BoySetsFire

BoySetsFire is an American post-hardcore band from Newark, Delaware. Formed in October 1994, BoySetsFire is composed of guitarists Chad Istvan and Josh Latshaw, vocalist Nathan Gray, drummer Jared Shavelson, and bassists Chris Rakus and Robert Ehrenbrand.[1] Their lyrical themes are politically driven.[2][3]

BoySetsFire
Background information
OriginNewark, Delaware, U.S.
GenresPost-hardcore, emo, melodic hardcore, punk rock
Years active1994–2007, 2010–present
LabelsBurning Heart, Wind-up, Equal Vision, Undecided, Conquer the World, Cascade, End Hits
MembersNathan Gray
Chad Istvan
Josh Latshaw
Robert Ehrenbrand
Chris Rakus
Jared Shavelson
Past membersRob Avery
Darrell Hyde
Matt Krupanski
Marc Krupanski
Dan Pelic
Lee Dickerson
Websiteboysetsfire.net
Nathan Gray on stage

Biography

BoySetsFire released their first demo albums in late 1994 and early 1995. In 1996, the band released their first EP, This Crying, This Screaming, My Voice Is Being Born. In 1997, they signed a contract with Initial Records and recorded their first album, The Day the Sun Went Out.

In 1999, their second album, After the Eulogy was recorded, and BoySetsFire went on tour with Snapcase, as well as on Vans Warped tour. BoySetsFire then released a split-EP with Snapcase in 1999, as well as the Crush 'Em All Vol. 1 Metallica tribute with Shai Hulud for Undecided Records, and another with Coalesce in 2000.[4] Their former bassist was replaced by Rob Avery. After being signed to Victory Records, the band moved to Wind-Up, an independent label distributed by Sony in the US. Tomorrow Come Today was then released in 2003.

Following a dispute with Wind-Up, in 2005 the band signed to the independent record label Burning Heart Records for worldwide distribution and Equal Vision Records for North American distribution. The album The Misery Index: Notes from the Plague Years got released in March 2006.

Brief hiatus

On July 31, 2006, the band informed the fans about its retirement through their official website.[5] There was a farewell European tour in late summer; however, guitarist Josh Latshaw severely injured himself prior to its start. As a result, the band played those shows with roadie Chris "The Reverend" Rakus at the guitar instead, but returned to Europe in May 2007 to give Latshaw the chance to say goodbye to the European fans.

The band's final performance took place on June 9, 2007, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Trocadero Theatre. A DVD has been released of this show in its entirety as well as parts of the final European tour.

On February 12, 2007, lead vocalist Nathan Gray announced that he was forming a new band by the name of The Casting Out.[6] While the band includes several former members of BoySetsFire, Gray informed fans that it would not be another political band.

Drummer Matt Krupanski went on to form new bands Bound and Buried and Young Lady,[7] the latter which included future BoySetsFire bassist, Marc Krupanski (formerly of Dear Tonight, Midvale, Eldritch Anisette, Dorian Gray, and Network 34), as well as two other Delaware natives, including members from Joshua Fit for Battle.

Reunion

BoySetsFire announced their reunion on their website and official Facebook page on October 5, 2010. Tour venues were Berlin, the Groezrock Festival in Belgium, the Studio at Webster Hall and the Nova Rock Festival in Nickelsdorf, Austria. In August 2011, they played in the UK at the Reading & Leeds Festival. In November 2011, via the band's official Facebook page, the band announced Robert Ehrenbrand had left the band.[1] The band then announced that Marc Krupanski officially joined as the new bassist.[8]

The band recorded 5 new songs in the summer of 2012 with two of them scheduled to be released on Magic Bullet Records as a vinyl 7" record. In 2012, five shows were played in the U.S.: two in January 2012 (one in their hometown of Newark, Delaware and the other in West Chester, Pennsylvania), one in Boston, one in Providence, and one and at The Bamboozle Festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey in May 2012. They then conducted a three-week tour in July–August 2012 in Europe. In December 2012 via the band's official Facebook page, it was announced that both Matt and Marc Krupanski had left the band. A few days later, it was announced that Chris Rakus and Robert Ehrenbrand would share bass player duties. Dan Pelic joined as drummer.

