When most bands tell you they’ve had to “grow up in public,” they’re talking about getting pushed into the spotlight before they’ve had a chance to find their voice. But for Whittier, California, trio The Dares, who started playing when twin brothers and co-founders Ben (guitar/lead vocals) and Matt (drums/vocals) Peterson were all of 8 years old, the idea was a bit more literal. These boys-to-men literally grew up in public, forming a band when their peers were still dabbling in youth-league sports and landing a major-label contract with Jive Records before they’d even finished high school. Today, as the trio’s powerhouse spin on pop-punk tradition is making clear, The Dares are ready and able to grow even bigger.
Make no mistake: While they’re fueled by the same monster hooks and youthful energy that’ve driven The Dares’ music since day one, tunes like the laser-focused, MySpace-dominating lead single “Love Me When I Leave” also prove how much time, practice, and a relentless dedication to their craft havxe tightened this trio musically. Not only that, but from the down-tuned, breakdown-heavy anthem “The Message” to the beautiful, string-accented ballad “Carpe Diem” (just two of the 100- plus songs in The Dares’ arsenal), the Petersons and bassist/vocalist Martin Lascano are also proving how much they’ve learned to stretch out as songwriters. “If you sat the three of us down and asked us about our influences, it’d probably take us a day to go over all the different music we listen to,” Ben Peterson explains, “One of the reasons we work so well together is that we’ve learned to incorporate all those different ideas without losing ourselves in the process.
Formed in 1998 in Burlington, Vermont, The Dares first got the chance to hone their balancing act before what might be the toughest audience on earth: their elementary-school classmates. Over the next four years, however, it wasn’t just the novelty of their youth that found The Dares’ profile rising. The band’s songwriting prowess and ace showmanship landed them over 100 gigs -- from all-ages shows to the 2002 Winter Olympics Torch Event in Burlington, where they rocked an audience of 10,000 -- as well as frequent newspaper, magazine and TV coverage throughout their area. Not too shabby, considering all of this happened before the band members could legally drive themselves to gigs.
If Vermont saw The Dares becoming regional sensations, then the Petersons’ 2003 move to Whittier set up the band for a full national breakout. In April of 2004, just months after finalizing their lineup with middle-school friend Lascano, the trio made their California debut at a Long Beach battle of the bands, where they beat out 10 other acts to win both the “Best Band” title and a block of studio time. Demos, further accolades (including two “Best Punk Band” nominations at the Orange County Music Awards), and dozens of gigs followed, and over the next three years, The Dares found themselves making repeat visits to Hollywood clubs like the Whiskey, House of Blues, the Key Club and the Viper Room. Looking back at that time in their lives, Martin Lascano adds "we were just three best friends doing the music that we love to do, no labeling of music, no boundaries, just fun.
Now, armed with an arsenal of hit-singles-in-waiting, as well as a groundswell of fan support through avenues such as MySpace, Purevolume and the college/high-school touring circuits they’ve been sweeping of late, The Dares are getting ready to unleash their full-length Jive debut. And as Matt Peterson puts it, you need only consider the road the trio have traveled to see where they’re headed next. “We waited forever just to make it to this point,” he says, “and now that we’re here, it’s like all that energy we’ve had bottled up is ready to come out. We’re ready to play – we’re ready to be everywhere.”
TOUR! - 06.25.2009 THE TOUR OFFICIAL! This August come catch us with Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Monty Are I, and Go Radio! HELL YEA.
THEDARES.COM - 05.19.2009 'Ello 'ello.. if you haven't checked out the new layout for our website, do yourself a favor and go to www.thedares.com ! :)
LJ UPDATE - 04.22.2009 New LJ post today guys. Has some cool info in it you might want to check out. Seriously! SCOPE IT!
New Video - 04.07.2009 New Video up! More to come soon! Thank Jive for giving us these badass flip cams! PS, All our Youtube Videos are now in one playlist on our page so you can scroll through 'em all in one player. COOL.
Bamboozle LJ + Blog + Videos - 04.07.2009 New LJ post about bamboozle along with a new blog to watch our DJ Rosstar Stream. Also We are getting together a few videos from all the crap thats been going on lately. Just need to find the time to edit! Keep checking back :)
THANKS POST (LJ) - 04.02.2009 I posted a special thank you to everyone who watched tonight :). Go check out the LJ!
Bamboozle Set - 04.01.2009 It's official. Sunday, April 5th. We are playing the Saints & Sinners stage at 2:35 PM! MARK IT!
