EESCH

EESCH is a pop-punk/alternative band that has been around for a long, long time. They write catchy, hook-laden tunes that everyone ends up singing along to.

When Brian Schmid went off to college in 1988, he was a man who had a dream. The dream of being in a rock and roll band. As soon as he bought a drumset, Brian and roomate Gary Kirshen began churning out punk rock anthems like Good, This House Stinks Like Garbage, and I Hate the Rain. The bass-less duo made friends throughout the dorm building with their all-hours rocking -- the haunting guitar work and ethereal vocals of Mr Kirshen, combined with the rock-solid rhythms of the man soon to be known as 'Beef', making for the perfect background music for studying and learning of all kinds.

But something was missing. Bass, of course, but also the perfect vocalist to take the band to the next level. When Gary's friend Bryan Ballard visited his collegiate friends, when he and Beef, in a drunken stupor, came up with the name EESCH -- then, truly, a new age of pop had begun. His flawless Morrissey impression proving he had the pipes, Ballard became the new singer and Gary moved over to bass guitar.

Alive with new purpose, EESCH began bringing their pop to the masses. A grueling two or three shows at the Spirit Club brought them a good four or five new fans, based largely on the strength of their new hit Cheeseburger. The trio wrote dozens of songs, but all too soon, diplomas were earned and friends moved apart. Gary remained in California while Brian and Bryan returned to the East coast.

The two soon ended up in Gaithersburg, MD, where they recruited Beef's

brother Jeff to take Gary's place on the four string. After a year of furious song writing, though, disheartened by an inability to get gigs, Ballard moved back home to Rome, Georgia. Beef soon followed, and EESCH entered yet another phase, with Guy Barfield attempting to fill the void left by the younger Schmid.

Even this incarnation was not meant to last, however.

From 1997 until the present, the two Briyan’s (ha! Get it?! Brian & Bryan) moved back to CA, formed the band again, with Gary, played some shows (San Diego/Orange County), were “let go” from their computer programming positions, and until July 2002 each resided in different states (CA, MD, and GA). In between that time, Aston of Boss Tuneage Records in the UK heard EESCH on MP3.com, and promptly signed the band, and put out their debut album, “Candy Store.” (Whew!)

They have recently recorded 70% of their second album, and Beef’s lil’ Bro, Jeff, will be putting the finishing touches on it in the coming months. Beef has moved to Chattanooga, TN and re-formed the band with Bryan Ballard, and Guy Barfield on bass.

They have been playing regularly in, and around the Chattanooga Area, and have steadily been gaining new fans.

Yes. Chattanooga Area/GA. We used to play San Diego/Orange County. Yes.

Descendents, Buddy Holly, Green Day...We enjoy catchy choruses with good backing vocals, along with distorted guitars.