Hostage Calm was an American punk rock band from

Wallingford, Connecticut Wallingford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, centrally located between New Haven and Hartford, and Boston and New York City. The population was 44,396 at the 2020 census. The community was named after Wallingford, in E ...

, United States, formed in 2007. Hostage Calm released two extended plays, four full-length albums, and a split with punk band

Anti-Flag Anti-Flag is an American punk rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The band is known for its left-wing political activism. Their current members include Justin Sane (vocals, guitar), Chris Head (guitar), Pat Thetic (drums), and Chris B ...

. The band announced their breakup on October 8, 2014, and played their last show on March 6, 2015.

History

2007-2011: ''Demo'', ''Lens'' and ''Hostage Calm''

Hostage Calm was formed out of the demise of At All Costs, who broke up in July 2007. Hostage Calm debuted in the summer of 2007 following the release of a Demo 7" on Headcount Records. They signed to Redscroll Records in September 2007. Preceded by "Nosebleed Section", their first full-length, ''Lens'', was released in 2008 on Redscroll Records. In February 2009, it was announced that the band would recorded their next album in April, with the intention of releasing it later in the year. On December 2, 2009, it was announced that the band had signed to

Run for Cover Records Run for Cover Records is an American independent record label based in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 2004 by Jeff Casazza at the age of 17 with a $1,000 loan, the label functioned as a small one-person bedroom operation in Brighton, until Cas ...

; alongside this, "Affidavit" was posted online. Shortly after this, ''Lens'' was reissued through Panic Records. In January 2010, the band went on an East Coast US tour with My Heart to Joy. They received national attention for their second full-length, ''Hostage Calm''. The self-titled album was critically well-received, and widely praised for its ground-breaking, unique, angular sound. ''Hostage Calm'' displayed a marked musical and lyrical growth, incorporating elements of world music, Latin rhythms,

power pop Power pop (also typeset as powerpop) is a form of pop rock based on the early music of bands such as the Who, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds. It typically incorporates melodic hooks, vocal harmonies, an energetic performance, and ...

post-hardcore Post-hardcore is a punk rock music genre that maintains the aggression and intensity of hardcore punk but emphasizes a greater degree of creative expression. It was initially inspired by post-punk and noise rock. Like post-punk, the term has bee ...

post-punk Post-punk (originally called new musick) is a broad genre of punk music that emerged in the late 1970s as musicians departed from punk's traditional elements and raw simplicity, instead adopting a variety of avant-garde sensibilities and non-r ...

and other genres not typically associated with punk. In July 2010, the band went on a sort East Coast tour with

Make Do and Mend Make Do and Mend was an American post-hardcore band from West Hartford, Connecticut, that formed in 2006, who relocated to Boston, Massachusetts. They released 2 EPs on Panic Records, a split with Touché Amoré and three full-length albums. Whil ...

. A vocal advocate for LGBT equality, the band gave away its self-titled album for free in exchange of signing an online petition email to Senators opposing marriage equality in the eventually successful 2011 New York Senate vote. The record also featured the protest song, "Ballots/Stones", which assailed the ongoing ban on same-sex marriage in much of America. Hostage Calm has played numerous LGBT benefits, charity releases, and continues to distribute its iconic "I Support Same-Sex Marriage" shirt. In 2011, guitarist Tom Chiari was hired as label manager of Run For Cover Records.

2012-2013: ''Please Remain Calm''

In 2012, the band released its seminal ''Please Remain Calm'', to wide critical acclaim. Hailed as "generation-defining" and "the punk album of the Great Recession," ''Please Remain Calm'' presents an emotional reflection on the social upheaval of the American recession. Caroline Vallejo (Alter the Press) describes ''Please Remain Calm'' as "the accumulation of everything Hostage Calm can do better than anyone else today…they’ve become a voice for their fans and taken back the purpose of American hardcore that so many bands have forgotten." Drew Beringer (AbsolutePunk) praised the album as "the most honest, genuine, and ''important'' record you'll hear all year." Musically, ''Please Remain Calm'' pushed the boundaries of modern punk by fusing orchestral and a cappella arrangements with the pop sensibility and punk edge of their prior material. The record was live-tracked in Baltimore, MD, where it was co-produced by indie producer, J. Robbins and Hostage Calm. Hostage Calm has toured the world extensively with such acts as

Saves the Day Saves the Day is an American rock band from Princeton, New Jersey, formed in 1997. The band currently consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Conley, guitarist Arun Bali, and bassist Rodrigo Palma. After forming under the name Sefler in ...

