Streetlight Manifesto, AJJ, and Andrew Jackson Jihad

Streetlight Manifesto’s first recording was a four-track EP, that featured the songs “Everything Went Numb”, “Point/Counterpoint”, “The Saddest Song” and “We Are the Few”. All of these songs were re-recorded for their full-length studio album, which was released under Victory Records on August 26th 2003. The album earned critical acclaim, with critics paying attention to the band’s well-written lyrics and powerful energy.

It wasn’t until three years later that they released their sophomore studio album called “Keasbey Nights”, on March 7th 2006. It was originally going to be released in late 2004 but was delayed. Tomas Kalnoky replaced the shout-outs during the extended ending of “1234, 1234” with a text-to-speech transcription of an interview in which he explains his motivations for re-recording the album. He said “We wanted to get it right for once. Plus it helps me sleep at night knowing blood, sweat and tears were put into a record as opposed to making people pay thirteen bucks for a record and they only get flashy new cover art.” The album was rated 4/5 stars on Allmusic.

Following an unfortunate year where the band had $80,000 worth of equipment stolen, including some personal belongings, the band released their third studio album “Somewhere in Between” on November 13th 2007. It made it to #2 on the US Billboard Heatseekers Albums. It generated the singles “We Will Fall Together” and “Down, Down to Mephisto’ Café”. They were released as a double A-side single October 2007, prior to the album’s release. Their following album, “99 Songs of Revolution: Vol. 1”, released on March 16th 2010, reached the #4 spot on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart.

“The Hands that Thieves” is their highest charting album yet, released on April 30th 2013, having made it to 95 on the US Billboard 200, 21 on the US Billboard Independent Albums, and 26 on the US Billboard Top Rock Albums chart.

Originally comprised of acoustic guitarist Sean Bonnette, upright bass player Ben Gallaty, and drummer Justin James, Andrew Jackson Jihad has since undergone a number of personnel changes with Sean and Ben at the core. The band’s debut release arrived in 2005 with the album “Candy Cigarettes & Cap Guns”, which introduced the band’s notable acoustic instrumentation combined with with punk vocal delivery.

After releasing the EP “Issue Problems” and performing as a part of the New Times Music Showcase in 2006, the Andrew Jackson Jihads issued a split release with Ghost Mice in 2007. The band subsequently signed with Asian Man Records who released the Jihad’s sophomore full-length “People That Can Eat People Are the Luckiest People in the World” in 2007. The album raised the Jihad’s profile further and highlighted the often tongue-in-cheek lyricism covering topics including childhood addiction, poverty, existentialism, and religion.

Following the release of the EPs “Only God Can Judge Me” in 2008 and “Operation Stackola” in 2009, Andrew Jackson Jihad issued their third studio album “Can’t Maintain” in 2009, with a supporting tour of the U.S. and Europe. The Jihad’s fourth full-length “Knife Man” arrived in 2011 and was supported with a full U.S. tour alongside Frank Turner. The band expanded in 2012 with the addition of guitar and keyboard player Preston Bryan and drummer Deacon Batchelor. The live album “Live at the Crescent Ballroom” was released in 2013, and after signing with Side One Dummy Records, the band released the album “Christmas Island” in 2014.