I Fold

I Fold



It’s not about perfection. Or appealing to drones of prescription induced teens. And it’s not about getting signed to some label with an infinite expense account. Even though they’d be able to score some of your mom’s pricey pills if that expense account was made available.



Instead, for Long Island’s i fold it’s been about pulling together friends in an effort to play some straightforward punk rock/ post hardcore. But that’s probably just because it’s really the only thing they’re good at. And the only thing they can actually pull off with at least a little energy.



So since the summer of 2003, singer/ guitarist Max Behrens and drummer Mike Morrissey have been doing the only thing they’re good at from Bethpage’s Mr. Beery’s to just as reputable bars along the East Coast. That fall, i fold- then consisting of Adrian Cabassas, behind the mic, bassist Cody Klein, Behrens and Morrissey- recorded their first five-song demo. While not so easy on the ears, we’ll chalk it up to recording quality, that demo brought out the first handful of now loyal fans. But in true ifold nature, just a few months later Cabassas headed off to college, leaving the guys in what seemed to be a continuous search for members just as dedicated as them.



After searching for a singer with no success and being pushed by the rest of the band, Behrens reluctantly stepped up to the mic and gave his seemingly nonexistent chords a try. Mustering up a likeness to early Get Up Kids, Movielife and pre-mastered Gorilla Biscuits, Behrens’ gritty vocals actually didn’t sound half-bad over the band’s fast-paced riffs and breakdowns, which when listening to closely you can hear influences such as early Saves The Day, Hot Rod Circuit or Lifetime.



By the summer of 2004, Behrens, Morrissey and Klein were finally on their way and had recorded another five-song demo. Gaining an out of state presence and a few more demo-buying fans, in true ifold nature of course, Klein put down his bass in February 2005 and stepped away from the band.



After a year of searching for a bassist with no success- remember we’re still talking about ifold, long time friend Bill Walsh joined Behrens and Morrissey. The trio began playing shows with Walsh in March 2006, and by June 2006 they had another more listen-able five-song demo recorded.



It’s hard to say if it was the new demo or their quickly developing stage presence; but whatever it was, ifold found themselves playing steady strings of shows from across Long Island to along the East Coast. One string even happened to include a meeting with former bassist Klein and his band The Fad in November 2006.



With supplies of the demos running low and more fans gradually showing up at shows, ifold began the painstaking process of self-recording their first full length in April 2007. In July 2007, halfway through production, they had to part with Walsh; but contrary to true ifold nature they recovered a lot quicker this time with the addition of Mike Ciaravino on bass.



Re-recording every track on the full-length and putting them in the hands of Alan Douches to be mastered, Behrens and Morrissey where finally able to breathe a sigh of relief, that was until ifold luck struck like clockwork and Ciarvino amicably parted with the band. This time however, ifold made possibly one of their quickest recoveries yet with long-time friend James Hagmaier stepping in on bass in March 2008.



With their full-length in the CD players and iPods, yes iPods, of now loyal fans by March 2008, i fold are currently in the process of playing shows and planning a tour that’ll most likely lead them to a city near you. But not before rifling through your mom’s medicine cabinet and your dad’s stash.



-Ellen Thompson



record release 3/28/08