End of a Year

Infobox musical artist
Name = End of a Year


Img_capt = End of a Year in Fargo, North Dakota, July 2006
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias = Barf Spectrum, The Actuaries, World Shut Your Mouth, Comforter, Weird Field
Origin = Cohoes, New York
Genre = Post-hardcore Punk rock
Years_active = 2003 - Present
Label = Deathwish Inc., Revelation, Oneohfive, Losingface, Slave Union
Associated_acts =
URL = [www.myspace.com/endofayear]
Current_members = Hans Leibold Eric Busta Sean "Goody" Doody Andrew Duggan Patrick Kindlon John Van Urgent
Past_members = David Ziedman Mike Brandenburg Steve Hegner

End of a Year are a punk outfit based in Cohoes, New York. The band has released two full length albums and several 7"s.

History

End of a Year started as a way to kill time for Albany musicians already involved in full-time bands. Having spent time in heavier bands, the initial End of a Year line-up was interested in trying something more overtly melodic. Taking their name from an Embrace song, the band's original sound was highly influenced by the Revolution Summer-era DC bands.

The band recorded a boombox demo to give out at their first show, which took place at SUNY Albany. Shortly thereafter, a more formal demo entitled "Warm" was recorded. A full-length, "Disappear Here", appeared on local labels Oneohfive and Losingface Records. The band later released a split 7" with western Massachusetts band Three Fifteen on another local label, Slave Union. It was this record that caught the attention of Revelation Records, and the band made the jump in 2006, recording their first full-length for the California label in the spring of that year.

"Sincerely" was recorded with Don Zientara at Inner Ear Studio, adding to the perception that the band was striving for a DC-centered sound; the actual music, however, strayed further from that model than on previous releases.

In the spring of 2008, the band announced that they had joined the roster of Deathwish Inc. and were working on an EP and full-length release for the label, as well as a number of other projects.

The band regularly names songs after actual people with lyrical content that, though oblique, seems to reference the person. Some people the band has given song titles to include:

Audrey Kishline, former proponent of Moderation Management;
Micheal Ray Richardson, former NBA basketball player and current coach of the Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry;
Michael Larson, notable for his record-breaking winnings on the American game show "Press Your Luck";
William Kennedy, author and Albany, New York-area resident;
Juana Maria, the sole resident of San Nicolas Island from 1835 to 1853;
Charles Rocket, late comedian and actor.

Barf Spectrum?

In late 2007 the band announced it would continue to go by the End of a Year moniker for legal reasons but would prefer fans to call them by what the band, apparently, now considers its name: Barf Spectrum. The band has released a 7" under the name "End of a Year AKA Barf Spectrum", but has yet to give the new name primary billing on formally released material.

Full-length albums

*"Disappear Here" - Oneohfive Records/Losingface Records 2004
*"Sincerely" - Revelation Records; LP licensed to Slave Union Records 2006

EPs and splits

*"Boombox Demo" - demo tape 2003
*"Warm" - demo tape 2004
*"We Mate For Life" (split with Three Fifteen) - Slave Union Records 2005
*"God, There's a Lot of Pawn Shops and Check Cashing Places in This Town " (split with Fire Team Charlie) - Sticky Translucent Goo Records 2006
*"That Owl Is Staring at Me" (split with Kids Explode) - Narshardaa Records 2007
*"We Understand Europeans Are a Sexual People" (as "End of a Year AKA Barf Spectrum") - Blacktop Records 2007
*"Most Attractive Band We've Done a Split With" (split with Adorno) - Existencia Records/Pine Records 2008
*"Cat Eating Hotdog" (split with Red Tape Parade) - Cobra X Records 2008
*"But at Least Your Town Has the Lusty Lady" (split with Shook Ones) - Runner Up Records 2008

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/endofayear End of a Year Myspace Page]
* [http://deathwishinc.com/bands/106/ End of a Year page at Deathwish Inc Records]
* [http://revelationrecords.com/index.php End of a Year page at Revelation Records]
* [http://www.decibelmagazine.com/reviews/sep2006/endofayear.aspx Review] of Sincerely
* [http://www.topix.net/content/blogcritics/2007/06/interview-band-of-the-week-end-of-a-year-3 Interview with Patrick Kindlon] "That's an awesome idea, to have so much material you can't keep track of it anymore."
* [http://indiehq.com/2007/05/22/interview-with-patrick-kindlon-of-end-of-a-year/ Interview with Patrick Kindlon] "Guitar 1: Heresy, Guitar 2: Gang of Four, Bass & Drums: Rush"
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ml_cjKnpOdI Live Video] "Annandale"/"Anxiety II" @ 538 Johnson, Brooklyn, New York
* [http://www.scannerzine.com/endofayear.htm Scanner zine interview following the release of 'Sincerely']