HISTORY

Formation and Early Years (1989-1990)

In the late '80s, The April Skies burst onto the scene, formed in late 1989 by Jake Crawford (vocals, guitars) and his pals Matt Brace (keyboards), Michael Green (bass guitar), and John Ritchey (drums). Drawing inspiration from legends like The Cure, REM, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, and their hometown heroes, The Ocean Blue, the band set out to master their sound and songwriting. They quickly caught the attention of a local indie label, Pay Dirt Records, which offered them studio time and a chance to release their first recordings—though those plans never quite took off. Nevertheless, The April Skies made a memorable live debut at a New Year's Eve party in Carlisle, PA, setting the stage for their musical adventure.

By the end of 1989, The April Skies underwent some dramatic lineup changes. Matt Brace left to focus on finishing college, and Shannon Fitzgerald stepped in to fill his shoes on guitars and keyboards. Shortly after, Bob "Frog" Matthews took over bass duties from Michael Green. However, this lineup didn't quite get going, and before long, both Fitzgerald and Matthews left the lineup.

In the summer of 1990, a mutual friend reconnected Jake Crawford with his high school buddy, Cary Brown. The duo quickly started writing songs together. With John Ritchey on drums and Ron Mann stepping in on bass, they soon received offers to play local shows. Their energetic performances, especially Cary Brown’s vocals and charisma as a frontman, began attracting attention from the Central Pennsylvania music scene.

Debut Release and Initial Success (1991-1992)

In early 1991, The April Skies revamped their lineup to feature Jake Crawford (guitars, vocals), Cary T. Brown (lead vocals, guitars), Eric Riley Moore (bass, vocals), and Mark Tritico (drums). This iconic "classic" early '90s lineup quickly gained momentum. Within weeks, they attracted NYC management, made their debut at Max's On Broadway in Fells Point, MD, played shows with bands like ride, The Fundamentals, A Real Rain, Suddenly, Tammy!, and built a loyal following in Harrisburg and Lancaster. Regular shows at The Vault and Metron/Club Met in Harrisburg, as well as The Chameleon Club in Lancaster, solidified their place in the local music scene.

In June 1991, The April Skies released their debut album, A Strange Western Mood. Produced by Eric Vermillion of Gumball and The Stump Wizards, the album highlighted the band’s raw talent, jangly Rickenbacker guitars, diverse musical influences, and strong songwriting abilities. The release established The April Skies as a notable act in the indie rock community, attracting more fans and industry interest. Their performance at the October 1991 CMJ Music Marathon in NYC further boosted their profile. Soon after, the band started playing high-profile venues like CBGB, the 9:30 Club, Maxwell's in Hoboken, and many more across major cities in the northeast U.S. During this time, they also began to catch the attention of both major and independent record labels.

In November 1991, The April Skies journeyed to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to record The Drive-In EP with the renowned producer Mitch Easter (Let’s Active), famed for his work with R.E.M. Initially intended to shop around to record labels, the EP was eventually released in July 1992. It further solidified the band's reputation for crafting melodic and introspective alternative rock/pop songs.

In early 1992, Eric Moore briefly left the band, with Scott "Butsy" Summers stepping in for tour dates throughout the northeast, including a showcase at CBGB for the NYU Music Festival. Eric returned to the lineup by summer, just in time for the official release of The Drive-In EP in July. The band resumed touring, playing at colleges and universities across the northeast. However, after drummer Mark Tritico missed a record company showcase at Space at Chase in NYC, the lineup began to disintegrate due to touring burnout. By the end of the year, Tritico was gone, and Eric Moore had left the band to move to San Francisco to pursue graduate school.

Jake and Cary, along with original drummer John Ritchey and bassist Scott Lauzon, began writing and rehearsing new material. However, Lauzon quickly departed due to style differences. They then recruited long-time roadie John Broderic on bass and resumed rehearsals. The band played a local festival at the end of summer and shows in Philly and NYC were booked. However, these gigs never materialized as the band felt all the wind had left their sails. Shortly after, Cary left the band, and John Broderic returned to university.

