Stereotactic was formed in Bakersfield, California in the early 2000's. Founding members, Kyle Whitaker, Todd Douglas, Chris Hunter and Jaime Munoz, sought to create a new sound; different than the Nu-Metal and Country music that the town was known for. With a background ranging from marching band to punk rock, the group melded influences from various genres to create their own unique version of pop-rock.
After recording a few demo tracks, Daniel Prickett joined on drums, and again the sound changed. With Dan's influence, the band became a bit more eclectic, using creative time signatures and more accented percussion. Though the songwriting was primarily done by Kyle and Chris, Todd and Dan were able to add a bit of raw edginess to the music. One summer, the group headed to Love Juice Labs in Riverside, California to record what would become the "Consider it Gone" E.P. This adventure would be the first of many for the group at Love Juice Labs. The E.P. was a mix of post-hardcore and pop-rock with catchy melodies and creative guitar-work. Although well received at home, the E.P. didn't get much attention throughout the music community. The band decided to step up their game and hit the road. Regularly playing surrounding communities such as Lancaster and Fresno, the band built a reputation as a powerful, hard rocking, technical group. Often playing alongside national touring groups such as Vendetta Red, Homegrown, and Saosin, the band made many acquaintances and was able to hone their skills along with some of the best in the industry.
In early 2004, the group recruited their own merch guy, Andrew Trout to take over on drums. With only a few days notice, the band was able to rehearse a set list and depart on a co-headlining tour with Gramercy Riff. The tour took the band as far north as Seattle, and taught the members how to co-exist in the confined habitat of a cramped van. Again, playing alongside bands such as The Fall of Troy and Dagermouth, the band proved that they had what it takes to put on a great show. After countless hours of driving, broken windows, stolen equipment, and new friendships along the way, the band returned home, road-hardened and ready for more.
Upon returning, the band received a quite welcome correspondence; seemingly out of nowhere. Apparently their hard work on the road (and on their Myspace page) paid off; in the form of Avebury Records. A small label based in Los Angeles, Avebury Records discovered the band via Myspace and was instantly captivated. After a brief back-and-forth, the group agreed to meet with the label face-to-faceat an El Torito Mexican restaurant. After discussing the band's intentions and what the label could offer, a deal was made.
2006 brought "The Dawning;" a culmination of years of life experiences, songwriting and lineup changes. With Mike Peters on guitar, the band again made Love Juice Labs their home. 6 Days, 12 songs and a $1,000 sushi bill later, the band's first (and only) full length album was complete. After a successful release party at The Troubadour, hosted by ASCAP and Myspace.com, the band headed home to fine tune their new sound and create a live show that would do the album justice.
In the fall of 2006, the band hit the road with Cameron Abram on guitar. Making stops in many towns the band was familiar with throughout California, the band again ventured into the Pacific Northwest, playing shows throughout Oregon and Washington. The tour was full of excitement and adventure, including an overnight drive from Yakima, Washington to Fresno, California to play the Van's Warped Tour. Again after a tour filled with ups and downs, the band returned home with a sense of accomplishment and a feeling that their musical style was evolving.
2007 brought change, and the eventual progression into something new. With the idea of adding a second guitarist to the band, Sid Rival was recruited to fill the spot. The addition, turned into a replacement as Cameron's departure from the band left Sid taking over on lead guitar for Stereotactic's last few shows. Despite the apparent demise of the group, Sid's arrival actual ignited a spark of change that led to what is now Abandon Ship!
Read more about Abandon Ship! at www.myspace.com/abandonshipca
