Army of Freshmen

Message from Mike!

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:16:27 -0500

Friends of the Freshmen!

As most of you probably already know, our drummer, Mike, was not with us on our last tour overseas or at our recent local shows.

We are sad to officially announce that he is no longer in Army of Freshmen and his replacement for the past tour, our friend, James Schlachter or Jimmy, as most of you know him, will officially be taking his place. We’re currently hard at work with Jimmy writing the new record.

Jimmy, however, will have big shoes to fill as Mike was a member of Army of Freshmen for almost 7 years. In that time we traveled the world together and shared some of this band’s greatest moments on and off stage. Since he moved away from Ventura this past October there’s not a day we haven’t missed him.

He’s like a brother to all of us and it goes without saying we love him, wish him the best and we will keep you posted on his new musical endeavors as he will always be part of the Army of Freshmen family. We’d like to turn the floor over to the man himself, our brother and one hell of a drummer… Mike Milligan.

Dear Friends & Fans,

It is with great sadness that I announce today that I will no longer be playing drums with Army of Freshmen.

The past few months have brought about many amazing changes in my life, and with these changes came a few new opportunities. Unfortunately, these opportunities conflict with me being able to be a part of the band at this time.

Over the past 7 years Chris, Aaron, Owen, Kai, Dan and I have gotten to travel all over the world and do what we all love most, play music. I am proud of the music we made together and I cherish every moment of our adventures together. The 6 of us are best friends and will always be a family. I wish them nothing but the best in the future.

To our fans, there isn’t anything I can say that will ever express the way I feel toward you. You have always been there for us in every way, and I know you will continue to support the band in every way. That’s what makes you the best. I hope that you will all stay in touch @_MikeMilligan on Twitter.

I am truly privileged to have met and befriended so many of you.

Sincerely,

Millie

Army of Freshmen to play short set at benefit show this Friday, Jan. 20

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:11:20 -0500

Over the holidays, our close friend, not to mention the lead singer of our side project cover band, BIG BAND, Aaron Johnson, lost his younger sister, Julia Rivas in a tragic car accident. We’ll be one of many Ventura based artists who will be playing a short 15 minute set this Friday at Bombay Bar and Grill in Ventura to help raise funds to cover funeral expenses for her family. Friends like New Liberty, 8stops7, Carlism, Rey Fresco and many more will be performing. Music will go from 8 pm to 2am and we’ll be on at 9 pm. We urge anyone in the area to stop by Bombays as all proceeds at the door will be donated. There is also memorial fund set up as well at www.juliarivasmemorialfund.bbnow.org

Goes without saying but tragedies do make you realize how short and fragile life is. With that said… love you all and please be safe out there.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest AOF news!

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:53:00 -0500

Friends of the Freshmen!

We are back home from the UK Tour. It was an absolute blast despite the weather and a few injuries. For updates/pictures/interviews and all the latest on Owen’s accident… please follow us on

www.facebook.com/armyoffreshmenofficial

and

www.twitter.com/armyoffreshmen

While we do our best to update this official site, we do post much more frequently on facebook and twitter. Blame it on those damn cell phones!

Year End Wrap Up On The Way!

We leave today! During the UK tour follow us on Facebook for all the latest!

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 14:29:59 -0500

We leave today! During the UK tour follow us on Facebook for all the latest!

10 Tips For Surving the Music Biz- Guest Column By Chris in Female First

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:57:02 -0500

We’re just a day away from hopping on the big jet plane but to get ready for the tour- check out this guest column Chris wrote for the UK Celeb Website, Female First. It’s 10 Tips to Survive in the Music Biz. Bands, Musicians and people who date should read!

http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/features/Artist+Advice+Army+of+Freshmen-17140.html

Army of Freshmen United Kingdom Tour Starts Next Week!

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 04:42:54 -0500

Friends of the Freshmen!

We are officially one week out from the big UK tour. Things kick off with two headline warm up shows in Bristol on Monday, November 28 and then the next night Tuesday, November 29 at Club Revolution in Peterborough. Tickets are on sale now for both shows and will be available at the door.

