Artist description 12 Step Romance is a melodic emo/punk trio from Southeastern, PA. New album in Winter 2003 featuring a mix of acoustic and electric tracks. Check out the band's web site for show dates, mp3s, and photos from recent shows. The band is currently seeking labels and spots on larger tours. Also, check out Anthony in th new CKY4 and Bloodhound Gang DVDs. Why this name? We drink a lot and have lots of romances with cute girls. Do you play live? Yes, play a variety of local acoustic and electric shows featuring a mix of melodic emo/punk and some covers. We've opened for many bands like Catch 22, Saves The Day, Ash, Ridlin Kids, etc.

Music Style Melodic Emo Punk

Musical Influences Johnny Cash, Alkaline Trio, Ben Harper, Dinosaur Jr., Saves The Day, Weezer

Similar Artists Alkaline Trio, Saves The Day, Weezer, Social Distortion

Group Members Adam: Vocals, Guitars, and Banjos Anthony: Drums James: Bass

Instruments Bass, Drums, Guitars, and Banjos

Albums 12 Step Romance

Press Reviews Press Reviews Saturday, July 27, 2002 Relationships with a modern twist By Naila Francis Staff Writer Want to learn more about emo music? Give a listen when 12 Step Romance plays in Perkasie Saturday. They may call themselves 12 Step Romance, but don't expect to hear anything sweet or soft that smacks of romance in the traditional sense when this three-man band performs at the Olde Towne Restaurant and Tavern in Perkasie Saturday. Singer and guitarist Adam Frei, drummer Anthony Garbarino and bassist James Kline do sing about their relationship experiences - particularly the sad and frustrating ones - but with a modern twist. They are part of an "emo" resurgence that has been steadily growing in popularity since the mid-1990s. Short for "emotional," emo music is a raucous fusion of hardcore punk, grunge and indie rock. Although songs do border on the angst-ridden, the music is not as belligerent, the lyrics not as forcefully delivered, shouted out as if in a fit of rage. "The music is more melodic and the lyrics are more emotional," says Kline of Norristown. "It's sometimes called post punk or pop punk. It's almost like 'N Sync but harder." And so when 12 Step Romance performs, you may find stark lyrical confessions accompanied by subtle melodic pop structures that give way to thrashing guitars. Soft warm sounds can erupt in near dissonance, and an anguished whisper can become a frustrated wail. But the melody is never lost - no matter how frenzied the music becomes. "Instead of just cussing and swearing and singing about stupid stuff," says Frei, "these songs are from personal experience. And more or less, you've got to sing with a lot of emotion." The band, which has been performing locally for only about a year, already is working with producer Jared Little on its first album, which should be released in August. Little is the producer for Philadelphia's nonpolitically correct white rappers, the Bloodhound Gang - purveyors of the hit, "The Bad Touch," otherwise known as "Let's Do It Like They Do on the Discovery Channel." "It's a refreshing change to the style of music that's the trend right now, the really angry music," says Little of 12 Step Romance's sound. "It's catchy. It's just singing about everyday life." The Bloodhound Gang's lead singer, Jimmy Pop Ali, reportedly is pushing for 12 Step Romance to get signed to the Vans Warped Tour when it comes to Philadelphia Aug. 9. The annual festival concert tour showcases the talents of new and established bands and has helped to launch the careers of groups such as No Doubt, Blink-182, Sugar Ray, Kid Rock and Limp Bizkit. But even if that doesn't happen, Garbarino, who lives in Collegeville, notes they've come a long way in only a year. They have effortlessly unloaded 400 demo CDs on their fans and at shows are often peppered with requests from other musicians eager to join their band. "We're pretty much headed in the right direction," says Garbarino, 28. "Once the album comes out, I think we have a pretty good shot to make something of ourselves." Although all have performed in various bands before, they were looking for something outside of the norm when they formed 12 Step Romance. "It was a good play on words," says Kline of the group's name. "It's a good ambiguous name, but it plays off a lot of the songs because they have to do with girls and relationships and various addictions to relationships." Kline, 27, had been playing in hip-hop and jazz bands prior to working with Frei and Garbarino. Garbarino spent many years touring with various heavy-metal bands before branching out into rap-rock. "We almost had to teach him how to play with No. 2 pencils," says Frei, a Telford resident, "because he was playing the drums so heavy." Frei himself has long been a fan of hardcore punk music. Originally a band of five, they found they clicked better as a threesome after the departure of two singers. That's when songwriter Frei discovered his voice wasn't half-bad. Their different musical influences helped fuel their unique sound. "None of our songs sound alike," says Frei, 25. "None of them are real happy, but that's just emo." He cites contemporary influences such as Weezer, Alkaline Trio, Dashboard Confessional and Jimmy Eat World in shaping the group's sound, but he notes 12 Step Romance also draws from older favorites such as Johnny Cash, Ben Harper and Bob Marley. They even get a little country. "I took banjo lessons when I was a little kid," says Frei, "but I taught myself to play guitar because you can't do Blink-182 or the Foo Fighters with the banjo. The closest you can get may be Bela Fleck, but you can't play what you hear on the radio." Still, the instrument has found a place in some of the band's songs. "Being a three-piece band," says Kline, "we have a lot more room to express ourselves and to play different music just for the art of it."

Additional Info www.12stepromance.com

Location Telford, PA - USA

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).