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Biography
refimprove|date=February 2008Infobox musical artist| name = The Afters| image = Afterslive.jpg| caption =| background = group_or_band| origin = Dallas, Texas|Dallas , Texas , USA | genre = Christian rock , Contemporary Christian music|CCM , alternative rock , pop rock | years_active =| label = Columbia Records|Columbia , INO Records|INO , Sony BMG , Integrity Media|Integrity | website = URL|theafters.com| associated_acts = 1999–present| current_members = Matt Fuqua Josh Havens Jordan Mohilowski Dan Ostebo The Afters are a Christian rock band founded by Joshua Havens and Matt Fuqua. Havens and Fuqua first worked together in a Starbucks coffee shop in Mesquite, Texas , where they played for customers, before deciding to form a band. They added Brad Wigg and Marc Dodd, who were also employed at the same Starbucks , under their original name of Blisse. Their song "Never Going Back to OK" was the most-played song on R& R (magazine)|R& R magazine's Contemporary Christian Music|Christian CHR chart for 2008. http://www.radioandrecords.com/Formats/Charts/YearEnd/08/Christian_CHR_songs.asp 2008 Year End Charts/Top Christian CHR songs, R& R (magazine)|R& R magazine , Retrieved January 6, 2009
History
Screaming Mimes (1999-2000)
As a precursor to Blisse, Matt and Josh performed several shows around Dallas as The Screaming Mimes, a reference to a St. Francis of Assisi quote "Witness at all times. Sometimes use words." The songs during this period were largely the same as they would be performed and recorded as Blisse. While Brad was a founding member of the group, he took time away from the band to perform with his own blues project, playing lead guitar. Shows at the Door in Deep Ellum were filled in by Dallas bassist Eric Kitchens and bassist/filmmaker Niko Red Star.
Blisse (2000-2002)
Under the name Blisse, the band recorded a six-song EP in 2000. From this they made enough money to cut their first album, When the World Is Wonderful , which was released independently in 2001. This album contains songs also released on their major label debut album I Wish We All Could Win . In 2002 they released a live concert DVD filmed at a local Dallas, Texas|Dallas club called The Door.
I Wish We All Could Win (2002–2006)
The band changed its name after discovering that another "Blisse" already existed. Settling on "The Afters", they continued to play local clubs in the Dallas area. They were eventually discovered by INO Records and signed to a four-record deal. After this, word of the band got to Epic Records , which signed the band to a deal for mainstream promotion and distribution. Their first major label album, I Wish We All Could Win , was released on February 22, 2005. The first single from the album was " Beautiful Love " written by Josh Havens about a time when his wife was abroad doing humanitarian aid. The single's music video led The Afters to a 2005 MTVu "Streaming Woodie" award. In addition, "Beautiful Love" became the theme song for the MTV show, " 8th and Ocean " about the life of female and male fashion models living in Miami, Florida. The song was also featured in the 2006 film, " Just My Luck (2006 film)|Just My Luck ". Furthermore, the song " Until The World " featuring the album was the theme song for the American drama television series that aired on the ABC Family Network " Beautiful People (US TV series)|Beautiful People ", created by " Michael Rauch ".
Never Going Back to OK (2006–2008)
The Afters are currently promoted through INO Records and Columbia Records . In an update posted on their official website, the band went into the studio in August 2006 to start recording their second album, Never Going Back to OK . It was originally scheduled to be released on December 26, 2007 as per a post on their MySpace blog, but was ultimately delayed and released on February 26, 2008. http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/albumdetail.php? album_id=2047 Never Going Back To OK by The Afters NewReleaseTuesday.com, retrieved February 2, 2008
The first single from the album, the title track "Never Going Back to OK" premiered on October 16, 2007 on Total Axxess . It was also released as a streaming file on The Afters' MySpace page on November 10, 2007. http://www.myspace.com/theafters MySpace.com - The Afters The song hit the R& R (magazine)|R& R magazine charts in December 2007. It reached No. 1 on the R& R (magazine)|R& R Christian Hit Radio|CHR chart in March 2008 http://www.weekend22.com/ March 8, 2008 R& R chart as reported at Weekend 22 ; Retrieved March 11, 2008. and R& R magazine ranked it as the most played song on U.S. Christian CHR radio in 2008.
