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Motion City Soundtrack

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Motion City Soundtrack
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1997 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
FounderJustin Pierre, Joshua Cain
Headquarters
Minneapolis
,
United States
ProductsMusic albums, tours

Motion City Soundtrack is a rock ensemble originating from Minneapolis, Minnesota, established in 1997. The group features vocalist and guitarist Justin Pierre, lead guitarist Joshua Cain, keyboardist Jesse Johnson, bassist Matthew Taylor, and drummer Tony Thaxton. Throughout their career, they have embarked on extensive tours and produced seven studio albums, primarily released through the independent label Epitaph Records. Their musical style, often categorized as pop-punk and emo, is distinguished by the prominent use of the Moog synthesizer. Pierre’s lyrics commonly explore themes such as anxiety, isolation, interpersonal relationships, and self-destructive tendencies.

The band was initiated by Cain and Pierre and experienced several lineup adjustments before reaching stability. Their first full-length album, I Am the Movie, debuted in 2003. They gained commercial recognition with Commit This to Memory in 2005, followed by the acclaimed Even If It Kills Me in 2007. For many years, they were a consistent presence on the Warped Tour. After a brief stint with major label Columbia Records for the release of My Dinosaur Life (2010), they returned to Epitaph for subsequent albums Go (2012) and Panic Stations (2015). The band disbanded in 2016 but reunited in 2019, culminating in their seventh album, The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World, released in 2025.

Formation and early years (1997–2003)

Motion City Soundtrack was created in 1997 by singer-songwriter Justin Pierre alongside guitarist Joshua Cain. Both had been involved in separate music projects—Cain notably with the Saddest Girl Story—before joining forces after Cain’s previous band, Boxcar, ended. The band's name originated from an abandoned film project developed by Cain’s brother. Early on, they faced challenges due to a scarcity of local venues in Minneapolis, which necessitated extensive touring to cultivate a fan base.

The lineup experienced multiple changes before becoming stable. Their initial release was a 7-inch single titled "Promenade / Carolina" in 1999, followed by two extended plays: Kids for America and Back to the Beat. By late 2001, Matthew Taylor had joined on bass and Tony Thaxton on drums after both had toured with another band. Keyboardist Jesse Johnson was added just weeks prior to recording their debut album; although new to keyboards, he quickly learned under Cain’s guidance.

After an unsuccessful attempt at self-producing their recordings, the band raised $6,000 to work with producer Ed Rose, noted for his collaborations with the Get Up Kids. They completed much of I Am the Movie within ten days; early editions were uniquely packaged inside floppy disks and sold directly from their tour van for approximately a year.

Interest from labels such as Universal and Drive-Thru Records emerged, but they ultimately signed with Epitaph Records due to more favorable contract conditions. Brett Gurewitz of Epitaph discovered the group through industry contacts and attended several performances despite Pierre suffering vocal strain from touring. With management support from Eli Janney of Girls Against Boys, Motion City Soundtrack became part of a notable influx of emo acts signed by Epitaph during that period.

Breakthrough and success (2003–2006)

Following their signing with Epitaph Records, the band recorded three new tracks intended for a triple split EP that ultimately went unreleased; these songs were incorporated into the reissued version of I Am the Movie released on June 24, 2003. With Epitaph's broader distribution network and adequate funding, the group was able to re-record material to better realize their initial artistic vision. In 2003, they embarked on their first UK tour alongside Sugarcult and participated in Warped Tour 2003. Extensive touring across the United States ensued, sharing stages with Rufio, Mae, Fall Out Boy, Simple Plan, and MxPx. Their European run, dubbed the "Totally Wicked Awesome Tour," included Sugarcult, the All-American Rejects, and Limbeck. That year also saw the production of music videos for "The Future Freaks Me Out" and "My Favorite Accident," establishing them as a standout act on Warped Tour 2004.

Later in 2004, the band toured Europe and Japan with Blink-182 after being recommended by bassist Mark Hoppus. Hoppus took on production duties for their second album, Commit This to Memory, recorded at Seedy Underbelly Studios in Los Angeles. The songwriting process occurred partly in Minneapolis and Los Angeles while lead vocalist Pierre was undergoing treatment for alcohol dependency. This album marked the first time all members contributed creatively, benefiting from increased studio time and financial resources. Concurrently, they launched their inaugural headlining tour titled "The Sub-Par Punk Who Cares Tour 2004," culminating in over 270 shows that year.

