You Me at Six Case Study

You Me at Six is a British alternative rock, pop punk and emo band from Weybridge, Surrey they formed in 2004. You Me at Six consits of vocalist Josh Franceschi, rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Max Helyer, lead guitarist Chris Miller, bassist Matt Barnes and drummer and percussionist Dan Flint.

You Me at Six had a previous drummer Joe Phillips who had left the band in 2004, then Dan Flint joined You Me at Six.

This is taken from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Me_at_Six about the 'early years' of You Me at Six "Formed in 2004, You Me At Six remained small for around two years. During an interview with Sam Darcy, bassist Matt Barnes said that You Me At Six started out travelling the UK on the Megabus to ensure they got to all of their early gigs. In their early material they incorporated elements of screaming, as expressed in early demos such as "Promise, Promise", "New Jersey", "Noises" and "This Turbulence Is Beautiful". Another early You Me At Six song was called "The Liar and The Lighter", this song was entirely acoustic and showed the bands early versatility with different genres, when taken concomitantly with the screaming on other early songs. Their first release was a four track E.P in 2006 entitled We Know What It's Like To Be Alone. They then released a four-track EP at the start of 2007, with the songs "The Rumour", "Gossip", "Noises" and "This Turbulence Is Beautiful". They played many local and smaller venues throughout 2006, such as Backline Studios in Guildford and Facebar in Reading, building large local support, then in 2007 began playing larger venues. One of the first major breakthroughs came for the band when playing to a sold-out show at the Camden Underworld in February 2007, then later with the opening slot of Slam Dunk Festival 2007 (which they later went on to headline in 2009) Their support slot with Paramore at Colchester Arts Centre also drew the attention of major media, such as Kerrang!".

You Me at Six rose to success with their first studio album Take Off Your Colours which was released 6th October 2008, on Slam Dunk Records. Slam Dunk records is an independent record label which was founded in Leeds, England in 2007. The label evolved, initially, from popular clubnight 'Slam Dunk', a weekly clubnight held at the city's Cockpit music venue, predominantly centered around emo/punk/ska and metal music genres. Slam Dunk Records is also associated with popular music festival 'Slam Dunk Festival', which was established in 2006. Slam Dunk Festival is held on the May Bank Holiday of each year, now at University of Leeds student union building, attracting more than 40 bands across six different stages. Acts who have played Slam Dunk Festival range from Fall Out Boy, The Acadamy is, Paramore, Story of the Year, Cute is What we Aim for, The Blackout, New Found Glory and You Me at Six. All of the album was written by Josh the lead singer and the all of the music was composed by You Me at Six. Take Off Your Colours was produced by Matt O'Grady who is a producer, mixer and music engineer Matt has produced bands like Deaf Havana, The Blackout, My Passion and both of You Me at Six albums. Take Off Your Colours entered the UK Charts at 25 though a deluxe edition of Take Off Your Colours was released on July 21, 2009 in the U.S. and September 14, 2009 in the UK. The new version features five additional songs. Save it for the Bedroom, Finders Keepers and Kiss and Tell later peaked at #33 and #42 respectively in the official UK Singles Chart.

The American version of the album was released on Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label has artists like Alkaline Trio, The Blackout, Bring Me The Horizon, New Found Glory, Set Your Goals, Story of the Year and You Me at Six though in the US only.

Hold Me Down was the bands second studio album which was their first major label release through Virgin Records on 11 January 2010. Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. It was later sold to Thorn EMI in 1992. Its American operations were merged with Capitol Records in 2007 to create the Capitol Music Group. Virgin Records have artists like 30 Seconds to Mars, Blur, Fountains of Wayne, The Smashing Pumpkins, Underoath and You Me at Six. Like Take Off Your Colours, the album was once again produced and mixed by Matty O'Grady.

A promotional single titled The Consequence was made available for free digital download before first official single, Underdog preceded the album's release. The album debuted at 5 in the UK album charts, however it managed to hit 4 for the mid-week charts. This album included the popular single Underdog, which reached 49 on the UK singles chart, The Consequence which was available on download through the bands myspace and Liquid Confidence which was released on 19 April 2010 as the third single from the album. The album also features guest vocals from Aled Phillips of Kids in Glass Houses on Trophy Eyes and Sean Smith of The Blackout on first single, The Consequence. Prior to release the band stated they were very happy that the album 'reflects our growth as people and musicians'.

