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The Audition (band)

The Audition (often stylized as theAUDITION) are a pop punk band from Chicago, Illinois. The band is comprised of bassist Joe Lussa, drummer Ryan O'Connor and guitarists Seth Johnson and Timmy Klepek who are from Chicago, with lead vocalist Danny Stevens who is from Detroit, Michigan. The band's first release was a six track EP entitled All In Your Head. In 2005, they signed to record label Victory Records and released their debut album, entitled Controversy Loves Company. Their latest studio album is entitled Champion; it was released on January 22, 2008.

History

Drummer Ryan O'Connor and bassist Joe Lussa formed the core of the band in their hometown of Elmhurst Illinois in 2003, working with a revolving cast of musicians in their early years. Their first EP, titled "Every Scar Tells A Story," had 6 songs, including a song called 'A Lifetime In Six Months' which would later be called 'Fashion Hour'. They recorded their second EP, "All in Your Head", at The Gallery of Carpet before Danny Stevens, Seth Johnson and Timmy Klepek joined the group, and played some gigs with other local Chicago acts like The Academy Is....Biography, Allmusic.com Stevens, who became the singer, was originally brought in to play guitar for the band.Interview with Ryan O'Connor, Absolutepunk.net TheAUDITION then signed to Victory Records; national touring followed,Hurt Process, Aiden, and theAudition live in Montclair review. Punknews.org. Accessed June 25, 2007.Concert Review. Western Courier, 12/2/05. Accessed June 25, 2007.Movers and Shakers. The Daily Collegian, April 20, 2006. Accessed June 25, 2007.The Junior Varsity. SPIN Magazine, July 26, 2005. Accessed June 25, 2007. and Controversy Loves Company, their debut LP for the label, was released in September 2005 to mixed reviews.Review of Controversy Loves Company. Punknews.org. Accessed June 25, 2007. The band's lineup at the time of the CD release included O'Connor, Lussa, guitarists Seth Johnson and Timmy Klepek, and vocalist Danny Stevens. Touring with Silverstein and Spitalfield ensued in February 2006;Silverstein Announces Headlining Tour. SPIN, December 15, 2005. Accessed June 25, 2007. more touring with Mae and Lovedrug followed later in 2006.Lovedrug. SPIN Magazine, January 20, 2006. Accessed June 25, 2007.

In early 2007 the band joined Head Automatica and Jack's Mannequin on The West Coast Winter Tour,Haueter, Alex. "A Long Time Coming". Lincoln Journal Star, February 9, 2007, p. 12. Available on Lexis-Nexis. including dates in Canada. Concert Review. Tangible Sounds Canada. Accessed June 25, 2007.. Shortly after this tour they scored the support slot for New Found Glory on their Australian tour in April 2007. Following this they headlined a nationwide tour, supported by Monty Are I, New Atlantic, and The Graduate.The Short List. City Paper Online (Baltimore), June 13, 2007. Accessed June 25, 2007. They have also toured nationally with Rock Kills Kid.Interview. Skratch Magazine. Accessed June 25, 2007. They played on the Warped Tour in 2006Sharp, Rich. "Show Preview". Pitch Weekly (Kansas City), August 20, 2006. (Available on Lexis-Nexis) and returned for Warped Tour 2007.Warpforkpalooza. New City Chicago. Accessed June 25, 2007. They also supported Boys Like Girls on Tourzilla with All Time Low, We the Kings, and Valencia in late 2007.

Coming off a recent appearance at Austin's SXSW festival, the band is currently on a full US tour with Hit The Lights, with sets scheduled at both east and west coast Bamboozle events. Following some festival appearances throughout the UK, such as the Reading and Leeds Festivals, in May they will gear up for a run on the entire 2008 edition of Van's Warped Tour and a visit back to Australia in May/June supporting Story of the Year.