Down For an 8

Down for an 8 formed late in the summer of 1998. Rob and Bob had been wanting to start up a hardcore/punkrock band and since Rob played guitar and Bob played bass, they decided to go for it. The only problem was who would sing and who would play drums. They decided to ask Gavin who had been friends with Bob since they were 8. Surprisingly, Gavin said yes. For drums they asked Mike Demio who also said yes. The first Down for an 8 practices were actaully held outside in Rob's front yard. Things didnt work out with Mike so the band practiced for a few months as a three piece with Bob learning the drums until they could find a real drummer. That day never came and in the Winter of 98/99 long time friend Ben joined the band to be permanent bass player. The band was now complete with Gavin on vox, Rob on guitar, Ben on bass, and Bob on drums. They wrote a dozen songs and learned a few covers (minor threat-"seeing red;" side by side-"the time is now;" wide awake -"friendship;" and underdog-"back to back"). Their first show was July 14, 1999 at Deleratos in Absecon with 3against1, to each his own, esteem, rise above, probable cause, and december. Things went over very well and lots of local kids came out to support. They went on to play thier first big show on November 14, 1999 with Rain on the Parade, Full Speed Ahead and In My Eyes at the Manville Elks Lodge. Having a hard time getting shows (due to the awesome political hardcore scene) Down for an 8 played mostly only local shows for the next couple years at Jacks Racks, various basement and garage shows, rec. centers, and what was then called the manahawkin skateway(now known as froggers). They played with many bands such as for the record, infairverona, kissing the hands of wrath, midd december, STRIKING DISTANCE, DESPERATE MEASURES, the primitives/Void Control, commonwealth, something in the water, among others. They were also the first band to get kicked out of Jacks Racks due to stage dives off of the pool tables durring the Underdog cover! The band started to have some problems when Gavin, Bob, and Ben went to college in fall of 2000. Durring this time Bob would practice with Rob on weekends occasionally completing new songs. In the Spring of 2001 they FINALLY recorded their first (and only) demo cd. After that things started to slow down. They added friend Barry Formica on second guitar in hopes to have a fuller sound. Only three songs were written after Barry joined the band and practices were harder and harder to arrange with everyone at school. Their final show was in January of 2003 in Anthony Fennelli's basement with For the Record. This was not supposed to be a "final show" but it turned out that way as Ben moved to Florida and Gavin, Bob, and Barry started the band Test of Courage. Just recently Gavin, Rob, and Bob have started playing the old Down for an 8 songs again and hope to have at least a "final show" or a couple shows depending on how things go. This was such a fun part of all of their lives that its something very hard to give up. Playing these songs now definitely bring back great memories of long time friends, past shows, and that feeling we all had when we first experienced hardcore and punkrock shows for the first time.