In spring of 2008, the band began their own headlining tour along with Falling Up (band)|Falling Up , Ruth (band)|Ruth , and Everyday Sunday .cite web |url= http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/The_Afters_The_Dallas_pop_rockers_who_are_Never_Going_Back_To_OK/30817/p1/ |title=The Afters: The Dallas pop rockers who are Never Going Back To OK |publisher=CrossRhythms.co.uk |author=Tony Cummings |date=2008-03-16 |accessdate=2008-06-08
Light Up the Sky (2009-2011)
The Afters stated in their Twitter account that they started recording their next album on October 27, 2009. http://twitter.com/theafters We officially started recording our new album today! by The Afters Twitter.com 2009 The album, called Light Up the Sky , was released on September 14, 2010. http://www.christiansonic.net/2010/06/the-afters-light-up-the-sky-single-2010.html Christian Sonic & raquo; The Afters & #8211; Light Up the Sky & #91;Single& #93; (2010) Christiansonic.net Retrieved June 14, 2010 The album's first single, the title track, has reached No. 1 on Billboard's Christian CHR radio, and also received an appearance on MTV's The Hills . http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2010/09/22.The%20Afters%20Land%20No.%201%20Spot%20on%20iTunes%20and%20CHR%20Radio.asp In January 2011 The Afters joined the Rock And Worship Roadshow national tour headlined by MercyMe .cite news|title=MercyMe, Jars of Clay part of The Rock and Worship Road Show in Sioux City|url= http://www.argusleader.com/article/20110131/ENT/110131012/MercyMe-Jars-Clay-part-Rock-Worship-Road-Show-Sioux-City|accessdate=5 February 2011|newspaper= Argus Leader |date=30 January 2011 Light Up the Sky was produced by Dan Muckala . http://www.allmusic.com/artist/dan-muckala-p258416
New album (2012-present)
The Afters has announced they are creating a new album and on April 17, 2012 they released a new single entitled "Life is Beautiful" on iTunes, in which the song was part of the soundtrack for the movie October Baby .Citation needed|date=April 2012
Tours
The Afters have toured and played shows with artists such as MercyMe , Lifehouse (band)|Lifehouse , Vertical Horizon , Styxx, Anna Nalick, Better Than Ezra , Howie Day , Everclear (band)|Everclear , Jeremy Camp , TobyMac , Newsboys , Hawk Nelson , Family Force 5 , Casting Crowns , Sanctus Real , Leeland (band)|Leeland , Mainstay and others.Citation needed|date=August 2010|reason=all of the tours should be listed. Individual shows should be removed. If they've played festivals a lot of bands could be conceivably added. The festivals should be added too, with sources
Band members
Current members
Joshua Havens - singing|vocals / keyboard instrument|key s and guitar s
Matt Fuqua - singing|vocals and guitar s
Jordan Mohilowski - drum s
Dan Ostebo - bass guitar
Former members
Brad Wigg - guitar s / bass guitar and vocal s
Marc Dodd - drum s
Niko Red Star - Bass guitar|bass
Discography
Studio albums
Year
Album details
Peak chart positions
US
US Rock
US Christ
US Heat
US Alt.
2001
When the World Is Wonderful
Released: 2001
Label: Independent
& mdash;
& mdash;
& mdash;
& mdash;
& mdash;
2005
I Wish We All Could Win
Released: February 22, 2005
Label: Epic Records|Epic
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& mdash;
24
40
& mdash;
2008
Never Going Back to OK
Released: February 26, 2008
Label: Columbia Records|Columbia
41
10
1
& mdash;
9
2010
Light Up the Sky
Released: September 14, 2010
Label: Columbia Records|Columbia / INO Records|INO
& mdash;
& mdash;
11
& mdash;
& mdash;
"—" denotes releases that did not chart
Live albums and DVDs
Live @ the Door (2002) (As Blisse)
EPs
Never Going Back to OK#Never Going Back to OK - EP|Never Going Back to OK - EP (2008)
Singles
Year
Title
Chart positions
Album
Hot 100>US Hot 100
Adult Top 40>US Adult Top 40
Hot Christian Songs>US Christ
Heatseeker>US Heat
2005 in music
" Beautiful Love "
55
cite web>title=Billboard charts
cite web>title=The Afters chart history
-
I Wish We All Could Win
"You"
-
-
4
-
2006 in music
"All That I Am"
-
-
13
-
"Someday"
-
-
25
-
2008 in music
"Never Going Back to OK"
-
-
16
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Never Going Back to OK
"Keeping Me Alive"
-
-
-
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"We Are the Sound"
-
-
-
-
2009 in music
"Ocean Wide"
-
-
23
-
2010
"Light Up the Sky"
-
-
1
17
Light Up the Sky (album)
2011
"Lift Me Up"
-
-
3
Awards
GMA Dove Award wins and nominations
Year
Award
Result
2006
Rock/ Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year (" Beautiful Love ")
nom
Rock/ Contemporary Album of the Year ( I Wish We All Could Win )
nom
2009
Rock/ Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year ("Never Going Back to OK")
nom
Rock/ Contemporary Album of the Year ( Never Going Back to OK )
won
References
reflist
External links
Twitter|theafters|The Afters
http://theafters.com Official website
myspace|theafters
http://www.musicpearl.com/detail-the-afters---i-wish-we-all-could-win-72.html The Afters - I Wish We All Could Win
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm? fuseaction=vids.individual& videoid=28071041 The Afters viral video for "Myspace Girl"
s-starts-ach|awsuccession box| title = Dove Award for New Artist of the Year|GMA's New Artist of the Year | years = 2006 | before= Building 429 | after = Aaron Shust succession box| title = Dove Award|GMA for Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year Never Going Back to OK | years = 2009 | before= Portable Sounds - TobyMac | after = incumbent end DEFAULTSORT:Afters, The Category:Christian rock groups from Texas Category:Columbia Records artists Category:Musical groups from Dallas, Texas Category:Fair Trade Services artists
