Balance and Composure

Balance and Composure is an American alternative rock band from Doylestown, Pennsylvania.^[2] They formed in the winter of 2007, after the breakup of two local Doylestown bands.^[5]

Balance and Composure
Balance and Composure playing at Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia
Background information
Origin	Doylestown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	Alternative rock^[1] post-hardcore^[1] emo^[2] post-grunge^[2] soft grunge^[3]^[4]
Years active	2007–2019, 2023–present
Labels	Vagrant, UNFD (AU/NZ), No Sleep, Big Scary Monsters (EU), Memory Music
Members	Jon Simmons Andy Slaymaker Erik Petersen Matt Warner Dennis Wilson

The band's music is often suggested having similarities to bands such as Title Fight and Nirvana.^[6] Balance and Composure's early influences included Neutral Milk Hotel, Nirvana, Sunny Day Real Estate,^[7] Jawbreaker, and Braid.^[8]

They released three studio albums and two EPs over the initial course of their career. Their second album The Things We Think We're Missing reached number 51 on the Billboard 200, number 10 on the Independent Albums, number 13 on the Modern Rock/Alternative Albums and number 16 on the Rock Albums charts.^[9]

On December 14, 2017, on Taylor Madison's Strange Nerve podcast, vocalist Jon Simmons announced that their upcoming anniversary tour would be their last.^[10] On January 14, 2019 a press release went out on the band's Twitter account announcing a farewell tour. Six dates were confirmed, saying that "These shows are the only shows we have planned in our future, we would love if you joined us one last time."^[11] The band later added extra dates due to high demand. These shows had select support from Tigers Jaw, mewithoutYou, and Touche Amore.

On April 11, 2023, the band surprise released the 7-inch single Too Quick to Forgive with two new songs, "Savior Mode" and "Last to Know". The release was produced by longtime collaborator Will Yip and released via his label, Memory Music. The band also announced a handful of reunion shows with select support from Webbed Wing, Grist Mil, Fleshwater, Seahaven, Death Bells, Choir Boy, and Toledo.^[12] Simmons, Andy Slaymaker (guitar), Erik Petersen (guitar), and Matt Warner (bass) returned in the formation of the 2023 iteration of the band. They were joined by new drummer Dennis Wilson, formerly of Saves the Day and Every Avenue.

Discography

Studio albums

• Separation (2011)
• The Things We Think We're Missing (2013)
• Light We Made (2016)

EPs

• I Just Want to Be Pure (2008)
• Only Boundaries (2009)
• Balance and Composure/Tigers Jaw split (2010)
• Acoustic 7" (2012)
• Braid & Balance and Composure split (2012)
• Off the Board: A Studio 4 Family Compilation (2013)
• Postcard/Revelation 7" (2016)
• Slow Heart 7" (2017)
• Too Quick to Forgive 7" (2023)

Music videos

Year	Song	Director
2012	"Quake"	Dan Centrone
2013	"Reflection"
	"Tiny Raindrop"^[13]	Alex Henery
2016	"Postcard"	Jason Michael Roberts
	"Afterparty"
2023	"Savior Mode"	Jon Simmons, Erik Petersen, Britain Weyant
	"Last to Know"	Dessie Jackson

Members

Current members

• Jon Simmons – lead vocals (2007–2019, 2023–present), third guitar (2010–2019, 2023–present), lead guitar (2007–2010)
• Andy Slaymaker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2007–2019, 2023–present)
• Matt Warner – bass (2007–2019, 2023–present)
• Erik Petersen – lead guitar (2010–2019, 2023–present)
• Dennis Wilson – drums (2023-present)

Former members

• Bailey Van Ellis – drums (2007-2019)

References

1. Cohen, Ian (December 30, 2014). "The Year In Post-Hardcore: Has the New Wave Crested?". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved April 15, 2016. He was also joking, but then again, post-hardcore isn't known for its sense of humor. Despite his claims that he was making a tongue-in-cheek statement, this so-called new wave of friends and scene compatriots were some of the most exciting bands going; Touché Amoré, La Dispute, Defeater, Pianos Become the Teeth, and Make Do and Mend were considered the core, and the already-elastic boundaries stretched to include classicist alt-rock acts like Balance and Composure, melodic punk such as Title Fight and even Into It. Over It., a decidedly non-hardcore singer-songwriter vehicle.
2. Artist Biography by Steve Leggett. "Balance & Composure | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
3. Cohen, Ian. "As You Please Citizen". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
4. Enis, Eli (October 12, 2022). "A Glaring Lack of Grunge in the Grunge Revival". Retrieved October 22, 2023.
5. "Balance and Composure". Punknews.org. August 26, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
6. . No Sleep Records. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
7. Raynard, Chad (October 24, 2011). "Balance and Composure". Scene Point Blank. from the original on November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023. I guess our main influence is 90's bands like Neutral Milk Hotel, Nirvana, and Sunny Day Real Estate.
8. Harrington, Gregg (October 14, 2013). "Jon Simmons (Balance and Composure)". punknews.org. from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
9. "The Things We Think We're Missing - Balance & Composure | Awards". AllMusic. September 9, 2013. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
10. Dickman, Maggie (December 14, 2017). "Did Balance And Composure split up? - News - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
11. Blais-Billie, Braudie (January 15, 2019). "Balance and Composure Announce Final Tour". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
12. Sacher, Andrew (April 11, 2023). "Balance & Composure are back! Two new songs out now, shows announced". Brooklyn Vegan.
13. . Rolling Stone. November 13, 2013. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2014.

External links

• Official website