set It Off was signed by Equal Vision Records after releasing a string of successful extended-play albums. In 2018, they signed with Fearless Records, which in February 2019 released Midnight, their fourth studio album. In 2022, they released their fifth studio album Elsewhere, in 2023, they announced that they had left Fearless Records and gone independent.[1]
History
Formation (2008)
Cody Carson and Dan Clermont, who met in their high school marching band, formed a band, which brushed against another band created by Austin M. Kerr and Zach DeWall while playing local shows. After high school, Carson left for Ohio to attend the Oberlin Conservatory of Music as a classical clarinet student. In his first year, after exchanging a series of YouTube videos with All Time Low frontman Alex Gaskarth, Carson asked to sing "Coffee Shop Soundtrack" at the group's upcoming concert at the Cleveland House of Blues via a YouTube video.[2][3] The performance led Carson to drop out of college and use his school money to start up the band.[4]
Dewall and Kerr were among the first to join; Dan Clermont followed as the band's lead guitar player. James Arran was Set It Off's first drummer, but financial struggles made gas purchases difficult for him, and he resigned August 24, 2008.[5] He was succeeded by Blake Howell, who soon left the band due to family difficulties.[6] Howell was replaced by Benji Panico on October 30, 2009; he left to pursue his GED and, later, start his own photography studio. Howell introduced the band to their current drummer, Maxx Danziger.
Early releases (2008–2010)
Released their first EP: Baby, You Don't Tripajaharda, on October 31, 2008.
Self-released their EP: Calm Before the Storm[7] on May 16, 2009.
Self-released the single "Hush Hush" on September 6, 2010. A music video was made to accompany the song on October 4, 2010.
Released the single "Together Forever" on November 16, 2010.
Released the single "@Reply" on December 25, 2010. A music video was later made to accompany the song.
Self-released their EP: Horrible Kids, which included "@Reply".
Horrible Kids (2011–2012)
In July 2011, the band announced its signing to Equal Vision Records[8] and that the label would issue a remastered version of its self-released EP Horrible Kids, along with the single "Chase It!" on August 30, 2011.
Carson said, "Our main inspiration in writing this album was derived from personal experiences growing up. I loved being able to turn to songs that I could personally relate to. I want to provide that same kind of coping source for people. I want people to be able to turn on Horrible Kids and pick a song that pinpoints exactly what they're going through and allows them to vent through it."[8]
The album debuted in the top 100 Alternative Albums on iTunes.[9]Horrible Kids was recorded at Red Sparrow Studios in Wilson, North Carolina. It was produced, engineered, and mixed by Brandon Ham and John Harrell.
In July 2012, Set It Off announced the upcoming release of its debut full-length album Cinematics, On September 18, 2012.[10] A deluxe version was released the same day exclusively on iTunes.[11]
Through the VH1 Save the Music Foundation, the band donated $1 for every album sold before September 23 to support music programs in schools. The band also donated their bonus, generating a total donation of $5,000. Equal Vision Records agreed to match the band's donation if the band reached No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart.[12] Cody Carson said, "We're honored to be working with VH1 Save the Music. If it wasn't for the music education program in my high school, Set It Off would not exist. I would not have met our guitarist, Dan Clermont, I wouldn't have been directed toward Oberlin Music Conservatory, and I wouldn't end up with even half of the musical knowledge I possess now. More people need to be able to experience the unity, leadership skills, and work ethic taught by being involved in music education programs in schools. Set It Off strongly endorses this organization for these, among many other, reasons. We're so excited to raise money for them and help spread the word about the importance of music education."[12]
The album, which was produced, mixed, and recorded by Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount at ZK Productions, debuted at No. 174 on the Billboard 200, No. 4 on the Top Heatseekers, and No. 38 on the Independent Albums chart.
