30 minutes of pop-punk goodness that can’t be missed by any one that claims to be a sucker for this genre

The music industry is as tough as nails, even beyond the Billboard Top 40. But the real challenge, a ways away from Tower Records or stadium seating, lies in the underground pop-punk community. Finding a standout band is like finding a needle in the haystack.

Those that work up the courage to bust through the barricade between the practice space and the big time tend to bring in the solid tunes. Here we have Dropout Year, a four-piece swimming with sing-a-long melodies. Formed in the fall of 2004, the catchy hooks clicked for Adam Henderson, Justin Childers and Brandon Reter. After a few trial shows, the band incorporated childhood friend Adam Goodman. Armed with an unlimited supply of pens, paper and ideas, the band began work on what would become their 8-song demo, You Say When. You Say When (currently out of print) would move on to sell over a thousand copies.

In summer of 2006, living paycheck to paycheck, and amidst painful gas prices, Dropout Year stood firmly rooted in a consistent sea of dance parties. On August 4th, the band anchored a sold out joint-CD release show at the 800+ capacity Recher Theatre. It was solid gold, from the CDs sold to the uniting energies. Armies like this don’t come knocking everyday.

Produced by Paul Leavitt (Don’t Look Down, All Time Low, Over It), Seven Unreturned Phone Calls was a hot item on the band’s 3-week East Coast adventure, the What Happens On Tour Stays On Tour, Tour. The six-track release serves up a healthy amount of sweet-tempered anthems with a crisp, professional gleam.

Dropout Year would be nothing without their rabid online fan base. According to MySpace Top Artist charts, the band is the top unsigned pop-punk band in Maryland (and in the Top 10 nationally). The band prides itself on their constant interaction with their fans, and through “Fan of the Day” promotions, song exclusives, and merchandise specials, DY has crafted an online hangout where fans can stay in the know and exchange the daily chatter.

It serves no surprise when the band packs a show in the Baltimore area, and the piercing crowd sing-a-longs make it known that DY is on stage to all who pass by. With SUPC on the market and the band beginning their quest to reach audiences far and wide, Dropout Year hopes to take these dreamy hooks to that castle on the hill – the big time.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING…
==> “One thing I noticed early on about DROPOUT YEAR is that those guys work hard as hell. They're doing all the right things.”
– Seth Watts, OVER IT (Virgin Records)
==> "I've watched these guys develop over the years into one of the hardest working, professional local bands in Baltimore.”
- Paul Manna, RECHER THEATRE (Talent Buyer)
==> "'Seven Unreturned Phone Calls' is 30 minutes of pop-punk goodness that can’t be missed by any one that claims to be a sucker for this genre. It’s only a matter of time before this band will be picked up by a label." (rating: 7.5/10)
- Josh Labberton, FORTHESOUND.COM