Moments in Grace

Moments in Grace

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	December 2001
Founder	Jeremy Griffith
Defunct	March 2005
Headquarters	St. Augustine, Florida; later Burbank, California , United States
Products	Music albums, EPs, singles

Moments in Grace—initially known as Postcard Audio—was an alternative rock and post-hardcore ensemble originating from St. Augustine, Florida, active between December 2001 and March 2005. Toward the end of their career, the group relocated to Burbank, California, comprising lead vocalist and chief songwriter Jeremy Griffith; bassist and backing vocalist Jake Brown; drummer Timothy Kirkpatrick; and guitarist James Glayat. Earlier formations included drummers Jason Frazier and Brandon Cook, guitarists Shane Gibson and TJ Stein, as well as guitarist/keyboardist Justin Etheridge.

Operating under the Postcard Audio moniker, the band issued a self-titled EP in July 2002 through Brown’s label, Computer Club Records. The subsequent year was devoted to crafting their debut full-length album, Moonlight Survived, during which they rebranded as Moments in Grace in June 2003 prior to recording sessions. Atlantic Records A&R executive and producer Brian McTernan established his own imprint, Salad Days Records, expressly to release their material. Their initial release as Moments in Grace was the complimentary digital EP These Days Will Fade in December 2003 via Salad Days, followed by a split vinyl single with Funeral for a Friend issued jointly by Atlantic, Salad Days, Mighty Atom, and Infectious Records in April 2004. Their only full album, Moonlight Survived, which included the single "Stratus" (released June 2004), came out after delays in August 2004 through Atlantic and Salad Days.

To support their releases, Moments in Grace embarked on extensive tours across North America, sharing stages with notable acts such as My Chemical Romance, Avenged Sevenfold, Thrice, Silverstein, Funeral for a Friend, Alexisonfire, From First to Last, Smile Empty Soul, Bayside, Hot Water Music, among others.

Postcard Audio (December 2001 – June 2003)

Postcard Audio was established in December 2001 by Jeremy Griffith, who served as vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist, and primary songwriter. Prior to forming the band, Griffith had been signed as a solo artist to Computer Club Records based in St. Augustine. Upon returning to Florida with the intention of performing alongside a full band, he created Postcard Audio. The name "Postcard Audio" was originally intended for Griffith’s planned fourteen-track solo album on Computer Club Records; however, this project was shelved in favor of releasing a compilation titled The Purple Magnolia featuring earlier recordings in September 2001.

The band secured a deal with Computer Club Records and welcomed founder Jake Brown—previously of Twothirtyeight—as bassist, keyboardist, and backing vocalist. Completing the lineup were drummer Jason Frazier and guitarist Shane Gibson before their inaugural performance in January 2002. By February 2002, Postcard Audio had relocated to Fort Walton Beach/Niceville, Florida; at this time Frazier was succeeded by Brandon Cook on drums while Brown’s high school acquaintance Justin Etheridge replaced Gibson on guitar. The revamped lineup’s first composition was "No Angel," a track recorded multiple times over subsequent years. Recording took place at Griffith’s home facility known as The Factory, culminating in the release of their self-titled debut EP through Computer Club Records in July 2002. The band cited musical influences such as Jeff Buckley, U2, Ours, and Sunny Day Real Estate. Plans were made for a full-length album release slated for August 2002.

On July 2, 2002, Postcard Audio performed opening slots for The Liar’s Academy and Brandtson in Alabama. Around this period, producer Brian McTernan—who also served as an A&R representative for Atlantic Records—discovered their EP and subsequently met with the band in Florida following attendance at one of their concerts. Although the band intended to tour during August 2002, those plans were canceled; instead they completed a five-day tour across Florida with The Last Great Liar in October 2002. In November 2002, Postcard Audio commenced collaboration with McTernan and halted live appearances to concentrate on composing their full-length album with an aim to record at Salad Days studio early in 2003 (though recording was postponed). By December 2002 discussions about changing the band’s name had begun.

By April 2003, over thirty songs had been written for the forthcoming album with a target release date set for January 2004. The group returned to St. Augustine, Florida during this period. In May 2003 drummer Brandon Cook departed and was replaced by Timothy Kirkpatrick—formerly associated with As Friends Rust and Culture—who relocated from Gainesville to join on McTernan’s recommendation. Kirkpatrick had prior connections through Strike Anywhere’s tours alongside As Friends Rust. Postcard Audio officially announced plans to adopt a new name by late June 2003.

Moments in Grace (June 2003 – January 2004)

At the end of June 2003, Postcard Audio adopted the new name Moments in Grace, drawing inspiration from the lyrics of "Drink Deep" by Rites of Spring. Over a two-month period at Salad Days studio, under the guidance of producer McTernan, the band recorded thirteen tracks for their debut full-length album, Moonlight Survived, eventually expanding the session to sixteen songs. Their musical style began to incorporate elements reminiscent of Foo Fighters and Hum. Between August 26 and September 9, 2003, they embarked on a second East Coast tour alongside The Last Great Liar.