Commit This to Memory, released on June 7, 2005, reached number two on Billboard's Independent Albums chart and had sold close to half a million copies by 2015. Their music videos enjoyed frequent rotation on MTV2, and the band appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Despite achieving mainstream recognition, some critics dismissed them as excessively commercial pop punk. They sustained relentless touring efforts, expanding their fan base through participation in the first Epitaph Tour alongside Matchbook Romance and From First to Last. This was followed by appearances on Warped Tour 2005 and their most extensive national tour to date—the Nintendo Fusion Tour—with Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, and the Starting Line.

Continued success (2007–2011)

The band's subsequent release, Even If It Kills Me (2007), was recorded in New York City with producers Eli Janney, Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne, and Ric Ocasek of the Cars. Although Pierre admired Ocasek's work, he later described the experience as perplexing and somewhat disappointing.[1] For the first time, Pierre wrote lyrics during recording sessions due to writer's block.[1] The band expressed concern about living up to the catchy nature of their previous album.[1] During this challenging period, Pierre's struggles with substance abuse nearly caused the band's breakup.[2] After completing the album, Pierre entered rehabilitation for drug and alcohol issues,[3] resulting in a six-week hiatus—their longest break in five years.[3]

Released on September 18, 2007, Even If It Kills Me represented a commercial advancement by reaching number 16 on the Billboard 200 chart and topping the Independent Albums list.[4][5] The single "This Is for Real" achieved a peak position of number 48 in Australia.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Cain later reflected that the band had placed too much emphasis on metrics and career trajectory rather than artistic innovation.[6] In 2008, their visibility increased through partnerships with Coca-Cola and Pepsi, licensing deals for media usage, and ongoing touring.[7] An acoustic EP was released in May 2008,[8] followed by participation in the Honda Civic Tour alongside Panic! at the Disco and Phantom Planet,[8] as well as joining the concluding weeks of Warped Tour 2008.[7] They also headlined The Left Handed Forms of Human Endeavor Tour that September.[9]

Months prior to releasing Even If It Kills Me, Motion City signed a multi-album contract with Columbia Records. Guitarist Joshua Cain expressed that this decision aligned well with the label’s enthusiasm.[10] Their promotional approach sought to balance benefits from a major label while retaining grassroots authenticity.[10] Their following album reunited them with producer Mark Hoppus at his North Hollywood studio between April and June 2009. Hoppus observed that the band aimed to build upon Commit This to Memory while exploring new directions.[11] Pierre described a more relaxed atmosphere during these sessions compared to previous experiences.[1] The album title, My Dinosaur Life, encapsulated themes related to aging and feelings of alienation.[12]

After finishing recording, they toured with Blink-182 during their reunion tour,Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name while Pierre embarked on an acoustic promotional series called On the Dino Trail.[10]

Released on January 19, 2010, My Dinosaur Life garnered critical praise,[13] reaching their highest chart position at number 15 on the Billboard 200.[5] The band supported Weezer on multiple dates and launched their own headlining tour across the US. Early in 2010 they performed at Australia's Soundwave festival as well as shows in Japan and the UK.[10] They secured radio airplay for the first time,[14] accompanied by a video release for "Her Words Destroyed My Planet."[15] Between October and November, they toured with Say Anything, debuting a self-produced video for "A Lifeless Ordinary."[16]

Later in 2010, Columbia Records dropped Motion City,[17] reportedly due to sales not meeting expectations. Pierre acknowledged that despite relative commercial success within industry standards, their contract was terminated.[18]

Middle years (2012–2016)

Following their departure from Columbia, the band toured Brazil in January 2011 as the supporting act for All Time Low. They independently financed the recording of their fifth studio album, Go, collaborating with producer Ed Ackerson at Flowers Studio in Minneapolis. The laid-back approach to creation highlighted their intent to craft music free from genre constraints. Vocalist Justin Pierre later expressed that Go was his least favored record, attributing this sentiment to personal battles with dark emotions that influenced its mood.

