Allstar Weekend

Allstar Weekend
Allstar Weekend Live
Background information
Origin	Poway, California, United States
Genres	Pop Rock, Dance
Years active	2008 (2008)–present (present)
Labels	Universal
Associated acts	Selena Gomez & the Scene, Action Item, Hollywood Ending
Website	http://www.allstarweekendrocks.com
Members
Zach Porter Cameron Quiseng Michael Martinez
Past members
Nathan Darmody

Allstar Weekend is a pop rock band based in Poway, California.^[1] The band gained its popularity from the Disney Channel television network. The band originally consisted of lead singer Zach Porter, bassist Cameron Quiseng, guitarist Nathan Darmody, and drummer Michael Martinez but as of September 16, 2011 Darmody is no longer in the band.

In June 2010, they began their first headlining tour, Suddenly Summer Tour, around the US and Canada. Their debut EP, Suddenly, was released on June 21, 2010 in the US and peaked at number 62 on the Billboard 200 and July 20, 2010 in Canada. Their debut full-length album Suddenly Yours was released on October 19, 2010. In the fall of 2010 they embarked on The Suddenly Yours Tour, promoting Suddenly Yours. In September 2011, Zach, Cameron and Michael release their second studio album entitled " All the Way".

History

Formation

After meeting in a geology class at Poway High School, Nathan Darmody and Tom Norris began to write music together in the spring of 2007. Darmody's friend Zach Porter often expressed the desire to be the singer in a music group, so the three formed as the Outerspace Politicians in June 2007. The band wrote and recorded early demos in Darmody's bedroom in the ensuing months using FL Studio. Several completed songs were then posted to the group's Myspace page. This resulted in little attention, although it prompted a local drummer, Michael Martinez, to contact the band and audition to join. In effort to begin practicing live, Porter recruited friend Cameron Quiseng to play bass, whom he'd met in middle school. Shortly after signing with Hollywood Records, Norris left the band to pursue college.

Rise to fame

The band first rose to fame when they were contestants on Radio Disney's special, Next Big Thing or N.B.T.,^[2] under their former name, ALLSTAR. Despite being a fan favorite, the band lost, coming second to Jonnie and Brookie. However, a few months later, the band signed a contract with Hollywood Records and immediately began work on their debut album.

Prior to becoming contestants on Radio Disney's Next Big Thing, they contributed songs (one of which was an early, more synthesized version of "Dance Forever") as part of a digital split album titled Chicken Finger Fingers on Drive-Thru Records with Dino Club. Soon after, they signed with Hollywood Records and released their debut extended play, Suddenly. After signing with Hollywood Records, the band changed their name from Allstar to Allstar Weekend, citing legal issues as the catalyst. According to interviews, the word "Weekend" was appended as weekends are relished by many, and this idea helps to connect with fans.

Suddenly Yours and other projects

On March, 17, 2010, the band released their debut single, "A Different Side of Me", for digital download and radio airplay. The song peaked at the top of Radio Disney singles chart.

Allstar Weekend was one of many bands who recorded remakes of popular Disney songs on the compilation album, Disneymania 7, which was released on April 17, 2010. The band recorded their version of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" from The Lion King. Shortly after the release of their debut single, the band announced their debut EP, Suddenly, would be released on June 17, 2010. They also announced plans to release a second single before the release of the album.

On June 7, 2010 the band released "Dance Forever", the second single from their EP. The music video was released June 12, 2010 and takes place in the backyard of a house where a pool party is being thrown and the band is performing. Featuring future Gibby, Lead vocalist Zachary Porter and guitarist Nathan Darmody have said that the "Dance Forever" video represents not just one, but all the members of the band's personalities. The song debuted on Billboard's Heatseekers Chart at number 16. It peaked at number 45 on the Canadian Hot 100, making it their first song to chart on a major singles chart.

Suddenly was released on June 22, 2010 to generally positive reviews from critics. The album was somewhat successful in its first week, debuting at number 62 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. On August 30, 2010, Allstar Weekend performed "A Different Side of Me" and "The Weekend" on Good Morning America. After the performance, they confirmed that their debut album, Suddenly Yours, would be released on October 19, 2010. The album's lead single, "Come Down with Love", released on September 19, 2010.

On September 4, 2010, they confirmed via UStream that they would be guest-starring on the Disney Channel series Sonny with a Chance in order to promote the album. The episode aired on October 17, 2010, two days before the album's release date.

Allstar Weekend's fall tour in 2010 included other acts: Action Item, The Scene Aesthetic, and Stephen Jerzak. The tour started November 4, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada and ended in December 17 at The House of Blues on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. In February 2011, they are on the Glamour Kills Tour with The Ready Set.

All the Way and Darmody's departure–present

On May 20, 2011, they announced their new album, All the Way, would be released on July 19, but it was moved to September 27 2011. On July 25, 2011 they announced that their second single from All the Way would be "Blame It on September" and it will be released on August 16, 2011.

