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The Academy Is...
The Academy Is...
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Formerly in rival bands on the Chicago local scene, guitarist Mike Carden and vocalist William Beckett came together in 2002 to mark the beginning of emo-pop outfit the Academy Is... (originally named "the Academy"). Naming influences from U2 to Weezer to Pink Floyd, the duo added bassist Adam Siska (Beckett's classmate from high school), along with a second guitarist and drummer, to record 2004's The Academy EP for hometown label LLR Recordings. As luck would have it, fellow Chicagoan Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy) heard the release and brought the band to the attention of his current label, which resulted in an offer from Gainesville's Fueled by Ramen. Six months after Carden and Beckett set to work writing their full-length debut, the band headed to Florida to record.

A few lineup changes arrived in 2004, as guitarist/vocalist Tom Conrad and drummer Andy Mrotek climbed aboard as permanent members of the group. Relentless touring with the likes of Fall Out Boy, Something Corporate, Midtown, and Armor for Sleep steadily built a devoted audience around the country before the band's well-received label debut, Almost Here, arrived in February 2005. Gigs continued at a frantic pace in support on the album, and the Academy Is... released the six-song acoustic EP From the Carpet exclusively on iTunes in early 2006. The digital release contained three new songs (including a cover of John Lennon's "Working Class Hero") and acoustic versions of tracks from Almost Here.

Following a summer spent on the road with the Warped Tour, the guys parted ways with Conrad in the fall of 2006 (replaced by guitarist Michael Guy Chislett) and began writing new material back in Chicago. The Academy Is... eventually entered a California studio with famed producer Butch Walker (All-American Rejects, Hot Hot Heat) to record what would become their sophomore effort, Santi, which ultimately arrived in early April 2007. Fast Times at Barrington High, a reference to the school that Beckett and Siska attended as teenagers (as well as a nod to the '80s film Fast Times at Ridgemont High), arrived the following year. ~ Corey Apar, All Music GuideMore

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The Academy Is...
Formerly in rival bands on the Chicago local scene, guitarist Mike Carden and vocalist William Becke...
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Fan Comments

Nov 12th, 9:59pm
i wish i could see them play..Hot Chelle Rae is opening a bunch of dates for them...I Like to Dance!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbdNKdElaFs
Oct 11th, 11:36pm
Any Say Anything fans in here? If you like The Academy Is.., you probably will like Say Anything. I am so excited for their self-titled album to release on 11/3!! Only 3 weeks away!
Get more info. at their Myspace: www.myspace.com/sayanything
Oct 5th, 11:32pm
going to see them nov 11th :]
Jul 30th, 7:09pm
Im so excited to see The Academy Is perform at Six Flags in St. Louis today, it's gonna be a concert to remember, totally off the hook. Oh and the best part is that the tickets are completely free with entry into the park
Jul 30th, 7:09pm
Im so excited to see The Academy Is perform at Six Flags in St. Louis today, it's gonna be a concert to remember, totally off the hook. Oh and the best part is that the tickets are completely free with entry into the park
Jul 27th, 11:24pm
I LUV THE ACADEMY IS....
Jul 21st, 3:16am
keep it going for the guy with his shirt off
May 3rd, 9:45pm
Was a fan since your first song came out.
I love you guys, always have and definitely always will.
May 1st, 12:52am
I love William!!! He's so hot!!!
Apr 17th, 2:02am
I think you guys are so awsome! I'm always gonna be a fan!