Then the party official kicks into high gear with the Get Nice Or Die Trying Tour with Zebrahead and Attack Attack. We’ll be playing 11 shows throughout the UK and hitting some cities we haven’t been in quite awhile. Check the tour dates for cities and ticket information and be sure to follow us on facebook www.facebook.com/armyoffreshmenofficial and twitter www.twitter.com/armyoffreshmen for daily updates leading up to the tour and during! We update those sites more than here so if you want the latest- make sure you’re there!

Now back to getting ready for tour!

your boys bought to bring the noise,

Army of Freshmen

Army of Freshmen - Zebrahead United Kingdom Tour!

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 03:24:16 -0400

Friends of the Freshmen!

We are happy to announce we’ll be joining our homies, ZEBRAHEAD on their United Kingdom Tour this December!Tickets are on sale now and selling fast. This will be the PARTY of the year and we are beyond excited! Check out the dates and let us know when we’ll see you!

11/30 Folkestone - Quarterhouse

12/1 Norwich - Waterfront

12/2 Nottingham - Rescue Rooms

12/3 Leeds - Cockpit

12/4 Glasgow - Arches

12/5 Manchester - Club Academy

12/6 Birmingham - Academy 2

12/7 London - Islington Academy

12/8 Sheffield - Corporation

12/9 Newcastle - Academy

12/10 Swindon - Furnace

This Saturday Night- BIG BAND- the 10 man cover band featuring...

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 04:31:54 -0400

This Saturday Night- BIG BAND- the 10 man cover band featuring Army of Freshmen is doing their once a year show- this time headlining Spencer Makenzie’s End of Summer Block Party! It’s an awesome, two day, all ages, outdoor event in downtown Ventura. This is an event not to be missed! For more info visit www.spencermakenzies.com and we’ll see you Saturday Night when BIG BAND takes the stage to play the BIGGEST songs of all time!

Army of Freshmen return to the stage on Saturday, August 20 for...

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:38:55 -0400

Army of Freshmen return to the stage on Saturday, August 20 for two sets of AOF goodness outdoors at the gorgeous Olivas Adobe Park in Ventura!

Chris to play in Celebrity Softball Game This Weekend!

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:42:45 -0400

Obviously they have a different definition of celebrity then we do but… Chris has been invited to play in a celebrity softball game this Sunday, July 31 in Santa Paula, CA. at the Citrus Classic Balloon Festival. Scheduled to appear are baseball greats like Tommy Lasorda, Robin Yount, Greg Gagne, Maury Wills and Hollywooders like JK Simmons (Juno) and Mark Harmon (CSI). Lots of rumors of big names swinging by too… we’ll take some pictures of Chris striking out and be sure to post on Monday. If you’re in the area… come on out!

Last night our very own Aaron Goldberg was on the TLC TV show,...

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:21:28 -0400

Last night our very own Aaron Goldberg was on the TLC TV show, “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant”… this is not a joke. He stirring performance as a doctor is already gathering Emmy talk! Paging Doctor Goldy… paging Doctor Goldy…

New interview w/ Chris and Aaron w/ Alternative Vision Magazine!

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:15:55 -0400

New interview w/ Chris and Aaron w/ Alternative Vision Magazine!

Some great photos by Daniel Hase from Groezrock in Belgium!

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 20:06:42 -0400

Some great photos by Daniel Hase from Groezrock in Belgium!

Live footage from the European Tour!

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:31:38 -0400

Live footage from the European Tour!:

Our homie, the great photographer, Jon Luton was kind enough to put together some footage he took from side stage during the European Tour last month- check it out and if you’re just interested in seeing Chris dive off a 25 foot balcony- skip to the end!

AOF and Big Band Summer Shows Announced and more!

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 15:59:26 -0400

Friends of the Freshmen!

Long time, no rhyme. Hope everyone is having a great summer so far! After the amazing European Tour, we’ll be a little on the quiet side online but we’re back in the mix and happy to announce 2 local shows this summer.

First we’ll be headlining the City of Ventura’s Under The Stars Concert Series on Saturday, August 20th. It’ll be a night of AOF only and we’ll be doing two full sets outdoors at the lovely Olivas Adobe Park. Picnics will be organized!

Then just a week later we’ll be returning to Spencer Makenzie’s Block Party in downtown Ventura but this time it will be with our every so often side project… BIG BAND! The 10 man, double drummer, double bass, triple axe cover band. We’ll be headlining on Saturday, August 27. Also on the two day bill is legendary guitar hero, Dick Dale but since Chris is playing guitar in BIG BAND and has recently mastered the B minor chord, clearly there can only be one guitar hero… we’ll leave you decide who that is. Choose wisely.

