The Almost

{{Short description|American rock band}}{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2012}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Almost | image = 'The Almost' Performing at 'The Big Exo Day 2011'.jpg | caption = The Almost performing in Sydney, Australia in 2011. From left to right, Dusty Redmon, Joe Musten (back), and Aaron Gillespie. | image_size = | background = group_or_band | origin = Clearwater, Florida, U.S. | genre = {{flatlist| * Post-hardcore<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-almost-mn0000631970 | title=The Almost Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bios & More ... | website=AllMusic }}</ref> * pop rock<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-almost-mn0000631970 | title=The Almost Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bios & More ... | website=AllMusic }}</ref> * {{nowrap|alternative rock}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-almost-mn0000631970 | title=The Almost Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bios & More ... | website=AllMusic }}</ref> * emo<ref name="AMG">{{cite web|last=Mason |first=Stewart |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-almost-mn0000631970/biography |title=The Almost Biography, Songs, & Albums |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=September 4, 2021}}</ref> * post-grunge<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-almost-mn0000631970 | title=The Almost Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bios & More ... | website=AllMusic }}</ref> * CCM<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-almost-mn0000631970 | title=The Almost Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bios & More ... | website=AllMusic }}</ref> * alternative CCM<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-almost-mn0000631970 | title=The Almost Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bios & More ... | website=AllMusic }}</ref> }} | years_active = 2005–2015, 2018–present | label = Virgin, Tooth & Nail, Fearless | spinoff_of = Underoath | website = {{URL|thealmost.com}} | current_members = * Aaron Gillespie * Jay Vilardi * JJ Revell * Jon Thompson | past_members = * Kenny Bozich * Nick D'Amico * Alex Aponte * Joe Musten * Dusty Redmon<ref>According to Tooth and Nail Records' podcast "Labelled," Dusty Redmon stated that he's no longer with the band.</ref> }}

'''The Almost''' is an American rock band from Clearwater, Florida, fronted by Underoath drummer and vocalist Aaron Gillespie. Formed in 2005 as a solo project by Gillespie, the band currently includes guitarist Jay Vilardi, bassist Jon Thompson, and drummer JJ Revell. They released three albums via Tooth & Nail Records: their debut ''Southern Weather'' (2007), ''Monster Monster'' (2009), and ''Fear Inside Our Bones'' (2013). Following a hiatus in 2015, Gillespie revived the project and released a fourth album, ''Fear Caller'', in 2019 through Fearless Records.

==History== ===Formation (2005–2007)=== While the exact formation date of the project is unknown, in October 2005, Underoath drummer/vocalist Aaron Gillespie created a Myspace page for The Almost, eventually uploading two demo songs, "I Mostly Like to Copy Other People" and "They Say You Can Never Write I Told You So in a Song But Here I Go" (later retitled "Never Say I Told You So"). Around this time, Gillespie and The Starting Line's Kenny Vasoli collaborated on the song "Yule Be Sorry", which was featured on the Tooth & Nail compilation album ''Happy Christmas Vol. 4''. All of the initial Almost songs were written by Gillespie while recording ''Define the Great Line'' with Underoath.

===''Southern Weather'' (2007–2008)=== The Almost embarked on the "It's All Happening" tour from December 17 to January 20, 2006, with Gillespie joined by guitarists Dusty Redmon and Jay Vilardi, bassist Alex Aponte, and drummer Kenny Bozich. The tour showcased new songs from the band's upcoming debut album ''Southern Weather''. In 2007, The Almost embarked on Paramore's headlining tour, RIOT!, alongside The Starting Line and Set Your Goals (who played for the first half of the tour.) In addition, the group went on tour with Emery, Envy On The Coast, and Army of Me for all of June and parts of July. In May they also released the B-side song 'Hold On', which was originally only available as a bonus track on iTunes. The Almost released their first music video for "Say This Sooner" on March 19, 2007, premiering on MTV2's ''UNLEASHED''.

