ABOUT

Formation and Early Years (1989-1990)

In the late '80s, The April Skies burst onto the scene, formed in late 1989 by Jake Crawford (vocals, guitars) and his pals Matt Brace (keyboards), Michael Green (bass guitar), and John Ritchey (drums). Drawing inspiration from legends like The Cure, REM, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, and their hometown heroes, The Ocean Blue, the band set out to master their sound and songwriting. They quickly caught the attention of a local indie label, Pay Dirt Records, which offered them studio time and a chance to release their first recordings—though those plans never quite took off. Nevertheless, The April Skies made a memorable live debut at a New Year's Eve party in Carlisle, PA, setting the stage for their musical adventure.

By the end of 1989, The April Skies underwent some dramatic lineup changes. Matt Brace left to focus on finishing college, and Shannon Fitzgerald stepped in to fill his shoes on guitars and keyboards. Shortly after, Bob "Frog" Matthews took over bass duties from Michael Green. However, this lineup didn't quite get going, and before long, both Fitzgerald and Matthews left the lineup.

In the summer of 1990, a mutual friend reconnected Jake Crawford with his high school buddy, Cary Brown. The duo quickly started writing songs together. With John Ritchey on drums and Ron Mann stepping in on bass, they soon received offers to play local shows. Their energetic performances, especially Cary Brown’s vocals and charisma as a frontman, began attracting attention from the Central Pennsylvania music scene.

Debut Release and Initial Success (1991-1992)

In early 1991, The April Skies revamped their lineup to feature Jake Crawford (guitars, vocals), Cary T. Brown (lead vocals, guitars), Eric Riley Moore (bass, vocals), and Mark Tritico (drums). This iconic "classic" early '90s lineup quickly gained momentum. Within weeks, they attracted NYC management, made their debut at Max's On Broadway in Fells Point, MD, played shows with bands like ride, The Fundamentals, A Real Rain, Suddenly, Tammy!, and built a loyal following in Harrisburg and Lancaster. Regular shows at The Vault and Metron/Club Met in Harrisburg, as well as The Chameleon Club in Lancaster, solidified their place in the local music scene.

In June 1991, The April Skies released their debut album, A Strange Western Mood. Produced by Eric Vermillion of Gumball and The Stump Wizards, the album highlighted the band’s raw talent, jangly Rickenbacker guitars, diverse musical influences, and strong songwriting abilities. The release established The April Skies as a notable act in the indie rock community, attracting more fans and industry interest. Their performance at the October 1991 CMJ Music Marathon in NYC further boosted their profile. Soon after, the band started playing high-profile venues like CBGB, the 9:30 Club, Maxwell's in Hoboken, and many more across major cities in the northeast U.S. During this time, they also began to catch the attention of both major and independent record labels.

In November 1991, The April Skies journeyed to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to record The Drive-In EP with the renowned producer Mitch Easter (Let’s Active), famed for his work with R.E.M. Initially intended to shop around to record labels, the EP was eventually released in July 1992. It further solidified the band's reputation for crafting melodic and introspective alternative rock/pop songs.

In early 1992, Eric Moore briefly left the band, with Scott "Butsy" Summers stepping in for tour dates throughout the northeast, including a showcase at CBGB for the NYU Music Festival. Eric returned to the lineup by summer, just in time for the official release of The Drive-In EP in July. The band resumed touring, playing at colleges and universities across the northeast. However, after drummer Mark Tritico missed a record company showcase at Space at Chase in NYC, the lineup began to disintegrate due to touring burnout. By the end of the year, Tritico was gone, and Eric Moore had left the band to move to San Francisco to pursue graduate school.

Jake and Cary, along with original drummer John Ritchey and bassist Scott Lauzon, began writing and rehearsing new material. However, Lauzon quickly departed due to style differences. They then recruited long-time roadie John Broderic on bass and resumed rehearsals. The band played a local festival at the end of summer and shows in Philly and NYC were booked. However, these gigs never materialized as the band felt all the wind had left their sails. Shortly after, Cary left the band, and John Broderic returned to university.

Reformation and New Lineup (1994-1998)

After a brief hiatus, Jake Crawford re-formed The April Skies in the summer of 1994, stepping up as the lead vocalist. The new lineup featured Jason Leidich on bass and original drummer John Ritchey. Early in 1995, Mark Higgins joined on keyboards, completing the core lineup of The April Skies that endures to this day (Crawford, Leidich and Higgins). This reformation brought a fresh sound to the band, incorporating richer textures and soundscapes for an even bigger impact. The band began writing songs at a furious pace, assembling multiple records' worth of material within months. Despite their prolific songwriting, the band refrained from committing to shows or touring. As members began focusing on their personal lives—wives, careers, and children—The April Skies ultimately called it quits by the end of 1998.

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