In October 2003, Moments in Grace secured management with the Santa Monica-based Larry Jacobson Company, headed by former Capitol Records Senior VP Larry Jacobson, who also managed acts such as Avenged Sevenfold, Hot Water Music, and producer Andrew Murdock. This management firm was rebranded as World Audience in 2004.

Unhappy with the initial production of their album, the band returned to Salad Days in November 2003 for further recording and remixing sessions to finalize Moonlight Survived by the end of that month. Subsequently, they signed contracts with Atlantic Records and McTernan's Atlantic-affiliated label, Salad Days Records, which was established specifically to release their music. Although originally planned for a May 2004 release, the album’s launch was postponed by three months. Also in November 2003, Moments in Grace enlisted Earshot Media for public relations and entered into an exclusive booking agreement with Pinnacle Entertainment.

On December 12, 2003, Moments in Grace issued their second EP, These Days Will Fade, through Salad Days Records. This release included songs such as "Stratus" and "Broken Promises," both featured on the forthcoming album, along with exclusive tracks "Curtain Call" and "The Silencing Truth." The EP was distributed as a complimentary download via the band’s official website and the webzine AbsolutePunk, accompanied by a digital booklet crafted by Shelby Cinca.

To support These Days Will Fade, the band toured across the Southern United States from Florida to California between December 10 and 17, 2003, concluding with a benefit performance at West Hollywood’s House of Blues alongside Thrice. Following this, they conducted a brief California mini-tour from January 2 to 4, 2004, performing with Avenged Sevenfold and Saosin.

Full-time touring and "Stratus" (January 2004 – August 2004)

For ten consecutive months, Moments in Grace engaged in extensive touring to promote their forthcoming Atlantic Records album. From January through February 2004, they toured the East Coast, Southern states, and Midwest alongside Engine Down, Statistics, and Decahedron. This was succeeded by a Southern and Midwest tour with Smile Empty Soul from February 20 to March 1 and a short Midwest/Northeast leg with Engine Down and The Jealous Sound between March 2 and 7. Between March 11 and 15, they toured the East Coast with Bayside and Madcap.

From March 17 to April 8, Moments in Grace toured regions including the East Coast, South, and West Coast with Thrice and Poison the Well; early shows featured My Chemical Romance and Vaux while later dates included Darkest Hour. They proceeded with West Coast and Midwest dates alongside From First to Last and A Thorn for Every Heart from April 9 to 15. On April 17, they performed at Asbury Park's Skate and Surf Festival. Additionally, on March 23 Atlantic digitally re-issued These Days Will Fade and produced limited promotional CDs.

Between April 16 and May 24, Moments in Grace supported Avenged Sevenfold on a six-week tour spanning the US and Western Canada. This tour also featured My Chemical Romance (April 16–May 14), Funeral for a Friend (April 17–23), Beloved (April 24–May 4), and Noise Ratchet (May 5–24). Concurrently on April 20, they released a split 7-inch vinyl with Funeral for a Friend that included the previously unreleased track "My Dying Day," recorded at Salad Days in 2003. This split was co-released by Atlantic Records, Salad Days Records, Mighty Atom Records, and Infectious Records.

In June 2004, Moments in Grace toured through the Midwest and Northeast alongside Smile Empty Soul and Steriogram; this included a joint show with Shinedown at New Jersey’s Starland Ballroom on June 13. On June 15, Atlantic Records together with Salad Days released "Stratus" as a single available both digitally and on CD featuring an exclusive radio edit. That same day saw the launch of a CD sampler containing "Stratus," "Broken Promises," and "My Dying Day," which climbed to No. 2 on CMJ's Loud College Rock Adds chart.

The band appeared at the Millennium Music Conference held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on June 24. On this date Vagrant Records announced their double-disc compilation In Honor: A Compilation to Beat Cancer, which included Moments in Grace's previously released track "Curtain Call." The compilation was officially released on September 21, 2004.

From June 25 through July 11, Moments in Grace participated in Van's Warped Tour performing on the Punkrocks.net stage while running a promotional giveaway partnered with Alternative Press, offering prizes such as iTunes gift cards, iPods, and Apple iBook G4 laptops to subscribers of their mailing list.

Following Warped Tour activities, they filmed the music video for "Stratus" on July 17 in Los Angeles under director Laurent Briet; it premiered on August 12 via MTV and Fuse ahead of their album Moonlight Survived release. On July 18 they played a one-off show at Washington D.C.'s Black Cat before attending an MTV photo shoot and interview session on July 19.

From July 20 until August 12, Moments in Grace toured across the East Coast and Midwest alongside Finger Eleven, Thornley, and Strata.

