Life After Liftoff

Alternative Radio is now playing our "Memory Of You" EP. - “Memory of You” on current rotation

Life After Liftoff Interview on Tuesday, November 14th. - The Exchange

Life After Liftoff was interviewed on November 3, 2011 by Fearless Radio.



- Fearless Radio

The guys of Life After Liftoff were featured on the show and interviewed. - Ransack Radio

Check out the write up about Life After Liftoff where they were featured as artist of the day. - Uncharted Music News

Check out the radio interview with Lee from Life After Liftoff - New Music Inferno Radio

Check out the "Memory of You" EP review. - Relate Magazine

Check out the review of Life After Liftoff on AltSounds.com - AltSounds.com

Check out Truth or Sarah's "Memory of You" EP Review. - Truth or Sarah

Check out Unsigned Ohio's first ever compilation CD where they feature "Someday" by Life After Liftoff. - Unsigned Ohio

The Comedy Point with Soul Joel interview the band on their upcoming tour in NYC/NJ on November 3rd, 2011 - The Comedy Point Radio

Life After Liftoff's "Memory of You" music video was selected to play in over 1500 stores around the world for the month of November 2011. - Journeys Shoe Store

Today we are bringing you a stream of Life After Liftoff's new single, "Memory of You." Head to their AP.net Profile or the replies to check it out. The track comes from their new EP of the same title. - Absolutepunk.net

Who are the members of your band, and what do each of you do?



Ryan Chatterton – Guitar, Keyboard, and vocals
Jason Sigritz – Bass and vocals

Lee Weiss – Guitar and lead vocals

Dan Malloy – Drums and vocals





How did your band get started?

RC: Lee started this band on his own. I saw an advertisement at Wright State University and called him up. We got along great and then I brought in Dan. Everything has clicked since Jason has joined and we have been together ever since.



LW: Back in late 2008 my old band, Maintain Composure, ended and I had started writing initially different stuff than the other guys in the band and I knew that I wanted to do something a little more mature….a little more grandiose and had a message because for five years I was in a band that was just about jokes and self defamation. We pretty much ripped on each other and put each other down, it was all in good fun, and for a couple years I really tried to find the right kind of people to work with, the people that would share the same vision and want the same things. Last August or October, somewhere within there, I met Ryan. We go to the same University, Wright State, and I had flyers up in the creative arts center looking for lead guitarists, I play guitar just not very good [laughs], and Ryan answered the ad, we met up. We both grew up on the same music and Ryan came out and played it. We just kind of clicked. Then, he brought Dan in; they grew up together and played in a bunch of bands. Then, Jason joined us a little bit after that, we went to the same high school and are in the same fraternity, he goes to Wright State as well, and ever since October or November, everything has been kind of full force from there. I couldn’t have asked for anyone else. They are all incredibly sexy, good looking, and pretty great musicians.


As a band, where do you hope to see yourselves in five years?


RC: Non-stop touring! Maybe being the first band to play in space….



JS: I am sure we would all like to be continuing to play together and hopefully be able to have music be our careers.



LW: I see our band being the first band in space doing a music video and taking our pants off, watch out MUSE we will make it first! How you might ask I will secure an atlas rocket from NASA and away we go!! yea so we might deal with congressional hearings that is just the risk we will take to be innovative :)





If you were talking to someone who didn’t know any of your music, what song would you recommend them to listen to?



RC: I think that “Someday” is a great picture of what our band it about…passionate, hope filled lyrics with catchy melodies, arena rock guitars and pounding drums.



JS: I would recommend “Someday,” it shows our ability to layer in the various talents of the band, as well as being a song that is more acceptable to all musical tastes.



LW: I would tell them to listen to our first single ” Someday ” then tell them to go to iTunes and pick up our New EP ” Memory of you ” and then go home, lock their bedroom doors and dance naked to our music and sing along!





You guys were awarded the 2011 Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands to perform on this year’s Warped Tour. What went through your mind when you found out you won?

RC: “Oh My God…We need to practice!” I was so happy I called my mom as soon as I could.



JS: We all believed that we had something special, but that type of honor comes with confirmation. It says someone out there in the music industry appreciated what we are doing.



LW: I was shocked,I have dreamed about playing warped since i was 15 years old it really was a childhood dream come true.





How has it been being able to play on Warped Tour?



