Kenny Tompkins- Lead vocals/guitar/Songwriting
(current projects:
the Royal Army Recording Co.,
The Christmas Lights)
Brian Twigg- Drums
(current project: Carry The Torch)
Dan Stevens-guitar/backing vox
(current project: Heros For Hire)
Cullen Tierney-Bass
(current project: Delilah Why)
Ronnie Lohr-guitar/vox 2001-2002
(current project: solo artist)
Influences
The Beatles
Weezer
Metal/Harcore/Youth-Crew Bands
Mo-town
The Founding Members of The Trend met In 2001 at the embassy theatre in cumberland maryland. At that time, Lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Kenny Tompkins was traveling with his first band Luminus (a faux-hardcore/prog outfit from Petersburg, Wv). Luminus ended up on a bill with Cumberland Hardcore heros-200 North. Tompkins and 200North Lead vocalist Brian North became friends, bonding over a mutual love of 60's pop/catchy melodies in general. In the summer of 2001, North suggested that they start a project that reflected more of a pop influence than thier current bands. A mutual friend/guitar whiz kid named Ronnie Lohr (common denominators/200north) was brought on board and The Trend was off to the races. Tompkins went home from thier first discussion and quickly wrote the first half of what became the trend's self-titled debut album. The Plan at the time was to work out these silly joke songs as a 3-piece, learn some beatle's covers and just have fun. The group recorded a 4-track demo of the first five songs and passed them out at thier very first show (a house party in the hills of western, Md). Encouraged by the overwhelming enthusiasm of thier friends, the group began rehearsing new songs and planning to take things a bit more seriously in the following year. By the summer of 2002, the group had played only a handful of shows. Ronnie Lohr decided to leave the group to pursue more experimental avenues of creativity. Cullen Tierney(200 north/delilah why) aggreed to play bass (which is basically like les claypool agreeing to play bass). Dan Stevens (GB5/Heros for Hire) jumped right in on guitar and harmony vocals and by the fall of 2002 The Trend had evolved into an exciting and energetic (if not always precise) live act. They quickly built a local following that included the owner of a Local Indie Label (Pro-gravity Records) named Jim Frazier. Jim generously offered the boys a little help should they decide to make a record. That they did. The Trend (self-titled) was recorded in one week in lavale maryland at Chris Power's studio. The Record Was mixed for the next few months in Frostburg and was finally released on pro-gravity in april 2003. By this time the boys had built a solid local rep and decided to start venturing out a bit, playing at small venues around the md/wv/pa region. During The summer of '03, they took a break to focus on other musical endevors, drinking, and girlfriends. Reunitied in the fall of '03 with a new batch of songs, they began selling out local venues. Over christmas 2003, they tracked what became thier final recording, an EP known by several names (meet the trend, the untimley death of the trend, the trend 5-song etc) these songs and this recording were a huge step forward in style, production, and song writing. They mixed the EP during january 0f 2004 and printed up some hand-made copies to sell while they worked on officially releasing it. Sadly, the release show for the hand-made copies in February '04 was the last Trend show in history. For Reasons still unspecified, the group decided to disband and the EP remained largely unavailable (save for about 20 copies floating around). Now in 2007, due to sustained cult interest in the band, Pro-Gravity Records Has decided to give the EP the chance it deserved. It is currently in Production and will finally be Released in Early '08.
I LOVE YOU GUYS. =] haaha like two years ago I heard of your first album and loved it! Can put up "Wonderful World"? That song is amazing and no where else. =] thanks!
i'm sorry you guys...but the skill in your music makes me so happy...and yet so sad. you guys should have pushed for the stars with this style of music. you deserve far more credit than you receive. i wish i would have found you sooner lol. peace.
