User talk:Stephaniehughes

Introduction
25 Minutes to Go is a punk rock band hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina. They were forged from the fires of hell in 2004. Original members Trey Calaway, Jonathan Hughes, and Zack Deberry set out on a journey that would revitalize punk rock in the Charlotte area and start a revolution that would continue on eons to come. Current members Kyle Perkins, Zane Riley; and original members Jonathan and Trey continue the legacy that was begun so long ago. Playing shows throughout the southeast with a passion and fervor unseen in modern punk rock they continue to captivate audiences and dominate music scenes with unmatched aggression while maintaining their reputation as the nicest dudes in the history of punk rock. Drawing influences from some of the greatest names in rock and roll such as Bad Religion, Social Distortion, Pennywise, The Bouncing Souls, The Vandals, The Descendents, Sublime, MxPx, and their namesake the infamous Johnny Cash, the band molds these influences into their own brand of energetic melodic punk rock. Fast beats, heavy guitars, grooving bass lines, personal lyrics, and raw vocals teamed with sing-along choruses and precise harmonies define the band’s unique sound.

History
25 Minutes to Go began as three friends, Jonathan Hughes, Trey Calaway, and Zack Deberry who worked together as youth leaders for a church in rural Maiden, North Carolina. Trey and Jonathan after having been in several area punk rock and hardcore bands saw the need for a return to form of old-school punk rock. Teamed with friend and guitar player Zack Deberry the three began to play after weekly services just for fun. Typically playing old cover songs (their first completed cover was The Cars’ “Just What I Needed”) they began to realize their desire to play original music on a regular basis. 25 Minutes to Go was born. The name was taken from the Johnny Cash rendition of the popular Shel Silverstein poem “25 Minutes to Go” from the Live at Folsom Prison record. Sharing a love for Cash and his rebel attitude the named seemed perfect when discovered by Trey while mowing lawns at local schools. The band practiced on a regular basis and developing a short five song set, consisting of four originals and a cover song by MxPx (“Rock and Roll Girl”) they played their first show for a sold-out crowd in their ministry’s building, opening for now legendary metalcore/southern rock band The Showdown. This initial success led to more show offers and the band eventually booking their first show at The World Famous Milestone Club, in Charlotte, NC, the venue that band members now consider their home. After playing together for a few months the band decided to record a few of their original songs. They entered the studio under the direction of Elijah Mosely at Threshing Floor Audio and put together a three song demo they would call “The Hang ‘Em High EP” with tracks “Gone Away”, “Roll the Dice” and “Hope For Sorrows”. As the band grew musically and the three members continued to develop their songwriting they saw the need to add another member. Longtime friend of Jonathan and Trey’s, Josh Morgan, was called upon to join the band. With the addition of Josh the band would begin to branch out playing shows outside of the piedmont traveling to the triangle of NC, and local clubs throughout the state, generating a buzz wherever they went. The foursome however, wouldn’t continue without an evolving line-up. Shortly after Josh joining the band, Zack would part ways with the group. Ministry as his calling he left to pursue his goal for preparations to start his own church in the band’s hometown of Lincolnton, NC. Not to be discouraged, the band forged on, going back into Threshing Floor again with Elijah to record their second demo, “Songs to Plunder By”. Unlike the first recording which was never widely distributed until their inclusion as bonus tracks on “Songs…”, their second demo found its way into the hands of many local punk rock fans. New demo tracks included “Attack and Decay”, “Devising a Scheme” and “Said and Done”. Throughout Josh’s career in 25 Minutes to Go, though the band’s fan base continued to grow and there were continuous offers for shows, the band wasn’t able to play more often than once or twice a month. Josh, as an active member of the Unites States Air Force was stationed in Fayetteville, NC, hours away from the band’s practice space. When Josh was called upon to travel to Qatar for his annual tour of duty after a layover in St. John’s, Newfoundland, on the way back to the United States, he returned home and announced he was moving to Canada, leaving the band to get married. During Josh’s tour of duty, Jonathan and Trey continued to write new material and asked childhood friend Kyle Perkins to fill in on bass, while Jonathan moved to guitar in order to continue a normal practice schedule. With Josh’s departure, Kyle’s temporary position became permanent. Kyle’s addition to the band provided not only an opportunity for Jonathan to hone his skills on the guitar, but another songwriter for the group. This addition also lent itself to a wider range of musical influences for the band, only increasing their appeal. This new addition prompted another recording in March 2007 again with longtime producer, engineer, and friend, Elijah Mosely called “Demo De Los Muertos” with songs including: “The ABC”, “The Bigger They Are”, “The Torture Rack”, “Change in Time” and “Blue Light Special.” Also around this time they would begin to play at The Milestone Club (Charlotte, NC) regularly, becoming a staple of the legendary rock and roll venue. Their Milestone fans were dedicated, their venue home providing almost a party atmosphere every time they took the stage. Singing along the loudest, fist in the air, was Zane Riley. Because of this energy, Zane seemed a natural choice to bring the lineup back up to two guitarists. This remains the current line-up to this day. With the depth of a second guitar, the band’s sound once again evolved. They continued to play, write new material, and at the request of their fans, record this material. They released “Demo De Los Muertos” in early 2007 with tracks including: but this demo wouldn’t appease fans who clamored for the long-awaited full-length album from the band. So, 25 Minutes to Go entered the studio once again to record with Trey and Jonathan’s longtime friend Nate Howell. Howell’s Flint Rock Productions in Lincolnton, NC, housed by Threshing Floor Audio, was the original recording space from 25 Minutes to Go’s demos. Recorded by Flint Rock Productions, mastered by Russ Fox of Bleach, and artwork and design created by guitarist Jonathan, the album was released in December of 2007. Since the album’s release, the buzz surrounding their full-length “A Shot Below the Bible Belt” fueled a southeast tour in Spring 2008 and continues to help the band pack local venues and has gained them weekly radio play. It’s been a wild ride for 25 Minutes to Go, but they continue to grow, move forward, and do as they originally intended, revitalize the face of punk rock.

Musical Style and Influences
As the guys of the band say, "25 Minutes To Go plays punk rock, no prefix or suffix." However, their influences are quite varied. Blending influences as varied as Johnny Cash, to Social Distortion, The Clash, and Pennywise the band's unique sound has hints of their idols, but forges a path all their own. Subject matter ranges from love and heartbreak to corruption in the church and struggles with faith. But don't pigeonhole this band as completely serious, because there's the occasional drinking song thrown in the mix and with a live show that can be described as nothing short of the antics of a guys night out, the energy of this fun-loving band is infectious. When asked what they sound like however, the band answers “just push play and decide for yourself. It’s punk rock...it can't honestly be that complex”.

Members
Jonathan Hughes – Bass and Vocals (2004-2006), Guitar and Vocals (2006 – Present) Trey Callaway – Drums and Vocals (2004 – Present) Kyle Perkins – Bass and Vocals (2006 – Present) Zane Riley – Guitar and Vocals (2007 – Present) Josh Morgan – Guitar and Vocals (2004 – 2006) Zack Deberry – Guitar and Vocals (2004 – 2005)

Discography
==Notes==