After completing the album, they launched the "4 Albums. 2 Nights. 7 Cities" tour, where they performed their entire catalog across two evenings. In November 2011, they issued a split 7-inch featuring a cover of Trampled by Turtles' "Wait So Long." Eventually, the band signed with Epitaph Records, which released Go on June 12, 2012. The album received mixed critical feedback and experienced a downturn commercially, reaching number 46 on the Billboard 200 and number eight on the Independent Albums chart. Its lead single, "True Romance," was accompanied by a one-shot music video influenced by Spike Jonze's filmmaking style. Throughout 2012, the band toured extensively across Asia and the United States.

In March 2013, drummer Tony Thaxton departed due to depression stemming from relentless touring demands. Claudio Rivera of Saves the Day stepped in as his replacement, and the band released "Inside Out," their first single featuring Rivera. Progress on their subsequent album was slow; demos created with Mike Sapone were ultimately set aside. That year also saw the release of I Am the Movie: The Movie, a documentary compiling footage from earlier periods. The band took part in Warped Tour 2013 and co-headlined a fall tour alongside Relient K.

Their sixth studio effort, Panic Stations, was captured live over two weeks in June 2014 at Minnesota's Pachyderm Studio with producer John Agnello, known for his work with Dinosaur Jr. and Sonic Youth. The album's release was postponed for over a year due to Pierre’s family obligations. Meanwhile, they commemorated the tenth anniversary of Commit This to Memory with a full-album tour beginning in early 2015 and extending through summer. When released on September 18, 2015, Panic Stations received favorable reviews but charted lower than earlier albums. A following tour alongside The Wonder Years included issuing a split 7-inch record.

At the start of 2016, bassist Matthew Taylor voiced optimism regarding upcoming material; however, just two months later, the band announced their disbandment citing exhaustion from continuous touring and shifting family responsibilities. They embarked on the So Long, Farewell Tour across North America from May to September 2016, reuniting with original drummer Thaxton. The farewell tour concluded with a sold-out performance at Chicago’s Metro on September 18, featuring a setlist of 36 songs spanning their career and both Thaxton and Rivera sharing drum duties.

Reunion (2019–2024)

During their three-year hiatus, members relocated and pursued individual endeavors. Pierre continued his solo career, releasing his debut album In the Drink in 2018 with production assistance from Cain. In June 2019, the band announced their reunion accompanied by a U.S. tour titled "Don't Call It a Comeback," referencing a track from their debut album; this tour took place in January 2020 with Thaxton officially rejoining. Plans for a U.K. appearance at the Slam Dunk Festival in May 2020 were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They resumed live performances in 2022, marking seventeen years since Commit This to Memory.

In 2022, they released three new songs: a cover of Fountains of Wayne's "A Dip in the Ocean" for the tribute compilation Saving for a Custom Van, honoring Adam Schlesinger; "Crooked Ways," an unreleased track dating back about ten years connected to the Twilight film series; and a rendition of Ed Ackerson’s "Wired Weird" for an Ackerson tribute album—Ackerson having produced their 2012 release Go. Cain mentioned there is currently "no official plan" for additional new material but did not exclude future possibilities. Pierre hinted at potential forthcoming releases during an Instagram livestream session.

In 2023, the band supported The All-American Rejects on their Wet Hot All-American Summer Tour and appeared at Adjacent Fest as well as When We Were Young. In 2024, they initiated an anniversary tour celebrating I Am the Movie, with Zach Comtois filling in on rhythm guitar while Pierre recuperates from a back injury. That August saw the release of "Stop Talking," marking their first original single since 2015's Panic Stations, coinciding with its inclusion in the film Dìdi.

The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World (2025–present)

On June 17, 2025, the band unveiled their seventh studio album titled The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World, accompanied by the release of its lead single "She Is Afraid" and a music video influenced by the TV series Severance. This record represents their first new material in a decade, marking the longest interval between albums to date, and features the original lineup last seen on 2012's Go. Guitarist Joshua Cain described this project as a return to the band’s foundational sound, while frontman Justin Pierre highlighted a thematic evolution from personal struggle toward clarity and self-identity. The production was handled by Sean O'Keefe, who has previously worked with acts like Fall Out Boy, Hawthorne Heights, Plain White T's, and Beach Bunny. Notably, the band had collaborated with O’Keefe earlier in their career during split EPs with Matchbook Romance and Schatzi in the 2000s.

