The sound you hear when you listen to Modern Day Zero is raw yet refined. You hear a dynamic rock band with a depth too often lacking on today’s airwaves. It is engaging and magnetic. It is the sound of experience, both highs and lows, fueled by passion and desire. And if you know anything about the history of this group, it is easy to understand where such vigor comes from.
The origins of Modern Day Zero date to 1996 when singer, Scott Gertken; bassist, Rich Criebaum; and drummer, Brian Pearia started a band called Mesh. For the next two years, these founding members of Mesh would travel the world performing for U.S. troops abroad and thousands more here at home. 1998 would see a new dimension and depth added as guitarist, Rock, entered the picture and soon after joined Mesh and producer Malcolm Springer (Full Devil Jacket, Greenwheel, Fear Factory, Sinch) in Memphis for the recording of the EP, 'Ripple Effect'. The resulting EP went on to sell over 10,000 copies while the band would continue to build its fan base, touring the Midwest, performing for tens of thousands.
Never ones to be complacent and wanting to ‘fatten’ their sound, the band enlisted the services of accomplished guitarist, Matt Arana with the results heard on their 2001 CD release ‘lowercase’ The first single “Maybe Tomorrow” hit the Midwest radio airwaves and immediately caused a national reaction. The band started fielding phone calls from numerous record companies, but ended up signing a deal with The Label a new record company that was started by the extremely successful management outfit called The Firm. Under the band name Mesh STL, ‘lowercase’ was quickly remixed by renowned engineer Tom Lord-Alge and the band hit the road as the support act for Puddle Of Mudd. The video for “Maybe Tomorrow” became a staple on the MTV2 playlist and rose into the Top 20 on both the Modern and Active Rock charts. The band went on to share the stage with many bands including Nickelback, Saliva, Default and Tantric. Politics, economics and the other various idiosyncrasies of the record industry resulted in The Firm’s record label folding and closing shop.
Fast forward to 2004. Regrouped and steadfast, a smarter, better band has gone back to its studio and produced ‘Coming Up For Air’. A year and a half in the making. Featuring blistering tracks such as the first single “Sick Inside” and “Down” (featured on EA Sports’ NHL 2004 and NASCAR 2004 games), to the sparse yet profound “Concentrate” and the earnest and engaging “Smother Me”. A band no longer suffocating, but breathing new life. A band reborn fathers an album not just worthy of your attention… commanding it.
