Midtown (band)

Midtown was formed in 1998 by Rutgers University students Gabe Saporta (vocals/bass), Rob Hitt (drums), and Tyler Rann (guitar/vocals).{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/artist/midtown-p410485/biography|title=Midtown - Biography|last=Proefrock|first=Stacia|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=January 24, 2012}} The group added Heath Saraceno on guitar/vocals, and used its roots in the New Jersey punk scene to develop a sound that combined elements of pop-punk and punk rock. Midtown began recording shortly after its formation. The band's first EP, The Sacrifice of Life, was released by Pinball Records in 1999, followed by a debut album, Save the World, Lose the Girl, released in early 2000 by the American independent record label Drive-Thru Records. The band was then upstreamed to major label MCA Records for its following album, Living Well Is the Best Revenge (2002).

Midtown's next album, Forget What You Know (2004), was produced while the band was not under contract with a record label and was later picked up by Columbia Records. This was the band's final studio album; they disbanded shortly after its release in 2005. Former frontman Gabe Saporta then became the lead singer of the alternative dance/synthpop band Cobra Starship, which disbanded in November 2015.{{cite web |url=http://changetherecord.net/2009/10/12/interview-cobra-starship-2/ |title=Interview: Cobra Starship « Change The Record |publisher=Changetherecord.net |date=2009-10-12 |access-date=2011-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016070443/http://changetherecord.net/2009/10/12/interview-cobra-starship-2/ |archive-date=2009-10-16 |url-status=dead }} Former guitarist Heath Saraceno joined the band Senses Fail in 2005 but decided to leave them in 2009 to pursue personal endeavors.{{cite web|url=http://www.pluginmusic.com/news/article/guitarist-heath-saraceno-to-leave-senses-fail |title=Guitarist Heath Saraceno To Leave Senses Fail (July 1, 2009) : News |publisher=PlugInMusic.com |date=2009-07-01 |access-date=2011-07-21}} Tyler Rann went on to sing for Band of Thieves with some friends but eventually left the music business and now works in the fashion/clothing industry.

On February 17, 2014, Gabriel Saporta announced that Midtown has reunited and performed at the Skate and Surf Festival.{{cite web|author=Keagan Ilvonen |url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=3663651 |title=Midtown Reunite - News Article |publisher=AbsolutePunk.net |access-date=2015-04-03}} On March 9, 2022, My Chemical Romance announced that Midtown would be a supporting act for the US leg of their reunion tour in fall 2022.{{cite web |last1=Carter |first1=Emily |title=My Chemical Romance announce new U.S. dates, tour supports including Turnstile, Waterparks |url=https://www.kerrang.com/my-chemical-romance-announce-new-u-s-dates-tour-supports-including-turnstile-waterparks |website=Kerrang! |publisher=Wasted Talent Ltd |access-date=9 March 2022 |language=en}} As well as doing their own headlining shows for their 2022 Resurrection Tour,{{Cite web |last=NecessaryValuable977 |date=2022-03-09 |title=Midtown Resurrection Tour announced! |url=http://www.reddit.com/r/poppunkers/comments/tacgdf/midtown_resurrection_tour_announced/ |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=r/poppunkers}} along with playing at the 2023 Adjacent beach festival in Atlantic City, New Jersey.{{Cite web |title=Artists |url=https://adjacentfestival.com/artists/ |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=Adjacent Festival |language=en-US}}

• Gabe Saporta – lead vocals, bass guitar (1998–2005; 2014; 2022–present)
• Tyler Rann – vocals, guitars (1998–2005; 2014; 2022–present)
• Heath Saraceno – vocals, guitars (1998–2005; 2014; 2022–present)
• Rob Hitt – drums, percussion (1998–2005; 2014; 2022–present)
• Benjamin Litchman – bass guitar (2023–present)

Studio albums

• Save the World, Lose the Girl (2000)
• Living Well Is the Best Revenge (2002)
• Forget What You Know (2004)