Moonlight Survived (August 2004 – September 2004)

Moments in Grace launched their full-length record, Moonlight Survived, on August 17, 2004, distributed via Atlantic Records and Salad Days Records. Available formats included CD, double 12-inch vinyl, and digital download. The album combined earlier singles such as "Stratus", "Broken Promises", and "My Dying Day" with fresh material like "The Patient", "We Feel the Songs", "My Stunning Bride", as well as a newly recorded version of "No Angels" originally from Postcard Audio's EP. The double vinyl release was enhanced with three additional tracks: "Curtain Call", "The Silencing Truth" (originating from the EP These Days Will Fade), and the exclusive track "Freedom". Shelby Cinca was responsible for the album’s artwork. Fans who pre-ordered through Smartpunk received a complimentary split 7-inch vinyl featuring Funeral for a Friend. Additionally, the song "Broken Promises" appeared in the soundtrack of the video game Burnout 3: Takedown, which launched on September 4, 2004.

To support the release of Moonlight Survived, Moments in Grace held three album launch concerts alongside Taken From You in Florida cities: Pensacola (August 15), Gainesville (August 17), and St. Augustine (August 18). The album achieved a peak position of No. 13 on CMJ's Top 200 Adds chart by August 30 and reached No. 109 on CMJ's Radio 200 chart as of October 11, maintaining a presence for six weeks. In early September, they unveiled "These Days Will Fade," an unreleased track from the album sessions, exclusively available on their PureVolume profile.

Back on the road (August 2004 – December 2004)

On August 28, 2004, Moments in Grace supported Seether during a one-off performance at Orlando’s UFC Arena. Shortly thereafter, they commenced a two-month touring schedule. Between September 3 and September 13, they performed a combination of headlining and co-headlining concerts throughout the Southern and Western regions of the United States. Touring partners during this period included The Working Title, Mae, Fear Before the March of Flames, A Thorn for Every Heart, Colossal, The Kinison, Killradio, and A Wilhelm Scream.

From September 15 through October 4, Moments in Grace supported Further Seems Forever, Brandtson, and The Kicks on the "Hide Nothing Tour", covering territories along the West Coast—including Western Canada—as well as Midwest and East Coast locations. They also performed a singular show with The Starting Line and Park in Tucson, Arizona on October 11.

For their concluding tour of the year, Moments in Grace joined Hot Water Music as support during "The New What Next Tour" from October 13 to November 21, 2004. This bill featured acts like Alexisonfire, Don't Look Down, Planes Mistaken for Stars, and Silverstein. The itinerary spanned multiple U.S. regions including the West Coast, South, East Coast, two Canadian dates, concluding in the Midwest. On October 31, they also appeared at The Fest 3 festival in Gainesville, Florida. Simultaneously, a Various Artists compilation was released featuring Moments in Grace’s tracks "Stratus" and "Broken Promises," along with the "Stratus" music video; this collection also included songs by Hot Water Music, Alexisonfire, and Planes Mistaken for Stars.

After completing the Hot Water Music tour and returning to Florida, Moments in Grace performed twice as part of clothing brand Hollister Co.’s promotional series titled "Club Cali Presents: The 12 Days of Rock." They were uniquely featured twice: first at North Point Mall in Alpharetta, Georgia on November 29, followed by a show at The Mall at Millenia in Orlando on December 3.

Membership changes and concluding tours (December 2004 – March 2005)

Towards the end of 2004, James Glayat took over guitar duties from Justin Etheridge. Glayat had previously collaborated with Timothy Kirkpatrick in multiple bands such as Shaft, Roosevelt, and As Friends Rust. In January 2005, Moments in Grace embarked on a West Coast tour alongside Rock 'n' Roll Soldiers from the 15th to the 25th. This itinerary included performances at notable locations such as Soma, the Troubadour, GameWorks in Las Vegas, and Cafe Du Nord in San Francisco.

Between February 4 and 18, 2005, the band once again toured the West Coast, this time sharing the stage with June and Zolof The Rock & Roll Destroyer. Initially, Halfwayhome was slated to participate but withdrew due to changes in their lineup. Venues during this tour included GameWorks in Tucson, the Knitting Factory in Hollywood, and Chain Reaction in Anaheim. Additionally, a singular show featuring National Product and Take the Crown occurred at the Troubadour on February 8.

In late February and early March of 2005, Moments in Grace headlined several concerts. Among these was the celebration of the one-year milestone for the webzine A Thousand Apologies held in Tempe, Arizona on February 25. Their last live show took place on March 5 at Mr. Cue's Billiards in Lancaster, California, where they performed with Saosin. When Moments in Grace disbanded in early March 2005, Pinnacle Entertainment was still arranging further tours including a headline run from March 25 to April 6 as well as appearances on Van's Warped Tour scheduled for August.

Discography

Studio albums

• Moonlight Survived (2004)

EPs

• Postcard Audio (2002)
• These Days Will Fade (2003)

Members

Final lineup

• Jeremy Griffith – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards (2001–2005)
• Jake Brown – bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (2001–2005)
• Timothy Kirkpatrick – drums (2003–2005)
• James Glayat – guitar (2005)

Former members

• Jason Frazier – drums (2001–2002)
• Shane Gibson – guitar (2002)
• Brandon Cook – drums (2002–2003)
• Justin Etheridge – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (2002–2004)
• TJ Stein – guitar (2004–2005)

Timeline

• ^{Release dates for studio albums and EPs are shown by bars; lineup alterations occasionally occurred between recording sessions and official releases.}