We just want to put a shout out to these bands who’ve helped us out and supported us along the way. Check out their music, just click on the images to go to their myspace pages.
Every new punk band spawns its own subgenre or sub-subgenre. There’s Southern California Whine Punk, popularized by the vocal stylings of Tom DeLonge from blink-182. There’s Happy Poppy Whine Punk, Uplifting Punk, Emo-Crossed Punk, the Ol’ Middle Finger I Gotcher Punk Right Here Punk, and a thousand others. They all sound slightly different, but the difference exists. Pissed-off rocking fills many a varied bottle.
Critical Me is different because it falls neatly into the category spawned by almost-famous Pennywise — the subgenre being, "Not Whiny, but Disgusted with Most Every Aspect of American Life Punk." They’ve got the rhythm speed and indignation of Pennywise, as well as the lead vocals — rougher, ragged, and manlier than most SoCal Whine Punk sissy bands. Thank God. Another Whine Punk CD crosses my desk, and I’m going to eat my computer speakers.
All in all, Critical Me is a talented band that plays tight and coordinated punk. Peter pops the skins with skill, and Muheim’s bass keeps the driving pace required by quick music. A good night of High Skill San Diego Punk would be a team-up of Fifty on Their Heels with Critical Me at a clean dive like the Kensington Club.
Founded on beliefs of change, revolution, and unity, punk rock was formed as a means of relating these messages to the youth. Today, musicians and artists face a complicated decision; to teach their audiences about mainstream radio issues, or to tackle issues of true worth. Heavily influenced by the words of preceding punk bands, CHASER front man Mike LeDonne, took it upon himself to continue the spirit of these life lessons in CHASER’s latest full-length album, Numb America. Choosing to address social, political, and civic matters, CHASER is doing their part to give back to scene from which they received so much. In attempt to open the eyes of the youth and encourage them to participate in political issues, in the title track "Numb America," CHASER sings "Reality TV over reading daily news. Just stay withdrawn and trust them all, they know what’s best for you." Similarly, "Autopilot: Mind Your Own" lyrics "We’re relying on others and other’s spoken words. Camouflage is easier than breaking from the herd," discusses the impact media has on those who are incapable of thinking for themselves, and the need to "mind your own."
Starting off in their drummer’s garage in the fall of 2000, four kids from south Orange County, California began to create the music that influenced their lives. The original lineup of CHASER consisted of Mike LeDonne, the founder and front man, and three mutual friends from High School: AJ Latteri, Josh Millican, and Mike Denning. After Mike Denning left the group a year after its formation, current guitarist Nate Warner, another friend from High School, was brought in to take over. With this lineup, a tremendous amount of energy was brought to the stage making for unforgettable live performances.
In a time when many of the 90’s punk bands were calling it quits, and you would never find punk rock on any major outlets, fans of the genre were in dying need of a skate punk revival. CHASER’s debut album, "In Control," was self-released in 2003, and just in time for Southern California punks to not lose hope in their local bands. The immediate craze over this fast and rough melodic punk album elevated them among their peers. Soon, the phone started ringing and CHASER found themselves sharing the stage with some of the bands that inspired them to start one of their own. Bands like Pennywise, Unwritten Law, Circle Jerks, No Use for a Name, Good Riddance, Guttermouth, Suicide Machines, Ignite, Authority Zero, and many more gave CHASER the opportunity to get their name on the map. With show experience under their belts and a constantly growing fan base, it was time to give the fans what they had been begging for, a new record.
In 2006, CHASER released their latest full-length album, Numb America, on Felony Records. 14 fast, catchy, and melodic punk tracks that fuse meaningful lyrics and aesthetic melodies, delivered clean and passionately, accompanied by dueling guitar riffs, solos, and three-part harmonizing backup vocals. And all tied together with explosive rhythms that keep the fists pumping in the air. After its release, CHASER was personally invited by the seminal punk band, Good Riddance, to be direct support for their 3-week European tour. Playing 16 shows in 10 different countries, CHASER finally had the opportunity to witness first hand the grueling of life on the road. But waking up in a new city every day and meeting fans across the world, they had quite the opposite experience, and realized that this was truly what they lived for. After returning from the European tour, co-founder AJ Latteri announced that he would no longer be playing with CHASER due to full-time work obligations. In search of a new bassist, CHASER called upon ex-lead singer of a local punk band, Jesse Stopnitzky, who brought a new element of bass and backup vocals that were previously missing from the music. At the same time, CHASER was ready to bring in a lead guitarist, and sought out Cameron Denning, Mike Denning’s younger brother. Bringing with him technical and diverse guitar influences, the band began incorporating new guitar riffs and melodies that had yet to be attempted, truly helping to define the eclectic, but familiar sound of CHASER.
With this dedicated and passionate lineup, CHASER felt it was time to get back out on the road. They booked a headlining Northern California Tour promoting their 7" Split on Felony Records, toured the west coast with Good Riddance, booked many shows across California, Arizona and Nevada, and began planning for their first U.S. Headlining Tour. In early 2007, CHASER spent 30 days and 8,000 miles on the road for their self booked and self funded U.S. Headlining Tour, hitting all the southern states from California to Florida. While booking all shows and tours with only the help of their manager and record label, and heavily promoting any show they get booked, they have earned the reputation by promoters, as well as local bands, as being one of the hardest working bands in Orange County. While playing energy and emotion filled sets with infectious stage performances, it’s no surprise CHASER continues to play to growing crowds. Declaring that "every fan is a friend we haven’t had the chance to make," they have become known as "the band that will have a drink with you after the show, and tell you how grateful they were see to see you there"; picking up life long friends and fans along the way.
The main objective of CHASER is to remind those who live and love this genre that "there is definitely still a scene out there, and it is a band like us, CHASER, who refuses to let it die." After all, who better to carry on the legacy of those who paved the way for punk rock to exist, than their biggest fans?