In 2009, five elementary aged friends from Erie, Pennsylvania, formed M4 (Mini Men Making Music), under the tutorage of guitar teacher Ryan Krysiak. After going through several lead vocalists who quit the band for different reasons, Audra Miller joined in 2013 and has been their lead singer since.[1] In December 2015, the band changed their name to First to Eleven.[2] In 2016, they played at the Vans Warped Tour.[3] In 2017 and 2018 most of the original five members left the band for college, with only Matthew Yost remaining as a founding member. Sam Gilman and Krysiak (who had acted as the band’s manager for their entire career) joined as replacements.
The band gained international coverage by uploading rock covers of pop and rock songs every week.[4] In January 2021, First to Eleven’s YouTube channel reached one million subscribers.[5] In May 2023, they had released more than 350 videos.[4]
In February 2021, Miller, Yost, and Gilman announced they had signed with Velocity Records, as well as Equal Vision Records, to launch an original band named Concrete Castles (while simultaneously still releasing weekly covers as First to Eleven). The band released their first single, “Just a Friend”, in March.[6][7][8] They played their first show on June 5, 2021, at the Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival.[9] Their debut album, "Wish I Missed U", was released on September 17, 2021, with names such as Blake Harnage producing.[10][11][12] That same month, they embarked on a tour with Against The Current.[13] They continued to tour throughout 2022, playing with many different acts including Oxymorrons and Set It Off.[14] The second Concrete Castles album, “Brand New Me”, was released on August 25, 2023.[15]
Members
Audra Miller – Vocals
Matthew Yost – Guitar
Sam Gilman – Drums
Discography
Albums
“Wish I Missed U” (September 17, 2021)
”Brand New Me” (August 25, 2023)
Featured on
"Sedated" by Bear Grillz and Stryer (July 2021)[16]
