Polar Bear Club

This article is about the band. For the swimming clubs, see Ice swimming.
Polar Bear Club

Polar Bear Club in 2009
Background information
Origin Rochester and Syracuse,
New York, US
Genres Post-hardcore, punk rock, alternative rock, emo, melodic hardcore
Years active 2005–2014 (hiatus)
Labels Bridge Nine, Red Leader, Triple Attack, Luchador, Rise Records
Associated acts Hit the Lights, Roses Are Red, Achilles, Another Breath, Marathon, Standfast, Spark Lights the Friction, Heavy Hearted, Sakes Alive!!, Tamiroff, The Disaster, The Avram, Acoustic Reign
Members Jimmy Stadt
Chris Browne
Patrick Benson
Tyler Smith
Steve Port
Past members Kevin Mahoney
Greg Odom
Josh Dillon
Bob O'Neil
Emmett Menke
Tyler Mahurin
Erik Henning
Nate Morris

Polar Bear Club was an American post-hardcore band from Rochester and Syracuse, upstate New York. Formed in 2005, the band currently consists of vocalist Jimmy Stadt, lead guitarist Chris Browne, Patrick Benson, Tyler Smith, and drummer Steve Port.

History

Formation (2005)

Polar Bear Club formed in summer 2005 with its members coming from a variety of upstate New York-based hardcore punk and indie rock bands. Their influences are said to include Small Brown Bike, Third Eye Blind, Silent Majority, Hot Water Music, Jimmy Eat World, The Weakerthans and Lifetime. The band's name comes from a song of the same name by Silent Majority.

Quickly after forming they released a five-song demo CD-R, which has since gone out of print.

Signing (2006–2007)

Shortly after the release of their well received demo EP, they were noticed by Triple Attack Records, who released their first EP, The Redder, the Better, in May 2006 in conjunction with Luchador Records. The EP received rave reviews by webzines and made a number of year-end "best of" lists, topping the list on Australian radio Triple R's Bullying The Jukebox program. The succuess also garnered the band enough notice for Red Leader Records to sign them in July 2007. This EP is now out of print on CD,[1] but has since been made available for digital download[2] and on 12" vinyl.[3]

Debut full-length and Bridge 9 (2008–2009)

The band's debut full-length, Sometimes Things Just Disappear, was released in March 2008, also receiving glowing reviews from an even wider number of webzines and great reception from their rapidly growing fanbase. More appearances in "best of" lists followed, as well as tours with The Gaslight Anthem, American Steel, Crime in Stereo, A Wilhelm Scream and Cancer Bats, leading to the band's signing to Bridge Nine Records, officially announced on January 8, 2009.[4] Label owner Chris Wrenn said the following in regards to the bands signing:

“ We couldn't be more excited to add Polar Bear Club to the family. This was one of the best and easiest decisions we've made and it's a great way to start off 2009. Not only are they an incredible band, but they know who they are and what they want to be—and they fit in perfect perfectly with the way B9 is growing. ”

The label at the same time announced they would issue Sometimes Things Just Disappear on vinyl sometime during spring. On March 19 the vinyl was made available for pre-order, with a shipping start date set for March 24,[5] even though its official release date was April 7.[6]

Chasing Hamburg and Clash Battle Guilt Pride (2009–2012)

In February/March 2009, the band toured the UK and Europe with The Gaslight Anthem and Frank Turner, with a small string of UK headlining dates subsequent to the tour. During the European visit, they announced plans to return for a US tour with labelmates Have Heart. They also announced that they were to start work on a new album, to be produced by Matt Bayles.[7]

On May 28, 2009, the title and release date of the band's second full-length, Chasing Hamburg, set to release on September 8, was announced in a press release.[8] In compliance to the press release, the album was released on the previously announced date through Bridge Nine Records on both 12" vinyl and CD.

On June 21, 2010 the Chasing Hamburg b-side "Drifting Thing (Team Goldie Remix)" was posted for exclusive streaming at AbsolutePunk.net[9] and was released by Bridge 9 Records as a 7 inch record (limited to a pressing of 500) during their Fall 2010 Mystery Box Sale. On August 8, 2010 they will play at the Hevy Music Festival held near Folkestone, Kent in the UK.

On one of the early tour dates for The AP Fall Ball 2010, Polar Bear Club announced they will be taking the next six months after the tour ends to write and record a new album.

On October 30 they were announced as the replacement act for Alesana on the 2011 Australian festival Soundwave. Whilst in Australia, the group also performed some select sideshows along acts such as Terror, Fucked Up, and H2O.

The band's third full-length album, Clash Battle Guilt Pride, was recorded with Brian McTernan at Salad Days Studio in Baltimore and released in September 2011. They embarked on a headline tour that fall with support from Fireworks, Balance and Composure, and Make Do and Mend.

In March and April 2012, the band embarked on the Glamour Kills tour as direct support for The Wonder Years, alongside opening acts Transit, The Story So Far, A Loss For Words and Into It. Over It., before embarking on the entirety of the 2012 Vans Warped Tour.

It was announced on April 17, 2012 that Polar Bear Club will be playing the Lock Up stage at Leeds and Reading festival 2012.

On July 31, 2012 they released their first live album, Live at the Montage.

On November 26, 2012, it was announced during their set opening for The Gaslight Anthem in Boston that it was Nate Morris' last show with the band.

Death Chorus (2013–present)

On April 17, 2013, the band announced that their bassist Erik "Goose" Henning had decided to part ways with the band.[10]

In late February and early March Polar Bear Club headed over to Australia as Part of the Soundwave Festival, they played all five dates of the festival as well as two club shows with All Time Low and Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! [11]

In May–June 2013 the band toured the UK, playing Slam Dunk Festival as well as more intimate shows. At the last date of the tour at Camden Underworld in London, Jimmy Stadt outlined that the band would be in the Studio recording the new album very shortly after returning home from tour.

On November 18, the band's fourth full-length album, Death Chorus, was released on Rise Records, produced by Will Yip.

In November–December 2013, the band toured with Citizen, Sainthood Reps, and Diamond Youth.

In May 2015, lead singer Jimmy Stadt confirmed via social media that the band is currently on hiatus. [12]

Band members

Current members

Former members

Discography

References

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