RC: The fulfillment of a childhood dream. It was so hot but I did not even notice while we were playing. It was so cool to have our tent just down the row from “Less Than Jake!”



JS: It was an honor to share the stage with so many amazing bands.



LW: it was one of the best days of my life, It was hot, it was humid, it was dirty and long but damn I never felt more alive! I wish and hope we can do it over and over again!!!





Who do you look up to musically?

RC: I have always been open to many different styles of music but my favorite is 80’s music. I love Bon Jovi, he only writes hits and all their songs are amazing.



LW: If you know me and for those who don’t I love and will always love Blink-182 90’s pop punk changed my life and other bands that were huge for me, New found Glory, Taking Back Sunday, Jimmy Eat World, H20, Fugazi, Motion City Soundtrack, Greenday, The Clash, U2, Angles and Airwaves, Midtown, Descendents, Sum41, The Cure, Rancid, The starting line







Describe your music in three words.



RC: Uplifting power pop



JS: Arena Pop Punk



LW: Alien Pop Punk



What do your - Peter Vidani

“Life After Liftoff is making an impact in the music industry with
their latest EP released at the beginning of the summer. The entire EP
and their hit single, “Someday,” off their EP, “Memory of You” was
produced and crafted by Tyler Smyth of Let’s Get It. Let’s Get It has
been a huge supporter throughout this journey with additional help
with photography and music videos by Taylor Foiles. The official image
of LAL, their first music video for “Someday” and their just released
second video for “Memory of You” featured exclusively on PureVolume,
was shot by Mr. Foiles.
Within the last three months, Life After Liftoff has gained some
tremendous support from publications such as: Skope magazine, The
Jukebox blog, Buckeye Music Magazine, Roar Music Press, and The Sound
Alarm and just last week they were awarded as the winner of the 2011
Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands to perform at this years Warped Tour.
In addition, James McQuiston, editor of NeuFutur Magazine stated,
“Make it a point to pick up the “Memory of You” EP, warp it, and come
back in a few months when Life After Liftoff has released their
“Everything Is You” LP. With the germination of the ideas, sounds, and
approaches taken during this EP, I have little doubt in my mind that
their forthcoming LP will be one of 2011’s best albums. If they happen
to be hitting up your stomping grounds, figure out a way to see them
live – while there are only brief nods to it, I feel that the raw
sound that the band is capable of would only be more brilliant in a
live setting.”

Be sure to check out Life After Liftoff’s official websites
Lifeafterliftoff.com, Facebook.com/LifeAfterLiftoff,
Twitter.com/LALBAND, Purevolume.com/LifeAfterLiftoff for more
information about upcoming shows, merchandise, and a sneak peak at
some of their new songs.”


1.What inspired your passion for music and who has been there supporting you from the beginning?
LW: I grew up listening to Motown, the Beatles and then at 9 years old I was introduced to Blink-182 and pop punk the rest was history! I picked up a guitar and said I can do what they are doing and started writing, recording and playing. From the time I was 15, my Mom has been my biggest supporter and my family has been incredible along with friends and a few certain women in my life have been nothing but incredible I love them all very much.
Ryan: My family was very supportive of music. My father played guitar and started my interest in playing. I also did music in high school and was very active there.
2. How do you feel about people downloading music rather then buying physical copies?
LW: It happens, I am not a fan of it if it’s illegal, people don’t just go steal someones art from their studio or a car from a dealership so why are you stealing from the individuals who give you something from themselves, a part of their being, their emotions! But if a band gives away music I think it can do wonders, but I grew up going to a record store and buying a CD. It is rare now since I use iTunes primarily but I love going to pick up a CD.

Jason: I have no preference; I am honored for them to listen to it in whatever media form is easiest. With ease brings enjoyment and people enjoying our music means they are going to share that with people around them.

Ryan: I think it is good and bad. I remember how much fun it was to buy a CD and read the liner notes. I always enjoyed that aspect. I also think it is great how availible the music is to everyone in the world now.

3.How do you feel about the music industry today?

LW: It’s a mess right now, it is always shifting and changing but it needs to be reunited again, it’s scary to think that bands need myspace again to connect everything together!

Jason:I feel like it has completely changed, physical media is out, and with the rampant illegal downloading the industry is now more centered on digital media and live performance. The way a band progresses upward has also changed drastically. Bands can be discovered much more easily now through the internet especially through websites like facebook and purevolume.

