BAND BIOGRAPHY

Name: A Day Less
Genre: Progressive Metal / Alternative Metal
Sounds Like: Tool, Alice in Chains, Pantera, King Crimson, Mudvayne
Hometown: Storrs, Connecticut

Biography

A Day Less is a band that has continuously transformed time and time again. Originally known as Slow Children back in 2001, the trio (Sean Ketchum, Joel Pinto, John Welply) dove into the punk scene headfirst. Unsatisfied with the simple licks and beats they were playing, the group yearned to grow into something much more complex. Changing their name to Dionysus, they began playing hard rock and metal, covering styles similar to System of a Down and Pantera. However, once again the group felt that they needed to reinvent themselves and come into their own.

During these years, A Day Less had a number of musicians come and go, but no one seemed to meld with the group until Bryant Hunter came along in 2006. Adding an edgier, angrier point of view to the band's increasingly complex sound, Bryant, with his guttural vocals, seemed to be the missing link A Day Less had been looking to find.

Now, as a four-piece band, the group has finally found the sound they've desired from the very beginning. With the perfect blend of melodic runs and heavy riffs backing them up, both Sean and Bryant paint a landscape with each note they sing. Add to that the complex beats and rhythms laid down by John and Joel and you've got a band that's ready to take the world by storm.

Are you ready for A Day Less?

Music

The music of A Day Less is inspired by the concept of anger applied as a constructive emotion. Often anger is expressed through hate or violence, however when used in an artistic medium anger can become a powerful and positive entity.

Name

"A Day Less" itself is the realization directly after an event when anger has translated into hate or violence. The individual quickly wishes they could make time "A Day Less" and change their particular actions due to concequences or reactions, but ultimately self-realization that their anger must be directed into other more positive means.

Logo

The logo for A Day Less is a geometrical representation on top of an image of the sun. The geometry is a viscera pisces, where the centers of two circles exactly touch the edge of the opposing circle, with two squares seperated by a 45 degree rotation. It represents the centering of one's thoughts and body (viscera = heart, lungs etc...) and is a very rough derivative of the Third Eye chakra represented in Buddhism which implies seeing slightly beyond the physical world and understanding that one's actions cause reactions (karma). It acts as a mandala to remind ones self that anger must not be reacted to in haste but rather in conscious and positive directions.

This geometry is drawn in front of a distorted image of the sun. The sun is considered the giver of life and the fact that the image is distorted to fit the personal centering geometry implies that an individual has the capacity to alter their lively surroundings by their actions. The individual has to continually decide if they use their anger for positive or negative means and cause positive or negative effects on themselves and surroundings as a result.

The Band

John Welply: Drums
Joel Pinto: Bass Guitar
Bryant Hunter: Vocals
Sean Ketchum: Guitar and Vocals

John Welply, drummer, is from Willington, CT, where he lives with his wife Holly. John began his musical interest with the guitar and trombone at the age of 10. Always liking to "bang on things", he moved to drums and found his true passion. Being self taught, his style has progressed to create the energizing and powerful drummer he is today. Some inspirations for this Style include Danny Carey (Tool), Vinnie Paul (Pantera), and John Bonham (Led Zeppelin).

When John is not playing the drums you will find him working on cars, hanging out with friends, or just relaxing with his wife Holly. He is also an avid shooter and arms man, proving more and more that he just likes to hit things and make loud noises. Drinking is also a favorite pastime of his, and John has been known to say "Don't forget the Jack Daniels!". His goals are to one day have a son (who will also be a drummer, of course) and to have A Day Less be heard by people around the world.

Joel Pinto, bass guitarist, is from Mansfield Center, CT. Joel plays many instruments. While he started playing bass guitar in 2000, his first main instrument was the saxophone, which he began playing in 1994. He can also play the keyboard, recorder, and pungi.

When asked who his inspirations were here is Joel's quote: feel that we're all influenced by everything around us. We hear things we like as well as things we don't like. Most main stream music is simple, and therefore has simple bass lines. I suppose if I had to choose specific inspirations, I would choose people like Justin Chancellor (Tool), Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and Ryan Martinie (Mudvayne)...people who stand out as bassists who play whatever they want, and don't just blend in with the rest.

Joel's hobbies include playing video games and cards, especially pitch and cribbage. His goals for the future are to make A Day Less his "day job". He would also like to own his own studio.

Bryant Hunter, vocalist and "screamer", is from Willington, CT. Bryant started playing the guitar when he was only 8 years old and fell into vocals by chance. He was hanging out with his cousin, John, listening to the band play, and just picked up the microphone and started to scream. The band looked at each other and knew that they had just found their new vocalist.

Bryant's inspirations are Phil Anselmo (Pantera), Maynard James Keenan (Tool), and Roger Waters (Pink Floyd). His hobbies include screaming and other crazy things, or so he says. His goals for the future are to see A Day Less make their mark on the music world and to continue having fun doing it!

Sean Ketchum, guitarist and vocalist, is from Willington, CT. Sean has been interested in music since he was 4 years old. He is able to play the guitar, drums, bass, piano, and jaw-harp. His inspirations are from Robert Fripp (King Crimson), Adrian Belew (King Crimson), Tool, Pink Floyd, The Mars Volta, Mike Patton and Led Zeppelin.

His hobbies are skateboarding, causing trouble, building and modifying guitars and exploring physics. Seanayering, become introduced to new musical styles and make A Day Less a "day job".