Transit (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Defunct | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Stoneham, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Studio albums, EPs, singles |
Transit was a rock group originating from Stoneham, Massachusetts, active between 2006 and 2016. Throughout their decade-long career, they produced five studio albums, four EPs, and a split EP in collaboration with Man Overboard. Drawing inspiration from emo bands such as Saves the Day, Death Cab for Cutie, and American Football, their musical style transitioned from an initial fusion of pop punk and emo to a more indie rock-oriented sound by their final release, Joyride.
Biography
In early 2007, Transit uploaded a demo featuring two tracks on their Myspace page. Later that year, songs including "Shift On," "Waterways in NE," and "Rule of Nines" were shared online prior to the launch of their first EP, Let It Out. By July 2008, the band revealed plans for their next EP, Stay Home, and subsequently signed with the independent label Run for Cover Records on October 16. The Stay Home EP was officially released in April 2009, accompanied by digital singles and a music video.
Following this release, Transit embarked on extensive tours throughout the East Coast and Midwest regions alongside bands like Balance and Composure and Man Overboard. Their touring continued across the United States in 2010 with groups such as Make Do and Mend, A Loss for Words, and the Swellers.
Their 2011 album Listen & Forgive achieved notable chart success, reaching number 9 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and number 40 on the Independent Albums chart. After performing on the Ernie Ball Stage during Warped Tour 2012, they released Young New England, which peaked at number 4 on the Heatseekers chart. The band's final record, Joyride, was released in October 2014. On February 29, 2016, Transit announced their disbandment via Twitter, concluding with a farewell tour that ended at The Sinclair in Boston.
Former guitarist Tim Landers died on February 2, 2019. In June 2023, lead vocalist Ella Amber Meadows (previously known as Joe Boynton) publicly revealed her identity as a transgender woman through an Instagram post.
Final lineup
- Ella Amber Meadows – lead vocals (2006–2016)
- Torre Cioffi – guitar, vocals (2011–2016)
- P.J. Jefferson – bass guitar, vocals (2006–2016)
- Daniel Frazier – drums (2006–2016)
Former members
- Joseph Lacy – guitar, vocals (2006–2011)
- Tim Landers – guitar, vocals (2006–2014; deceased 2019)
Touring musicians
- Kevin Tse – guitar (2009)
- Brandon Wark – guitar (2014–2016)
Albums
- This Will Not Define Us (Barrett, February 26, 2008; Animal Style vinyl edition May 7, 2009)
- Keep This to Yourself (Run for Cover Records, August 17, 2010)
- Listen & Forgive (Rise Records, October 4, 2011)
- Young New England (Rise Records, April 2, 2013) U.S. chart position #193
- Joyride (Rise Records, October 21, 2014)
EPs
- Let It Out (Barrett Records, 2007)
- Stay Home - EP (Run for Cover Records, April 14, 2009; vinyl issued by Barrett Records May 22, 2010)
- Something Left Behind (Mightier Than the Sword Records, February 22, 2011)
- Futures & Sutures (Rise Records, December 2, 2013)
Splits
- Man Overboard/Transit - Collaborative Split with Man Overboard (Pure Noise, December 8, 2009)
7" Releases
- Promise Nothing - 7" record (Rise, April 25, 2011)
- For Future Reference - 7" vinyl (Rise, October 4, 2011)
- Skipping Stone - 7" format (Rise, July 2012)
- Joyride Acoustic - 7" edition (Rise, October 2014)
Singles
- "Nothing Lasts Forever" (Rise, February 11, 2013)
Music Videos
- "Rule of Nines" (2008)
- "Stay Home" (2009)
- "Long Lost Friends" (2011)
- "Cutting Corners" (2011)
- "Asleep at the Wheel" (2012)
- "I Think I Know You" (2012)
- "Skipping Stone" (alternate version) (2012)
- "Nothing Lasts Forever" (2013)
- "Weathered Souls" (2013)
- "Young New England" (2013)
- "So Long, So Long" (Futures & Sutures sessions) (2014)
- "Rest to Get Better" (2014)
- "The Only One" (2015)