This is taken from Wikipedia about the bands touring "You Me At Six kicked off their year playing a launch show in Kingston — originally intended to be an instore gig at Banquet Records, it was quickly upgraded to the new Hippodrome — in support of their new album Hold Me Down on 11 January. As of February they have played 3 dates, including, also, an HMV instore and an HMV event headline promoting new British music at the Relentless Garage London. They announced that they would be playing several festivals including Punkspring in Japan, the whole Vans Warped Tour; and supported Paramore on all Soundwave dates, as well as on Paramore's tour.
They have completed their third sell-out headline tour in support of their second album Hold Me Down. They were joined by Sean Smith and Elissa Franceschi on selected dates. In Belfast, Matt told GiggingNI.com how it was "exciting to see how much you've grown from a year and a half ago".
In August 2010 the band will be performing on the main stage at the Leeds and Reading festivals. The band also mentioned during their gigs in Manchester, Leeds, Southampton, Nottingham, Norwich, London, Glasgow and Belfast that they would be re-touring the UK in December 2010. During the Glasgow gig it was also mentioned that there was likely to be an Edinburgh tour date.
On 18 May 2010, You Me At Six visited BBC Radio One's Live Lounge for the second time, presented by Fearne Cotton. Aside from being interviewed they played a version of "Liquid Confidence" and a cover of Ellie Goulding's "Starry Eyed" at Maida Vale, in London live on air. On the 23 May 2010 they played the 'In New Music We Trust' stage at the Radio One Big Weekend in Bangor, North Wales. They were joined onstage by Sean Smith for The Consequence and Aled Phillips on Save it for the bedroom.
In December, You Me At Six will play another UK Headline tour during which they will visit Doncaster, Bournemouth, Manchester, Wolverhampton, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and Belfast. Support will come from Mayday Parade."

I love You Me at Six as I first saw them in 2008 when they were supporting a band Angels & Airwaves, You Me at Six have been in numerous of Kerrang! and Rock Sound interviews.

This is a Radio 1 Live Lounge version of You Me at Six performing Finders Keepers.

