Liars Academy

Liars Academy
OriginBaltimore, Maryland
GenresEmo, post-hardcore, alternative rock
Years active2000 (2000)–2007 (2007), 2023 (2023)–present (present)
LabelsEqual Vision, Goodwill
Past members
  • Ryan Shelkett
  • Matt Smith
  • Evan Tanner
  • Chris Camden
  • Fred Fritz
  • Eric Fauver

Liars Academy Is a rock band from Baltimore, Maryland, formed in 2000.[1] They have released their material on Equal Vision Records and Goodwill Records. The band has included members/former members of Cross My Heart, Dead Red Sea, Daybreak, and Strike Anywhere.[2][3]

History

Liars Academy was formed by ex-Cross My Heart guitarist/songwriter Ryan Shelkett and Strike Anywhere guitarist Matt Smith. The duo recruited drum veteran Evan Tanner (Cross My Heart Pee-Tanks, Hidden Hand) to play drums and began playing shows in 2001. Due to Smith's prior commitments to Strike Anywhere, and Liars Academy's busy tour schedule, Matt was unable to be a full-time member of the band. At this point Chris Camden (Former Cross My Heart bassist and Daybreak guitarist) was recruited to play bass on tour.[4] Things came together on that tour and Camden became a full-time member of Liars Academy at this point. Matt Smith, in turn, moved to Lead Guitar and the four-piece line-up took shape for Liars Academy leading to the next phase in their development as a band. Having releasing the album No News Is Good News in 2001. The band made two records as this line-up, 2002's Trading My Life EP and 2004's Demons LP.[5] The band members were dealt a blow when their equipment was stolen, forcing them to cancel the remainder of their tour.[6] A donation from the Music Cares foundation allowed them to start touring again, but they had lost the momentum they had built since the album's release.[6] Matt Smith wasn't able to juggle duties between Liars Academy and Strike Anywhere due to the rise in popularity of the latter band, and Fred Fritz replaced him.[7] Tanner left in the fall of 2004, with Eric Fauver (also formerly of Daybreak) replacing him on drums.[4] After a year of playing as this line-up, Liars Academy split up in May 2005.[6]

A slightly modified version of Liars Academy continued to perform under the name Midnight Revival.[6] The group consisted of Ryan Shelkett, Fred Fritz, Eric Fauver and Nick Barkley (ex-Fairweather, ex-Olympia) on bass. Chris Camden spent time playing bass in Firebird Band during this time. In late 2006 they decided to restart Liars Academy, and appeared as a five-piece with the addition of Bryan Elliott as an additional guitarist, but the reunion was brief. This line up, however, recorded two songs for a 7-inch on Goodwill which came out in 2007.[6]

In December 2012, Liars Academy reunited for one show with Strike Anywhere at The Ottobar, Baltimore for former roadie Tony Pence's 40th Birthday Celebration.[8]

Drummer Eric Fauver died on June 2, 2015.[9]

Post Liars Academy Projects

Evan Tanner is currently the drummer of War on Women.[10] Eric Fauver was the drummer of Beasts Of No Nation, and Final Conflict,[4] as well as the bassist of Iron Cross before his death in 2015. Ryan Shelkett formed Desert Boys following the hiatus of Liars Academy.[11] He is currently performing as a solo artist. Matt Smith is currently the guitarist of Senses Fail and Strike Anywhere.[12][13]

Former members

  • Ryan Shelkett- Vocals, Guitar
  • Chris Camden - Bass, Vocals
  • Fred Fritz - Guitar, Vocals
  • Matt Smith - Guitar, Vocals
  • Evan Tanner - Drums (deceased)
  • Bryan Elliott - Guitar, Vocals (deceased)
  • Eric Fauver - Drums (deceased)

Discography

EPs

  • Trading My Life CD EP (2002), Equal Vision
  • Run For Cover 7-inch EP (2007), Goodwill

Albums

  • No News is Good News (2001), Equal Vision
  • Demons (2004), Equal Vision
  • Ghosts (2023), Steadfast Records

References

  1. ^ Loftus, Johnny "Liars Academy Biography", Allmusic. Retrieved September 2, 2017
  2. ^ Heisel, Scott (2002) "Liars Academy Trading My Life", punknews.org, November 5, 2002. Retrieved September 2, 2017
  3. ^ O'Neill, Brian "No News Is Good News Review", Allmusic. Retrieved September 2, 2017
  4. ^ a b c Byrne, Michael (2011) "From 1997 to 2000, Baltimore quintet made powerviolent anti-music", Baltimore City Paper, November 30, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2017
  5. ^ Winter, Greg (2002) "Liars Academy Trading My Life", CMJ New Music Report, October 28, 2002, p. 6. Retrieved September 2, 2017, via Google Books
  6. ^ a b c d e Sessa, Sam (2006) "Liars' Moment of Truth", The Baltimore Sun, November 9, 2006, Retrieved September 2, 2017
  7. ^ Linskey, Annie (2004) "Meet the Band: Liars Academy", The Baltimore Sun, August 19, 2004. Retrieved September 2, 2017
  8. ^ Kraus, Brian (2012) "Liars Academy (Equal Vision Records) to play reunion show", Alternative Press, November 11, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2017
  9. ^ "ex-Beasts Of No Nation drummer Eric Fauver dies", lambgoat.com, June 4, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2017
  10. ^ Westcott, Lucy (2016) "War on Women: What happens when you fuse feminism and hardcore punk", The Independent, December 1, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2017
  11. ^ "Tomorrow: Cross My Heart @ Metro Gallery", The Baltimore Chop, October 25, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2017
  12. ^ Curreli, Samantha (2016) "An Interview With Senses Fail: Attaining Nirvana", The Aquarian Weekly, October 12, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2017
  13. ^ Borges, Maria Mesquites "Strike Anywhere Biography", Allmusic. Retrieved September 2, 2017