Allstar Weekend
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2007 in Poway, California, United States |
| Defunct | 2013-08-04 |
| Headquarters | Poway , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
Allstar Weekend was a pop rock ensemble originating from Poway, California, United States. The band rose to recognition through platforms such as MySpace and the Disney Channel. Its lineup featured lead vocalist Zachary "Zach" Porter, bassist Cameron Quiseng, drummer Michael Martinez, and lead guitarist Nathan Darmody, who departed in September 2011 to embark on a solo path. Their notable tracks include "Dance Forever," "Come Down with Love," and "A Different Side of Me." The group officially disbanded on August 4, 2013.
Their initial album, Suddenly Yours, released in October 2010, reached number 197 on the Billboard 200 chart. Their second album, All the Way, launched in September 2011, achieved a peak position of number 49 on the same chart, reflecting considerable advancement.
2007–2010: Formation and ascent
In spring 2007, Nathan Darmody began working with Tom Norris after their meeting at Poway High School. Shortly thereafter, Zachary "Zach" Porter became part of the group, which was initially called 'Outerspace Politicians' as of June 2007. They recorded early demo tracks using FL Studio and shared these on MySpace. Michael Martinez joined as drummer following auditions, while Cameron Quiseng was brought in as bassist with Porter handling lead vocals. Norris exited before the band secured a contract with Hollywood Records, although he contributed to key songs including "Dance Forever."
The band first attracted public attention competing on Radio Disney's Next Big Thing contest under the name 'ALLSTAR,' where they finished as runners-up. Soon after, they inked a deal with Hollywood Records, announcing it via YouTube on August 29, 2009, and commenced production on their debut EP, Suddenly.
Prior to their Radio Disney exposure, they had contributed to a digital split release titled Chicken Finger Fingers on Drive-Thru Records. After signing with Hollywood Records, they changed their name to Allstar Weekend due to legal constraints, selecting 'Weekend' to better resonate with their fanbase.
2010–2011: Suddenly Yours and additional endeavors
On March 13, 2010, Allstar Weekend unveiled their first single, "A Different Side of Me," which quickly climbed to the top position on the Radio Disney singles chart. They also recorded a cover of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" for the compilation album Disneymania 7, released April 17, 2010. Their debut EP Suddenly was issued on June 17, 2010, preceded by the second single "Dance Forever" released June 7. This track debuted at number 16 on Billboard's Heatseekers Chart and reached number 45 on the Canadian Hot 100.
The EP Suddenly garnered positive critical reception and entered the Billboard 200 at number 62. On August 30, 2010, Allstar Weekend appeared on Good Morning America, announcing that their full-length album Suddenly Yours would be released October 19, 2010. The lead single from this album, "Come Down with Love," came out September 17. Their autumn tour in 2010 included supporting acts such as Stephen Jerzak and Action Item, covering venues from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. In February 2011, they participated in the Glamour Kills Tour alongside The Ready Set.
2011–2012: All the Way Release and Darmody's Exit
The group revealed their sophomore album, All the Way, originally scheduled for July 19, 2011, but postponed to September 27. Upon release, it entered the Billboard 200 chart at position 49. The lead single, "Not Your Birthday," connected with Disney's movie Prom, debuted on Radio Disney on February 25, 2011, and was made available on iTunes on March 22.
On June 20, 2011, it was disclosed that lead guitarist Nathan Darmody would be absent from touring due to personal reasons; Eric Nicolau stepped in for him during their tour with Selena Gomez & The Scene. The album's second single, "Blame It on September," was released on August 16. Additionally, their track "Hey, Princess" was featured in the Disney Channel Original Movie Geek Charming. Darmody officially departed from the band on September 17 to pursue a solo career under the name IWXO.
2012–2013: Departure from Label, New Projects, and Disbandment
On January 8, 2012, Allstar Weekend announced their departure from Hollywood Records citing creative constraints affecting touring plans and lyrical themes. By August of that year, they secured a distribution agreement with Universal Music Canada.
In March 2012, they announced plans for a five-track EP titled The American Dream, which was released on July 3 and included singles such as a cover of Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody." Later in October, they initiated a Kickstarter campaign to fund their upcoming album tentatively named Ballin'. A headlining tour was scheduled for early 2013, alongside their participation in Warped Tour.
On January 18, 2013, Porter, Quiseng, and Martinez declared a 'permanent hiatus' following Warped Tour due to shifts in their musical direction. They formed a new band with touring guitarist Brent Schneiders. Their final performance as Allstar Weekend took place on August 4 in Houston.
They released an EP of covers titled Kevin's Place on February 14, featuring interpretations of songs by Train, Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, Weezer, and Donna Lewis. In August 2013, they launched a mobile game app called ASW Restaurant for both iOS and Android platforms.
An album consisting of unreleased B-sides was planned for late 2013 but appeared to be canceled by early 2014 after management confirmed there were no plans for future Allstar Weekend releases.
2013–present: Activities Following the Split
After Allstar Weekend disbanded, Porter, Quiseng, Martinez, and Schneiders formed The Tragic Thrills; their Kickstarter-funded album was released under this new name in October 2013. Martinez and Schneiders left the group in April 2014; Quiseng entered an indefinite hiatus in January 2015. The current lineup features Zach Porter (lead vocals), Chris Morrison (lead guitar), Ans Gibson (drums), with Gabe Rudner serving as a live keyboardist. In May 2023, Porter shared insights about the band's formation and breakup during an interview on "The Voice Party Podcast."