Meanwhile, we’ll be spending the summer writing for a next recording. We’ll be doing some co writes with some pretty awesome artists as well as talking to some great producers which should have us back in the studio this fall and on the road sooner than you think.

Till then though, we intend to get active online, lots to share with you. So keep checking back and spread the good word!

Really miss everyone out there- thanks as always for all the kind messages, facebooks and twitters.

your summer loving homies,

Chris, Aaron, Owen, Dan, Kai, Mike

ARMY OF FRESHMEN’S NEW VIDEO FOR “BODY PARTS”...

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 21:36:16 -0400

ARMY OF FRESHMEN’S NEW VIDEO FOR “BODY PARTS” IS FINALLY HERE! ENJOY!

AOF this Friday in Ventura- Video Premiere next Tuesday in Ventura!

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:22:05 -0400

Army of Freshmen are playing an over 21 warm up show before we leave for Europe this Friday at Bombay in Ventura, CA. We’ll be rocking with our homies, Too Many Chiefs (featuring our old road manager- Bobby!) and Love’s In The Error. Music starts at 10pm. Come on and out have drink with the boys!

Also… the premiere of the “Body Parts” video is taking place next Tuesday at The Ventura County Museum. The Ventura Film Society has asked us to screen it after their monthly movie, “No One Knows About Persian Cats”. It goes down at 7pm and our video will screen immediately after. A portion of the proceeds will go to help fund our UK tour- so if you’re in So Cal- come out and support! Details soon on the release date for the video online! Till then check out this sweet pic from the shoot!

Video Shoot was amazing! Tour starts in 1 month!

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:13:49 -0400

The shoot for the “Body Parts” video was amazing! Editing starts this week. We’ll let you know when it’s ready and where to see it! Meanwhile the UK/Euro Tour starts in exactly 1 month! make sure you get those tickets and round up the posse! The AOF boys are on the way!

Sweet Review of "Body Parts" single from Shattered Glass

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:51:19 -0500

Sweet Review of "Body Parts" single from Shattered Glass

Press Release for the Spring Break Tour and "Body Parts" Video!

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:03:50 -0500

Army of Freshmen Head to the UK this April & to the Wild West in new video

California’s Army of Freshmen, one of the hardest working independent bands on the pop rock/pop-punk scene, are returning to the United Kingdom and Europe this April to support their brand new single and video, “Body Parts”. The single will be released in late April to coincide with the tour.

The energetic six piece band will be on the European Festival circuit this spring, performing at Belgium’s Groezrock Festival, Paaspop Festival in the Netherlands and France’s Artefact’s Festival alongside artists like The Descendants, NOFX, Dropkick Murphys and Apocalyptica. In between the festival dates, they’ll be hitting the UK for 5 headline club shows, their first UK shows since last summer’s critically acclaimed set at the Sonisphere Festival.

“Body Parts” from the Close Encounter EP marks the band’s return to studio and precedes work on a brand new album. The single’s accompanying video will be a parody of old Western movies, with the band playing a set of inept gun slingers. Filming later this month, the video will premier online and on TV in late March.

As the band’s front-man Chris Jay explains, “We’re not tough guys. There’s been a real movement for bands to get more tattoos, more piercings, scream more, take tougher looking pictures. We’ve been at it a long time and part of that is because we know who we are. We’re fun. We put on an energetic show. We try and write catchy songs and make funny videos. There’s enough depressing and angry music out there. We do our part to balance the scales a little bit.”

Army of Freshmen 2011 Spring Break Tour

15/4 Artefacts Festival, France

16/4 The Quarterhouse, Folkestone, UK

17/4 Talking Heads, Southampton, UK

18/4 The Well, Leeds, UK

19/4 Moho Live, Manchester, UK

20/4 Islington Academy 2, London UK

22/4 Groezrock Festival, Belgium

24/4 Paaspop Festival, Netherlands

To request interviews, review/photo passes and to receive a link to the brand new video when available please contact:

EMMA WATSON at FifteenThree PR:

Emmerr@gmail.com / 07768 636 500

For more information on Army of Freshmen visit:

www.armyoffreshmen.com

facebook.com/armyoffreshmenofficial