EPs

• The Sacrifice of Life (1999)
• Donots vs. Midtown Split 7" (2000)
• Millencolin/Midtown Split (2001)
• New.Old.Rare. (2002){{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/4413/midtown-the-movielife-blueline-medic-secondbest-split-cd-released-down-under|title=Midtown/The Movielife/Blueline Medic/Secondbest split CD released down under|work=Punknews.org|publisher=Aubin Paul|author=Heisel, Scott|date=October 7, 2002|access-date=April 24, 2018}}
• We’re Too Old To Write New Songs, So Here’s Some Old Songs We Didn’t Write (2023)

Compilation appearances

• Rock Music: A Tribute to Weezer (2002; "Susanne" by Weezer){{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/rock-music-a-tribute-to-weezer-mw0000217004|title=Rock Music: A Tribute to Weezer - Various Artists {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2016-06-26}}
• Picking Up the Pieces (2003; acoustic version of "Living in Spite"){{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/5917/fall-apart-records-tries-picking-up-the-pieces|title=Fall Apart Records tries Picking Up The Pieces|work=Punknews.org|publisher=Aubin Paul|author=Heisel, Scott|date=April 27, 2003|access-date=April 24, 2018}}
• Liberation (Songs to Benefit PETA) (2003; "This House Is Not a Home"){{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/18309/liberation-compilation-2006|title=Liberation Compilation 2006|work=Punknews.org|publisher=Aubin Paul|author=Heisel, Scott|date=June 25, 2006|access-date=April 24, 2018}}
• Punk Goes Acoustic (2003; acoustic version of "Knew It All Along"){{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/7017/punk-goes-acoustic-release-date-tracklisting-finally-set|title=Punk Goes Acoustic release date, tracklisting finally set|work=Punknews.org|publisher=Aubin Paul|author=Heisel, Scott|date=September 5, 2003|access-date=April 24, 2018}}
• Punk Goes 80s (2005; cover of "Your Love" by The Outfield){{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/12210/fearless-announces-punk-goes-80s-compilation|title=Fearless announces Punk Goes 80s compilation|work=Punknews.org|publisher=Aubin Paul|author=Paul, Aubin|date=April 11, 2005|access-date=April 24, 2018}}

{{More citations needed section|date=December 2022}}

• Cobra Starship became the new project of Midtown's bassist and lead singer, Gabe Saporta. Their first single, "Bring It (Snakes on a Plane)", was featured on the soundtrack for the movie Snakes on a Plane. Their first album, While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets came out October 2006, their second album ¡Viva La Cobra! came out on October 23, 2007, their third album, Hot Mess, came out on August 11, 2009, and their fourth album, Night Shades, came out on August 29, 2011. The band ultimately broke up on November 10, 2015.
• Heath Saraceno played guitar and shared vocal duties in the New Jersey–based rock band Senses Fail{{Cite web |date=2017-09-20 |title=For The Record: Quick News On Ciara, Game, Switchfoot, Cedric The Entertainer, Creed, Depeche Mode & More - MTV |website=MTV |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1509182/for-the-record-quick-news-on-ciara-game-switchfoot-cedric-the-entertainer-creed-depeche-mode-more/ |access-date=2024-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920190050/http://www.mtv.com/news/1509182/for-the-record-quick-news-on-ciara-game-switchfoot-cedric-the-entertainer-creed-depeche-mode-more/ |archive-date=2017-09-20 }} until leaving the band after the 2009 Warped Tour.{{Cite web |last=Punknews.org |date=2009-07-02 |title=Guitarist Heath Saraceno to leave Senses Fail |url=https://www.punknews.org/article/34211/guitarist-heath-saraceno-to-leave-senses-fail |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=www.punknews.org |language=en}} He and Senses Fail drummer, Dan Trapp, have a side-project called The Jettonnes.
• Rob Hitt works for Crush Management and also has a record label, I Surrender Records. He shares the label with friend, Ted DiBiase, and has signed I Am The Avalanche, Four Year Strong, Valencia, and Dragonette.
• Tyler Rann works in the fashion/clothing industry.

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Category:Musical groups established in 1998

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2005

Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2014

Category:Pop punk groups from New Jersey

Category:Drive-Thru Records artists

Category:MCA Records artists

Category:Columbia Records artists

Category:Musical quartets from New Jersey

Category:Golf Records artists

Category:Musical groups from New Brunswick, New Jersey