''Southern Weather'' was released on April 3, 2007 through Tooth & Nail, having been recorded in February and March 2006. Gillespie played nearly every main instrument on the album, with the exception of Vasoli contributing bass to two songs. The album reached No. 39 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and No. 1 on the Top Christian Albums chart.

Shortly after the announcement of a new EP, it was announced in November 2007 via the band's Myspace that Bozich had left the group. Guitarist Dusty Redmon explained in an AbsolutePunk forum post: "Kenny quit. He's getting married and didn't want to tour at all. It happens..it's happened to me twice with Beloved and Dead Poetic. It's a personal choice and we're cool with it. He was going to be playing drums on the next record, but made the choice to not be in a band at this point in his life. No big deal."

===''No Gift to Bring'' and ''Monster Monster'' (2008–2011)=== A cover of "Little Drummer Boy" was made available for streaming on November 4, 2008,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_5030|title=The Almost post "Little Drummer Boy"|work=Alternative Press|publisher=Alternative Press Magazine, Inc|date=November 4, 2008|access-date=July 27, 2017}}</ref> followed by "Awful Direction" on November 20.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_5140|title=The Almost post "Awful Direction"|work=Alternative Press|publisher=Alternative Press Magazine, Inc|date=November 20, 2008|access-date=July 28, 2017}}</ref> The Almost released a new EP titled ''No Gift to Bring'' on November 24. It was originally going to release it on November 25, but they changed the date to the day before. The EP was released to tide fans over until the release of their next album in the Summer/Fall of 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=612792 |title=Info on new Almost EP |publisher=Absolutepunk.net |access-date=October 16, 2011}}</ref> It included "Awful Direction", "Little Drummer Boy", a cover of Casting Crowns's "Your Love Is Extravagant", a new version of "Amazing, Because It Is", and an exclusive mix of "Dirty and Left Out". The EP was almost entirely recorded by Gillespie and produced by Underoath guitarist Tim McTague, who also created the remix of "Dirty and Left Out."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.toothandnail.com/releases/679/No_Gift_To_Bring_EP/ |title=Tooth and Nail No Gift To Bring |publisher=Toothandnail.com |access-date=October 16, 2011 |archive-date=September 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927132056/http://www.toothandnail.com/releases/679/No_Gift_To_Bring_EP/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In May 2008, Gillespie announced that The Almost would be entering the studio in the winter of 2008 to record their follow-up to ''Southern Weather''. In a November 2008 episode of the Tooth & Nail Records podcast, he stated that "the new album will be more of a complete band effort". The band went into the studio at the beginning of May, recording in Nashville TN. ''Monster Monster'' was released through Tooth & Nail/Virgin on November 3, 2009 featuring the singles "Lonely Wheel" and "Hands". There are several bonus tracks for this album. Users who downloaded ''Monster Monster'' from iTunes received the bonus track "Me And Alone". The fan pack version of the album sold exclusively at Best Buy contained the tracks "West" and "Wrong". The ''Monster EP'' contained two bonus tracks entitled "July" and "Birmingham". The album charted at No. 67 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and No. 3 on the Christian Album charts.<ref>[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the almost|chart=all}} Billboard]</ref>

In February 2010 the Almost played the Australian Soundwave Festival. The Almost toured across Australia nationally playing alongside the three festival headliners; Faith No More, Jimmy Eat World and Jane's Addiction, as well as other bands such as Paramore, All Time Low, A Day To Remember, Escape The Fate, Enter Shikari, Meshuggah, Anthrax, Trivium, Whitechapel, Set Your Goals and other alternative, rock, metalcore and hardcore bands. Along with Soundwave, The Almost played club shows in Melbourne and Sydney with All Time Low and Dance Gavin Dance. On July 31, 2010, the Almost played at {{Proper name|iMatter}} Festival in Elmira, New York alongside Secret and Whisper, August Burns Red, Oh, Sleeper, MyChildren MyBride, Texas in July and The Glorious Unseen. On October 25, 2010, the Almost released the ''Monster Monster'' EP, which contained the five bonus tracks and the music videos for "Lonely Wheel", "Hands", "No I Don't" and "Monster Monster" from ''Monster Monster''.

