Finch

Driven by undeniable passion, Finch will be the band to bridge the gap between hard rock and pop punk. They dive headlong into songs laden with raw intensity to create a perfect union of post-hardcore angst and melodic rock dynamics. With a tip of the hat to their musical peers and influences, Finch confidently push at the boundaries set before them.

The band has come a long way since their formation in the late ’90s. "We were pretty much a Deftones rip-off band," singer Nate admits sheepishly. In those days, the Temecula, California-based band was called Numb. Though currently a nearly identical lineup of those early days, Finch has now found their own unique voice, and a permanent membership of frontman Nate Barcalow, guitarists Randy Strohmeyer and Alex Linares, bassist Derek Doherty, and drummer Alex Pappas.

The band’s jump from the world of practicing in the garage to being signed was a real grassroots process. Randy had kept in touch with Drive-Thru ever since writing a fan letter to the label years earlier. He’d even tried to pique the label’s interest with his previous bands, but with no results. Regardless of previous outcomes, Randy kept lines of communication open.

When Finch were ready, Randy again called upon the label. "Richard (Reines, Drive-Thru Record’s owner) was like, "Alright, come and play for me," says Randy. "So we rented a studio. Richard was just doing it as a favor. But we went up there and played, and he was blown away." So blown away, in fact, that he called his sister and Drive-Thru co-owner Stefanie into the studio to check the band out. She was duly impressed, and Finch was offered a contract on the spot.

Drive-Thru sent the band into the studio to record shortly thereafter. Their debut, the Falling Into Place EP, provides listeners with a tantalizing glimpse into the groups obvious talent and musical potential. Even though the EP only features four songs, each track is a superb conglomeration of emo and unbridled aggression. Produced by Chris Fudurich (The Hippos, Rx Bandits), Falling Into Place was released on October 9, 2001 and has sold over 6,000 copies by the end of ’01.

In August/September 2001, the band holed up at Big Fish studio in Encinitas, CA to begin working on its first full-length. At the helm was Mark Trombino, whose production and engineering work has brought out the best in Jimmy Eat World, Blink 182, Midtown, and many others.

The result of their collective labors is What It Is To Burn, a soaring baker’s-dozen collection of tracks – the album simply shimmers with sincerity. Ranging between emo-oriented melodies, punk rhythm, pop hooks, and aggressive hardcore breakdowns, it covers the emotional spectrum. Not unlike Glassjaw, Deftones, and Jimmy Eat World, Finch embrace disparate influences within their music – the differences create a stronger whole.

No matter where you are or what you call your particular brand of music, Finch will be there for you. Because, regardless of the names "rock," "punk," "emo," "hardcore," or "nu metal," the bridge has been built between them... by Finch.