The Graduate (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | November 2005 |
| Headquarters | Springfield, Illinois , United States |
| Products | Music albums and EPs |
The Graduate was an indie and emo band originating from Springfield, Illinois, United States.
History
The Graduate came together in central Illinois in November 2005, emerging from the dissolution of two regional groups—Best of Winter based in Quincy and Jack from Springfield—whose members began working together. Vocalist Corey Warning described the band's name as a form of irony, noting that none of the members had completed college. They self-released their EP Horror Show in April 2006 and embarked on nationwide tours alongside bands like Jack's Mannequin, The Audition, and Secondhand Serenade.
In late 2006, College Music Journal spotlighted The Graduate on its cover after they became the most added artist on college radio stations during the week of December 3, with 167 stations incorporating Horror Show into their rotations. On April 6, 2007, they were recognized as Band of the Day by Spin.
Their first full-length album, Anhedonia, was released on April 10, 2007. To support this release, they performed at multiple dates on the Warped Tour, toured with The Audition and Spitalfield, and appeared at Lollapalooza. Subsequently, they led a tour across Europe and the UK, including an appearance at Germany’s Rock am See festival.
On November 27, 2007, The Graduate issued The Evergreen EP, which included acoustic renditions of songs from Anhedonia, a rendition of "Blue Christmas," and an original track titled "Gunslinger." This limited edition EP was capped at 5,000 copies and distributed free through select FYE outlets, primarily located in Illinois.
During the summer of 2008, the band toured across the United States with acts such as My American Heart and Secondhand Serenade. After their label Icon MES ceased operations on October 31, 2008, plans for a deluxe reissue called Anhedonia Revisited were abandoned. Following tours with Ludo and Eye Alaska, they announced intentions to create a second studio album.
In May 2010, The Graduate signed with Razor & Tie and subsequently released their second album, Only Every Time, on August 31. Produced by Brian McTernan, the album reached number 28 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. The following year saw digital releases such as the B-sides EP Every Other Time, the Sea Legs EP, and a vinyl edition of Only Every Time through American Dream Records.
On July 1, 2011, The Graduate declared an indefinite hiatus. Their farewell concert occurred on August 27 at Reggie's Rock Club in Chicago and was recorded live. Corey Warning initiated a Kickstarter campaign to produce a DVD commemorating both the band's career and their final performance; the project surpassed its $3,000 target by raising $10,513 from 210 supporters.
Members
- Corey Warning – lead vocals
- Matt Kennedy – guitar, backing vocals, keyboards
- Max Sauer – guitar, backing vocals
- Jared Wuestenberg – bass
- Tim Moore – drums
Albums
- Anhedonia (2007, Icon MES Records)
- Only Every Time (2010, Razor & Tie)
EPs
- Horror Show (2006, independently produced)
- The Evergreen EP (2007, Icon MES Records)
- Every Other Time (B-Sides from Only Every Time) (2011, Razor & Tie)
- Sea Legs (EP) (2011, independently released)