===''Fear Inside Our Bones'' and hiatus (2011–2015)=== During their set at the O2 Experience in Denver on June 1, Aaron Gillespie announced that an upcoming third album would be titled ''Fear Inside Our Bones''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2772032 |title=The Almost Announces New Album Name - News Article |publisher=AbsolutePunk.net |access-date=November 24, 2012}}</ref> Gillespie later announced via Twitter that the band had finished recording the album in full as of June 10, 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/aaronrgillespie |title=aaron gillespie (@aaronrgillespie) op Twitter |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=November 24, 2012}}</ref> It was announced in January 2013 that the new album would be released on April 16, 2013 via Tooth & Nail Records.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=3002592 |title=The Almost Release New Song "Ghost" - News Article |publisher=AbsolutePunk.net |access-date=April 3, 2013}}</ref> Accompanying the announcement was a song premiere of the single "Ghost".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNdJThUf2hI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/uNdJThUf2hI |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=The Almost "Ghost" (Song Premiere) |publisher=YouTube |date=January 4, 2013 |access-date=April 3, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On April 1, 2013, the band posted on their Facebook page that the album had been pushed back to June 2013, due to Tooth & Nail becoming an independent record label.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.msopr.com/press-releases/the-almost-fear-inside-our-bones-set-for-june-2013-release-on-tooth-first-single-im-down-to-impact-alternative-and-rock-radio-in-may/ |title=THE ALMOST: 'Fear Inside Our Bones' Set For June 2013 Release On Tooth & Nail; First Single "I'm Down" To Impact Alternative And Rock Radio In May | Mitch Schneider Organization |publisher=Msopr.com |access-date=April 3, 2013 |archive-date=April 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404010240/http://www.msopr.com/press-releases/the-almost-fear-inside-our-bones-set-for-june-2013-release-on-tooth-first-single-im-down-to-impact-alternative-and-rock-radio-in-may/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The album was ultimately released on June 11, 2013, reaching No. 142 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and No. 5 on the Christian Albums chart.

During an interview on Emery's BadChristian Podcast in September 2015, Gillespie stated that he had "currently put the Almost to bed....It's on the back burner right now", citing his busy schedule (as Paramore's touring drummer, a solo artist and producer) and the busy schedules of the other band members.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://badchristian.com/podcast/59-aaron-gillespie-underoath-almost-paramore/ |title=BadChristian | #59 Aaron Gillespie – Underoath, the Almost, Paramore |access-date=2015-11-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917081500/http://badchristian.com/podcast/59-aaron-gillespie-underoath-almost-paramore/ |archive-date=September 17, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

=== ''Fear Caller'' (2018–present) ===

Gillespie was inspired to begin songwriting for a new The Almost album during Underoath's spring 2018 tour. ''Fear Caller'', the band's Fearless Records debut album, was recorded in the desert.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://outburn.com/news/the-almost-return-with-fear-caller/|title=THE ALMOST Return with Fear Caller & Drop New Song "Chokehold"|date=September 25, 2019 |publisher=outburn.com |access-date=September 25, 2019}}</ref> Gillespie posted a teaser video that eventually led to the announcement of the band's record deal and a new single and album. The single, titled "Chokehold", was released along with a music video on September 25, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/the-almost-fear-caller-album-new-song-chokehold//|title=THE ALMOST Return with Fear Caller & Drop New Song "Chokehold"|date=September 25, 2019 |publisher=loudwire.com |access-date=September 25, 2019}}</ref> Fear Caller would be released one month later, on October 18, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/07aFT5sk3aosAhaql0Q9K8?si=6JrfjKSbS6aMiHkjOc6nfA|title=Fear Caller on Spotify|date=October 18, 2019 |access-date=February 23, 2025}}</ref>