Ryan: It is slightly harder to make a living now just playing music and touring. It does not seem like kids want to go to shows as much as when I was younger.

4.Where do you see yourself five years from now?

LW: Being the first band doing a music video from space, most likely going through a congressional hearing about me commandeering a shuttle from NASA, and touring our lives away playing in front of every kid we can and giving everything we have, I will not be satisfied until we inspire and entertain every fan we have!!! yes that means you Aussie land and even the universe!


Jason: I can’t say, I work for a government contractor when I’m not trying to be a rockstar so I could be anywhere, I do know I would like to still be rocking hard.
Ryan: Hopefully still playing, writing, and enjoying music.

5. Do you think si - Dani Felt

Recommended If You Like: Midtown, Relient K, Motion City Soundtrack

Life After Liftoff are a pop-punk band hailing straight from Dayton, Ohio looking to create and share upbeat, genuine pop-punk songs. The band formed in 2008 after members old bands disbanded and decided to come together and form Life After Liftoff, and have already made an impression amongst fans and peers in the scene alike. This interview was about a month in the making, but I couldn’t be happier to be able to reveal it to you all today, so read up below and check out the band on facebook to stay up to date with them!

Can you state your name and role in Life After Liftoff?


Dan Malloy - drummer, backing vocals, the guy usually wearing a hat
Jason Sigritz – bass, backing vocals
Ryan Chatterton – guitar, keyboards, vocals
Lee W: My names is Lee Weiss I sing and play guitar in Life After Liftoff

How did the band come together?

DM: Lee tells this full story the best, but I know Ryan and I joined the band around the same time, after Ryan saw a flyer for auditions that Lee put up. Ryan and I have known each other and played in bands together for years, so he asked me to audition for bass. After some lineup changes, I ended up at the drum kit, and we decided to find another good looking, extremely talented person to play bass, so we called Jason, who I knew from working with him previously. And now we’re making great music together.

RC: Lee started this band on his own. I saw an advertisement at Wright State University and called him up. We got along great and then I brought in Dan. Everything has clicked since Jason has joined and we have been together ever since.

LW: Back in late 2008 my old band, Maintain Composure, ended and I had started writing initially different stuff than the other guys in the band and I knew that I wanted to do something a little more mature….a little more grandiose and had a message because for five years I was in a band that was just about jokes and self defamation. We pretty much ripped on each other and put each other down, it was all in good fun, and for a couple years I really tried to find the right kind of people to work with, the people that would share the same vision and want the same things. Last August or October, somewhere within there, I met Ryan. We go to the same University, Wright State, and I had flyers up in the creative arts center looking for lead guitarists, I play guitar just not very good [laughs], and Ryan answered the ad, we met up. We both grew up on the same music and Ryan came out and played it. We just kind of clicked. Then, he brought Dan in; they grew up together and played in a bunch of bands. Then, Jason joined us a little bit after that, we went to the same high school and are in the same fraternity, he goes to Wright State as well, and ever since October or November, everything has been kind of full force from there. I couldn’t have asked for anyone else. They are all incredibly sexy, good looking, and pretty great musicians.

How would you say you guys have grown since you first started out?

DM: We’ve actually come a long way quickly from our first shows, which were less than stellar, in terms of our playing/singing and our stage performance. We’ve added a lot more complex harmonies and other musical elements since then, and we’ve also learned how to get a crowd going pretty well. Off stage we’ve grown a lot too, trying to be a loving musical family that lives and plays well together.

JS: We went from a group with a bunch of dreams to a band with goals.

RC: We are getting more fun on stage and we are learning how to interact, not kill each other with guitar spins and ninja kicks.

LW: I think our live show is on its way to becoming exactly what we all discussed a year ago. We are getting ready to add in interludes and lighting which I can’t wait, I really geek out when it comes to lighting. I love lasers, LEDs everywhere! I also think as a band we are finally cohesive; we read each other so well. Ryan and Dan both can read when I am about to do something stupid and always make it work and Jason always is the kind of go between so I am lucky they have my back! It has been a growth for all of us, I started this band with a concept and a story and I think everyone has brought a new addition to that initial birth, which is awesome. It takes time as musicians to learn one another but we have this connection that cannot be denied.

What are some of your biggest musical influences? And what would you describe your sound as to those who don’t know your band?