Guest Appearances
Allstar Weekend appeared performing "Come Down with Love" on Sonny with a Chance, which was also included on the show's official soundtrack. They showcased this single on various programs such as Lopez Tonight and Rachel Ray.
They were highlighted as MTV's "One to Watch" on 10 on Top in February 2012 and ranked fourth in March 2011 for "Not Your Birthday." Additionally, they made two appearances on MTV's The Seven, achieving a peak position of number two in May 2011.
Their live television performances include MuchMusic's New.Music.Live. in Toronto and appearances on Live with Regis and Kelly. They also presented at the 2011 Teen Choice Awards and performed at Family Channel's Big Ticket Summer Concert in August 2012. Between September 25–27, they performed multiple songs live during The Next Star Finale and appeared on Good Morning America coinciding with their album launch.
Band Members
- Final lineup
- Zachary "Zach" Porter – lead vocals (2008–2013)
- Cameron Quiseng – bass guitar and backing vocals (2008–2013)
- Michael Martinez – drums (2008–2013)
- Former members
- Thomas Norris – rhythm guitar and keyboards (2008–2009)
- Nathan Darmody – lead guitar (2008–2011)
- Touring members
- Ben Ross – keyboard and rhythm guitar (2009)
- Eric Nicolau – lead guitar (2011)
- Dillon Anderson – keyboard and rhythm guitar (2009–2013)
- Brent Schneiders – lead guitar (2011–2013)
Discography
Studio Albums
| Title | Release Details | US Chart | CAN Chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suddenly Yours | 197 | — | |
| All the Way | 49 | 71 | |
| "—" indicates no chart position or release. | |||
Extended Plays
| Title | Release Info | US Chart | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suddenly | 62 | US:7,000 | |
| The American Dream | — | — | |
| Kevin's Place – A Cover Song EP | — | — | |
| "—" denotes absence from charts or no release. | |||
Singles
| Title | Year | US Bubbling Under | US Heatseekers | CAN Chart | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "A Different Side of Me" | 2010 | — | — | — | Suddenly Yours |
| "Dance Forever" | 20 | 16 | 45 | ||
| "Come Down with Love" | — | — | — | ||
| "Not Your Birthday" | 2011 | — | — | 89 | All the Way |
| "Blame It on September" | — | — | — | ||
| "Christmas Kisses" | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Wanna Dance With Somebody" | 2012 | — | — | — | The American Dream |
| "Life As We Know It" | — | — | — | ||
| "Monster Mash" | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "The Last Time" (feat. Kina Grannis) | 2013 | — | — | — | Non-album single |
Soundtrack Contributions
- Disneymania 7 (2010)
- The Last Song (2010)
- Sonny with a Chance (2010)
- Prom (2011)
- Punk Goes Pop 4 (2011)
- Geek Charming (2011)
- Have A Crappy Summer (2012)
Tours
This section lists major tours involving Allstar Weekend; individual concerts are not included.
| Tour Name | Participating Acts | Continent | Dates Active |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Experience the Magic Tour (Acoustic) | Allstar Weekend & Emily Osment |  North America
|
February - March 2010 |
| Suddenly Tour | Allstar Weekend, Days Difference, Action Item, & Savvy and Mandy |  North America
|
Summer 2010 |
| Suddenly Yours Tour | Allstar Weekend, Stephen Jerzak, The Scene Aesthetic, & Action Item | North America
|
November - December 2010 |
| Military Tour | Allstar Weekend | Template:Country data UKTemplate:Namespace detect showall   Template:Country data The NetherlandsTemplate:Namespace detect showall Europe
|
January 2011 |
| The Glamour Kills Tour | The Ready Set, Allstar Weekend, The Downtown Fiction, We Are the In Crowd, You, Me, and Everyone We Know, & Marianas Trench | North America
|
February 23 - April 9, 2011 |
| Canadian Tour | Allstar Weekend, Action Item, & Done with Dolls | North America
|
May 14–29, 2011 |
| We Own the Night Tour | Allstar Weekend, Selena Gomez & the Scene, & Christina Grimmie | North America
|
July 28 - September 10, 2011 |
| All The Way Tour | Allstar Weekend, Hollywood Ending, The After Party, Before You Exit, Megan & Liz, Anth, Just Left, The Composure & The Stellar Life | North America
|
January 13 - February 26, 2012 |
| Summer of Love Tour | Allstar Weekend, Honor Society, This Is All Now, Namesake & Rocky Loves Emily | North America
|
July 17 - August 26, 2012 |
| Tour Name | Participating Acts | Continent(s) | Dates Active |
|---|
| Winter Tour 2013 | Allstar Weekend, Cute Is What We Aim For, Tiffany Alvord, Beneath The Sun | Template:Country data CATemplate:Namespace detect showall North America
|
January 19 - February 22, 2013 |
|---|
| Warped Tour 2013 | Allstar Weekend plus various artists | Template:Country data CATemplate:Namespace detect showall North America
|
June 15 - August 4, 2013 |
|---|