The band released an expanded edition of the album with a new cover on June 25, 2013.[13] In October, Fearless Records released the album Punk Goes Christmas, which featured an original Set It Off song, "This Christmas (I'll Burn It to the Ground)."[14]
At the start of the year 2014, Equal Vision Records announced via YouTube that Set It Off would record an album with John Feldmann, which would be released on October 14. The band recorded the album in Los Angeles with several producers, including Brandon Paddock, Tommy English, and Matt Appleton.[15] A music video for "Why Worry" was filmed at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery in Manhattan on August 21, using fans as extras. That August, it was announced that the band would be supporting Black Veil Brides on their headline Black Mass Tour through October and November, joining Falling in Reverse and Drama Club.[16] The first single off the album was released on September 9.[17] The album was included at number 5 on Rock Sound's "Top 50 Albums of the Year" list.[18] The release of the album led to several music videos which, in order of release, are: "Tomorrow", "Ancient History", "Forever Stuck In Our Youth", "The Haunting", and the title track "Duality".
The band announced in February 2015 that they would be playing at the Vans Warped Tour '15 on the Journeys shoe stage. In May, Set It Off announced that Austin Kerr would no longer be a part of the band following sexual assault claims.[20] Kerr subsequently went on to pursue a solo hip hop career. One month later, Set It Off released their fourth EP Duality: Stories Unplugged, which contains 5 acoustic renditions of songs from Duality and one original song titled "Wild, Wild World".[21]
Fearless Records released the album Punk Goes Christmas: Deluxe Edition in November 2015, still featuring Set It Off's original song "This Christmas (I'll Burn It to the Ground)".[22]
The band announced in March 2016 that they would be playing at the Vans Warped Tour for the second year in a row, this time on the main stage.
In 2018, Set It Off announced that they would be leaving Equal Vision and signing to Fearless Records.[24]
At the beginning of the year, Set It Off did a livestream video on YouTube in order to write a song with its audience. Over 1,000 people came into the stream and submitted their lyric ideas. The band members took their favorite lyrics from those suggested and added guitar parts and melodies to create their single "Hourglass Love", released on YouTube soon after, on January 4.[25]
On July 24, Set It Off released its single "Killer in the Mirror" with a music video.[24] On November 19, they announced on Twitter that their fourth studio album Midnight, would be released on February 1, 2019. Also, on that same day, they released their single "Lonely Dance" including a music video.[26] One month later, on December 14, they released two singles, "For You Forever" and "Dancing with the Devil", from Midnight.[27]
They released "Midnight Thoughts" to celebrate the new year 2019. Allegations of sexual assault against Dan Clermont were released on an anonymous Twitter account in May. The band announced that Dan would be taking a hiatus from the band to be with his family while this matter is addressed.[28] One month later, vocalist Cody Carson announced that he had a vocal haemorrhage, just after the final date of Part 2 of the Midnight World Tour. He continued with Part 3 of the tour despite this.[29]
On June 28, an acoustic version of "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" from Duality was featured on Punk Goes Acoustic Vol. 3.[30]
On September 11, after Part 3 of the Midnight World Tour, vocalist Cody Carson announced that due to his vocal cord injury he had to have surgery. As a result, Part 4 of the tour was delayed to March 2020.[31] At the end of the month, the band announced the departure of Dan Clermont in a Tweet. The Tweet mentions he left "in order to focus on other areas of his life". Subsequently, according to the same Tweet, the band announced they have decided to continue on as a three-piece group.[32]
On February 14, 2020, they released their fifth EP titled After Midnight.[33]
One year later, on June 4, 2021, they released an expanded edition of Midnight called Midnight: The Final Chapter. This expansion includes the songs of the After Midnight EP and three acoustic renditions of the original release of the album.[34]
The band released a single titled "Skeleton" on October 29, 2021.[35] On January 21, 2022, they released a song titled "Projector", alongside the announcement of the album.[36] They released the third single "Who's In Control", on February 18.[37]
The band commenced their "Welcome to Elsewhere Tour" on January 14, 2022, and with no delays the tour will last until February 12.
On March 11, 2022, the band released their fifth album, titled Elsewhere.