The Wonder Years ''The Wonder Years'' is an American coming-of-age comedy/drama television series created by Neal Marlens and Carol Black. It ran on ABC from January 31, 1988, until May 12, 1993. The series premiered immediately after ABC's coverage of Supe ...

Streetlight Manifesto Streetlight Manifesto is an American ska punk band from New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States, formed in 2002. They released their first album, '' Everything Goes Numb'', which was distributed by Victory Records, on August 26, 2003. The band h ...

Balance and Composure Balance and Composure was an American alternative rock band from Doylestown, Pennsylvania. They formed in the winter of 2007, after the breakup of two local Doylestown bands. The band's music was often suggested having similarities to Title Fig ...

Rival Schools ''Rival Schools: United by Fate'', known in Japan as is a fighting game produced by Capcom originally released as an arcade game in 1997 and ported to the PlayStation in 1998. On February 23, 2012, Capcom released ''United by Fate'' on the Ja ...

and the 2011

Vans Warped Tour The Warped Tour was a traveling rock tour that toured the United States plus three or four stops in Canada annually each summer from 1995 until 2019. It was the largest traveling music festival in the United States and the longest-running touri ...

2014: ''Die on Stage'' and disbandment

On July 22, 2014, the band announced their new album, '' Die on Stage'', would be released on September 16, 2014, and released a music video for the single, "Your Head/Your Heart". The record was produced by

Will Yip Will may refer to: Common meanings * Will and testament, instructions for the disposition of one's property after death * Will (philosophy), or willpower * Will (sociology) * Will, volition (psychology) * Will, a modal verb - see Shall and will ...

of Studio 4. On October 7, 2014, it was announced that Hostage Calm had dropped off the remaining dates of their tour with Citizen. On October 8, 2014, Hostage Calm announced that they had broken up. All subsequent shows were cancelled. Final shows were played in Philadelphia on February 25 (w/

Such Gold Such Gold is an American punk rock band from Rochester, New York, United States, currently consisting of Ben Kotin on guitar and vocals, Nate Derby on guitar, Jon Markson on bass and vocals and Matt Covey on drums. History Such Gold formed off ...

, Clique, and

Slaughter Beach, Dog Slaughter Beach, Dog is a rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania formed by Jake Ewald in 2014. Initially starting as one of Ewald's solo projects away from Modern Baseball, the group was realized after an indefinite hiatus of Modern Baseball w ...

), New York on February 27 (w/ Such Gold and Captain, We're Sinking), Boston on February 28 (w/ Such Gold, Captain, We're Sinking, and Give), Chicago on March 4 (w/ True Love and Luke Schwartz), and their final show at Toad's Place in New Haven Connecticut on March 6.

Members

Final members: *Tom Chiari - lead guitar (2007–2015) *Tim Casey - bass, vocals (2007–2015) *Chris "Cmar" Martin - lead vocals, guitars, piano (2007–2015) *Nick Balzano - guitar, backing vocals (2010–2015) *Keith "K. Bot" Sidorowicz - drums (2013–2015) Former members: *Chris Paecht - guitar (2008-2010) *Brett Pieper - drums (2007-2010) *Fred Graves - drums (2010-2011) *John Ross - drums (2011-2013) Touring members: *Alan Huck - drums (2010) *Daniel Fang - drums (2011) *Chris Mala - drums (2011; 2013) *Joe Longobardi - drums (2013)

Discography

Studio albums

* ''

Lens A lens is a transmissive optical device which focuses or disperses a light beam by means of refraction. A simple lens consists of a single piece of transparent material, while a compound lens consists of several simple lenses (''elements'' ...

