History
Guitarist John Baran and drummer Daniel Matson, who played in hardcore and metal bands in the early 2010s, wrote some pop-punk songs together as a side-project. After the aforementioned bands broke up, The Home Team was finally formed by Baran and Matson in 2013. The first lineup was completed with vocalist Jairod Collins, guitarist Nick Alzate, and bassist Alex Larson. [3]
In 2014, the band released their debut EP, Black Sheep.
In 2015, Collins, Alzate, and Larson left the band and were replaced by vocalist Brian Butcher, guitarist Ryan Murgatroyd, and bassist Rob Saireh, with whom the band independently released their first singles, Burning Gold and Letters from a Friend, in 2016.
In early 2018, The Home Team signed with Revival Recordings and released their debut label single, "Fashion Forward". [4] On July 20, 2018, the band released their debut album, Better Off, co-produced by Casey Bates (Portugal. The Man, Pierce the Veil, Emarosa), to positive reviews. [5] In 2018, bassist Rob Saireh left the band to join a deathcore band Enterprise Earth, was briefly replaced by Anthony Uy, and later by Ryne Olson. [6]
In 2019, Murgatroyd stepped away from the band to focus on his job as an audio engineer. He later passed away in June of 2023. The Home Team performed at his memorial on August 4th, 2023 which was held at The Crocodile in Seattle, where they played songs from their album Better Off in his honor. [7] [8] [9]
The second studio album, Slow Bloom, produced by Issues/Twenty One Pilots bassist Skyler Accord and Neck Deep bassist Seb Barlow, was released on October 22, 2021. In 2022, the band released a deluxe version of Slow Bloom featuring new songs "FOMO (Bored of You)" and "Grievance Pay". [10]
In March 2023, The Home Team signed to Thriller Records. In late 2023, the band supported Don Broco on their "The Amazing Things North America Tour" along with Skyler Acord, The Color 8, and Ryan Oakes. [11] [12] On October 13, 2023, to promote this tour Don Broco released a single "Birthday Party (Party in the U.S.A. Remix)" featuring all the tourmates. [13]
On November 29, 2023, Brian Butcher was announced as a fill-in vocalist for all the farewell shows of the band Issues which took place in January 2024. [14]
On July 12, 2024, The Home Team released their third studio album, The Crucible of Life, produced by Zach Jones with co-writing from Skyler Acord and Tyler Acord. [15] [16] In Fall of 2024, the band toured the US supporting Neck Deep, and in December of 2024, played a sold out UK tour. [17] [18] In February of 2025, The Home Team toured the UK supporting State Champs along with Broadside. [19] In Spring of 2025, the band toured the US supporting Dance Gavin Dance on the "Return Of The Robot Tour". [20] [21] [22]
On June 13, 2025, The Crucible of Life (Deluxe Edition), with an extended version of "All Squeezed Out", and three more additional songs, including a new single "Worthy", was released. [23] [24] In September of 2025, the band played their first shows in Japan and Australia supporting Mayday Parade on their "Three Cheers for 20 Years Tour". [25] [26]
In late 2025, the band toured the US on their headliner "The Crucible of Life Fall Tour 2025" with support from Arrows in Action and Makari. [27] [28]
On November 15, 2025, The Home Team performed at Warped Tour Orlando 2025. [29]
Musical style
The Home Team describes their style as "heavy pop". Although the band is primarily influenced by rock and metal, they have incorporated elements from various other genres such as R&B, pop, funk, hip-hop and J-rock into their music. [30]
In the review of The Home Team's third album, The Crucible of Life, Rachel Roberts of Kerrang wrote that the band "brings the risqué lyricism of Deftones into the world of springy pop-rock", and recommended The Home Team to the fans of Don Broco, The Maine, and Panic! at the Disco. [31]
The Home Team's influences include such acts as Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, All Time Low, State Champs, The Story So Far, I the Mighty, Coheed and Cambria, Jimmy Eat World, Circa Survive, The Receiving End of Sirens. [32] [33] [34]
