Amber Pacific
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Amber Pacific is an American
pop-punk Pop-punk (also punk-pop, alternatively spelled without the hyphen) is a rock music fusion genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop music, pop. It is defined by its fast-paced, energetic tempos, and emphasis on classic pop s ...
band that formed in 2002 in Federal Way, Washington. The band has released five full-length albums, '' The Possibility and the Promise'' in 2005, '' Truth in Sincerity'' in 2007, ''
Virtues A virtue () is a trait of excellence, including traits that may be moral, social, or intellectual. The cultivation and refinement of virtue is held to be the "good of humanity" and thus is valued as an end purpose of life or a foundational pri ...
'' in 2010, ''The Turn'' in 2014, and ''All In'' in 2025.


History


Formation and first releases

Amber Pacific began as a group of high school juniors that performed locally in their hometown near
Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...
, under the name Follow Through. The band consisted of Will Nutter, Tyler Peerson, and Blake Evans. In late 2002, vocalist Matt Young also joined the band with Justin Westcott. In the summer of 2003, Peerson and Evans left the band to pursue other interests and were replaced by Greg Strong and Josh "Dango" Cellan. In 2004, after changing their name to Amber Pacific, the band released their first EP '' Fading Days'' under
Hopeless Records Hopeless Records is an American independent record label in Van Nuys, California. History Hopeless Records was founded in 1993 by Louis Posen. The label's artists are generally considered to fall under the genres of punk rock, pop punk, post-ha ...
. In 2005, the band released their debut album, '' The Possibility and the Promise'', still under Hopeless Records. In 2006, Justin Westcott left the band.
Ben Harper Benjamin Charles Harper (born October 28, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae, and rock music, and he is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, liv ...
(originally in Yellowcard) joined Amber Pacific before the recording of their second studio album, '' Truth in Sincerity''. Recording started in October 2006, but Harper left the band before the end of the year to be replaced by Rick Hanson.


New vocalist and third release

In February 2008, the band left Hopeless Records. Lead vocalist Matt Young and Rick Hanson also left Amber Pacific. Young left to pursue a career in public education as a principal, in "hopes that ecan better prepare future generations for what lies ahead." The band has since found a new vocalist, Jesse Cottam. Cottam was formerly the lead vocalist of the Canadian band ''Seven's Angel,'' as well as a contestant on
Canadian Idol ''Canadian Idol'' is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show '' Pop Idol''. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Do ...
. Guitarist/singer Davy Rispoli, a frequent touring member, was officially announced to have joined the band along with Cottam in the band's video blog (MySpace). On January 27, 2009, the band signed for Victory. The band then uploaded three new songs to their official
MySpace Myspace (formerly stylized as MySpace, currently myspace; and sometimes my␣, with an elongated Whitespace character#Substitute images, open box symbol) is a social networking service based in the United States. Launched on August 1, 2003, it w ...
page, featuring Jesse Cottam as their new singer. They later released a self-titled digital EP on iTunes featuring the three songs on February 25.


Return of Matt Young and lineup changes

On February 9, 2011, Amber Pacific left Victory. On their Facebook page it was announced that Cottam and Rispoli had left as it was costing too much for Cottam to come down from Canada, and that Matt Young had rejoined Amber Pacific. The band planned a series of acoustic performances and guitarist Will Nutter stated he'd been writing songs in the same vein as the band's first record. On February 15, 2011, Greg Strong announced on the band's Facebook page that he was no longer in the band. Days later, guitarist and chief songwriter Will Nutter confirmed on Facebook that Strong's departure was because of Matt Young's return. Justin Westcott also rejoined the band in 2011. The band announced that
Mike Herrera MxPx () is an American punk rock band from Bremerton, Washington, formed in 1992 as Magnified Plaid. As of 2016, current members include Mike Herrera (bass guitar, lead vocals), Yuri Ruley (drums, percussion), Tom Wisniewski (lead guitar, backi ...
of
MxPx MxPx () is an American punk rock band from Bremerton, Washington, formed in 1992 as Magnified Plaid. As of 2016, current members include Mike Herrera (bass guitar, lead vocals), Yuri Ruley (drums, percussion), Tom Wisniewski (lead guitar, backi ...
would be playing bass on their fourth studio album, ''The Turn''. The band also raised money on indiegogo to fund the album. The band announced that they will initially release the album on July 29, 2014 in online platforms. After signing with Digitally Sound Records and Straight 8 Entertainment, the album was released worldwide on September 2, 2014.


