Concrete Castles
{{Short description|American rock band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Concrete Castles
| image = File:Concrete Castles live.jpg
| caption = Concrete Castles performing live in 2022
| alias = First To Eleven
| origin = Erie, Pennsylvania
| genre = Alternative rock, pop rock, indie pop, indie rock, pop-punk
| label = Equal Vision, Velocity
| years_active = 2021–present
| current_members = * Matthew Yost
- Audra Miller
- Sam Gilman
}}
Concrete Castles is an American rock band from Erie, Pennsylvania.
History
In 2009, five elementary-aged friends from Erie, Pennsylvania, formed M4 (Mini Men Making Music), under the tutorage of guitar teacher Ryan Krysiak. After going through several lead vocalists who quit the band for different reasons, Audra Miller joined in 2013 and has been their lead singer since.{{cite web|last1=Beardsley-Petit|first1=Karen|title=M4 -- teens make music, headlines|url=https://www.goerie.com/article/20150607/LIFESTYLE/610180361|access-date=27 July 2021|website=GoErie.com}} In December 2015, the band changed their name to First to Eleven.{{cite web|last1=Yarborough|first1=Chuck|date=14 February 2016|title=First to Eleven claims back-to-back Tri-C High School Rock Off (photos)|url=https://www.cleveland.com/rockoff/2016/02/first_to_eleven_wins_second_tr.html|access-date=27 July 2021|website=cleveland.com}} In 2016, they played at the Vans Warped Tour.{{cite web|last1=Carfer|first1=Grant|title=The Women of Warped Tour|url=https://www.sacurrent.com/sa-sound/archives/2016/06/21/the-women-of-warped-tour?page=5|access-date=27 July 2021|website=sacurrent.com|archive-date=27 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727190136/https://www.sacurrent.com/sa-sound/archives/2016/06/21/the-women-of-warped-tour?page=5|url-status=dead}} In 2017 and 2018 most of the original five members left the band for college, with only Matthew Yost remaining as a founding member. Sam Gilman and Krysiak (who had acted as the band’s manager for their entire career) joined as replacements.
The band gained international coverage by uploading rock covers of pop and rock songs every week.{{Cite web |last=Dupont-Besnard |first=Marcus |date=2023-05-01 |title=First to Eleven, Cole Rolland : 5 chaînes YouTube pour les fans de covers rock |url=https://www.numerama.com/pop-culture/1357636-first-to-eleven-cole-rolland-5-chaines-youtube-pour-les-fans-de-covers-rock.html |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Numerama |language=fr-FR}} In January 2021, First to Eleven’s YouTube channel reached one million subscribers.{{cite web|last1=Geisler|first1=Jennie|title=From teen rockers to YouTube stars: Erie's First to Eleven at 1 million fans and growing|url=https://www.goerie.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/01/29/eries-first-to-eleven-hits-1-million-subscribers-youtube/4080141001/|access-date=27 July 2021|website=GoErie.com}} In May 2023, they had released more than 350 videos.
In February 2021, Miller, Yost, and Gilman announced they had signed with Velocity Records, as well as Equal Vision Records, to launch an original band named Concrete Castles (while simultaneously still releasing weekly covers as First to Eleven). The band released their first single, “Just a Friend”, in March.{{cite web |last1=Lieber |first1=Sarah Jae |title=Concrete Castles Signs to Equal Vision Records |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Concrete-Castles-Signs-to-Equal-Vision-Records-20210319 |website=broadwayworld.com |access-date=27 July 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Raymer |first1=Scott |title=Concrete Castles is Ready to Soar |url=https://concertcrap.com/concrete-castles-is-ready-to-soar/ |website=concertcrap.com |date=14 May 2021 |access-date=27 July 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Darus |first1=Alex |title=10 HIGHLY ANTICIPATED DEBUT ALBUMS WE WISH WE COULD HEAR RIGHT NOW |url=https://www.altpress.com/features/debut-albums-rising-alt-artists/ |website=altpress.com |date=8 April 2021 |access-date=27 July 2021}} They played their first show on June 5, 2021, at the Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival.{{cite web |last1=Russo |first1=John |title=Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival kicks off with wet Friday night |url=https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlantic-city-beer-music-festival-kicks-off-with-wet-friday-night/article_6a3dfe7a-c59f-11eb-9775-5700091d1971.html |website=pressofatlanticcity.com |date=4 June 2021 |access-date=27 July 2021}} Their debut album, Wish I Missed U, was released on September 17, 2021, with names such as Blake Harnage producing.{{cite web |last1=Quiles |first1=Alyssa |title=40 New Artists You Need to Hear in April |url=https://www.altpress.com/features/best-new-songs-march-2021/ |website=altpress.com |date=April 2021 |access-date=28 July 2021}}{{cite web |title=Concrete Castles To Release "Wish I Missed U" |url=https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/2021/08/07/concrete-castles-to-release-wish-i-missed-u/ |website=New Jersey Stage |date=7 August 2021 |publisher=Wine Time Media, LLC |access-date=17 September 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Stokes |first1=Otis |title=New Music Friday: Ultraviolet Communication, Walk The Moon, Lucinda Moore, Majid Jordan, Cassadee Pope, Concrete Castles, Lola Young |url=https://www.latfusa.com/article/2021/9/new-music-friday-ultraviolet-communication-walk/ |website=www.latfusa.com |date=24 September 2021 |publisher=LATF USA |access-date=12 October 2021}} That same month, they embarked on a tour with Against the Current.{{cite web |last1=Chavez |first1=Conny |title=Against the Current at the Roxy Theater on September 20th |url=https://music.mxdwn.com/2021/09/14/los-angeles/against-the-current-at-the-roxy-theater-on-september-20th/ |website=mxdwn.com |date=14 September 2021 |access-date=17 September 2021}} They continued to tour throughout 2022, playing with many different acts including Oxymorrons and Set It Off.{{cite web |title=Set It Off Announce 2022 Headline Tour Dates |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Set-It-Off-Announce-2022-Headline-Tour-Dates-20220706 |website=Broadway World |publisher=Wisdom Digital Media |access-date=23 October 2022}} The second Concrete Castles album, Brand New Me, was released on August 25, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Major |first=Michael |title=Concrete Castles Announce Sophomore Album 'Brand New Me' |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Concrete-Castles-Announce-Sophomore-Album-Brand-New-Me-20230726 |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}
Members
- Audra Miller – lead vocals
- Matthew Yost – guitar
- Sam Gilman – drums
Discography
=Albums=
- Wish I Missed U (September 17, 2021)
- Brand New Me (August 25, 2023)
=Featured on=
- "Sedated" by Bear Grillz and Stryer (July 2021){{cite web |last1=Salafia |first1=Zach |date=21 July 2021 |title=Bear Grillz, Stryer meet on Rude Service for 'Sedated' featuring Concrete Castles |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2021/07/bear-grillz-stryer-meet-on-rude-service-for-sedated-featuring-concrete-castles/ |access-date=28 July 2021 |website=Dancing Astronaut}}
- "Stronger" by Stryer (April 2023){{Cite web |last=Salafia |first=Zach |date=2023-04-20 |title=Stryer reunites with Concrete Castles for newest Rude Service delivery, 'Stronger' |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2023/04/stryer-reunites-with-concrete-castles-for-newest-rude-service-delivery-stronger/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Dancing Astronaut |language=en-US}}