The Receiving End of Sirens have called it a day. Read a message from the band below.
Greetings to all who take the time to read this letter. I suppose the typical, and most obvious entiment to express is the one I am undoubtedly feeling at the moment: “I’m not sure how to start this.” So for the sake of brevity, I’ll get right to the point. The Receiving End of Sirens will no longer exist in the way it has for the past 5 years.
I, Brendan, must admit that I am the main reason why TREOS is ending. My choice to no longer continue on with The Receiving End of Sirens has nothing to do with a lack of love for my band, and/or band members. It has nothing to do with a lack of passion for our music, or any music for that matter. My decision is due mostly in part to a huge rearranging of priorities in my life, and the unquestionable responsibility that comes along with becoming a father. January 15th my wife and I welcomed Parker Brown, our first child, into the world. Since then everything has changed. The happiness and joy I gained from being part of this band can’t ever be taken away from me, but to be honest, I have lived a long time thinking that specific joy was as good as it got. Since Parker’s birth I have realized my joy is a great thing, in and of itself, but the happiness I receive from his happiness is exponentially greater than anything I could muster on my own. The thought of leaving him to tour for months at a time is something I just can’t stomach. I can’t stand to miss another thing. I realize how important I am to my band, and how important our band is to some people, but I am far more elemental in the growth and happiness of my child, than I am anything else in this world.
I can’t even begin to explain how appreciative I am for the understanding Alex, Andrew, Brian, and Nate have shown me, given the choice I have made. Although it was a series of divine intersections that brought us to where we are today, it is certainly an unfortunate intersection, of my life with theirs, that brings this band to an end. It goes without saying, not everyone is at the same place in their lives as I am. Therefore, it is my situation that has decided theirs. For that I am sorry, but have no doubt each and every one of them will be successful in whatever they put their minds to.
A dilemma we now face, is the same one we have encountered with our music over the course of our career; How do we label this? Do we say this is a breakup? Do we say we’re on indefinite hiatus (like a lot of our favorite bands)? By saying we are over, does any show, or musical collaboration, make it a reunion? Does it then mean our band is back together until we break up again? On the other hand, by going on hiatus are we lying if we never do another thing again? The answer to all those questions is, I don’t know, and the battle of syntax continues.
With all that said, the main priority of The Receiving End of Sirens has always been our music. After all, though it is easy to lose site of, the music is what bands are supposed to be about. Since 2003 our art has always been our baby, and its well being has always taken precedence over our own. Maybe it’s over-romanticizing our situation, but we would love to think that through relentless touring, through a fan-base second to none, and by way of the records we have released, our music has the momentum behind it to continue on as its own entity at this time.
For the longest time we knew our music needed us in order to survive. This is why for many years we have each sacrificed many things in order to promote it by any means necessary. Our hope now is that The Receiving End of Sirens will live on because of our usic. Not the other way around.
We are sure this comes as a surprise to most, and a let-down to many of you as well. For that we are eternally sorry. We all realize that the band five right out of high school kids started for fun has grown to be something bigger than any of us could have imagined. The music we have created has carried itself far outside the confines of the house we first practiced in, and the city we all met in, and has effected many more than just those of us who have been members of TREOS over the years. We realize, as have others, that you don’t need an instrument to be a part of this band. Anyone who has put us up on tour, has old a friend about our band, has listened to our music, has paid to see a show, or has brought us food on the road is a member of TREOS. Anyone who has worked with us to make this band what it is today, from management to booking, from labels to press, and ll that other business stuff, we are forever grateful to you for your belief in our band. You are all a part of this too. It would take hundreds, if not thousands, of more lines to personally thank everyone we need to thank, so we’re going to rest assured that those people know who they are, and what they’ve meant to us.
To all the bands who have brought us on tour, or who have shared a tour with us, or have supported us, thank you for your eccentric, loving, empathetic friendships. We wish you all the best, and will miss you all! From those of you who were with us at our first show in Enfield CT, or our many shows at The Norwood American Legion and the surrounding Boston suburbs, or Ben’s last show in Fitchburg, thank you! Everyone who was with us for the “Between the Heart and the Synapse” years with Casey, as our van and music first made its way around this huge country, thank you! To old fans who have been with us from the start, to new ones who just started listening to our band, and to the fans who have yet to hear our band, thank you. To everyone who has ever tattooed their body with lyrics or imagery or references to our music, thank you! Everyone who has embraced version 3; “The Earth Sings MI FA MI” TREOS, with the welcomed addition of Brian Southall, thank you! Thank you friends, family, fans, colleagues, bands, sponsors. Thank you ALL for making the past 5 years beautiful, magical, inspiring, and full of amazing stories and memories.
As for the current members of TREOS, you haven’t heard the last of any of us. In due time I am sure you will hear about all of our plans, but worry not, we will all continue working with music in one facet or another. Some of us may be touring, some of us may be recording, booking, or managing, but all of us are looking forward to starting a new chapter in our lives.
With all that behind us, we will be playing a couple final shows. It would mean the world to us to be able to share them with you all. We will be joined by some great friends who we’ve grown close with over the years on the stage, and we’d like to share the same experience with our great friends off the stage, so please come say goodbye and let’s end this thing the right way.
May 2nd – Lupos – Providence, RI
May 4th – The Bamboozle – East Rutherford, NJWith Love,
Alex, Andrew, Brendan, Brian, and Nate
a.k.a. TREOS
