Downplay Explained

Downplay
Origin:Athens, Ohio, U.S.
Years Active:2001–2013
Associated Acts:Starset
Current Members:
  • Dustin Bates
  • Ron DeChant
  • Brian Patrick
Past Members:
  • George Andres
  • Brandon Hill
  • Greg Huzyak
  • Nick Kiser
  • Chad White
  • Mike Mealey
  • Bobby Withers
  • Derek Snowden
  • Brandon Zano
  • Trevor Connor
  • Corey Catlett
  • Evan McKeever

Downplay was an American alternative metal band formed in Athens, Ohio, in 2001. The group consisted of vocalist Dustin Bates, bassist Ron DeChant, and drummer Brian Patrick. The band released five full-length studio albums and three EPs independently, under various labels between 2007 and 2010. The band went on hiatus in 2013, with Bates and DeChant focusing on their new project, Starset.

History

Formation and Saturday (2001–2006)

Downplay originated near Youngstown, OH, in Salem, in 2001, originally as a cover band. Soon after, the band (composed of Dustin Bates, Brandon Hill, Nick Kiser, and Chad White) moved to Ohio University in Athens, where two of the original members enrolled.[1] [2] Over the next three years the band found a fan base in the Athens area while attending school there.[3]

One story says that the band's name was ironically stumbled upon during one of the many fights that occurred during the early days of the original Downplay line-up, as Bates accused another band member of "downplaying" his role in the argument.[4] But it has been said in interviews that Bates did not want their original music to be downplayed whilst they were still a cover band.[5] [6]

In 2005, Downplay reorganized as an original band. Their first studio album,[7] Saturday, was recorded "in about a day" on a $1,000 budget at Ohio University's student-run audio production studio and released during their time at OU. It included a “bonus track,” a spoof hip-hop song about an OU frat bar, "The Crystal", which became a student/bar favorite with over 3,000 downloads.[1] Downplay found its niche for energetic live rock shows at Ohio University, playing famous events like the Halloween Block Party, PalmerFest,[8] [9] and the numbered fests (threefest[10] [11] fourfest,[12] fivefest, etc.).[13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] In 2006, upon most of the members graduating from OU, the band moved to Columbus, OH, and played a mix of covers and original music.[3]

A Day Without Gravity (2007–2009)

Downplay returned to the studio in late 2007, this time at Cleveland-based Jungle Recording Studio. Around the same time Bates, with the contribution of loyal friends, established an indie rock record label (True Anomaly Records, LLC), and signed Downplay to the label under a one-album contract. A Day Without Gravity, the band's second studio album. was released in October.[19] This record had a more polished sound and displayed the band's improvements in song writing over their first album, and helped the band begin to expand across the state of Ohio.[20] In 2008, Mike Mealey became Downplay's fifth member.[21] [22] [23] The band's lineup was then reconfigured completely, save for Bates and Mealey, in 2009.

The year of 2009 was full of showcases for Atlantic, Virgin/Capitol, Island, Mercury, and Epic Records, both in Columbus and in New York City for Downplay.[3] [24] On November 17, they released their first EP Rise. Fall. Repeat.[25] From this time into the first half of 2010, Bobby Withers, Ron DeChant, Derek Snowden, and Brandon Zano were in the band for a short amount of time.[26] [27] [28] [29]

Line-up change and record deal (2010–2011)

The band signed with In De Goot Management in April 2010 and went on their first major tour with Puddle of Mudd and Sevendust.[30] In June, the band signed with Epic Records.[3] [31] [32] Immediately after, Bates went to Los Angeles to begin writing the first major-label debut. "We're the first hard rock band to sign with Epic Records in the last five years," said Bates.[33] Throughout this period, Downplay accumulated the lineup of Trevor Connor, Evan Mckeever, Brian Patrick and Corey Catlett.[3] [34] As a holder of an electrical engineering degree and a master's degree in avionic engineering, Bates said he was moving toward a PhD at Ohio University, "clear up until the record deal."[33]

In January 2011, Downplay began recording their third record with producer Dave Fortman (Evanescence, Slipknot, Mudvayne, Godsmack)[3] [35] [36] in New Orleans where they cut their first album. The working title was Sleep; the album would have 12 songs and two bonus tracks available for download from iTunes, as well as a different track from Amazon.[33] [37] It was finished in May 2011. Downplay played with a number of rock bands, including Chevelle, 10 Years, Theory of a Deadman, Crossfade, and others at a number of major rock festivals, including Rock on the Range in Columbus and XFest in Dayton.[3] In October 2011, after realizing that the album that was recorded for Epic would not come out until 2012, the band quickly got in the studio and recorded an album that was to be released on December 1 for all the fans that they had promised a record to by the end of 2011, which turned out to be their third studio album Beyond the Machine.[38] [39] Then later in the month, the band was dropped by Epic Records so the label could sign bands from the new TV show, The X-Factor.[3] In December, Downplay released their first music video for their song, "Digging It Out".[40] After the release of Beyond the Machine, their song "Hated You From Hello" was used by WWE.[41] [42]

Radiocalypse (2012–2013)

Downplay released their fourth studio album, Radiocalypse, in May 2012.[43] Their second music video, for the song "Where Did You Go", was released the following month.[44] During this time, DeChant rejoined the band.