DM: It’s not too hard to figure out who some of our influences are if you’ve heard or seen us. We frequently get likened to blink-182 along with Angels and Airwaves, and at our shows you can definitely find influences ranging from classical music to bands like New Found Glory and No Doubt. I think we’ve found a great way to pull in this wi - Logan White

Based in Dayton, Ohio the spirited musical styling’s of ‘Life After Liftoff’ is prepared to soar into a high realm of achievement and entertain a wider galaxy of fans. Led by Lee Weiss, the bands sound is self described as “alien pop punk” and its being translated successfully with the release of their 3- song EP ’Memory of You.’

Honestly, the genre of ‘punk’ is rather foreign to me as it’s a far contrast from my Barry Manilow CD collection. I began the tread carefully into listening to the EP, not wanting to be swallowed whole by demented screams and overbearing instrumentals, but quickly felt at ease and settled into the journey. At the end of final track, I wasn’t relieved that it was over, but instead I wanted to return to the beginning.

Rather than just being a conglomeration of boisterous sounds, ’Life After Liftoff’ excels at creating a pleasant mix of rhythmic music. The lyrics can be understood, are sung in harmony as opposed to simply shouted and most importantly have layers of meaning, which tells a story.
It’s the power of influence within the music that serves as the bands main inspiration.
“Life After Liftoff started with the idea that if you look around the world and you are in a bad place yourself, you have the power to change your own circumstances as well as the world around you. Having the opportunity to get that message out there is a humbling thing for all of us. Our hope is that people walk away from our shows inspired and feel there is hope to make changes for the better in the world,” said Weiss.

Their purpose is made evident in each of the songs on the EP, which forces the listener to look inside themselves for reflection. More than just a musical journey, ’Life After Liftoff’ provides a trip that explores the avenues of our heart. The title track ’Memory of You.’ centers around the heartbreak of moving on after being separated from a loved one. It’s tune is contagiously catchy and has the potential to be a hit single. ’The Promise,’ is another perfectly structured mix of words and instrumentals that launches that touches on launching down a path of newfound happiness after suffering a loss. You will enjoy this song…that’s my promise to you! And the world of endless possibilities that await us, if we have the courage to try is the basis of ‘Someday.’

A common trait with ‘Life After Liftoff’ is the band excels at blending in, they accentuate the positive. The lyrics aren’t overshadowed by any electric guitar riffs or mind numbing drum solos but they are instead highlighted by the accompaniment.

Beyond sharing a passion for music, a number of the bands members also attended Wright State University; Weiss, Jason Sigritz (bass, backing vocals, keys), and Ryan Chatterton (guitar, backing vocals and keys). The links continue as Sigritz worked with Dan Malloy (drummer and backing vocals) at Guitar Center, and Malloy and Chatterton had played in previous bands together for years.

“We all love recording and writing,” said Weiss, “but the real energy happens when we’re out there performing, giving people the opportunity to hear our music, creating catchy songs, blending a punk foundation with pop sensibilities is just the beginning of what we are trying to convey.”

Upcoming chances to see ‘Life After Liftoff,’ who just completed the Warped Tour, are August 20 at Blind Bob’s, August 25 at Canal Street Tavern (Round 3 of the Dayton Band playoffs), August 28 and September 9 at The Attic, and September 16 at W.O Wrights. For more information on tour dates, merchandise and a sneak peek of their songs visit ‘Life After Liftoff’s’ official website, http://lifeafterliftoff.tumblr.com/ or find them on Facebook.

http://lifeafterliftoff.tumblr.com



Continue reading on Examiner.com 'Life After Liftoff' blasts off from Dayton - Dayton Performing Arts | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/performing-arts-in-dayton/life-after-liftoff-blasts-off-from-dayton#ixzz1XNXnGpa0 - Mike Woody

