First Class

Biography (Source: Soundclick.com (2004)): 
At a time when catchy pop punk saturates the airwaves and dominates venues of both small cities and vast metropolises across the nation at an almost nauseating level, who will be the ones to break from this trite subdivision of punk rock? Who will be the ones to reach out and grab onto the shoulders of the listener, differentiating themselves from the rest? Who will be the ones to captivate the fans, keeping them thirsting for more so that this addictive sound, which so many have only recently stumbled upon, doesn't drown in the torrential flux of the mainstream? 

Meet First Class. A group of kids with so much heart for music that harmonies flow through their veins. A group of kids with so much drive that no matter how many hurdles they've come across, a determination for success always surmounts them. A group of kids who are just that… kids, ranging in age from 18 to 22, a factor which is crucial for positive reception, because kids starve for music they can relate to. 

First Class officially broke ground back in the fall of 2001 with a slightly different lineup. From the beginning of high school, though, each of the members gained a considerable amount of experience in bands that eventually established an impressive following in the local scene. Their previous endeavors provided them with live performance experience, (playing at venues such as Chicago's Metro and House of Blues to name a few), the opportunity to hop in a van and get a thrilling taste of the touring life, and also become acquainted with the recording process under the direction of names like Mass Giorgini at Sonic Iguana and Mr. Precision (of Hopeless Records band, Break the Silence) at the Bombshelter Studio. But eventually their writing styles began to evolve, and with this maturity came a need for something different. A need for a composition of avid individuals who were, after all that time, still driven by an inextinguishable passion for music and ambition for success. 

The changing of the color of the leaves a year after First Class' inception brought a lineup adjustment along with it. The addition of current drummer, Orange County Drum & Percussion-sponsored Mike Hussa, proved to be precisely the final key ingredient to spice up their mix and perfect the recipe known as First Class. Together with Mike, guitarist/vocalist Andy Simon, guitarist Matt Haraburda, and bassist Adam Mufich embellished on songs which already existed, cranked out crisp material, and in a matter of weeks landed a show at the Fireside Bowl in Chicago. 

Recently the band spent time at the Bombshelter recording their debut EP, Somewhere in the Grey, which boasts of fast, complex melodies that manage to get stuck in your head for days, and more importantly, lyrics anyone can relate to. Beneath the catchy surface one can pick up on hints of music they've all grown up on, from No Use for a Name to Rancid, whose influence keeps them churning out melodic, yet edgy, aggressive songs that kids can move to. With the band merely in its infancy and having such proper chemistry among its distinct elements, First Class promises many jaw-dropping surprises in the future, torturing the eager listener with the anticipation of what's yet to come.

Discography:
- Demo (2002) CD
- Somewhere In The Grey (2003) CD