In July, Downplay announced that Connor was leaving the band to pursue other interests. On the day before the release of Downplay's second EP, The Human Condition, Connor died in a car accident.[45] Later in the week, the band performed a tribute to Connor on 99.7 The Blitz.

In July 2013, Downplay announced on their website that they had "recently signed a licensing contract with NASCAR" allowing them to use over a dozen of their songs and that the band would be going on a short break and would likely go into the studio "sooner than later."[46] On the following day, the band released an acoustic record, their debut compilation album, titled Stripped.[47]

During an AMA on Reddit in August 2014, Bates revealed that he is still working on new music for Downplay, but has not received the "blessing" of the label to release it.[48] By this time, he had released an album with a new project, featuring Bates and bandmate Ron DeChant, Starset.

On February 6, 2016, DeChant posted a band reunion photo of himself and Bates together with former members of Downplay, including Hill, Kiser, McKeever, Mealey and White.[49]

In December 2019, Dustin shared his 2019 Spotify wrapped info-graph of Downplay with the caption "I should release some more of this."[50]

Band members

Current
Past members
Timeline
  • ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20PlotArea = left:100 bottom:90 top:0 right:20Alignbars = justifyDateFormat = dd/mm/yyyyPeriod = from:01/01/2001 till:10/08/2013TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyyColors = id:Vocals value:red legend:Lead_Vocals id:BV value:pink legend:Backing_Vocals id:Guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:Keys value:purple legend:Keyboards id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums id:studio value:black legend:Studio_album id:ep value:gray(0.85) legend:EP

    • Legend = orientation:vertical columns:4 position:bottom

    ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:2001Scaleminor = increment:1 start:2001

    LineData = layer:back color:studio at:01/01/2005 at:10/10/2007 at:20/12/2011 at:29/05/2012 at:02/07/2013

    color:ep at:17/11/2009 at:04/12/2012

    BarData = bar:Dustin text:"Dustin Bates" bar:Andres text:"George Andres" bar:Kiser text:"Nick Kiser" bar:Bobby text:"Bobby Withers" bar:Snowden text:"Derek Snowden" bar:Zano text:"Brandon Zano" bar:Connor text:"Trevor Connor" bar:Evan text:"Evan McKeever" bar:Ron text:"Ron DeChant" bar:Greg text:"Greg Huzyak" bar:White text:"Chad White" bar:Mealey text:"Mike Mealey" bar:Catlett text:"Corey Catlett" bar:Hill text:"Brandon Hill" bar:Brian text:"Brian Patrick" PlotData= width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:Dustin from:01/01/2001 till:end color:Vocals bar:Dustin from:01/01/2001 till:end color:Guitar width:3 bar:Andres from:01/01/2001 till:31/12/2003 color:Guitar bar:Greg from:01/01/2001 till:31/12/2003 color:Bass bar:Hill from:01/01/2003 till:31/12/2008 color:Drums bar:Kiser from:01/01/2003 till:31/12/2008 color:Guitar bar:White from:01/01/2003 till:31/12/2008 color:Bass bar:Ron from:01/01/2009 till:31/12/2010 color:BV width:3 bar:Ron from:01/01/2009 till:31/12/2010 color:Keys bar:Ron from:01/01/2012 till:end color:Bass bar:Ron from:01/01/2012 till:end color:BV width:3 bar:Ron from:01/01/2012 till:end color:Keys Bar:Ron from:31/12/2012 till:end color:bass width:7 bar:Brian from:01/01/2009 till:end color:Drums bar:Mealey from:01/01/2009 till:31/12/2010 color:Bass bar:Bobby from:01/01/2009 till:31/12/2010 color:Guitar bar:Snowden from:01/01/2010 till:31/12/2010 color:Guitar bar:Zano from:01/01/2010 till:31/12/2010 color:Guitar bar:Connor from:01/01/2010 till:19/06/2012 color:Guitar bar:Catlett from:01/01/2010 till:31/12/2012 color:Bass bar:Evan from:01/01/2011 till:31/12/2012 color:Guitar bar:Evan from:01/01/2011 till:31/12/2012 color:BV width:3

