Members:

Jake Greene- Vocals/Lead Guitar
Andrew "Butch" Cassidy- Rhythm Guitar/Lead Guitar 2/Backing Vocals
Chris Reed- Bass/Backing Vocals
Logan "Animal" Trent- Drums/Backing Vocals

From: Pittsburgh, PA

Genre: Progressive Rock/Metal/Alternative

Influences: Coheed and Cambria, Deathcab for Cutie, Mind, Jason Smith Band

Bio:

Jake Greene has started a viral campaign on their website that only contains a paragraph of writing that is assumed to be story behind the album.

It reads as follows:

In the near future in a time that hasn't been named. There are the 9 Sentinels who keep watch over the world in a space station orbiting the earth. It is their sole purpose as highly trained, genetically, and cybernetically enhanced assassins to keep the peace and balance of this world. Knowledge of which is given to them by their leader who is simply called 1 who receives his information by celestial code of fate. The 9 a black ops group known only to a few high dignitaries though most knowledge of them is completely unknown. They stopped the impending chaos of World War III and averted nuclear holocaust on several occasions. If any Sentinel of the 9 is to disobey his orders or not complete his objective he and his target will be eliminated. Any knowledge of the Sentinel's existence will be disavowed and he will be promptly be replaced.

9 has no memory of who he was once though he is told that he once was a soldier. He is sent on a mission to earth to kill off the daughter of a diplomat because she is to be married to a man who will father her child. Who is believed to be the next great dictator who will do deeds more horrendous than Hitler. They even believe the child may be the Anti-Christ. No one knows if this information is true. But 9 has killed many without question or remorse. He was programmed to follow orders. He's only doing his job and his duty to keep the balance of the world at large safe. But as he glances at the young woman through the scope of his rifle his fingers tingle. His fingers can't squeeze the trigger so systematically with rhythmic ease as they once did. She is so beautiful. Is this love? What is love? Even emotions have been wiped from his mind as he scrambles to find this foreign feeling in his brain. A flash of memory like a jolt of electricity illuminates across his mind. He can't place it. But he wants to know more. Who he was and his connection to this woman.

Now his only thought is to save her and himself. His mission has been compromised. They will come for him. This is the story of 9.

Edited by user 24 July 2012 20:31:52(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Kevin: Yes, another new metal band!
Anthony: Woot! Someone else to tour with someday!

Anthony: But, it goes up to 11!
Derrick: We should change John's name to Stompy John and maybe he'll finally disappear.

Anthony: If we did do a tour like that we should start it off with a tribute to Tenacious D's Tribute!
Kevin: But, the metal could not be destroyed!

It was hell trying to track Jake Greene down. The GPS on my car was not picking up the location that he claimed he was at. It apparently didn't exist any more. What once was considered a small canning factory in the warehouse district of Pittsburgh kept coming up as "unable to locate address" which was really trying my nerves. But I finally found the place seeing as he decided to stand outside it. It had now gained the name "The Foundry" a very difficult hole in the wall to find. Apparently it was becoming a hot spot for underground and indie bands of all genres. Boasting a few big acts to its repertoire as well. Jake sat puffing on one of those fancy blue electronic cigs that was supposed to help kick the habit. A small blue light flaring up as he blew fake smoke from his lips then smirked at me waving me over. Then he ushered me inside and slumped into the nearest table.

AP: It was hell trying to find you.

JG: Sometimes I like anonymity. But it's hard to believe this place used to can fish. Thank God the smell's gone.

I can't help but look around the large expanse that used to be tuna canning factory but no more. Apparently the building was bought out by an unknown music fanatic to give a larger venue for the underground scene. It was hard to believe how big the expanse was. It was complete with a large bar, many tables and a few booths, but the largest space was cleared out for a stage along with an empty dance floor. It made you wonder what it looked like when it was packed with people.

AP: So this is where you started getting noticed and cut your teeth?

JG: Yeah not bad for a jew kid and his buddies right? This place hops on full nights.

Unbeknownst to most people Jake's full name was Jakob Greeneberg. His Great Grandparents were holocaust survivors to boot. Though you'd never know behind all the tattoos. The nervous grin seems give away a bit of neurosis though. Then he takes anothe puff on his fake cigarette and nods in his response.

AP: So being a front man for the band is pretty new to you?

JG: Well yeah. I was comfortable being the enigmatic axe man. You didn't have to talk or be charismatic. You were in charge of slaying licks and that was it. It's funny that Sentinel 9 started out as an emo band. We were called "The Shotgun Romance" and were actually a 5 piece. That all changed when our lead singer died. It was an alcohol related car crash. After that I was sort of just thrown into that position. I didn't want to fill those shoes. I wasn't comfortable taking the place of a best friend. Trying to sing his lyrics and some how keep him alive. We were on the verge of a break up before I started digging up the stuff that would turn into Sentinel 9 with Andrew. It was really just a nerdy hobby that consisted of short novellas and graphic novels that we wanted to do something with in case the band fell apart. We had no idea that was going to start the beginnings of what this band is now.

AP: So it was all unexpected and just kind of formed on its own?

JG: It was never planned. We were going through some of the stuff we'd drawn and written. Then Andrew mentioned it would be awesome to take this all in a musical direction. I wrote a song that wasn't really meant to go any where as a private endeavor. When the rest of the guys got wind of it everything started to take off in a completely different direction. So to say we had planned for this to happen would be an understatement.

He seemed a bit uneasy talking about the death of the band's frontman. Johnathan Slade was taken from the band several years ago during a drunk driving accident. This is what made Jake Greene the band's new front by default although he didn't settle into the role comfortable. It was a difficult transition for him as he often relates it to being another person. Singing the song's written by their frontman was unfamiliar territory though he began to incorporate his own with them. The pressure of it all lead to the band's near break up and a long hiatus before they reunited under the new name of Sentinel 9. So the band is armed with material and a sense of themselves that is still developing. Although they do send a nod to their fallen frontman after every show.

JG: Slade's favorite song was "A Long December" and we covered it for his sake. He had a love for the things mentioned in the song. He was also originally from California. So we have a habit of playing the song after every show. I don't think we'll ever stop doing. Though it seems fitting. We're acknowledging what used to be and where we're going now. It's something I'm learning to settle in with a little at a time. Trying to let the spotlight grow on me more and more. We're growing into a new sense of ourselves along with a new sound that finally has us feeling like we're a band again. I honestly can't wait to put out the first single. It'll be something we can all feel accomplished for. Because we've come a long way.

Jake: I appreciate the compliment. Too be honest you were the first choice for producer.

Vin: Hmmm.... I am quite intrigued. you guys need to get some songs up. I want to see if you're as good as you seem like you could be.

OOC: Want to do more with this band. But have reached a major writer's block with them.