Rising from the ground of Dayton, Ohio, Life After Liftoff is storming the music scene and making a name for themselves. These guys have an EP under their belt, that is anything but mediocre, and are on their way to recording their very first LP. Our staff member, Samantha Purcell-Musgrave, got a chance to chat with the guys about where the band comes from, what their plans are for the future, and how they can relate to Rebecca Black.
SPM: Hey! Can we get a little intro of who you are and what you do in the band?
Lee Weiss: I sing and play guitar in Life After Liftoff.
Jason Sigritz: I play bass and do back-up vocals…ish. [laughs]
Dan Malloy: I play drums and do some backing vocals, as well.
Ryan Chatterton: I play guitar, some keyboard, and do some backing vocals.
SPM: I see that you guys are from Dayton, Ohio which houses names like Hawthorne Heights and The Devil Wears Prada. Do you find yourselves ever being compared to those bands?
LW: I think I can say collectively, no. I think we’re so different from Hawthorne that we don’t really get compared. We all know the guys in different ways, but I don’t think we really get compared. I think, if anything, we fall under the same vein as bands from Dayton, as far as the pop influence, very much like This Love or Let’s Get It.
SPM: What is the story behind the formation of Life After Liftoff?
JS, DM, & RC: This is a Lee question. [laughs]
LW: Back in late 2008 my old band, Maintain Composure, ended and I had started writing initially different stuff than the other guys in the band and I knew that I wanted to do something a little more mature. [Something] a little more grandiose and had a message because for five years I was in a band that was just about jokes and [basically] self defamation. We pretty much ripped on each other and put each other down, it was all in good fun, and for a couple years I really tried to find the right kind of people to work with. The people that would share the same vision and want the same things. Last August or October, somewhere within there, I met Ryan. We go to the same University, Wright State, and I had flyers up in the creative arts center looking for lead guitarists, I play guitar just not very good [laughs], and Ryan answered the ad [then] we met up. We both grew up on the same music and Ryan came out and played it. We just kind of clicked. Then, he brought Dan in; they grew up together and played in a bunch of bands. Then, Jason joined us a little bit after that, we went to the same high school and are in the same fraternity, he goes to Wright State as well, and ever since October or November, everything has been kind of full force from there. I couldn’t have asked for anyone else. They are all incredibly sexy, good looking, and pretty great musicians. [laughs]
RC: And we’re humble. [laughs]
SPM: Where did the band name originate from?
JS, DM, & RC: Lee!
LW: [laughs] Umm…honestly I keep a notepad next to my bed because I usually wake up with lyric ideas or song ideas. Life After Liftoff is something that came to me in a dream and the next day I tried to figure out what it all meant because sometimes I come up with the craziest things that don’t really make any sense to anyone else. I have to explain it somehow. I went through a period of time through relationships and friends that on two different sides kind of threw my life upside down and I had to rebuild from there. So, the idea of Life After Liftoff comes from no matter what you’ve been through, no matter if it is a hard time with family, friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, or whatever you can change your outlook on life. If you can change your outlook around you and change the world around yourself, you can do it everywhere else. Kind of spreading that hope in that the idea of promise that you believe what you do and you back it. You know, the outcome can be filled with infinite possibilities.
RC: That was a really long answer.
LW: Hey! I had to explain it somehow!
RC: Lee woke up from a dream and it was in flaming letters above his bed, Life After Liftoff!
LW: It was like a sign from God, like a burning bush. [laughs]
SPM: Well, now I like the name even more! [laughs] Before the name reminded me of a rocketship!
LW: Our goal, I think as a band, is to do the first music video in space.
SPM: Lyric wise, how do you come up with them? What are your influences behind your music?
RC: Lee.
LW: [laughs] Thanks guys! I like to write from life experiences. I think we all kind of share that commonality as far as writing. I use metaphors that people can relate to. For instance, our first single “Someday” is very much like the focus of the band name and encompasses everything that the band believes in. It all comes from that. I think that if you can’t write from your heart, and be real about it, then people can’t connect to you.
SPM: Now, I know you have an EP released, A Memory of You, which is a constant repeat on my iTunes, and are currently taking a jour - Samantha Purcell-Musgrave

THEY’RE FROM: Dayton, OH
THEY’RE LIKE: Let’s Get It, This Love, Angels and Airwaves
THEY’RE ROCKING: Memory of You EP
THEY’RE ON: Official Site
Listen to your idols. Members of New Found Glory, Paramore, All Time Low, Let’s Get It, and Hit the Lights are raving about Life After Liftoff, don’t you think it’s time you do too? Formed by frontman Lee Weiss after the indefinite hiatus of his previous band, Maintain Composure, Life After Liftoff has managed to make a name for themselves – all in a hometown where every genre but theirs is flourishing. They even beat out the best and earned the opportunity to play the Ernie Ball stage this year in Cincinnati.