Members

;Current lineup * Matt Young –
lead vocals The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...
(2002–2008, 2011–present) * Will Nutter –
lead guitar Lead guitar (also known as solo guitar) is a musical part for a guitar in which the guitarist plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs and chords within a song structure. The lead is the featur ...
,
backing vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are us ...
, keyboards (2002–present) * Dango Cellan –
drums The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...
(2003–present) * Justin Westcott –
rhythm guitar In music performances, rhythm guitar is a guitar technique and role that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse (music), pulse in conjunction with other instruments from the rhythm section (e.g., d ...
, backing vocals (2002–2006, 2011–present) * Brad Torkelson –
bass guitar The bass guitar (), also known as the electric bass guitar, electric bass, or simply the bass, is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric guitar, electric but with a longer nec ...
(2019–present) ;Former * Greg Strong –
bass guitar The bass guitar (), also known as the electric bass guitar, electric bass, or simply the bass, is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric guitar, electric but with a longer nec ...
(2003–2011) * Jesse Cottam – lead vocals (2008–2011) * Davy Rispoli – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2008–2011, touring 2003–2008) * Rick Hanson – rhythm guitar (2007–2008) *
Ben Harper Benjamin Charles Harper (born October 28, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae, and rock music, and he is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, liv ...
guitars The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...
(2006) * Tyler Peerson – bass guitar (2002–2003) * Blake Evans – drums (2002–2003) ;Touring, studio, live and session * Jeremy Gibbons – bass guitar (2011) *
Mike Herrera MxPx () is an American punk rock band from Bremerton, Washington, formed in 1992 as Magnified Plaid. As of 2016, current members include Mike Herrera (bass guitar, lead vocals), Yuri Ruley (drums, percussion), Tom Wisniewski (lead guitar, backi ...
– bass guitar (2014) * Bradly Miranda – guitars, bass guitar (2022–present)


Discography


Albums

* '' The Possibility and the Promise'' (May 24, 2005) (U.S. 70,000+) * '' Truth in Sincerity'' (May 22, 2007) US ''Billboard'' 200 peak No. 64 * ''
Virtues A virtue () is a trait of excellence, including traits that may be moral, social, or intellectual. The cultivation and refinement of virtue is held to be the "good of humanity" and thus is valued as an end purpose of life or a foundational pri ...
'' (April 13, 2010) * ''The Turn'' (September 2, 2014) * ''All In'' (February 14, 2025)


EPs

* '' Fading Days'' (2004) * ''Acoustic Sessions'' (2006) * ''Acoustic Connect Sets'' (2008) * ''Amber Pacific'' (2009)


Compilations

* ''Vans Warped Tour 2004'' (Disc 2, Track 24 - Thoughts Before Me) * ''Vans Warped Tour 2005'' (Disc 1, Track 14 - "Gone So Young") * ''Vans Warped Tour 2007'' (Disc 1, Track 13 - "Summer (In B)") * '' Punk Goes 80's'' (Track 15 - "Video Killed the Radio Star") * ''Hopelessly Devoted to You Vol. 5'' (Disc 1, Track 2 - "Always You"; Track 10 - "Leaving What You Wanted") * ''Hopelessly Devoted to You Vol. 6'' (Disc 1, Track 1 - "Gone So Young"; Track 14 - "Poetically Pathetic" (Acoustic);Disc 2, Track 21 - "Always You") * ''Take Action! Volume 5'' (Disc 1, Track 7 - "Poetically Pathetic") * ''Punk Rock Halloween, Vol. 2: Louder, Faster & Scarier'' (Disc 1, Track 8 - Calling All the Monsters, a China Anne McClain cover)


Soundtracks

* '' Burnout 3: Takedown Soundtrack'' - "Always You (Good Times)" * ''
Flicka ''Flicka'' is a 2006 American family adventure drama film loosely based on the 1941 children's novel '' My Friend Flicka'' by Mary O'Hara. The film is directed by Michael Mayer and written by Mark Rosenthal and Lawrence Konner. The novel had ...
TV Spot'' - "Gone So Young" * '' TMNT (2007 film) Soundtrack'' - " Fall Back Into My Life" * ''
Piranha 3DD ''Piranha 3DD'' is a 2012 American 3D horror comedy film directed by John Gulager and written by Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton. It is a sequel to the 2010 film '' Piranha 3D'', part of the ''Piranha'' film series, and stars Danielle Pan ...
Soundtrack'' - "The Good Life"


References


External links

* {{authority control 2002 establishments in Washington (state) Emo musical groups from Washington (state) Hopeless Records artists Musical groups disestablished in 2011 Musical groups established in 2002 Musical groups reestablished in 2014 Pop punk groups from Washington (state) Victory Records artists