Dopamine and going independent (2023–present)
In 2023, Set It Off left Fearless Records and went independent. They announced their new era, "Dopamine", with a tour and a new single, "Punching Bag".[1] The song premiered on March 23, 2023, and was officially released the following day. It was the first independent single by the band. They have since released the singles "Win Win" featuring Scene Queen, "Evil People" and "Parasite" and announced a new tour in November 2023, called "The Deathless Tour". On March 1, 2024, they released the single "Fake Ass Friends" and on September 13, 2024, the single "Creating Monsters" after starting a new leg of the Deathless Tour.
On October 14, 2024, shortly after releasing merch celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the "Duality" album, the official Set It Off Instagram account announced a re-recording of "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing", titled "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing [Reborn]".[38] The caption for the Instagram post included "our version, on our terms, for you", referencing the fact that the original recording of the song was owned by Equal Vision, the band's previous record label. The re-recording had new and reprised lyrics; did not feature the appearance of William Beckett, who featured in the original recording; and took on a much heavier tone, following the trend of recent independent singles.
Touring
Set it Off performing at Vinyl Music Hall in Pensacola, FL
Until November 2011, Set It Off has currently played in over 19 tours.[39] In 2013, Set It Off toured Europe with Yellowcard. In that same year, Set It Off supported Tonight Alive on its UK tour in October, along with Decade. The band played Warped Tour 2013 on dates 6/15-7/3 and 7/6-8/4 and played with Candy Hearts, State Champs, William Beckett, and We Are the In Crowd during WATIC's Reunion Tour in spring of 2014. The band also co-headlined the Come Alive Tour with Our Last Night, featuring Stages & Stereos and Heartist; supported Black Veil Brides and Falling in Reverse on the Black Mass Tour; and, beginning in February 2015, the group began its first USA headliner, The Glamour Kills Spring Break Tour, with support from Against The Current, As It Is, and Roam. The band played the entirety of the 2015 Vans Warped Tour.[40] The band also played on the Rise of the Runaways Tour (January and February 2015), through various continents, with Crown the Empire and Alive Like Me.
From March 1 to March 28, 2016, Set It Off went on the Fight for Something Tour with Tonight Alive,[41] and played the entirety of the 2016 Vans Warped Tour, except for the first show in Anchorage, Alaska.[42] The band had since toured supporting Simple Plan and Sleeping With Sirens for some time after. This year, Set It Off went on their first headline tour from January 16 to February 16. Later, the band played at Vans Warped Tour, the last one ever, on July 27 in Mansfield, MA; July 28 in Wantagh, NY; and August 3 in Orlando, FL. As of January 2020, the band is headline-touring in the United States and Canada. In March 2020 they supported Japanese rock band ONE OK ROCK along with Brisbane-based band Stateside on the Australian leg of their Eye of the Storm world tour.[43]
Their 2019 European tour (Midnight World Tour Part 4: UK/Europe) was postponed in September 2019 with rescheduled dates for March/April 2020 due to Cody Carson's vocal injury/vocal surgery.[31]Broadside (band) was to open for them at the rescheduled dates. However, these dates had to be postponed a second time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The dates were moved to August/September 2020 with openers Broadside, Cemetery Sun, and Lizzy Farrall.[44] They were then postponed again due to COVID, the tour was then renamed "Midnight Tour Part Four The Love Of God Don't Make Us Reschedule Again",[45] it was then rescheduled two more times and renamed as the following "Midnight Tour Part Four The Love Of God Don't Make Us Reschedule Again, Again..."[46] then ""Welcome to Elsewhere Tour", formally The Midnight World Tour Part Four The Love of God (Again) Please Don't Make Us Reschedule Again, Again", New dates for their EU/UK Tour were announced on March 25, 2022.[47]
After finishing the Deathless Tour in April 30, Set It Off went to support I Prevail's European tour with musician Kid Bookie.[57] They returned to United States and went to the Carnal Tour with From Ashes to New and Post Profit to support American rock band Nothing More.[58] Set It Off played in the following festivals: Slam Dunk 2024,[59]Aftershock 2024,[60]Summerfest 2024[61] and Rocklahoma 2024.[62] They were set to play at Louder Than Life 2024 but the show of that day was cancelled due to weather conditions.[63] Due to the success of The Deathless Tour, Set It Off announced a part two with New Years Day, From Ashes to New and If Not For Me as special guests, taking place right after the end of the Carnal Tour.[64] They went to their first headliner tour in Australia on November with supporters Chez and Friends of Friends.[65]
