CSTVT
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Nick Wakim, Will McEvilly, Ron Petzke, Josh Snader |
| Defunct | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
| Products | Emo music, studio albums, EPs, singles |
CSTVT, initially known as Castevet, was an American emo group originating from Chicago. Established in mid-2007 by vocalist and guitarist Nick Wakim, guitarist Will McEvilly, bassist and backing vocalist Ron Petzke, and drummer Josh Snader, the original lineup remained unchanged until their split in 2013. The members were also involved with bands such as Bongripper, Into It. Over It., Lifted Bells, Tower of Rome, and Weekend Nachos. In December 2010, the band modified the spelling of their name to CSTVT, while keeping the same pronunciation.
Their catalog comprises two studio albums: Summer Fences (Count Your Lucky Stars Records, 2009) and The Echo & The Light (Tiny Engines / Stiff Slack, 2010). Additionally, they self-released an EP in 2008 titled I Know What a Lion Is, followed by an EP version of The Echo & The Light (Ice Age Records / Kid Sister Everything, 2009), a split release with Into It. Over It. called Snack Town (Topshelf Records, 2010), and the single CSTVT (Run for Cover Records, 2011). A third album was underway when the band disbanded.
Formation and Early Releases: Summer Fences and The Echo & The Light EP (2007–2009)
Castevet came together in mid-2007 after guitarists McEvilly and Wakim composed the track "Beating High Schoolers at Arcade Games". Soon after hearing this song, bassist Petzke joined the group; drummer Snader completed the ensemble with Wakim on lead vocals and Petzke providing backing vocals. Their musical inspirations included Hot Water Music, Saves the Day, Braid, Texas Is the Reason, Jawbreaker, American Football, Mineral, and The Promise Ring.
The band’s inaugural performance took place on March 1, 2008, in Urbana, Illinois. That summer, they recorded eight tracks for their debut album Summer Fences with producer Dennis Pleckham at Comatose Studio; Pleckham also collaborated with Petzke in Bongripper. They initially self-issued a demo CD-R titled I Know What a Lion Is, which contained three unmastered songs from these sessions, followed by limited-run CD-Rs of the full album sold at live shows. Impressed by Summer Fences, Michigan-based Count Your Lucky Stars Records signed Castevet and officially released the album on CD and digital platforms on June 9, 2009.
In September 2009, Castevet recorded six new tracks ("Narrow Hallways," "Hiccups," "Lautrec," "Midwest Values," "Bike Notes," and "Cities & Memory") with producer Adam Tatro for their follow-up EP The Echo & The Light. This release caught the attention of British label Big Scary Monsters Recording Company, which signed them to a multi-release contract in November 2009 and issued the EP on vinyl and digital formats on February 23, 2010. Simultaneously, they embarked on their first tour—nine dates during winter alongside labelmates Grown Ups from December 26, 2009, to January 3, 2010—offering limited editions of The Echo & The Light: a cassette through Ice Age Records and a CD-R via Kid Sister Everything.
Full-Length Release of The Echo & The Light and Snack Town Split (2010)
By January 2010, Castevet parted ways with Big Scary Monsters Recording Company and decided to re-record The Echo & The Light, incorporating two additional tracks ("Six Parts Summer" and "Model Trains"). Unsatisfied with the initial mix, they returned to Comatose Studio in February 2010 with producer Dennis Pleckham to enhance the project from an EP into a full-length album.
In April 2010, Castevet inked a deal with North Carolina’s Tiny Engines label, announcing a June 29 release date for the album on 12-inch vinyl and digital formats; however, this was postponed until August 17, 2010. Meanwhile, Japanese label Stiff Slack—originally set to release the EP version—issued the eight-track album on CD on July 20, 2010. Tiny Engines repressed the vinyl edition in December 2011.
In May 2010, Castevet signed with Massachusetts-based Topshelf Records, which released a split seven-inch vinyl titled Snack Town as part of its Twelve Towns Series. This split featured two newly recorded Castevet songs ("Chilsen" and "(Get) Bucktown"), tracked in May 2010 at Drasik Studios with producer Mark Michalik. The vinyl was released on July 28 with a digital release following on August 14, 2010. To promote this release, Castevet toured for six dates alongside Into It. Over It. from June 29 to July 4, 2010.
CSTVT and the incomplete third album (2010–2013)
In September 2010, the band entered into a contract with Massachusetts-based Run for Cover Records, unveiling plans for a 7-inch vinyl single featuring two tracks, "Ghost Boat" and "Rogers Alexandra," recorded at Drasik Studios under the guidance of producer Mark Michalik. This release was scheduled for February 2011. Additionally, the label announced intentions to issue the group's third full-length album within that year. Between December 26, 2010, and January 2, 2011, CSTVT embarked on an eight-date tour alongside Stay Ahead of the Weather. On December 25, 2010, the band altered its name from Castevet to CSTVT following a naming dispute with a New York-based post-black metal group.
The self-titled two-song 7-inch vinyl and digital single from CSTVT was officially released on February 15, 2011, through Run for Cover Records. In April of the same year, the band returned to Drasik Studios with Michalik to record "Bassett St." for the Run for Cover Various Artists compilation Mixed Signals, which became available on vinyl, CD, and digital formats on September 6, 2011. Although CSTVT continued writing new material and performing live shows until 2013, "Bassett St." remained their last recorded work.
Legacy
In December 2009, Punk News placed Summer Fences at number 16 in its list of the "Top 20 Albums of 2009." The following year, in December 2010, Washington City Paper recognized The Echo & The Light among its top ten selections for "The Best New Old Emo of 2010," while Rockfreaks ranked Snack Town eighth in its "Best Music of 2010" list.
By June 2017, Spin included Summer Fences at position 29 in its compilation of the "30 Best Emo Revival Albums." In November 2019, New Noise Magazine identified Summer Fences as one of the key records that helped amplify the impact of American Football. Early in 2020, specifically January, Chicago Reader ranked The Echo & The Light number 28 among "The Best Chicago Albums of the 2010s." Subsequently, in February 2020, Vulture listed Castevet's track "Between Berwyn and Bryn Mawr" at number 80 in their ranking of "The 100 Greatest Emo Songs of All Time."
Several bands have acknowledged CSTVT as an influence on their music, including Foxing, Vision Eternel, Kerosene Heights, Dead Sailors, ThreadBear, and Edward Joseph.
Members
- Nick Wakim – lead vocals and guitar
- Will McEvilly – guitar
- Ron Petzke – bass guitar and backing vocals
- Josh Snader – drums
Discography
Studio albums
- Summer Fences (initially self-released in 2008; reissued by Count Your Lucky Stars in 2009)
- The Echo & The Light (released through Tiny Engines/Stiff Slack in 2010)
EPs and splits
- I Know What a Lion Is (self-released in 2008)
- The Echo & The Light (issued by Ice Age/Kid Sister Everything in 2009)
- Snack Town – split release with Into It. Over It. (distributed by Topshelf in 2010)
- CSTVT (released via Run for Cover in 2011)