    Discography

    Albums

    Compilations

    EPs

    Singles

    Videos

    Notable appearances

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: About Downplay. Sonicbids. 2 April 2016.
    2. Web site: Post (Athens, Ohio) September 8 2005 :: Ohio University Student Newspapers. 13 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160413162414/http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/10052/rec/1. 19 November 2020. 2016-04-13.
    3. Web site: Downplay from Columbus . 2016-02-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160215170950/http://www.artisttrove.com/artist/9731115630/Downplay . 2016-02-15 .
    4. Web site: Discography of Downplay. Musikear. 2 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160216155156/http://downplay.musikear.com/. 2016-02-16. dead.
    5. Web site: Larry Shields. 'Epic' achievement - ReviewOnline.com. The Review. 2 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160416074733/http://reviewonline.com/page/content.detail/id/545622/-Epic--achievement.html?nav=5039. 2016-04-16. dead.
    6. Web site: Meredith Miles. Video local rockers fly to stardom. The Lantern. 8 May 2008 . 2 April 2016.
    7. http://www.thepostathens.com/band-mixes-its-straight-up-rock-with-plenty-of-beer/article_b34a8226-75e3-5cac-ad69-cd76102c0af5.html
    8. Web site: Post (Athens, Ohio) May 12 2006 :: Ohio University Student Newspapers. 14 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160414005448/http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/11208/rec/7. 19 November 2020. 2016-04-14.
    9. Web site: Post (Athens, Ohio) May 14 2005 :: Ohio University Student Newspapers. 13 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160413202932/http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/9881/rec/13. 19 November 2020. 2016-04-13.
    10. Web site: Post (Athens, Ohio) May 19 2006 :: Ohio University Student Newspapers. 13 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160413223100/http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/11255/rec/35. 19 November 2020. 2016-04-13.
    11. Web site: Post (Athens, Ohio) May 22 2006 :: Ohio University Student Newspapers. 13 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160413210915/http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/11264/rec/38. 19 November 2020. 2016-04-13.
    12. Web site: Post (Athens, Ohio) May 18 2007 :: Ohio University Student Newspapers. 14 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160414055418/http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/12611/rec/67. 19 November 2020. 2016-04-14.
    13. Web site: Post (Athens, Ohio) April 3 2008 :: Ohio University Student Newspapers. 13 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160413174338/http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/13633/rec/9. 19 November 2020. 2016-04-13.
    14. Web site: Post (Athens, Ohio) April 24 2009 :: Ohio University Student Newspapers. 13 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160413171835/http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/15025/rec/5. 19 November 2020. 2016-04-13.
    15. Web site: Post (Athens, Ohio) May 15 2009 :: Ohio University Student Newspapers. 13 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160413221827/http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/15156/rec/45. 19 November 2020. 2016-04-13.
    16. Web site: Post (Athens, Ohio) March 30 2010 :: Ohio University Student Newspapers . media.library.ohiou.edu . 22 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160414041756/http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/16084/rec/70 . 14 April 2016 . dead.
    17. Web site: Post (Athens, Ohio) April 15 2010 :: Ohio University Student Newspapers . media.library.ohiou.edu . 22 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160414003806/http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/16172/rec/19 . 14 April 2016 . dead.
    18. Web site: Downplay's Biography. Last.fm. 2 April 2016.
    19. Web site: Post (Athens, Ohio) October 4 2007 :: Ohio University Student Newspapers . media.library.ohiou.edu . 22 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160413233043/http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/12958/rec/10 . 13 April 2016 . dead.
    20. Web site: Post (Athens, Ohio) September 12 2008 :: Ohio University Student Newspapers . media.library.ohiou.edu . 22 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160414011142/http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/14104/rec/8 . 14 April 2016 . dead.
    21. Web site: Kevin Howell. Band with Salem ties gets chance at big time record contract; concert set. Morning Journal News. 3 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160411155455/http://www.morningjournalnews.com/page/content.detail/id/506675/Band-with-Salem-ties-gets-chance-at-big-time-record-contract--concert-set.html?nav=5019. 2016-04-11. dead.
