Round Three Fight

Round Three Fight is a five-piece hook-rock band hailing from the Bay Area, California.

Recently signed to Japan's InYa Face Records, the band is slated to release a self-titled full length album, Round Three Fight: Level Up, on November 24, 2007.

Instrumentation

Mike Bombon - lead vocals, acoustic guitar Phil Silva - vocals, bass Todd Yates - electric, acoustic guitar Austin Shenefield - electric, acoustic guitar Eric Alvarez - drums

Genre and style

Originally labeled as pop-punk or alternative rock, the band identifies with the self-created genre: hook-rock. Described as having more complex rhythms, intricate melodies, and true-to-life lyrics than than the slowly dying pop-punk era, the band stands as the next generation of traditional pop-punk bands, such as New Found Glory, Good Charlotte, Blink 182 and Goldfinger, as well as the more contemporary Yellowcard and Fall Out Boy.

Incorporating acoustic, lyrical tracks with fast-paced, high-energy hooks (see Hook (music) on full-band tracks, the band aims to display a wide range of musicality and expression in each release. Employing piano and cello tracks on their most recent album, Emergency Kit, the band continually tries to break free from preconceived notions of what their music is supposed to sound like.

History

Formed in the summer of 2004 through an online community posting seeking an alternative metal vocalist, lead singer Mike Bombon joined Phil Silva and Todd Yates through their one similar pop-punk youth influences. One new drummer and two new rhythm guitarists later, the band is supplemented with Nu Metal-inspired drummer Eric Alvarez and hardcore punk-experienced guitarist Austin Shenefield.

Having shared a stage with such bands as The Plain White T's, The Matches, Houston Calls and Melee, Round Three Fight has since played Warped Tour 2006, won the 2006 XM Satellite Radio Hot Import Nights Battle of the Bands, and in October 2007, completed the third of a series of self-promoted "Schools that Rock Tours," west coast Round Three Fight tours that visit high schools, as well as other music venues. Known for high-energy shows, positive crowd interaction and a dynamic "merch table," the group continues to schedule weeks-long high school tours throughout California, Arizona, Oregon and Washington.

In July 2007, the band was signed to InYa Face Records of Japan.

Promotion

Unsigned to an American record label, Round Three Fight has equipped itself with means of self-promotion in both the online and public sphere. On the Internet, the band publishes sketch comedy-style videos, using humorous tactics against themselves to deflect undue ridicule that may come their way due to the popular notion of the pop-punk genre. Having been told by Drive-Thru Records co-owner Richard Reines on September 26, 2007 that although he "likes" the band, their genre would not permit them to sell CDs in 2007. This conversation, shortly before a "Schools that Rock Tour", prompted a new promotional video: "Rocktober Tour Attack!" showing Round Three Fight's merchandise table surrounded by eager high schoolers, waiting to buy CDs; the video was directed at the comment made by Reines. This also resulted in the band's decision to send "Dynamic Press Kits" to such labels as Epitaph Records, also video-documented in October 2007. The three-dimensional, humorous gag gift-esque packages, replete with band information, serve as incentives to sign the aspiring musicians.

Discography

EPs

  • Round Three Fight (2005)

Albums

Compilation tracks