==Band members== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''Current members''' *Aaron Gillespie – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, percussion {{small|(2005–2015; 2018-present)}}, lead guitar, bass, drums {{small|(2005–2007)}} *Jay Vilardi – lead guitar, backing vocals {{small|(2007–2015; 2018-present)}}, rhythm guitar {{small|(2007–2015; 2018-2019)}}{{cn|date=May 2025}} *Jon Thompson – bass {{small|(2010–present)}}{{cn|date=May 2025}} *JJ Revell – drums, percussion {{small|(2018–present)}}{{cn|date=May 2025}}

{{col-2}} '''Former members''' *Dusty Redmon – lead guitar, backing vocals {{small|(2007–2015; 2018-2019)}}<ref>According to the November 29, 2019 episode of Tooth and Nail Records' "Labelled" podcast, Dusty has stated he is no longer with the band.</ref> *Alex Aponte – bass {{small|(2007–2010)}} *Kenny Bozich – drums, percussion {{small|(2007–2008)}} *Nick D'Amico – rhythm and lead guitar {{small|(2007)}} *Joe Musten – drums, percussion {{small|(2008–2015)}} {{col-end}}

'''Timeline''' {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:80 bottom:80 top:10 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/2005 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

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BarData = bar:Aaron text:"Aaron Gillespie" bar:Dusty text:"Dusty Redmon" bar:Nick text:"Nick D'Amico" bar:Jay text:"Jay Vilardi" bar:Alex text:"Alex Aponte" bar:Jon text:"Jon Thompson" bar:Kenny text:"Kenny Bozich" bar:Joe text:"Joe Musten" bar:JJ text:"JJ Revell"

PlotData= width:13 bar:Aaron from:01/01/2005 till:09/30/2015 color:LVocals bar:Aaron from:05/01/2018 till:end color:LVocals bar:Dusty from:06/01/2007 till:09/30/2015 color:LGuitar bar:Dusty from:05/01/2018 till:11/29/2019 color:LGuitar bar:Jay from:11/29/2019 till:end color:LGuitar bar:Nick from:06/01/2007 till:08/01/2007 color:RGuitar bar:Jay from:08/01/2007 till:09/30/2015 color:RGuitar bar:Jay from:05/01/2018 till:11/29/2019 color:RGuitar bar:Jon from:01/01/2010 till:09/30/2015 color:Bass bar:Jon from:05/01/2018 till:end color:Bass bar:Kenny from:06/01/2007 till:06/01/2008 color:Drums bar:Joe from:06/01/2008 till:09/30/2015 color:Drums bar:JJ from:05/01/2018 till:end color:Drums bar:Alex from:06/01/2007 till:01/01/2010 color:Bass bar:Aaron from:01/01/2005 till:06/01/2007 color:LGuitar width:5 bar:Aaron from:01/01/2005 till:09/30/2015 color:RGuitar width:3 bar:Aaron from:05/01/2018 till:end color:RGuitar width:3 bar:Aaron from:01/01/2005 till:06/01/2007 color:Bass width:7 bar:Jay from:08/01/2007 till:09/30/2015 color:LGuitar width:7 bar:Jay from:05/01/2018 till:end color:LGuitar width:7 bar:Aaron from:01/01/2005 till:06/01/2007 color:Drums width:9 bar:Dusty from:06/01/2007 till:09/30/2015 color:BVocals width:3 bar:Dusty from:05/01/2018 till:11/29/2019 color:BVocals width:3 bar:Nick from:06/01/2007 till:08/01/2007 color:LGuitar width:3 bar:Jay from:08/01/2007 till:09/30/2015 color:BVocals width:3 bar:Jay from:05/01/2018 till:end color:BVocals width:3

LineData = layer:back color:Album at:04/03/2007 at:11/03/2009 at:06/11/2013 at:10/18/2019 }}