It was announced on June 20 via the band's Facebook that Nathan Darmody would not be touring with the band on their tour with Selena Gomez due to personal issues. On July 13, Allstar Weekend stated that a guitarist named Eric Nicolau would be filling in for Nathan Darmody on their tour with Selena Gomez & the Scene.

On September 16, it was announced via Twitter that Nathan Darmody had left the band. ^[3] The band announced that they will not release the details of Darmondy's departure in a statement made to their fans. In the same statement, they also announced they will be beginning their search for the next member of Allstar Weekend. ^[4]

With a successful first week, All the Way debuted at number 49 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

Guest appearances

The band guest starred on Sonny with a Chance in the episode "A So Random Halloween Special". They performed "Come Down with Love" which is also featured on the show's soundtrack.

They have appeared on Lopez Tonight and Rachel Ray, also performing "Come Down with Love".

On February 26, 2011, they were featured on MTV's 10 on Top. They were the "One to Watch". They talked about their days when they were a garage band compared to their lives now and how they're living the dream. They also talked about pre-show rituals. On March 19, 2011, they were again in 10 on Top, ranking number 4 due to their new music video "Not Your Birthday". The song is featured in Disney's feature film Prom. They have also been on MTV's The Seven twice. The second time was on May 13, 2011 and they ranked in at number two.

The very first time they performed "Not Your Birthday" live on television was on MuchMusic's New.Music.Live. in Toronto, Canada. They again performed it on Live with Regis and Kelly on May 30, 2011.

On August 7, Allstar Weekend was seen on 2011's Teen Choice Awards presenting for the dance crew Poreotics.

On September 27, Allstar Weekend will perform live at The Next Star Finale in Toronto. On the following day, they performed their single "Blame it On September" Live on Regis and Kelly.

Members

Current Members

• Zach Porter- lead vocals (2008- Present)

Full name: Zachary David Porter. Born on 10th December 1990. He is the lead singer of Allstar Weekend. Porter can also play guitar.

• Cameron Quiseng - bass guitar, backup vocals (2008- Present)

Full name: Cameron Michael Quiseng. Born on 5th April 1990. He is half filipino. Quiseng has also never had a girlfriend. The song 'James (Never Change) was written about Cameron.

• Michael Martinez- drums, backup vocals (2008- Present)

Michael was born on 4th August 1990

Past Members

• Nathan Darmody- lead guitar, backup vocals (2008-2011)

Live Members

• Dillon Anderson - backup vocals, guitar, keyboard (2009- Present)

Discography

Extended plays

• Suddenly (June 21, 2010)

Studio albums

• Suddenly Yours (October 19, 2010)
• All the Way (September 27, 2011)

Singles

• "A Different Side of Me" (March 2, 2010)
• "Dance Forever" (June 7, 2010)
• "Come Down with Love" (September 17, 2010)
• "Not Your Birthday" (March 22, 2011)
• "Blame It on September" (August 16, 2011)

Soundtracks

• Disneymania 7 (2010)
• The Last Song (2010)
• Sonny with a Chance (2010)
• Prom (2011)
• Punk Goes Pop 4 (2011)

Tours

This is a list of tours that Allstar Weekend have participated on, or will be participating on; individual concerts are not included.

Tour name	Participating bands	Continent	Participating from–to
The Don't Forget Your CalculaTOUR	School Boy Humor, Days Difference, Allstar Weekend	North America	October, 2009
Verizon Experience the Magic Tour (Acoustic)	Allstar Weekend, Emily Osment	North America	February–March, 2010
Suddenly Tour	Allstar Weekend, Days Difference, Action Item	North America	Summer 2010
Suddenly Yours Tour	Allstar Weekend, The Scene Aesthetic, Stephen Jerzak, Action Item	North America	November–December, 2010
Military Tour	Allstar Weekend	Europe	January 2011
The Glamour Kills Tour	The Ready Set, Allstar Weekend, The Downtown Fiction, We Are the In Crowd, You, Me, and Everyone We Know	North America	February 23–April 9, 2011
Canadian Tour	Allstar Weekend, Action Item, Done with Dolls	North America	May 14–29, 2011
We Own the Night Tour	Allstar Weekend, Selena Gomez & the Scene, Christina Grimmie	North America	July 28–September 10, 2011

References

1. ^ Sendra, Tim. "Allstar Weekend". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/allstar-weekend-p2101114. Retrieved 13 August 2011. 
2. ^ "Allstar Weekend readies second album". Mlive.com. http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/flint/index.ssf/2011/08/allstar_weekend_readies_second.html. Retrieved 13 August 2011. 
3. ^ "Allstar Weekend take to twitter, facebook to announce member leaving". http://www.twitlonger.com/show/d4kfgd. 
4. ^ http://www.disneydreaming.com/2011/09/17/nathan-darmody-leaves-allstar-weekend/

External links

• Official website
• Offical Facebook page
• Allstar Weekend Twitter