Musical style
During Set It Off's early years the band fit into pop-punk and emo exclusively, but they added R&B elements with Duality in 2014.[citation needed] Vocalist Cody Carson cited Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, My Chemical Romance, and New Found Glory as their primary influences in the earlier years of the band.[66] They transitioned to pop rock later on.[67] In 2015, Kerrang! summarized the band's genre as pop rock.[68] The band introduced hip hop beginning with 2019's Midnight.[69] In 2023, the band said they would be returning to their pop-punk roots in their next album.[citation needed]
Linkin Park is an American rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist/rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Mike Shinoda, lead guitarist Brad Delson, DJ/turntablist Joe Hahn, bassist Dave Farrell, co-lead vocalist Emily Armstrong, and drummer Colin Brittain. The lineup for the band's first seven studio albums included lead vocalist Chester Bennington and drummer Rob Bourdon until Bennington's death by suicide in July 2017, which caused the band to enter an indefinite hiatus. In September 2024, Linkin Park's reformation was announced along with the addition of Armstrong and Brittain.
Simple Plan is a Canadian rock band from Montreal, Quebec. Formed in 1999, the band's current lineup consists of Pierre Bouvier, Chuck Comeau (drums), Jeff Stinco, and Sébastien Lefebvre. David Desrosiers joined the band in early 2000 and left in July 2020.
My Chemical Romance is an American rock band from New Jersey. The band's current lineup consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, lead guitarist Ray Toro, rhythm guitarist Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way. They are considered one of the most influential rock groups of the 2000s and a major act in the pop-punk and emo genres, despite the band rejecting the latter label.
Parkway Drive are an Australian metalcore band from Byron Bay, New South Wales, formed in 2003. Parkway Drive have released seven studio albums, one EP, two DVDs, a split album and one book, titled Ten Years of Parkway Drive. The band's latest three albums have reached number 1 of the Australian ARIA Charts – Ire (2015), Reverence (2018), and Darker Still (2022).
Our Last Night is an American post-hardcore band formed in 2004, consisting of brothers Trevor (vocals) and Matthew Wentworth and Timothy Molloy (drums). The band is known for its post-hardcore and alternative metal renditions of popular pop songs.
The Maine is an American rock band from Tempe, Arizona. Formed in 2007, the group consists of lead vocalist, guitarist and pianist John O'Callaghan, lead guitarist Jared Monaco, bass guitarist Garrett Nickelsen, drummer Patrick Kirch, and rhythm guitarist Kennedy Brock. The band is joined by touring member Adam Simons, as of 2018, who plays keys, rhythm and lead guitar as well as percussion.
Attack Attack! is an American metalcore band from Westerville, Ohio, originally formed in 2007 as Ambiance. After self-releasing their first EP in 2007, the band signed to Rise Records the same year. They released three full-length albums, Someday Came Suddenly, a self-titled album, and This Means War all through Rise Records. The band left Rise Records in 2012 and disbanded the following year after a farewell tour. On October 19, 2020, the band announced a re-formation, with a mix of returning and new members.
The Pretty Reckless is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 2009. The band consists of Taylor Momsen, Ben Phillips, Mark Damon (bass), and Jamie Perkins (drums). In August 2010, the band released their debut studio album, Light Me Up. The album spawned three moderately successful singles, most notably "Make Me Wanna Die". The band released the Hit Me Like a Man EP in early 2012. In March 2014, the band released their second studio album, Going to Hell, which included the singles "Heaven Knows" and "Messed Up World", both of which topped the US and UK rock charts.
Miss May I is an American metalcore band from Troy, Ohio. Formed in 2007, they signed to Rise Records in 2008 and released their debut album, Apologies Are for the Weak through the label while the members were still attending high school. The album reached 76 on the Billboard 200, No. 29 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers, and No. 66 on Top Independent Albums. The band has also had some of their material featured in big name productions; the song "Forgive and Forget" is featured on the Saw VI Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, and their song "Apologies Are for the Weak" is included in the video game Saints Row: The Third.
