The Observer, December 1, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 12
Case student's band signs with Victory Records
Driver Side Impact, the local band that includes Case student Austin Bishop, has just made the next step to hitting it big. They are now signed to Victory Records, the label that also boasts Atreyu and Hawthorne Heights.
The band had their first performance for Victory in August. Due to a number of factors, the performance was not their best. They had only been playing together for around three months at that point (Driver Side Impact has been around since 2004, but the current line-up had only been performing together since May), and the band was still in "studio mode," said Bishop. "We were used to playing the songs track-by-track, but we really weren't prepared to play them all back-to-back for a major record label." Sadly, the band was turned down.
Then, Victory called back. The head of the label wanted to give them another chance. So, over Case's fall break, DSI headed back to Victory Records for another performance. This time, they were successful. "We played a much better set, and we had the benefit of having more time together and more experience," said Bishop. Also, the band was now used to playing songs strung together for a live show, not just recording them separately in a studio.
What's next for Driver Side Impact? Bishop says that right now, the band is planning on continuing to perform locally and to write songs for their new album. Once they have around 15 or 16 songs that they feel comfortable with, the band will go into the studio and narrow that down 15 or 16 to 10 or 11. They will then begin the producer-shopping process. As of right now, DSI is looking at Matt Squire, the man behind Panic! At The Disco's last album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out. Once they find a producer, they will move to his or her city for the pre-production stage, then return to Cleveland for more live performances while waiting for the album to drop.
For more information on Driver Side Impact, check out the band's website at www.myspace.com/driversideimpact. To purchase merchandise, including T-shirts and copies of their debut EP, We Will Disappear, go to www.dsimerch.com, or follow the link from the band's MySpace.
The band's next live show is Dec. 15, where they are co-headlining a concert of 17 local bands. The concert is at Peabody's, located at E. 21st St. and Euclid Ave., and the cost is $10. Bishop describes it as a mini-version of the Warped Tour. Look for Driver Side Impact's major record label debut in 2007 or 2008.