In June 2013, the band released a two-song EP featuring brothers Matt and Marc Krupanski, as well as a fifth album, While a Nation Sleeps..., which featured new and previously unreleased songs re-recorded by Dan Pelic and Robert Ehrenbrand. It was well-received, especially in the German album charts, where it reached #22.[9] A European Tour was carried out in June and July 2013,[10] including concerts at Hurricane and Southside Festival, with additional shows being played in Dortmund, Stuttgart and Hamburg in October 2013. In November and December 2013, the band toured Australia and in April 2014 gave concerts in the UK. The band returned to Europe for summer and, in celebration of its 20th anniversary, announced shows in Hamburg, Cologne, Berlin and Vienna in October 2014.[11]

In September 2015, the band released their self-titled sixth album. This was followed by a European tour to support the album with Silverstein and Great Collapse. In Summer 2016, they went on a European tour with Polar and Wolf Down before taking a break in order to focus on other musical projects.

Personnel

Timeline

Discography

Over the years, boysetsfire have released records through Magic Bullet, Conquer the World, Deathwish Inc, Initial, Hydra Head, Victory, Wind-Up, Equal Vision, and Burning Heart. They have released split-EPs with Coalesce, Shai Hulud, Snapcase, Funeral for a Friend, and KMPFSPRT.

Studio-albums

EPs

Compilations and other appearances
  • 1995: Dad, I Can't Breathe[12](Creep Records compilation)
  • 1997: For the Kids[13] (7" benefit compilation, including an earlier version of BSF song "With Cold Eyes". Other bands include "The Weak Link Breaks", "By the Grace of God" and "Dorian Gray" which featured other Delaware natives including future members of Boysetsfire, Rob Avery and Marc Krupanski. Released by Diffusion Records)
  • 2003: Daredevil: The Album (soundtrack to the original motion picture, LP)
  • 2005: Before the Eulogy (B-sides and rarities CD)

One of their songs, "Handful of Redemption", is featured on the video games Tiger Woods '03 and MVP Baseball '03 by EA Sports. Their song "Rookie" from the After the Eulogy album was featured on the Legends of Wrestling video game. "Rookie" from After the Eulogy and "Handful of Redemption" from the Tomorrow Come Today album were also featured in the video game 1080° Avalanche. Additionally, their song "High Wire Escape Artist" is featured on the soundtrack to The Daredevil motion picture.[14] The soundtrack record, released by Wind-up Records, is the band's first and only gold record.

Live-recordings

Music-videos
  • 2003: Last Year's Nest
  • 2005: Dear George
  • 2006: Requiem
  • 2013: Bled dry
  • 2013: Closure
  • 2013: Never said
  • 2015: One Match

References
  1. "Hello everyone…A lot going on in the... - BOYSETSFIRE(official)". Facebook.com.
  2. "Interview with Boy Sets Fire". Stapel.home.xs4all.nl. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  3. "Lazyeye Profile: Boy Sets Fire". Timmcmahan.com. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  4. Deller, Alex (June 13, 2007). "Boy Sets Fire Shai Hulud - Crush 'Em All Vol. 1 Review". Collective Zine. Archived from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  5. "BSF". Archived from the original on February 22, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2007.
  6. "Official site news". Archived from the original on September 28, 2007.
  7. "Young Lady {NEW SONGS!}". Myspace.
  8. "BOYSETSFIRE(official)". Facebook.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  9. ""WHILE A NATION SLEEPS..." REACHED NO. 22 OF THE GERMAN ALBUM CHARTS!". Boysetsfire.org. Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  10. "Boysetsfire Tour Dates". Archived from the original on October 6, 2014.
  11. "20TH ANNIVERSARY EUROPEAN TOUR OCTOBER 2014". boysetsfire.org. May 27, 2014. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  12. "Various – Dad, I Can't Breathe". Discogs.com. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  13. "By The Grace Of God:For The Kids". Louisville Punk/Hardcore History.
  14. "Daredevil Soundtrack". Daredevil-movies.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
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