    22. Web site: Guy D'Astolfo. Downplay to perform for Capitol Records scout. Vindy. 3 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170116131509/http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/nov/20/downplay-to-perform-for-capitol-records-scout/?print. 16 January 2017. dead.
    23. News: Jay. Bates. Downplay displays talent. Salem History. Quaker Newspapers. December 2008. 3. 3 April 2016. 20 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160420115613/http://www.salem.lib.oh.us/SalemHistory/Quakernewspapers/2008/Vol_96_No_3_Dec_2008_Part3.pdf. dead.
    24. Web site: Post (Athens, Ohio) February 23 2010 :: Ohio University Student Newspapers . media.library.ohiou.edu . 22 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160413172548/http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/15973/rec/7 . 13 April 2016 . dead.
    25. Web site: Downplay on Twitter. Twitter. 2016-04-08.
    26. Wagner . Adam . Downplay aims to hit it big . The Post . 3 April 2016.
    27. Web site: Downplay. WorldNews. 3 April 2016.
    28. Web site: Kevin Joy. Downplay. The Columbus Dispatch. 25 March 2010. 3 April 2016.
    29. Web site: Interview – DOWNPLAY Musician Photo Journal. Musicianphotojournal.com. 2016-04-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20160630112015/http://www.musicianphotojournal.com/index.php/2010/05/19/interview-downplay/. 2016-06-30. dead.
    30. Web site: Post (Athens, Ohio) April 21 2010 :: Ohio University Student Newspapers . media.library.ohiou.edu . 22 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160413154440/http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/16200/rec/2 . 13 April 2016 . dead.
    31. Web site: Downplay signs with Epic, will release debut. Vindy. 29 July 2010. 3 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20121011092630/http://www.vindy.com/news/2010/jul/29/downplay-signs-with-epic-will-release-de/?print. 2012-10-11. dead.
    32. Web site: A&R Briefs.... RM64. 3 August 2010. 3 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20180103072643/http://rm64.com/2010/08/03/ar-briefs/. 3 January 2018. dead.
    33. Web site: Larry Shields. 'Epic' achievement. Morning Journal News. 4 July 2011. 3 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160216021526/http://www.morningjournalnews.com/page/content.detail/id/533290/-Epic--achievement.html?nav=5019. 2016-02-16. dead.
    34. Web site: Anne Erickson. NOISE: Local Music Bet - Q&A with Downplay Singer Dustin Bates, Playing Uli's Haus of Rock Thursday. Lansing State Journal. Typepad. 21 May 2012. 3 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160414215706/http://noise.typepad.com/local_music_beat/2012/05/qa-with-downplay-singer-dustin-bates-playing-ulis-haus-of-rock-thursday.html. 2016-04-14. dead.
    35. http://www.thepostathens.com/culture/downplay-explores-with-new-album/article_5bfac8c4-bf38-5719-af97-cd624c713dc6.html
    36. Web site: Heather Gross. Downplay at Rock on the Range. Columbus Alive. 18 May 2011. 3 April 2016.
    37. Web site: Post (Athens, Ohio) March 28 2011 :: Ohio University Student Newspapers . media.library.ohiou.edu . 22 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160413163021/http://media.library.ohiou.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/studentnewspapers/id/17231/rec/8 . 13 April 2016 . dead.
    38. Web site: DOWNPLAY. Onesheet. 3 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20180103072606/http://www.onesheet.com/downplay/profile/#description. 3 January 2018. dead.
    39. Web site: Clip Syndicate Video: Dustin Bates interview. WYTV ABC 33. Clip Syndicate. 30 November 2011. 3 April 2016.
    40. Web site: DOWNPLAY's debut video. Wechameleon.com. 2016-04-04.
    41. Web site: Downplay. ReverbNation. en-us. 2016-04-04.
    42. Web site: Downplay on Twitter. Twitter. 2016-04-08.
    43. Web site: Downplay is upbeat about new freedom and projects. Vindy.com. 2016-04-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20170116131530/http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/jun/28/downplay-is-upbeat-about-new-freedom-and/?print. 2017-01-16. dead.
    44. Web site: Downplay on Twitter. Twitter. 2016-04-08.
    45. Web site: Former Downplay guitarist Trevor Connor passes away. Alternanoise. en-US. 2016-04-04.
    46. Web site: Downplay | Rock. Downplayonline.com. 2020-04-14.
    47. Web site: Downplay Rock from Columbus, OH. ReverbNation. en-us. 2016-04-04.
    48. Web site: I am Dustin Bates, the singer and primary songwriter of the cinematic rock band STARSET from Columbus, OH, and this is my AMA. • /r/Music. reddit. 2016-04-05.
    49. Web site: Ron DeChant's Instagram post: "Sooo much Downplay in one picture. #downplay #buddies #oldbandmates". https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/rondechant/1179107179408040289 . 2021-12-25 . registration. Instagram.com. 2020-04-14.
    50. Web site: Dustin Bates's Instagram profile post: "I should release some more of this." . https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/starsetsingerguy/2193003691041033701 . 2021-12-25 . registration. Instagram.com . 2019-12-06 . 2020-04-14.

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