Why should our readers choose to listen to Life After Liftoff over the thousands of other unsigned bands out there?
Lee: We will give you an ego / confidence boost maybe, tell you how incredibly good looking and smart you are, all while entertaining your ears and making your heart soar from sorrow to happiness. We are just a band trying to spread our message and if you take a moment to listen we believe we can inspire you and make you wanna get a little rowdy!
What’s the band’s back story?
My old band Maintain Composure ended in 2008 for a while I thought I was done with music until the Name ” Life After Liftoff ” came to me, then the idea for a band with a message and a bigger meaning began to grow in my mind. so for three years I searched for the right bandmates to help me bring this dream to a reality!
As of today, what’s your single biggest accomplishment as a band?
Our Ep ” Memory of You ” being released May, 6th 2011. It took a long time to get it out but I am so proud of it!
In twelve months you see yourselves…
Playing so many more shows, Touring! Getting ready to release our Full Length ” Everything Is You ” and commandeering a shuttle from NASA and making LAL HQ on the Moon.. It’s totally going to happen they just don’t know it yet .. Thats right Langley I’m coming for you!
Thank you, incredibly sexy humans for listening to our band and supporting us there is nothing more in the world we could ask for! - Alexyss Robinson

There is an “Alien Pop Punk” invasion happening right here in the Miami Valley in the form of Dayton’s Life After Liftoff. That’s what founder and front man Lee Weiss calls the bands blend of pop and punk; just listen to the bands Single “Memory of You” from their EP of the same name. Or better yet go see the guys perform live. Buckeye Music Magazine had the opportunity to see the guys perform live at the Dayton Band Playoffs. The event was sponsored by Babblefish Recording Studios and our friends at Canal Street Tavern. The bands set included songs from their EP “Memory of You,” a three song teaser for their up-coming full-length debut CD called, “Everything Is You.”




Since the break with his band Maintain Composure in 2008, Lee Weiss has been searching for a new musical direction and band mates with the same vision. Weiss’s search brought him to members; Jason Sigritz (Bass, Backing vocals, Keys), Ryan Chatterton (Guitar, Backing vocals, Keys), and Dan Malloy (Drums, Backing vocals). Together with Weiss, the band has forged a sound that is all Life After Liftoff. The band performed all three songs from the EP including the single “Memory of You.” Anyone who has had thoughts of leaving the world you’re in for something new will relate to this song. I can see “Memory of You” becoming an anthem of sorts; the tune just makes you want to raise your voice, bang your head, and move your feet. “The Promise” is a tune that highlights Malloy’s hard pounding beat on drums and Weiss on Vocals. My favorite song from the EP “Someday” is a tune that helps us see that if we believe in ourselves, we can overcome any situation. Behind the scenes, another of Dayton’s young talents, Tyler Smyth of the band “Let’s Get It” produced the “Memory of You” project and the video for the song “Someday” was shot by Taylor Foiles. The video gives you a glimpse of the bands drive and force they portrait on stage.


From left to right: Lee Weiss, Ryan Chatterton, Jason Sigritz, Dan Malloy

This brings me back to the bands performance at Canal Street. Since this was a playoff, the bands were limited to a set that lasted no more than an hour. An hour was all it took to see that the buzz surrounding Life After Liftoff is well deserved. Weiss, Chatterton and Sigritz work the stage with an energy that is contagious, while Malloy drives the machine on Drums. At the end of the night, the contest belonged to Life After Liftoff; and the band moves on in the Dayton Band Playoffs. I have a feeling that we will be seeing a lot of Life After Liftoff and Buckeye Music Magazine will be there to bring you the latest news from the band and we will keep you posted on the release of their up-coming CD “Everything Is You.”




Buckeye Music Magazine would like to thank Life After Liftoff, (and Jen) for their hospitality and for inviting us to the event, you guys are GREAT! Thanks also to the sponsors of the Dayton Band Playoffs; Babblefish Recording Studios and Canal Street Tavern for putting on the event. Be sure to check out Life After Liftoff on Facebook and their Website to hear the EP and be sure to watch the video, “Someday.” Follow the links below…


Life After Liftoff Website: http://lifeafterliftoff.tumblr.com/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/LifeAfterLiftoff

- Jimmy Cummings

Life After Liftoff could be dropped into the "college band" category if you're really looking for a classification - though I'm not exactly sure what the recipe is that defines a "college band". To me - its just good music. I haven't been in a college class in about 5 years, but the bands I loved on the college scene, I still jam out to on my iPod today. And so categorize this band all you want - it doesn't matter. They're damn good at what they do!