'' (Redscroll Records, 2008) * ''

Hostage Calm Hostage Calm was an American punk rock band from Wallingford, Connecticut, United States, formed in 2007. Hostage Calm released two extended plays, four full-length albums, and a split with punk band Anti-Flag. The band announced their breakup ...

'' (

Run For Cover Records Run for Cover Records is an American independent record label based in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 2004 by Jeff Casazza at the age of 17 with a $1,000 loan, the label functioned as a small one-person bedroom operation in Brighton, until Cas ...

, 2010) * '' Please Remain Calm'' (

, 2012) * '' Die on Stage'' (

, 2014)

Extended plays

* ''

Demo Demo, usually short for demonstration, may refer to: Music and film * Demo (music), a song typically recorded for reference rather than release * ''Demo'' (Behind Crimson Eyes), a 2004 recording by the band Behind Crimson Eyes * ''Demo'' (Deafhe ...

'' (Headcount Records, 2007) * ''

Hostage Calm/Anti-Flag ''Hostage Calm/Anti-Flag'' is a split EP between American punk rock bands Hostage Calm and Anti-Flag Anti-Flag is an American punk rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The band is known for its left-wing political activism. Their c ...

'' (Split with

) (

, 2013)

Singles

* ''War On A Feeling / Donna Lee'' (Run For Cover Records, 2011)

Live albums

* ''Hostage Calm: Audiotree Live'' (Audiotree, 2012)

Compilations

* ''Hostage Calm UK Sampler'' (Run For Cover Records, 2010) * ''All Of Hostage Calm'' (Ice Grills Records, 2011) * ''Tonight, They Won't Take Me Alive'' (Self-Released, 2013)

Appearances on compilations

* ''Enough Is Enough: Volume 3'' (Woodland Records, 2010) - "Ballots/Stones" * ''2010 Spring Sampler'' (Run For Cover Records, 2010) - "Jerry Rumspringer" * ''Nervous Energies: Best Of Volume 1'' (Nervous Energies, 2011) - "The 'M' Word" * ''Mixed Signals'' (Run For Cover Records, 2011) - "The 'M' Word" * ''Fuck Off All Nerds: A Benefit Compilation in Memory of Mitch Dubey'' (Topshelf Records, 2011) - "Ballots/Stones" & "A Mistrust Earned" * ''2011 Winter Sampler'' (Run For Cover Records, 2011) - "Young Professionals" * ''Nervous Energies: Best Of Volume 2'' (Nervous Energies, 2012) - "The 'M' Word" * ''CT Sucks Compilation'' (Driftwood Records, 2012) - "Lacuna (Where Certainty Sleeps)" * ''Warped Tour 2012 Tour Compilation'' (SideOneDummy, 2012) - "The 'M' Word" * ''Topshelf Records 2012 Sampler'' (Topshelf Records, 2012) - "Brokenheartland" * ''Run For Cover Records Summer Sampler 2012'' (Run For Cover Records, 2012) - "The 'M' Word" * ''Topshelf Records 2013 Sampler'' (Topshelf Records, 2013) - "Olly Olly Oxen Free" * ''Less Than Jake/Hostage Calm/Pentimento Tour Sampler'' (Fat Wreck Chords, 2013) - "Don't Die On Me Now" * ''2013 Summer Sampler'' (Run For Cover Records, 2013) - "Woke Up Next To A Body" * ''The Heart Attack Tour Sampler'' (Lost Tape Collective, 2014) - "Your Head/Your Heart", "Woke Up Next To A Body" & "The 'M' Word" * ''RFC Best of 2014'' (Run For Cover Records, 2014) - "Someone Else"

Videography

* ''Rebel Fatigues'' (2010) * ''Your Head/Your Heart'' (2014) * ''A Thousand Miles Away From Here'' (2014) A Thousand Miles Away From Here Music Video
/ref>

References

External links

Official Website
{{Authority control American pop punk groups Musical groups established in 2007 Musical groups disestablished in 2015 Rock music groups from Connecticut Musical quartets Run for Cover Records artists