Right To Remain
Gig Seeker Pro

Right To Remain

| SELF

| SELF
Band Alternative Rock

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"Signal Hill Park hosts garage band series"

Isaac Shields, 20, is the front man of Right to Remain, a local alternative punk four-piece. Shields, a graphic artist living in Gainesville, said the band has been together for about two years, after forming at Battlefield High School.

With influences like Brand New and Taking Back Sunday, the band has worked their way up to Washington, D.C. - they played a battle of the bands last spring at the Rock and Roll Hotel.

“We didn’t win, there was only one winner,” said Shields. “Actually, we kicked butt.”

So much, in fact, that drummer Paul Hickey’s hand started bleeding.

“I was rocking out so hard,” said Hickey, 17, of Manassas.

The start time was for the Garage Band Series was 6 p.m., but since Right to Remain was the only band performing, they didn’t finish setting up their gear until closer to 7. But calling this evening a “Garage Band Series” is a bit of a misnomer - first, because it’s outside in a park, and second, because Right to Remain uses much more professional equipment than the average garage band. This is courtesy of Jeff Schwarz, who runs an audio production company, Capital Sound, based in Springfield. His son, Owen Kish, 17, is the band’s bassist.

“That’s how it happened, ‘Dad, I need the equipment’,” said Schwarz, 45, of Haymarket “You can’t charge your son.”
Schwarz, who has done sound for artists like the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Starship and James Brown, added that his son has helped him unload equipment for many concerts.

For the setup Right to Remain was using, Schwarz said it would cost about $800 to rent, or $25,000 to buy.

More than 30 people have come to hear the music, mostly friends of the band and their parents. This is Eden Dezan’s first time seeing her friends perform, and enjoys the outdoor setting.
“I like it because it’s really nice outside,” said Dezan, 17, of Woodbridge. “It’s a good choice for today.”
To Faizah Butt, there’s something familiar about Signal Hill Park.
“I feel like I’ve been here for a field trip or something,” said Butt, 17, of Manassas.

Butt is best friends with Hickey.

“I try to go to every show,” said Butt.

Other spectators wandered over from the pool, with their children, to listen to a couple songs.

It’s nothing new - Theresa Polk, deputy director for the City of Manassas Park, Parks and Recreation, said Manassas Park has been hosting the Garage Band Series for three summers, inspired by the success of its annual battle of the bands, held every May.

It’s free for the bands, they only have to provide the sound system, said Polk. Each week, there’s a supervisor overseeing the event, but Polk added that everyone is always well behaved.

Joseph Wood, 19, is the supervisor for Right to Remain concert.
“It seems like a lot of these bands are prepared,” said Wood. “They know their stuff. They present themselves well, they know what they’re doing.”

At 7:30 p.m., the band closes with “Who Killed the Dinosaurs?” a stupid-yet-insanely catchy number where the hook is “Oh Ha Ha.” It seems to be their most popular song, as some of their listeners move closer to the stage.

“I really like the music,” said Tara Wright, 13, of Woodbridge. “It’s unique, it’s different, it rocks.”

- Potomac News


Discography

"Who killed the dinosaurs" , "The Climax", and Tribute to all the fallen" are our singles as of now. We also have a Self-released EP "Stick to your guns". We have about 6 tracks that have streaming airplay as of now. They are scattered through out our myspace, purevolume, garegeband, and sonicbids.

Photos

Bio

Right To Remain started October of 2005 and has heavy influenced from bands such as Brand New, Taking Back Sunday, Saosin, and Silverstein. when guitarist Isaac shields moved to Virginia from Baltimore , Maryland . With the urge to start a serious fan based Rock band, Bruno Soares was soon introduced by a new friend of Isaac's David Kerns. The connection and influences were instant. Bass player Owen Kish and Drummer Paul Hickey soon joined the R2R squad after a month or two. Lucky for us, Owens dad, Geoffery Schwartz, was a sound man who had bands like Rush, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, James Brown, and Dave Chapelle under his belt. Wow what a boost! After buiding a studio in bruno's basement we recorded our first demo by July 2007. Now were fighting the every day battle to get our name out as much as possible. Think you can help? email us at right_2_remain@yahoo.com and check out our line-up at myspace.com/righttoremain. Jump in on the action.