The Beautiful Mistake
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2000 in San Diego, California, United States |
| Founder | Josh Hagquist, Shawn Grover |
| Headquarters | San Diego , United States |
| Products | Music albums, EPs |
The Beautiful Mistake is a rock group originating from San Diego, California, established in 2000. Their discography includes two full-length albums: Light a Match, For I Deserve to Burn released in 2002, and This Is Who You Are from 2004, alongside four EPs and contributions to various compilation albums.
History
After the dissolution of their previous band Ember, Josh Hagquist and Shawn Grover founded The Beautiful Mistake. Throughout the 2000s, the band experienced multiple lineup adjustments, with Hagquist (vocals, guitar) remaining the sole constant member. Their releases came through labels such as SideCho Records, The Militia Group, and Reignition Records. Additionally, their albums were reissued in Europe and Asia via Sorepoint/Eat Sleep Records and Bigmouth Japan. The band embarked on extensive tours across the United States, performing alongside prominent groups including Further Seems Forever, Brand New, Fall Out Boy, Senses Fail, Emery, and Avenged Sevenfold. They made frequent appearances at major industry festivals like CMJ Fest and SXSW, with their music featured on television networks such as MTV, VH1, and shows on WB.
In 2005, The Beautiful Mistake were featured in the documentary "Bastards of Young," which explored the post-hardcore DIY movement alongside bands like Taking Back Sunday and Jimmy Eat World. Their touring activities concluded later that year.
The band briefly reunited in 2008 when Hagquist, Grover, and Armin Tchami performed an acoustic set at Tomfest. Following this, members engaged in separate musical ventures: Hagquist became part of The Lassie Foundation and created Saint Valletta; Grover joined Moher; Quesada is active with Francis and the Wolf and works as a producer; Berndtson contributed to Minneapolis-based acts Cue the Doves, Get Young, and Years Spent.
In March 2018, The Beautiful Mistake regrouped for two shows in Southern California featuring Hagquist, Grover, Berndtson, and Quesada—their first joint performance since 2004. Later that year, original guitarist Steve Dunlap participated in sessions for the EP You're Not Broken, I Am.
May 2019 saw the band record a five-track EP under producer Beau Burchell in Temecula, California. This EP was announced in January 2020 for release via Wire Tap Records (US) and Disconnect Disconnect Records (UK/EU), with the lead single "Memento Mori" premiering exclusively through Kerrang!
In September 2021, they performed at Furnace Fest in Birmingham, Alabama, presenting selections from their full-length albums as well as their latest EP. They are also slated to appear at the final Furnace Fest scheduled for October 2024.
Discography
- Studio albums
- Light a Match, For I Deserve to Burn (The Militia Group, 2002)
- This Is Who You Are (The Militia Group, 2004)
This album reached No. 49 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart and No. 22 on the Top Independent Albums chart.
- EPs
- December (Republica Records, 2001)
- The Beautiful Mistake (SideCho Records, 2002)
- The Beautiful Mistake Re-recording (2003)
- The Beautiful Mistake & Ettison Clio (Split EP) (Reignition Records, 2006)
- You're Not Broken, I Am (Wire Tap Records, 2020)