Christie Front Drive
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Defunct | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Denver, Colorado , United States |
| Products | Emo music, Indie rock music |
Christie Front Drive was an emo group originating from Denver, Colorado, active from 1993 until 1997. The band consisted of Eric Richter on vocals and guitar, Jason Begin handling guitar duties, Kerry McDonald playing bass, and Ron Marschall on drums. Their sound was shaped by influences such as Superchunk, Jawbreaker, Jawbox, Buffalo Tom, and Drive Like Jehu.
History
In 1994, Christie Front Drive issued a self-titled EP along with a 7-inch record through Freewill Records. These releases, together with several other 7-inch records, were later collected into a comprehensive self-titled album frequently referred to as Anthology. The following year, the band put out split records with Jimmy Eat World, Sineater, and Boys Life and participated in compilations including (Don't Forget To) Breathe released by Crank! Records. The group dissolved in 1997; their sole official full-length album, also self-titled but commonly known as Stereo, was released post-breakup by Caulfield Records.
Despite their relatively short existence, Christie Front Drive left a lasting impact on the emo scene of the 1990s. After the breakup, Eric Richter went on to perform with Antarctica, The 101, and Golden City. Ron Marschall and Jason Begin formed The Blue Ontario; Marschall also took on engineering roles for The Apples in Stereo’s album The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone and currently plays with Tierra del Fuego. Jason Begin performs under the name This Body, is involved with Portland's Pirate Radio Deluxe, and occasionally plays with Modernstate. Meanwhile, bassist Kerry McDonald founded The Mighty Rime and released a self-titled album on Caulfield Records in 2002.
The original lineup reunited on September 1, 2007, at the Marquis Theater in Denver for DenverFest III. Magic Bullet Records—home to Eric Richter’s Golden City—reissued the band's catalog beginning with a remastered edition of their final album (Stereo) on June 15, 2010; this release was accompanied by a DVD featuring footage from their last concert in 1996. In April 2019, Dark Operative Records (formerly Magic Bullet) reissued the band’s self-titled 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl records.
In March 2014, Christie Front Drive announced another reunion performance scheduled for May 17 at Pouzza Fest.
Style and legacy
Jason Ankeny of AllMusic characterized Christie Front Drive as "a crucial bridge in the 1990s between hardcore punk and contemporary emo." Ryan De Freitas from Kerrang! praised the band’s skillful use of extended and melancholic guitar lines. Their influence can be seen in bands such as Jimmy Eat World and others within the genre.
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Label | Format | Additional details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Christie Front Drive (commonly known as Stereo) | Caulfield | CD / 12-inch vinyl | Re-released with a DVD on June 15, 2010 by Magic Bullet. |
EPs
| Year | Title | Label | Format | Additional details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Christie Front Drive (self-titled 12-inch) | Freewill | CD / 12-inch vinyl | All songs were included in the 1995 compilation Anthology. A remastered version was reissued on May 21, 2013 by Magic Bullet. |
| 1995 | Christie Front Drive / Boy's Life split EP | Crank! | CD / 10-inch vinyl |
Singles
| Year | Title | Label | Format | Additional details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Christie Front Drive (self-titled 7-inch) | Freewill | 7-inch vinyl | No longer available; songs re-released in 1995 on Anthology. |
| 1995 | Christie Front Drive / Sineater split 7-inch | Hellkite | 7-inch vinyl | Out of circulation; track included in Anthology. |
| 1995 | Christie Front Drive / Jimmy Eat World split 7-inch | Wooden Blue | 7-inch vinyl | Discontinued; track featured on Anthology. |
Compilation albums
| Year | Title | Label | Format | Additional details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Christie Front Drive (often referred to as Anthology) | Caulfield | CD | Contains all tracks from the self-titled 12-inch, self-titled 7-inch, and splits with Sineater and Jimmy Eat World. |
Non-album tracks
| Year | Source / Album | Label | Track(s) | Additional details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Shmowballs | Sh-mow | "Bag" | Compilation CD; currently out of print. |
| 1995 | Punk TV | Red Dawg | "Mary Tyler Moore Theme" | Compilation 12-inch vinyl; no longer available. |
| 1996 | Stealing the Pocket | Positively Punk | "Field" | Compilation 12-inch vinyl; out of print. |
| 1996 | For Want Of... | X-Mist | "After the Parade" | Double 7-inch vinyl compilation; no longer in circulation. |
| 1997 | Bread: The Edible Napkin | No Idea | "Bag" | Compilation available on CD and double 12-inch vinyl; out of print. |
| 1997 | (Don't Forget To) Breathe | Crank! | "Field" | Compilation released on CD and double 10-inch vinyl; out of print. |