The band consists of Lee Weiss (vocals/ guitar), Dan Malloy (drums, back up vocals, keys), Ryan Chatterton (guitar, back up vocals, keys) and Jason Sigritz (bass, back up vocals, keys), hailing from a spot that seems to have more and more music coming out of it: Dayton, Ohio. They've crafted an awesome follow-up to the EP "Memory of You"; their full-length debut "Everything is You". Lee gets into it: "If you like 'Memory of You' it’s the next step. It encompasses the entire sonic spectrum of Life After Liftoff!...Since the start of Life After Liftoff, I've always described us as, ‘Alien Pop Punk,’ a modern take on 90's pop punk and 80's arena rock." Of course - that description is intriguing. But it may be the message, described by Jason that hooks you: "No matter what trouble you are in, there is still life after that. I believe this motivational band name embodies it more than anything else."



Understandably so, this band is easy to get behind. So check them out. They're competing now in the 2011 Warped Tour’s Ernie Ball Local Bands competition in the Cincinnati, Ohio region, so get out there if you're around. There's much more to get into, so keep reading for all the answers to the XXQ's.

XXQs: Life After Liftoff

PensEyeView.com (PEV): How would you describe your sound and what do you feel makes you stand out over the others in your genre?

Lee: Since the start of Life After Liftoff (LAL) I've always described us as, ‘Alien Pop Punk,’ a modern take on 90's pop punk and 80's arena rock. I feel that LAL stands out because we have an overall message of love and hope which is portrayed in an inspirational way. But we also love to have fun and really take it as far as we can.

Jason: I would describe our message as: no matter what trouble you are in and you have some let downs there is still life after that. I believe this motivational band name embodies it more than anything else which in the end makes us stand out.

PEV: Hailing from Dayton, Ohio, what kind of music were the members of the band into growing up? Do you remember your first concert?

Lee: We all grew up in punk rock bands growing up. My first concert that I was taken to at the age of 9 was Elton John but I really consider MY first concert to be Blink-182!

Ryan: When I am not listening to Life After Liftoff tracks, I find myself listening to Ska, Punk Rock, and 80s music. I have a profound love for Bon Jovi and Goldfinger, they have shaped the way I view music today.

Dan: I grew up listening to everything from classical music to metal. My parents and brother got me into a lot of great music from a very young age. The first concert that I got to choose to go to was Dropkick Murphys and Mighty Mighty Bosstones...incredible!

PEV: Tell us your take on the music scene in Dayton and what was it like trying to break into it?

Ryan: The music scene in Dayton has changed so much, it’s rare to find punk rock or pop punk bands because Dayton has become such a metal town. At times it’s hard to decipher breakdowns in our music because people can be closed minded to something new and different. To break in we just have to keep pushing and not give up especially if we believe in our music and what we do!

Dan: I've been involved heavily in the Dayton music scene with several bands for the last sixteen years. Unfortunately, the original music scene is rough here, since most venues are looking to have primarily cover bands or national touring acts only.

PEV: What can fans expect from a live Life After Liftoff show?

Ryan: Fans can expect to walk away inspired and in a great mood. We tend to be really uplifting but all of us tell jokes and have fun with the experience because there is so much bad in the world that for however long we are playing we try to create a happy and positive environment.

Dan: Fans should expect a high energy, high quality show, combining great musicality with interactive stage presence!

PEV: What is the first thing that comes to mind when you step on stage?

Lee: Ummm don’t mess up, don't mess up, and don’t mess up, @#% #!!!!

Dan: Go time!

PEV: Having gained a great reputation on the college scene early on – what were those days like traveling around college towns?

Jason: College shows are always fun and I really can't wait to do more, it’s a scene where everything and anything can happen. Since we are all of that age it is something we relate to! In fact in the fall we are excited to put together another college tour where we w - Richie Frieman