You Me at Six-Finders Keepers

All Time Low Case Study

All Time Low is an American pop-punk band from Balitmore, Maryland, the band was formed in 2003. The band consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Alexander William Gaskarth, backing vocalist and lead guitarist Jack Bassam Barakat, bassist and backing vocalist Zachary Steven Merrick and drummer Robert Rian Dawson. Alex was born 14th December 1987, he was born in Essex, United Kingdom and he lived in England until he was seven years old and he moved to Balitmore. Jack was born in Lebanon on 18th June 1988 though he moved to Baltimore when he was , Rian was born in Balitmore on the 18th December 1987 and Zack was born in Balitmore on the 28th April 1988.
This information about the formation of All Time Low is taken from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Time_Low "The guitarist Jack Barakat initially invited Alex Gaskarth to form a band playing Blink-182 songs in eighth grade, along with their original drummer. Barakat told Alternative Press that they were not friends at the time (in 2003), since Gaskarth had just transferred from a private school and that Gaskarth had "hated" Blink-182. Eventually Barakat persuaded Gaskarth to listen to the band's live album, The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show (The Enema Strikes Back!), and they started the band covering Blink-182 songs. At the end of their ninth grade, after a years worth of every day pestering by Barakat, drummer Rian Dawson was convinced to jam with the band. The band was playing "Roller Coaster" by Blink-182, and the old drummer couldn't do it. So Dawson capably took over and they removed the other drummer from the band. A month later, the band asked around in need of a bassist. Zack Merrick showed up at practice with a skateboard. Barakat later explained their reaction as something like, "Fuck yeah, he plays with his fingers. He's in." Then at the end of the practice session, Merrick did some skateboarding tricks – including a triple kickflip and the band's decision was reaffirmed. At the end of their ninth grade, All Time Low's current lineup was formed. They drew a heavy influence from Blink-182 and Green Day early on, and started out covering their songs as well as New Found Glory's, before they eventually started touring."
All Time Low's first four tracks EP, The Three Words to Remember in Dealing with the End which was released on Emerald Moon Records a regional record label. In July 2005, All Time Low released their first full album The Party Scene with Emerald Moon Records. Emerald Moon Records was found by Matt Boylan in Baltimore, Maryland in 2004. The record label focus on alternative genres of local music which ranges from indie, punk, emo, hardcore, pop punk and screamo. All Time Low did not sign a record label with Emerald Moon Records even though their EP and album was released on Emerald Moon Records.
Emerald Moon Records has launched bands Fall River and Hometown Anthem. Though, the biggest band to come from Emerald Moon Records is All Time Low.
On Valentines Day 2006, just months before Alex, Jack and Rian graduated from Dulaney High School and Zack graduated from Towson High School, All Time Low signed with Hopeless Records.
Hopeless Records is an independent record label which is located in California. The label was founded by Louis Posen in 1993, the average genre that Hopeless Records produces is punk rock, pop punk, emo, alternative rock and metal. The label works with the charity Sub City Records which participates with numerous takes like Take Action! Tour which appears punk and other independent bands. Hopeless Records signed many 'established' rock bands like Avenged Sevenfold, Amber Pacific, Thrice and All Time Low, though all of them bands left Hopeless Records this may be because with a bigger label they will become more 'mainstream' and more oppotunities.
Several months later the band released a new EP entitled Put Up or Shut Up on Hopeless Records, containing newly recorded versions of songs from The Party Scene along with two new tracks. The EP became the band's first record to reach the charts, peaking at number 20 on the US Independent Albums chart and number 12 on the Top Heatseekers chart. After High School All Time Low toured most of the year.
All Time Low appeared on the compilation albums 'A Tribute to Blink 182' and Punk Goes Acoustic 2 with a cover of the Blink 182 song 'Time to Break up' and an acoustic version of their song "Jasey Rae" respectively.
In 2007 All Time Low released their second studio album So Wrong, It's Right which was produced by Matt Squire who is a multi-platinum music producer and writer, he worked with bands like HIM, Panic! at the Disco, Cute is What We Aim For, Boys like Girls, The Used, Taking Back Sunday, This Providence, Katy Perry, The Cab, The Maine and 30H!3.
So Wrong, It's Right peaked at number 62 on the Billboard 200 and number 6 on the Independent Albums chart. They released Six Feet Under the Stars, Poppin' Champagne and Dear Maria, Count Me In became their first single to reach the charts, peaking at number 86 on the Pop 100. After bringing out So Wrong, It's Write All Time Low quickly gained popularity, eventually making their TRL debut on 12 February 2008. They have also been featured on MTV's Discover and Download and Music Choice's Fresh Crops, and have been added to both MTV's Big Ten and MTV Hits play lists. On 7 March 2008, the band made their live television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and then performed live at the MTVU Woodie Awards. In May 2008 All Time Low was in Kerrang! Magazine in the United Kingdom in the introducing article, this lead All Time Low a growing International fanbase. In May 2008 All Time Low performed at Give it a Name Festival in the United Kingdom. All Time Low headlined a tour in England which was the first All Time Low gig that I went to. In December 2008, All Time Low was announced as Alternative Press magazine's Band of the Year 2008 and was on the cover of the magazine's January issue.
In January 2009 All Time Low went in to the studio to begin recording their new album Nothing Personal. It was revealed in an interview that All Time Low had co-written a song with Blink 182 bassist and vocalist Mark Hoppus, though this song did not reach the record. The album was produced by five different producers.
