Finch

Driven by undeniable passion, Finch will be the band to bridge the gap between hard rock and pop punk. They dive headlong into songs laden with raw intensity to create a perfect union of post-hardcore angst and melodic rock dynamics. With a tip of the hat to their musical peers and influences, Finch confidently push at the boundaries set before them.

The band has come a long way since their formation in the late '90s. "We were pretty much a Deftones rip-off band," singer Nate admits sheepishly. In those days, the Temecula, California based band was called Numb. Though currently a nearly identical lineup of those early days, Finch has now found their own unique voice, and a permanent membership of frontman Nate Barcalow, guitarists Randy Strohmeyer and Alex Linares, bassist Derek Doherty and drummer Alex Pappas.

The band's jump from the world of practicing in the garage to being signed was a real grassroots process. Randy had kept in touch with Drive-Thru ever since writing a fan letter to the label years earlier. He'd even tried to pique the label's interest with his previous bands, but with no results. Regardless of previous outcomes, Randy kept lines of communication open.

When Finch were ready, Randy again called upon the label. "Richard (Reines, Drive-Thru Record's owner) was like, "All right, come and play for me," says Randy. "So we rented a studio. Richard was just doing it as a favor. But we went up there and played, and he was blown away." So blown away, in fact, that he called his sister and Drive-Thru co-owner Stefanie into the studio to check the band out. She was duly impressed, and Finch was offered a contract on the spot.

Drive-Thru sent the band into the studio to record shortly thereafter. Their debut, the Falling Into Place EP, Finch provides listeners with a tantalizing glimpse into the groups obvious talent and musical potential. Even though the EP only features four songs, each track is a superb conglomeration of emo and unbridled aggression. Produced by Chris Fudurich (The Hippos, Rx Bandits), Falling Into Place was released on October 9, 2001 and has sold over 6,000 copies by the end of '01.

In August/September 2001, the band holed up at Big Fish studio in Encinitas, CA to begin working on its first full length. At the helm was Mark Trombino, whose production and engineering work has brought out the best in Jimmy Eat World, Blink 182, Midtown and many others.

The result of their collective labors is What It Is To Burn, a soaring baker's-dozen collection of tracks -- the album simply shimmers with sincerity. Ranging between emo-oriented melodies, punk rhythm, pop hooks and aggressive hardcore breakdowns, it covers the entire emotional spectrum. Not unlike Glassjaw, Deftones and Jimmy Eat World, Finch embrace disparate influences within their music - the differences create a stronger whole.

Lyricist/vocalist Nate Barcalow reaches his full potential on What It Is To Burn. Though young, Barcalow exhibits a lyrical maturity beyond his years. Powerful and evocative, What It Is To Burn deals with the emotional roller coaster that is a relationship. It's an unlikely ode to the pit-of-the-stomach pain that only a loved one can cause and the strength it takes to carry on through all the not-knowing and aggravation.

What It Is To Burn was released on March 12, 2002 and immediately following, Finch will hit the road with Moth. The band will spend the summer playing their hearts out for the fans on the Drive-Thru Records stage on the Warped Tour.

No matter where you are this summer or what you call your particular brand of music, Finch will be there for you. Because, regardless of the names "rock," "punk," "emo," "hardcore," or "nu metal," the bridge has been built between them... by Finch.

California-based emo rockers Finch, originally called Numb, include vocalist Nate Barcalow, guitarists Randy Strohmeyer and Alex Linares, bassist Derek Doherty, and drummer Alex Pappas. Strohmeyer actually had a hand in getting the band signed to Drive-Thru Records. The young guitarist contacted the label incessantly, intent on generating interest in his music. His fan mail and pestering even led to friendship of sorts with Drive-Thru owner Richard Reines. So when Strohmeyer inevitably pitched him Finch, he figured Reines was just being polite by listening. But Reines was genuinely enthusiastic about Finch and offered the band a contract. The 2001 four-song EP Falling into Place was the band's first release for Drive-Thru and sold over 6,000 copies in just its first three months of release. That set up the well-received full-length What It Is to Burn, which appeared the following year, produced by Mark Trombino (blink-182, Midtown). Finch immediately hit the road with RX Bandits and spent that summer on the Warped Tour. Tempers flared in August 2004 when Finch got into an on-stage fracas with alt-metal act Disturbed, allegedly over comments Strohmeyer had made about the band's music and its singer, David Draiman. But the flap soon faded, and Finch concentrated on work for their sophomore full-length and Geffen debut. With new drummer Mark Allen on board, Say Hello to Sunshine dropped in summer 2005, featuring a considerably heavier and slightly experimental sound. The album failed to resonate with much of their fan base, even though the band toured behind it through the end of the year with such acts as Head Automatica, HiM, and Skindred. By February 2006, Finch had gone on an "indefinite break." Some members of the band went on to join the Sound of Animals Fighting, along with members of RX Bandits, the Autumns, and Circa Survive. ~ Linda Seida, All Music Guide