Second Coming (band)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1990 in Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington , United States |
| Products | Rock music |
Second Coming was a rock group originating from Los Angeles, California, established in 1990. The band's foundation rested on drummer James Bergstrom and bassist Johnny Bacolas, both of whom contributed to every album. Prior to this, they were part of an early iteration of Alice in Chains known as Alice N' Chains, alongside vocalist Layne Staley and guitarist Nick Pollock.
The initial ensemble featured Bergstrom, bassist Ron "Junkeye" Holt, vocalist Jesse "Maxi" Holt, and keyboardist Stamatina. Around 1992, the band moved their base to Seattle, Washington. Subsequently, Bacolas took over bass duties from Ron Holt, Davis Martin succeeded Stamatina on keyboards, and guitarist Mark Nelson was added. Their first album, L.O.V.Evil, was released in 1994.
By 1996, Mark Nelson, Davis Martin, and Jesse Holt had departed. Bacolas and Bergstrom reassembled the group with vocalist Travis Bracht (previously with Peace and Silence) and guitarist Dudley Taft (formerly of Sweet Water). Their 1998 self-titled release Second Coming attracted significant mainstream interest. Taft exited in 2001 and was replaced by Eric Snyder on guitar. The band’s third album, 13, came out in 2003.
L.O.V.Evil (1994–1995)
Second Coming’s debut album L.O.V.Evil was independently launched in 1994 through Red Rocket Records. Maxi produced the record and composed most tracks, with a few co-written pieces. The album included several tracks that gained traction on Seattle’s KISW radio station such as "M.T. Your Gun," "It's Coming After," and "So Beautiful (And Everything)," along with a music video for "Afraid of Love." Eventually, the band split into two groups contesting the name, with Bacolas and Bergstrom ultimately retaining rights.
Second Coming (1996–2000)
In 1996, James Bergstrom and Johnny Bacolas revived Second Coming by adding guitarist Dudley Taft and vocalist Travis Bracht, adopting a heavier musical style. To finance their upcoming album, they performed under the cover band moniker FTA (Funding the Album). Two years later, they independently issued their self-titled album Second Coming. Following a competitive bidding process, Capitol Records signed them in 1998 and re-released the album with three bonus tracks. Capitol’s president Gary Gersh—renowned for his work with Nirvana and Foo Fighters—was instrumental in signing the band, highlighting their distinct market appeal and commercial promise. The group toured extensively alongside acts like Godsmack, Kid Rock, Lenny Kravitz, VAST, Candlebox, Fuel, and Monster Magnet.
13 and Acoustic (2000–2007)
After Gary Gersh left Capitol Records in 2001, Second Coming parted ways with the label. That same year saw Dudley Taft’s departure due to internal disagreements. In 2003, Eric Snyder joined as guitarist, marking a return to independent production. Following the passing of Layne Staley in 2002, Second Coming headlined the inaugural tribute concert honoring him. Also in 2003, they released their third studio album 13 alongside the companion EP Acoustic, both distributed via their own label Timestyle Music through their website as well as platforms like iTunes and Amazon.com.
Later years and activities following the Second Coming era (2007–present)
In 2007, following Nick Pollock's departure from Soulbender, Travis Bracht took charge of both Second Coming and Soulbender. Although Second Coming intended to release a new album that year, it ultimately never materialized.
The year 2008 saw Johnny Bacolas and Eric Snyder initiate The Crying Spell, which produced the album Through Hell to Heaven. They joined forces with Ed Kowalczyk of Live during the 2009 Layne Staley Tribute Concert. By 2012, Snyder remained active with The Crying Spell as they released their sophomore album, Disgraceland. Meanwhile, Bacolas became a member of Lotus Crush, which launched Half Light Morning in 2011. In 2015, Bacolas co-established The Rumba Kings, a group that has issued several albums and singles since 2018; their debut featured contributions from drummer James Bergstrom and guitarist Eric Snyder.
Also in 2008, Dudley Taft founded The Dudley Taft Band, which has since released multiple albums.
In 2009, Travis Bracht created Post Modern Heroes alongside members from Peace and Silence, culminating in their first album release in 2010. After departing Second Coming in the late 2000s, Bracht briefly returned for two performances in 2017. His Seattle-based project Bruiser Brody released an EP in 2016 followed by the full-length album Everyone's Dead in 2018. Bracht then unveiled his solo record The Last Funeral in 2019.
Second Coming reunited for two concerts held in Bellevue, Washington, during February 2017.
In 2019, Eric Snyder launched a new band called Locistellar, which released its debut EP titled Leading Era.
Members
- Last lineup
- James Bergstrom – drums (1990–2008)
- Johnny Bacolas – bass (1992–2008)
- Travis Bracht – vocals, guitars (1996–2008)
- Eric Snyder – guitars (2001–2008)
- Previous members
- Jesse "Maxi" Holt – vocals, guitars (1990–1996)
- Ron "Junkeye" Holt – bass, guitars, keyboards (1990–1992)
- Stamatina – keyboards (1990–1992)
- Davis Martin – keyboards, percussion (1992–1996)
- Mark Nelson – guitars (1992–1996)
- Dudley Taft – guitars (1996–2001)
Discography
- Studio albums
| Year | Album information |
|---|---|
| 1994 | L.O.V.Evil
|
| 1998 | Second Coming
|
| 2003 | 13
|
- Extended plays
| Year | Album information |
|---|---|
| 2002 | Acoustic EP
|
Charted tracks
| Year | Song Title | Chart Position | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Mainstream Rock | |||
| 1998 | "Soft" | 16 | Second Coming |
| 1999 | "Vintage Eyes" | 16 |