CHASER
CHASER | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Orange County, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2000-2012, 2017–present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | chaserpunkrock |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
Chaser (stylized as CHASER) is an American skate punk band from Orange County, California. Their sound is frequently described as 1990's skate punk with noted influences from that era's Epitaph Records and Fat Wreck Chords bands, pacifically Bad Religion, No Use For A Name, Good Riddance, Face to Face, No Fun At All, and Pennywise..[1][2][3] The name "Chaser" was suggested to them by a friend, during a conversation at a house party, and it stuck. The band has clarified that the name isn't necessarily a reference to drinking.[4] Members of the band have been explicit about their overt intent to produce music with a positive message and to be an uplifting force in the world.[5]
History
2000-2005: Formative Years
Mike LaDonne recruited the founding band members from the high school they mutually attended and started practicing together, developing their skills, playing cover songs, and playing local shows out of a shared love for punk music.[6] This initial lineup consisted of LaDonne (vocals), Mike Denning (guitar), AJ Latteri (bass), and Josh Millican (drums).
By 2002 Denning had left and was replaced by Nate Warner on guitar.[7] As they evolved into songwriting, Chaser recorded a demo album with 14 songs which was produced in very limited quantities and distributed among family and friends.[8] Their early lineup consisted of Mike LeDonne (vocals), Nate Warner (guitar), AJ Latteri (bass), and Josh Millican (drums).
In Control, Chaser's first studio album, was self-released in 2003 and it also had very limited distribution. Gaining some recognition, the band landed side stage performances on the Vans Warped Tour between 2002-2004.[4] In 2005 they shared an untitled split 7" with False Alliance on independent record label, Felony Records.[9] During this period Chaser was opening for bands like D.I., Guttermouth, and Authority Zero.[4]
2006: Lineup Changes, Sophamore Album, & 1st Europe Tour
In 2006, LeDonne, Warner, Latteri, and Millican welcomed the addition of Cameron Denning (guitar) and they recorded their second studio album, Numb America, on Felony Records (later re-released on vinyl by Sound Speed Records).[8]
Before the album's recorded audio was finalized, they made a limited number of copies and distributed them while touring Europe for several weeks with Good Riddance. Upon returning, they finalized the album's audio for its release in the US. Because of this, the records sold in Europe have a slightly different sound than the US version.[10].
Shortly after returning home from the European tour, Jesse Stopnitzky replaced Latteri on bass.[10]
2007-2012:
With Numb America gaining some traction, Chaser performed on the 2008 Vans Warped Tour[10] which LaDonne described as a "defining moment"[11] for the band, as they began to understand their potential.
In February 2010 Chaser released their third album, The Big Picture, on Drop Anchor! Entertainment. This album was seen as a departure from the band's pure punk roots into a slightly more alternative rock sound and members of the band have expressed some disappointment with the sonic quality of the album, despite it having well written songs.[2][4][10][12][13]
Back on Felony Records, Chaser released a five song EP titled ¡Acción! in 2011[14] consisting of B-sides and acoustic songs.[8]
2012-2017: Hiatus
Members of the band wanted to prioritize their families and livelihoods, so they decided it was time to end the band.[15] In an interview, Jesse Stopnitzky said that at the time of this dissolution the band understood it to be permanent, that there was no plan to get back together.[10] Posters and online graphics for their free March 22, 2012 show at the Slidebar in Fullerton as their "final show".
2017-present: Renaissance
In 2017 LeDonne and Stopnitzky reconstituted Chaser by recruiting Davey Guy to play drums and Bill Hockmuth for guitar. The fresh lineup resulted in new songwriting and in 2018 they released another full length studio album, Sound The Sirens, on Effervescence Records.[8][16][17]
This album was seen as a return to the band's original identity playing high energy, melodic, skate punk. The band sought better international reach and so the established working relationships with multiple new record labels: Thousand Islands Records, Sound Speed Records, SBÄM Records, and Pee Records. Building their momentum the band released Dreamers[3][18] in 2021 and then in 2024, Small Victories[19]
Members
Current Members
- Mike LeDonne – vocals
- Jesse Stopnitzky – bass, vocals
- Bill Hockmuth – guitar
- Davey Guy – drums
Past Members
- Mike Denning - guitar
- Josh Millican - drums
- Nate Warner - guitar
- AJ Latteri - bass
- Cameron Denning - guitar
Discography
Studio Albums and EPs
- In Control (2003)
- Numb America (2006)
- The Big Picture (2010)
- ¡Acción! EP (2011)
- Sound The Sirens (2018)
- Dreamers (2021)
- Small Victories (2024)
Singles
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Found Myself Again" | 2020 | Non-album singles |
| "Look Alive" | ||
| "Skyscraper" | ||
| "A New Direction" | 2021 | Dreamers |
| "2020" | ||
| "Stay Gold" | 2024 | Small Victories |
| "Fault Lines" | ||
| "The Breaks" |
References
- ↑ "Chaser – 'We always try to make our songs positive and uplifting'". PunkWorldViews. Interviewed by Milekić, Miljan. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "A Dirty Dozen with JESSE STOPNITZKY from CHASER". 100% Rock Magazine. Interviewed by Jolicoeur, Todd ('ToddStar'). 100% Rock Magazine. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jackson, Dane (14 April 2021). "Chaser – Dreamers Review". Bearded Gentlemen Music. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Fadroski, Kelli (3 February 2010). "Orange Pop: Chaser peers into a bigger picture". Orange County Register. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
- ↑ "CHASER Interview". skruttmagazine.se. Interviewed by Thorsson, Peter. Skrutt Magazine. October 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ↑ "CHASER (interview w/Mike!) *Punk Lives!!*". PunkWorldViews. Interviewed by Borders, Denise. 21 September 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ↑ "CHASER Biography". Metalorgie.com. Metalorgie. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "CHASER Music". chaserpunkrock.com. CHASER. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
- ↑ CHASER; False Alliance (2005). untitled split 7" (album liner notes). Felony Records.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 American Songwriter (22 September 2020). "Bringin' it Backwards: Interview with CHASER" (Podcast). Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ↑ "CHASER Interview". Metalorgie.com. Interviewed by Euka. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ↑ Harp, Cameron. "Chaser new album paints personal 'Picture'". The Daily Titan. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
- ↑ Daley, Sloane (19 February 2010). "CHASER, The Big Picture Staff Review". punknews.org. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ↑ CHASER (2011). ¡Acción! (album liner notes). Felony Records.
- ↑ Sounds Like Nonsense (21 February 2021). "Episode 37" (Podcast). Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ↑ CHASER (2018). Sound The Sirens (album liner notes). Effervescence Records.
- ↑ Vincelli, Pete (19 January 2019). "CHASER, Sound The Sirens Staff Review". punknews.org. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ↑ CHASER (2021). Dreamers (album liner notes). Sound Speed, Pee Records, Thousand Islands Records, SBÄM Records.
- ↑ CHASER (2024). Small Victories (album liner notes). Pee Records, Thousand Islands Records, SBÄM Records.
Category:Musical groups from Ontario
Category:People from Quinte West
Category:Musical groups established in 2018
Category:2018 establishments in Ontario
Category:Pure Noise Records artists
Category:Canadian pop punk groups
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