LJ + DJ ROSSTAR - 03.29.2009 Hey for those of you who find out about our LJ from here. There is a new post I forgot to let you know about. Also, don't forget we are going to be on DJ ROSSTAR's couch this tuesday! woot.
Pics + Banner - 03.26.2009 Yo! Today we posted up the pics from the sessions we had with crystal cashdolla along with a new promo banner and bamboozle main pic. Look at us all fancy. Crystal made them for us and they rule so THANK YOU :). There will be a blog soon with the link and videos from the sessions. Peace.
LJ - 3.20.2009 LJ Post today and the explanation of Lazarus Melna! ENJOY.
LJ - 03.17.2009 New Live Journal post.. just the video. But for those of you who read this. FYI. :)
Update - 03.17.2009 Happy Saint Patrick's Day all you Irishmen and Irish would-be's. We made a video for you to laugh at us and learn all at the same time. CHEGGGIT.
VIDEO IS HERE! - 03.06.2009 Video is UP! Click the picture under videos to go see it, and PLEASE vote! DO IT! :)
Video Soon + LJ - 03.04.2009 Ben and I (Martin) finished the new video today. a montage of recording The Message & other funny, yet weird "in the studio" clips. Its funny and dope so check back this week for it. Also, VOTE FOR US TO PLAY WARPED TOUR.
LJ + Ernie Ball - 03.03.2009 New LJ for everyone. Also, we entered a contest to get on Warped and we will be posting some news for you all this week. Hold tight!
2 LJ Posts & Flyers - 02.25.2009 Ben Livejournaled it up about his trip to Omaha.. Check it out. And then I posted a the flyer for this Friday's show along with a sweet surprise :)
LJ & Purevolume - 02.19.2009 New LJ post today, along with an update to the purevolume! Check it out by clicking the link on our header. Add us!
Banner - 02.19.2009 New banner for you to tag the entire internet with :D
Show Canceled & LJ - 02.16.2009 Due to a loss in Mat and Ben's family, we won't be able to play the No Future show. Sorry everyone. Also, there is a new LJ post up ;].
NEW VIDEO! & LJ - 02.12.2009 Hey guys we have the webisode from memphis up and online! CHECK THAT THANG OUT... along with a lovely new LJ post for all of you.
BAMBOOZLE LEFT - 02.10.2009 We are officially playing Bamboozle Left on Sunday April 5! HOLY CRAP!
LJ & Shows - 02.05.2009 New LJ post for all of you to enjoy and we also have a new flyer for sunday so take the code and paste that bad boy everywhere.
LJ - 02.09.2009 New LJ post up! Picture post coming soon.
Video - 01.28.2009 New video up from our recording sessions in New Jersey! Check it out under Videos!
Twitter - 01.21.2009 We will all have our twitter boxes up by Friday so you can know what we are doing at all times. How crazy but cool is that?
IDK - 01.01.2009 Welcome to 2009! The Year of The Dare.
MUSIC - 5 SONGS - 12.11.08 We have 5 songs for your listening pleasure up until the end of the year! Learn 'em and Enjoy 'em while you can!
MYSPACE - NEW LAYOUT & NEW SONG- 11.26.08 Hey Everyone! As you can see, we FINALLY have our NEW MYSPACE LAYOUT and a "YOU WILL" off of our up coming '09 debut album. Leave us comments and let us know what you think!
COMING SOON!
*NEW* Hot House! Checking in.. *NEW*
DJ ROSSTAR STREAM!
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Behind the scenes of "THE MESSAGE"
COMING SOON!
The Dares **TOUR DATES UP!**'s Friend Space (Top 11)
I clicked on you guys mainly cause I was curious who else was going to play with Monty Are I at the Aug. 2nd show, but I have to say... you guys have awesome music.
cant wait till aug 4.! (: heyy where can i by the tickets in advanced tho?? aha i asked martins? litto bro kris but he wasnt very helful(: lol well let me know please:D
& it'd make my WHOLE day if I got a bday comment from you. <3 & it'd make my WHOLE day if I got a bday comment from you. <3 & it'd make my WHOLE day if I got a bday comment from you. <3 &it'd make my WHOLE day if I got a bday comment from you. <3
Did you have great 4th of July weekend as well? xoxo
Just wanted to wish you a Happy & SAFE 4th of July. Here's some helpful or funny advice.
3 THINGS TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW 1 ...where you're going 2 ...when it's time to leave 3 ...where you live (well enough to tell someone else how to get there)
Hey thanks for accepting me :] It would be awesome if you can come check out the new song I posted on my myspace and if you enjoy it, add it as your profile song! Let me know what you think of it!