Motionless in White is an American metalcore band from Scranton, Pennsylvania. Formed in 2004, the band consists of lead vocalist Chris "Motionless" Cerulli, guitarists Ryan Sitkowski and Ricky "Horror" Olson, drummer Vinny Mauro and bassist Justin Morrow. Cerulli is the only member of the original line-up that remains in the band. The group has stated that their band name derived from the Eighteen Visions song "Motionless and White".
Falling in Reverse is an American rock band that formed in 2008 by lead vocalist Ronnie Radke. The band's original name was From Behind These Walls, but it was renamed Falling in Reverse shortly after formation. They are currently signed to Epitaph Records. The band has undergone numerous lineup changes, with Radke being the only remaining original member.
Bury Tomorrow are a British metalcore band formed in 2006 in Southampton, Hampshire, England. The band is composed of six members; lead vocalist Daniel Winter-Bates, bassist Davyd Winter-Bates, drummer Adam Jackson, lead guitarist Kristan Dawson, who replaced founding guitarist Mehdi Vismara in 2013, rhythm guitarist Ed Hartwell, and keyboardist and vocalist Tom Prendergast, who both replaced Jason Cameron in 2021. Bury Tomorrow have released seven studio albums, their most recent being The Seventh Sun, released on 31 March 2023.
Beartooth is an American rock band founded by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Caleb Shomo in Columbus, Ohio, in 2012. Originally Shomo performed every instrument when in the studio, before being joined by a four-piece band. Beartooth has been signed to Red Bull Records since 2013; its debut EP Sick was released on July 26, 2013, followed by the debut full-length album Disgusting on June 10, 2014. Since then, Shomo has released a further three studio albums under the Beartooth moniker: Aggressive (2016), Disease (2018), and Below (2021). The band's fifth studio album, The Surface, was released on October 13, 2023.
Pvris is an American pop rock band formed in Lowell, Massachusetts in 2012. Following several lineup changes, the band is now composed solely of frontwoman Lynn Gunn.
Duality is the second studio album by American band Set It Off. The album was released on October 14, 2014 through record labels Equal Vision Records and Rude Records.
Saint Asonia is a Canadian-American rock supergroup consisting of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adam Gontier, lead guitarist Mike Mushok, bassist and backing vocalist Cale Gontier, and drummer Cody Watkins. In 2017, the band's original drummer, Rich Beddoe, left the band and was replaced by Mushok's Staind bandmate Sal Giancarelli, and one year later bassist and backing vocalist Corey Lowery left the band to join Seether and his place was taken by Gontier's cousin Cale Gontier. The band formed in Toronto, Canada in 2015 after Gontier's departure from Three Days Grace in 2013. Their second studio album, titled Flawed Design, was released on October 25, 2019. On January 26, 2020, Art of Dying drummer Cody Watkins became the new drummer for Saint Asonia replacing Sal Giancarelli.
Waterparks is an American pop rock band formed in Houston, Texas in 2011. The group currently consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Awsten Knight, backing vocalist and lead guitarist Geoff Wigington, and backing vocalist and drummer Otto Wood.
Wage War is an American metalcore band formed in Ocala, Florida in 2010 under the name Empires. The band consists of lead vocalist Briton Bond, lead guitarist Seth Blake, rhythm guitarist and clean vocalist Cody Quistad, bassist Chris Gaylord, and drummer Stephen Kluesener.
Midnight is the fourth studio album by American band Set It Off. The album was released on February 1, 2019 by record label Fearless Records, being their album debut under this label.
Elsewhere is the fifth studio album by American band Set It Off. The album was released on March 11, 2022, by record label Fearless Records, being their last album released under this label before going independent in 2023. It is also the band's first album after the departure of Dan Clermont, and as a three-piece group.
↑ "Kerrang! Rock Chart". Kerrang!. No.1551. January 17, 2015. p.10. Making their debut on the Rock Chart this week, it's the Florida pop-rockers [Set It Off].
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