== Discography == === Studio albums === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2" style="width:200px;"| Details ! colspan="6"| Chart |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! style="width:40px;"| US 200 ! style="width:40px;"| US Christian ! style="width:40px;"| US Hard Rock ! style="width:40px;"| US Digital ! style="width:40px;"| US Rock ! style="width:40px;"| US Alternative |- | 2007 | style="text-align:left;"| '''''Southern Weather''''' * Released: April 3, 2007 * Label: Tooth & Nail, Virgin | 39 | 1 | 19 | 39 | 10 | — |- | 2009 | style="text-align:left;"| '''''Monster Monster''''' * Released: November 3, 2009 * Label: Tooth & Nail, Virgin | 67 | 3 | — | 22 | 26 | 20 |- | 2013 | style="text-align:left;"| '''''Fear Inside Our Bones''''' * Released: June 11, 2013 * Label: Tooth & Nail | 142 | 5 | — | — | 44 | — |- | 2019 | style="text-align:left;"| '''''Fear Caller'''''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/fear-caller/1479610369|title=Fear Caller by The Almost|via=music.apple.com}}</ref> * Released: October 18, 2019 * Label: Fearless Records | — | — | — | — | — | — |}

=== EPs === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2" style="width:200px;"| Details ! colspan="6"| Chart |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! style="width:40px;"| US Christian ! style="width:40px;"| US Holiday |- | 2008 | style="text-align:left;"| '''''No Gift to Bring''''' * Released: November 25, 2008 * Label: Tooth & Nail | 36 | 31 |- | 2009 | style="text-align:left;"| '''''Monster EP''''' * Released: October 6, 2009 * Label: Tooth & Nail | — | — |- | 2010 | style="text-align:left;"| '''''Monster Monster EP''''' * Released: October 25, 2010 * Label: Tooth & Nail | — | — |}

=== Demos === {|class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! style="width:200px;"| Details |- | 2005 | '''''The Almost Demos''''' * Released: December 2005 * Label: Independent |}

===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="4" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US Alt. <ref>{{cite magazine|publisher=Eldridge Industries|magazine=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-almost/chart-history/mrt/|title=The Almost Chart History (Alternative Songs)|access-date=October 9, 2018}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US Main. Rock <ref>{{cite magazine|publisher=Eldridge Industries|magazine=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-almost/chart-history/rtt/|title=The Almost Chart History (Mainstream Rock Songs)|access-date=October 9, 2018}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US Christ. <ref>{{cite magazine|publisher=Eldridge Industries|magazine=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-almost/chart-history/ico/|title=The Almost Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)|access-date=October 9, 2018}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | "Say This Sooner" | rowspan="2" | 2007 | 111 || 7 || 35 || — | rowspan="2" | ''Southern Weather'' |- ! scope="row" | "Southern Weather" | — || 44 || — || — |- ! scope="row" | "Lonely Wheel" | rowspan="2" | 2009 | — || — || — || — | rowspan="2" | ''Monster Monster'' |- ! scope="row" | "Hands" | — || — || — || 32 |- ! scope="row" | "Free Fallin'" | 2010 | — || — || — || — | ''Punk Goes Classic Rock'' |- ! scope="row" | "I'm Down" | 2013 | — || — || — || — | ''Fear Inside Our Bones'' |- ! scope="row" | "Chokehold" | 2019 | — || — || — || — | ''Fear Caller'' |- | colspan="7" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |}

===Music videos=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Song ! Album |- |rowspan="2"| 2007 | "Say This Sooner" |rowspan="2"| ''Southern Weather'' |- | "Southern Weather" |- |rowspan="3"| 2009 | "Lonely Wheel" || ''Monster Monster'' |- | "Little Drummer Boy" || ''No Gift to Bring'' |- | "Hands" |rowspan="3"| ''Monster Monster'' |- |rowspan="2"| 2010 | "No I Don't" |- | "Monster Monster" |- | 2014 | "I'm Down" |''Fear Inside Our Bones'' |- | 2019 | "Chokehold" |''Fear Caller'' |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070810004923/http://www.thealmost.com/ Official website]

{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Almost, The}} Category:Alternative rock groups from Florida Category:Emo musical groups from Florida Category:Clearwater, Florida Category:Christian rock groups from Florida Category:Indie rock musical groups from Florida Category:Musical groups from Florida Category:Musical groups established in 2005 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2015 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2019 Category:Virgin Records artists Category:Tooth & Nail Records artists Category:Fearless Records artists