The Exit
is a New York City-based band indie/punk/reggae group, formed in 2000.
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THE EXIT TICKETS
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Biography
The Exit is a band from New York City whose music blends 80's dub and reggae with 90's punk and indie rock. The band's members include Ben Brewer on lead guitar and vocals, Jeff DaRosa on lead vocals and bass and Gunnar Olsen on drums.
History
Ben Brewer, aka Benjamin Bronfman, oldest son of billionaire Warner Music CEO
Edgar Bronfman Jr., met Olsen in high school and they have played in several bands together. One of these bands turned into an early incarnation of The Exit. It wasn't until 2000 that Brewer met Jeff DaRosa while attending Emerson College in Boston. DaRosa grew up in Somerville MA and was the bassist of the local punk band The Vigilantes. Brewer convinced DaRosa to join the group and they started practicing in basements around Boston. The band made a Demo tape and it made its way into the hands of
Daniel Rey known for his work with The Ramones. Rey would produce the band's first record, New Beat which came out on Some Records a label started by
Walter Schreifels. The band started touring in early 2001 in the DIY circuit booking their own shows. New Beat received favorable views many of which likened the band to The Clash, The Police and U2. The Artwork was done by Damian Girardi of the Explosion.
http://www.aversion.com/bands/reviews.cfm?review=887
The Exit then entered the studio with producer
Ron Saint Germain (Bad Brains, Tool, Sonic Youth) to produce a follow up called Home For An Island. The album featured Brewer singing lead for the first time, tribal rhythms, dubbed out guitars, and psychedelic bridges. The album was a political response to Post 9/11 New York City living songs like "Soldier," "Home For an Island," "Let's Go to Haiti" and "Back to the Rebels." The Album was originally released in 2004 on Some Records but in 2005 The Exit signed to Wind-Up Records and re-released
Home for an Island
, with the addition of 3 new songs "Sun Will Rise in Queens," "Pressure Cooker" and "Warm Summer Days." Reviews were good and the band support Muse on two different tours in the United States.
http://www.some.com/exitpressframes.htm
On
August 15,
2006, through a post on their MySpace blog, the band announced the departure of Jeff DaRosa. Olsen and Brewer noted the band will continue with a yet-to-be-announced lineup.
The band is said to be working on their third album but since the departure of Jeff DaRosa the band has yet to release an album or play any shows.
M.I.A (Mathangi Arulpragasam) is engaged to Ben Brewer.
Jeff DaRosa is married to Michelle DaRosa.
Tours
- Toured with Taking Back Sunday & Coheed and Cambria in 2002.
- Toured with RX Bandits in 2002, 2003, and 2005, playing both the US and the UK.
- Supported Muse during Spring and Winter of 2004.
- Supported for 311 during the Winter of 2005.
- Supported OAR
- Supported Against Me
Line-Up
Members
- Benjamin Brewer - Vocals, Guitar
- Gunnar Olsen - Drums, Vocals
Former members
- Jeff DaRosa - Vocals, Bass,
Discography
Albums
- New Beat
(May 4, 2002)
- Home for an Island
(original release September 7, 2004; re-released October 11, 2005)
EPs
- The Live Sessions EP
(June 20, 2006) (iTunes exclusive release)
Music Videos
- "Lonely Man's Wallet" (2002), directed by Major Lightner
- "Let's Go to Haiti" (2004), directed by Major Lightner
- "Don't Push" (2005), directed by Terry Timely
- "Soldier" (2005), directed by Lightner
- "Back to the Rebels" (2006), directed by Lightner and Javier Hernandez