The Killingtons

The hardcore punk outfit the Killingtons wasn't distracted by the third-wave ska revival taking place in the mid-'90s in their native Southern California. Vocalist JK Thompson and bassist Chris Muench relished the sounds of Dinosaur Jr., My Bloody Valentine, and Jane's Addiction, rocking it out in the local emo scene instead. Drummer Dan Hennessy joined the Killingtons to make the band a complete trio, but quickly departed two years later. This left the band in a creative fog, but the remaining Killingtons soon added Michel Bravine into percussion duties, releasing a five-song EP that same year.

Soon, the band was attaining a large fan base among Southern California and played with bands like the Get Up Kids, Jimmy Eat World, Sonic Youth, and Sunny Day Real Estate. During this period of music high rise, Muench lost his father to a stroke and his mother to breast cancer. Such tragedy strengthened the burning ferocity of the band, and with new guitarist Mitchell Townsend, a musical family of sorts was solidified. The American Made EP was released in 1999 and their self-titled debut followed in fall 2000.