Get ready for Dayton, Ohio’s own Life After Liftoff and their quick-to-the-punch EP ‘Memory of You’. LAL is a four-piece band made up of: founder & front-man Lee Weiss, Jason Sigritz on bass, backing vocals & keys, Ryan Chatterton on guitar, backing vocals & keys and Dan Malloy on drums & backing vocals. This group has created a three-track set that is a prelude to their upcoming, full-length debut titled ‘Everything Is You’. Short but sweet can best describe this new release for the Dayton players and I have a feeling there will be a lot more fans after listening to ‘Memory of You’.
Weiss tagged the Life After Liftoff sound as “alien pop punk” where I definitely hear the pop & punk rock elements but not sure where the “alien” reference comes from. I’d love to have Lee Weiss explain this concept to me because I’m not getting that. There is nothing strange or weird or even extraterrestrial about this recording at all. Quite the contrary actually as you will hear a trio of songs that are extremely radio-friendly. I also picked up on a college-friendly vibe due to the group’s fun & free spirited attitude. Life After Liftoff have that playful sort of innocent sound that would be eaten up by teenagers and college students alike.
The pop/punk & pop/rock feel is heard loud & clear on all three songs and done up very well by LAL. I even detected a Blink 182 influence in sound & style minus the silly atmosphere that Blink made so famous. “The Promise”, “Memory of You” and “Someday” are all ready for human consumption and should be playing at radio stations everywhere!
What I liked about this band is the fact that they had catchy riffs & vocals with a definite pop appeal but not cheesy at all. With low standards when it comes to the lame-ass popular music of today, LAL could literally come in and breathe new, fresh life into the faltering pop scene. For this reason alone I am very excited!
I think the whole pop/punk idea that Life After Liftoff has tapped into is cool but I’d also love to hear some more edgy & raw tracks. I sense that Lee Weiss & company have got it in them so in the words of the late, great Rick James “Give It To Me Baby”! Now, I am ready for ‘Everything Is You’ so come with it guys! - Jimmy Rae

From the first note, you can tell that Life After Liftoff is tailor-made for success within a teenage demographic. The band's style blends the satirical, quirky pop-punkishness of Blink-182 with the brooding, angsty, alt-rockification of The Bravery, culminating in agro-pop anthems not wholly dissimilar from what Fountains of Wayne evolved (or devolved) into, depending on your taste for the genre. While the nasal, powder-puff vocals will easily lure in ripening young women, there is just enough of that peanut-y crunchy edge that will appeal to the acne-infected, rebellious young males.
Although painfully formulaic, Memory of You is really a win-win situation for Life After Liftoff. I really can't see anyone over the age of 20 taking this band seriously. And why would any intelligent band want to cater that audience, when it's really that next generation of kids that is going to be pumping its allowances into its merchandise?
It is an interesting dichotomy, though, as musically, Life After Liftoff plays to the conventions of cheery, radio-friendly, head-bobbing indie-pop, while the lyrics are laced with pained, real-life experiences which may not connect directly with its target audience. However, they will sing along with them nonetheless, simply because it "sounds good!"
Memory of You is the kind of frank, edgy indie-pop that Green Day consistently gets lauded for creating yet never really achieves. On that note, Life After Liftoff is unfortunately among that legion of sincere bands that the press will gloat about how much they love the music and how they have been longtime supporters of the act only after it breaks into the Billboard Top Ten.
At the end of the day, if you are the type of music fan who utilizes music as sing-along escapism while driving on a Saturday afternoon with the windows down, you can do far worse than popping on some Life After Liftoff.
- Mark Morton

MAY 9, 2011 - Hailing from the same grounds as bands like THE DEVIL EARS PRADA and HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS, Dayton, Ohio has now graced us with LIFE AFTER LIFTOFF; a four-piece band of dedicated, talented musicians that are in it for the long haul. Since their early teens, these guys have been perfecting their craft of pop-punk and it shows in their upbeat, genuine tunes. In 2008, after the demise of front man Lee Weiss' other band, MAINTAIN COMPOSURE, LIFE AFTER LIFTOFF was born, and they've since made quite the impression on music fans everywhere. Already, they have support from some of the biggest names in the scene; ALL TIME LOW, NEW FOUND GLORY, PARAMORE and even BLINK 182. LIFE AFTER LIFTOFF is currently in the studio, and judging by their heartfelt, contagious single, SOMEDAY, you can expect this album to be a huge hit in 2011! - Brian Lush

"Make it a point to pick up the “Memory of You” EP, warp it, and come back in a few months when Life After Liftoff have released their “Everything Is You” LP. With the germination of the ideas, sounds, and approaches taken during this EP, I have little doubt in my mind that their forthcoming LP will be one of 2011’s best albums. If they happen to be hitting up your stomping grounds, figure out a way to see them live – while there are only brief nods to it, I feel that the raw sound that the band is capable of would only be more brilliant in a live setting." - James McQuiston, editor of NeuFutur Magazine