Music

Motion City Soundtrack’s primary inspirations include bands such as Superchunk, Jawbox, and the Pixies. Additionally, Justin Pierre and Matt Taylor cite influences from groups like Ben Folds Five, Fugazi, and Braid. Pierre also draws creative fuel from acts including Poster Children, the Carpenters, and Sunny Day Real Estate, whereas Taylor points to artists such as That Dog, Radiohead, and Burning Airlines. Pierre summed up their creative approach as reimagining the music that shaped them during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Their signature sound merges pop-punk elements with a prominent Moog synthesizer presence, an instrument introduced by Cain after being inspired by its use on the Rentals' 1995 album Return of the Rentals. Keyboardist Jesse Johnson became known for his distinctive live performances featuring the "Moogstand." The band’s musical style encompasses genres including pop rock, power pop, indie rock, emo, and pop-punk; however, Cain disputes the pop-punk label, instead emphasizing influences from '90s bands like Superchunk and early Weezer. Pierre characterizes their music as "dirty, fast, happy, emotional rock songs."

Their debut release, I Am the Movie, drew comparisons to All and the Get Up Kids due to its cohesive sound. Subsequent albums such as My Dinosaur Life incorporated post-hardcore elements inspired by groups like Archers of Loaf and Dinosaur Jr..

Lyrics

Lead vocalist Justin Pierre is primarily responsible for writing most of Motion City Soundtrack’s lyrics, which are deeply influenced by his own life experiences. The songwriting process sometimes involved composing music first with Pierre adding lyrics afterward, or alternatively, he would present fully developed songs to the band. Pierre has described lyric writing as a therapeutic endeavor, often dedicating significant time to crafting words that delve into introspection and human experiences.

The album Commit This to Memory tackles subjects including substance abuse, mental health struggles, and troubled relationships. Pierre sought to streamline his lyrics to better convey stories, drawing inspiration from artists like Tom Waits, Ben Folds, and John K. Samson. Occasionally, he would write from viewpoints other than his own. The follow-up album Even If It Kills Me was Pierre’s first written while sober following recovery from addiction, resulting in a noticeably more hopeful tone. Themes explored on My Dinosaur Life include interpersonal relationships, procrastination, and Pierre’s efforts to overcome self-destructive tendencies. The fifth album, Go, focuses on mortality and impermanence, underscoring the idea that "nothing lasts forever."

Honors and awards

The group was honored with a star on the exterior mural of Minneapolis's First Avenue, a distinction awarded to performers who have either sold out shows or made a notable cultural contribution to the venue. This accolade is widely regarded as one of the highest public honors an artist can receive in Minneapolis.

On October 31, 2017, their popular track "Everything Is Alright" achieved gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.

Band members

Current lineup
  • Justin Pierre – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1997–2016, 2019–present), keyboards (1998–2001), lead guitar (2002)
  • Joshua Cain – lead guitar (1998–2002, 2002–2016, 2019–present), backing vocals (1998–2016, 2019–present), bass (1997–1998, 2002), keyboards (1998–2001)
  • Jesse Johnson – synthesizer, keyboards, piano (2001–2016, 2019–present)
  • Matthew Taylor – bass, backing vocals, keyboards (2002–2016, 2019–present)
  • Tony Thaxton – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2002–2013, 2016, 2019–present)
Touring musicians currently
  • Zach Comtois – rhythm guitar (2023–present)
Former members
  • Joe Skinner – lead guitar (1997)
  • Andrew Whitney – drums (1997–1998)
  • Andrew Gruhn – keyboards (1998)
  • Austin Lindstrom – bass (1998–2000, 2001–2002)
  • Joel Habedank – drums (1998–2000)
  • Matt Potocnik – bass (2000–2001)
  • Sidney Burgdorf – drums (2001)
  • Claudio Rivera – drums (2013–2016)
  • Kate Steinberg – synthesizer, keyboards, piano (2024; live substitute for Jesse Johnson)
  • Jacob Carlson — lead guitar (2025; live substitute for Joshua Cain)
  • Patrick Stump – lead vocals (2025; live substitute for Justin Pierre)

Discography

Studio albums

External links

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  17. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named spin11
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