User:JoshCerda/Northgate Drive

Northgate Drive is an American pop-punk band started in 2009 by Josh Cerda and Esteban Sanchez in Weslaco, TX. They are in current production of their first album Glitches. Other members of the band include Noel Gonzalez, Alec Flores and Allyson Flores.

2007-2008: First Formation as Mantal for Heroes
Originally the band was called Mantal For Heroes and it was a three-piece acoustic band with Josh and Esteban on guitars, with Alec on vocals. The band initially started with a harder genre, such as the deeper and lower sounds that were created on the guitars, and the darker, more somber lyrics that were written. Soon after the start of their freshman year Mantal For Heroes was disbanded, due to problems with the band members.

2008-2009: Second Formation as Waking The Fallen
Later on near the end of their freshman year in high school, the band got back together under a new name called Waking The Fallen (after Avenged Sevenfold's album) with once again darker music and lyrics. The band had remained a three-piece after failed attempts to recruit a drummer and a bassist. Soon into the summer the band was, once again, disbanded.

2009-present: Final Formation as Northgate Drive
Into the start of their sophomore year in high school, a new band was once again formed, except with a new style of music. The band was called Northgate Drive, seeing that all the members, except Josh, live on the same street which is called "Northgate Drive". After the summer, Josh and Esteban both branched out into different styles of music and ended up dropping the darker styles they had embraced earlier. Josh had started to use a more pop-punk sound in the group with a big influence from Paramore, whereas Esteban had started to use his own style of music, mostly using acoustic rhythms, and Alec started to use heavier singing styles influenced by bands such as Chevelle and Breaking Benjamin. The band, still a three-piece, created their well-liked song "Never Better Days", and uploaded it as their first recording on the bands MySpace page. A few days after Christmas of 2009, the band had agreed to a hiatus, after the news that Josh had moved to San Antonio, TX till the end of April.

First Album: Glitches (2010)
Soon after Josh had moved back to Weslaco on April 18th, the band had cancelled it's status, and once again formed a band except this time it had a complete line-up with RJ Berrones on bass, Noel Gonzalez on drums, and Allyson Flores on vocals. During the seperation, Esteban and Josh had each wrote songs, in which their first single "Weslaco" was created. The album, which will include songs such as Never Better Days, will be compromised of 13 songs, some of which are un-named and un-finished due to the requirement of a proper recording device.

"Weslaco"
The first single was decided to be Weslaco, a song Josh had written during his stay in San Antonio. The song, which comprises of two singers, had Allyson and Esteban leading the song on vocals, and Esteban on his role of guitar. The song, based on Josh's memories of his time there previous to his move, became well-liked by fans at school and by members of the band due to it's light and fast rhythms, it's pounding drum-beats, and the powerful vocals of the two singers.

"Never Better Days"
After some discussion Never Better Days was agreed to be the second single of the album, due to it's popularity and the fact that it was the first song created as Northgate Drive. The song was decided to be acoustic, with light bass lines, and a moderate drum-beat. Once again, Esteban will be leading the song as it's frontman, with Alec on backing vocals. The song was a mix of folk-like acoustic songs but with the fast, driving rhythms typical of a pop-punk song.

"Grounded"
The song Grounded, which was created at Esteban's workplace in a matter of 15 minutes, was also decided to be the third single because it was the first song that was started from scratch after Josh had moved back (Never Better Days was written by Esteban and Weslaco was written by Josh). The song implied heavy-use of simple bar chords, but had a extreme pop-punk sound, without any indie-influenced music. This was the first song that was planned to have Alec, who was at the time the lead singer, to sing but since the title of lead vocals has been switched to his sister Allyson, she will be singing Grounded, along with one of Northgate Drive's original songs, Never Better Days.

The exclusion of RJ
Soon after the end of their sophomore year in high school, the band had reached a decision that RJ Berrones would no longer be a part of the band as the bassist due to RJ's absence from all band practices and the fact that none of the songs had a bass part because of his absence. The band had decided to let Alec double-up positions as being the bassist and remain lead vocalist of the band. The band, which is now mainly a four-piece, is starting to work on the unfinished songs now that a bassist has been included and is hoping to wrap up "Glitches" by Fall of 2010 or possibly early 2011.

"The Last Song About Sophomore Year"
In late June, Josh had traveled back up to San Antonio to stay with family till the end of July, and had written a song dubbed "The Last Song About Sophomore Year" once again written about previous memories of his time in Weslaco, except memories of both school and the members' free time were included in the lyrics. The song, which is hoped to be the song wrapping up Glitches, is yet to be finished until about the second week of August in which it should be done.

"Lineup and Style Change"
Originally the band had agreed to being a mixed genre band and it had Alec and Esteban sharing lead vocals, although, in the summer of 2010 the band had decided to have Alec's twin sister and former guest vocalist Allyson take up lead vocals and have Alec and Esteban take backing vocals. The band also agreed to change their musical stylings to more of a power-pop/pop-punk feel in order to better utilize Allyson's singing due to the fact that her voice and singing style goes better with the genre.

Musical Style and Influences
NorthGate Drive's influences vary from member to member, with a wide-range of genres and stlyes. Alec's influences and styles include several bands such as, Breaking Benjamin, Cheap Trick, blink-182, Chevelle, and other heavier alternative bands with some pop-punk influence. Esteban's influences and styles are mainly based on indie music such as Broken Social Scene, Death Cab for Cutie, Bayside, Phantom Planet, Maps and Atlases and The Postal Service. Josh's influences and styles ranging from a wide variety of music. Some genres of influnce are Christian rock, power-pop/pop-punk, indie, folk, reggae, punk, and ska although he, like the rest of the band, decided to go for a more power pop/pop-punk feel. A few bands he is influenced by are Hillsong United, Hey Monday, The Academy Is, and Paramore. Noel's influence is mainly unknown, due to the fact that he just drums along to whatever mood the song puts him in. Allyson's influences are mainly influenced by Paramore which is evident in her vocals, especially on the track Weslaco.

Northgate Woods tour
In 2010, Alec had found out of another band, who's name is Highland Drive due to the fact that they live on Highland Drive, the street adjacent to Northgate Drive which is the street the band lives on. The band Highland Drive consists of three members two brothers and a friend of theirs. The band has recently joked about including the band from Highland Drive, to start an annual local Texas tour called Northgate Woods tour with the name coming from the subdivision both bands are from. No official plans have been made for this tour.

Band Members
Current Members Former Members
 * Allyson Flores-Lead vocals (2010-present)
 * Alec Flores-bassist and backing vocals (vocals:2007-present, bass: 2010-present)
 * Esteban Sanchez-guitarist and backing vocals (2007-present)
 * Josh Cerda-guitarist (2007-present)
 * Noel Gonzalez- drums (2010-present)
 * RJ Berrones-Bassist (2010)

Discography

 * Glitches (2011)