Their previous producer Matt Squire, Butch Walker American recording artist, songwriter, and record producer who was also the lead guitarist for the metal band SouthGang from the late 80s to early 90s as well as the lead vocalist and guitarist for alternative rock band Marvelous. Butch Walker has worked with Avril Lavigne, Pink, Simple Plan, Katy Perry, Dashboard Confessional, The Academy is and Weezer. David Bendeth is a multi-platinum award winning record producer who has worked with Paramore, Killswitch Engage, Taking Back Sunday, Underoath, Kaiser Chiefs and Mayday Parade. S*A*M and Sluggo record production and songwriting team, composed of Sam Hollander and Dave "Sluggo" Katz who have worked with Hey Monday, Katy Perry, Gym Class Heroes, We the Kings and The Academy is. Finally, the R&B and pop singer-songwriter and record producer The Dream who has worked with Rihanna and Usher. The first song from the album released
to the public was "Weightless", which was made available online at AbsolutePunk on March 24, 2009. The single was then released on the iTunes Store on April 7, 2009. A music video for the single was created, with it debuting on MTV, MTV2, mtvU and HITS the day before the album's release, on 6 July 2009. Later, Damned if I Do Ya and Lost in the Stereo was released. All Time Low also appeared on the movie Jennifer's Body album as their song Toxic Valentine is on the album.
Billboard magazine predicted that the album looked "like it could" enter the top ten of the Billboard 200 in its debut week, saying that it may start with anywhere between 60,000–75,000 sales. The record was released on July 7, 2009, with the title Nothing Personal. Nothing Personal debuted at number four and sold 63,000 copies, becoming the group's best sales week and highest charting album, which peaked at number 4 on the album charts.
It was revealed in November 2009 that the band had signed to major label Interscope Records, their new album which will be released some time in January is released on Interscope Records. Interscope Records was founded by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field in 1990. Interscope Records is owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.
Interscope Records has many artists though some bands who are similar to the rock genre are All American Reject, Angels and Airwaves, Blink 182, Enter Shikari, Dashboard Confessional, Jimmy Eat World, Limp Bizkit, Queens of the Stoneage, Them Crooked Vultures, Tokio Hotel and Weezer. Though Interscope has aritsts like Lady GaGa, Black Eyed Peas, NERD and Pussycat Dolls.
The band also announced that they would have a song titled "Painting Flowers" featured on the soundtrack for the upcoming film Alice in Wonderland. Also, All Time Low done an MTV Unplugged Performance which has been released as a DVD aswell as appearing on MTV. MTV Unplugged has previously featured bands like Nirvana and Dashboard Confessional.
The band's concert at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on December 4, 2009 was recorded and subsequently released in 2010 as their first CD/DVD, entitled Straight to Dvd. The release includes an on-the-road documentary filmed during All Time Low’s October-December 2009 headlining tour, a live concert audio CD and out-takes of the band. It was released on May 25, I have watched the DVD and I released how much work All Time Low has done to get where they are today as it contained old footage from when the just began the band in High School.
All Time Low have always said that they are a band "for the fans" which includes their hectic touring schedule, this was taken from Wikipedia of their previous, present and future touring plans.
"In the summer of 2007, All Time Low played the Vans Warped Tour on the Smartpunk Stage. They made their live debut in the UK in late 2007 supporting Plain White T's.
In early 2008 the band completed their first headlining tour, the Manwhores and Open Sores Tour with opening acts Every Avenue, Mayday Parade, and Just Surrender. At one point during the tour, on the way to a show in Michigan, the band was caught in snowstorm. The driver lost control of their van and did two complete 360's on the highway, with the trailer jack-knifing and leaving the van perpendicular to the median on the highway. Fortunately, all vehicles behind the group were going slow enough to stop in time.
From March 2008 to May 2008, they co-headlined the AP Tour 2008 with The Rocket Summer; supported by acts such as The Matches and Forever the Sickest Kids. In May 2008 they played at the Give It a Name Festival. Also in May 2008, they co-headlined a UK tour with Cobra Starship. In July 2008, the band headlined the Shortest Tour Ever with supporting acts Hit the Lights, Valencia, and There for Tomorrow. From mid-July to mid-August they played the 2008 Vans Warped Tour. They ended 2008 with their headlining tour, the Compromising of Integrity, Morality & Principles in Exchange for Money Tour with Mayday Parade, The Maine, and Every Avenue.
They played Fall Out Boy's Believers Never Die Part Deux Tour in spring 2009, with Metro Station, Cobra Starship, and Hey Monday. All Time Low also announced tours in both Australia and Japan in June 2009 with Set Your Goals. The band also did a ten date tour with We the Kings, Cartel and Days Difference. They headlined Warped Tour 2009 from July 19 through the end of the tour, and then played at Voodoo Experience 2009, which was headlined by Eminem, Kiss and The Flaming Lips. All Time Low have completed a European tour that took place in Fall of 2009.
All Time Low also headlined the very first The Glamour Kills Tour with We The Kings, Hey Monday, and The Friday Night Boys. It started October 15, 2009, and ran through December 6, 2009.
All Time Low returned to Ireland & The UK in January and February 2010 as they headlined the Kerrang! Relentless Tour 2010 With The Blackout, My Passion and Young Guns. Also, they played a few mainland Europe shows right after, mostly in countries they had never been before.
All Time Low returned to Australia in February and March to play at Soundwave festival.
All Time Low will also be co-headlining the The Bamboozle Roadshow 2010 between May and June. Co-headlining with the boys are Boys Like Girls, Third Eye Blind, and LMFAO. Along with numerous other supporting bands, including Good Charlotte and Simple Plan.
All Time Low have been confirmed to play Reading Festival 2010 in the UK over the August Bank Holiday. They will be playing on the Main Stage along with Blink 182, Paramore and You Me At Six, which I am going to on that day."
I have been a fan of All Time Low for three years and after researching for the case study I think that they are an inspiration to show that hard work pays off. I first heard of All Time Low in a Kerrang! Magazine Interview when introducing them.
This is a clip from All Time Low's Straight to DVD showing a live performance of one of my favourite songs Coffeeshop Soundtrack.
All Time Low- Coffeeshop Soundtrack (Straight to DVD)