Reformation and New Lineup (1994-1998)

After a brief hiatus, Jake Crawford re-formed The April Skies in the summer of 1994, stepping up as the lead vocalist. The new lineup featured Jason Leidich on bass and original drummer John Ritchey. Early in 1995, Mark Higgins joined on keyboards, completing the core lineup of The April Skies that endures to this day (Crawford, Leidich and Higgins). This reformation brought a fresh sound to the band, incorporating richer textures and soundscapes for an even bigger impact. The band began writing songs at a furious pace, assembling multiple records' worth of material within months. Despite their prolific songwriting, the band refrained from committing to shows or touring. As members began focusing on their personal lives—wives, careers, and children—The April Skies ultimately called it quits by the end of 1998.

2002: A New Chapter Begins

By the early 2000s, Jake Crawford had stepped away from music to focus on family life, content that The April Skies might remain a beloved part of the past. But everything changed when he moved into a new neighborhood—directly across the street from former bassist Mark Mazick. The two quickly reconnected, and casual conversations soon turned into jam sessions in basements and living rooms.

With momentum building, both Mark Higgins (keys) and original drummer John Ritchey immediately returned to the lineup, completing a version of the band that felt both familiar and reenergized. The chemistry was instant, and by early 2002, The April Skies were fully active again.

The band returned to the stage with a renewed sense of purpose, playing a series of shows throughout Central Pennsylvania and making a triumphant return to CBGB in New York City. Alongside fan favorites from their earlier catalog, they debuted a growing collection of new material—songs that captured where they were in life and hinted at where they were headed musically. The performances were tight, passionate, and forward-looking, signaling that The April Skies weren’t just back—they were beginning something new.

2003: The Breathe EP and a Growing Buzz

In 2003, The April Skies entered the studio with engineer Mike Watert to record The Breathe EP, a release that marked an important moment in the band’s renewed run. The lineup at the time featured Jake Crawford on vocals and guitar, Mark Mazick on bass and vocals, Mark Higgins on keyboards and vocals, and Mark Tritico on drums.

The EP captured a band that had returned with purpose and confidence. Two songs in particular, “Here Comes the Rush” and “Beautiful Girl”, quickly became favorites in Central Pennsylvania. Both tracks connected deeply with audiences and would go on to become staples of the band’s live set, remaining fan favorites for years and still being played at shows.

After the release of The Breathe EP, Andy Book joined the band as second guitarist, adding another dimension to The April Skies’ sound and giving the group a fuller, more expansive live presence.

The band continued playing shows throughout Central Pennsylvania and across the Northeast, building momentum both locally and regionally. During this time, they also opened for The Badlees after connecting with Jeff Feltenberger, beginning a relationship that would prove important in the years ahead.

It was also during this period that The April Skies became regular performers at the Dewey Beach Music Conference, held each September, and the annual Dewey Beach Popfest, held every April. Both events were promoted by Vikki Walls and helped the band expand its audience while strengthening its presence on the East Coast independent music scene.

2005: Flood and Life on the Road

In March 2005, The April Skies released Flood, one of the most significant records of their career. The album was produced by Jeff Feltenberger of The Badlees, engineered by Jason Shaffer, and mixed by Tom “T-Bone” Edmunds, known for his work with Lenny Kravitz. The release showed a band that had matured in both songwriting and sound, delivering a record that felt ambitious, melodic, and fully realized.

The lineup around the release of Flood featured Jake Crawford on vocals and guitars, Mark Mazick on bass, Mark Higgins on keys and vocals, Andy Book on guitars, and Mark Tritico on drums. During the recording process, however, the band went through another lineup change when Mark Mazick left the group and was replaced by Bob Eisenhower. Bob’s time in the band was brief, and during the touring cycle for Flood, Jason Leidich returned to the East Coast and rejoined The April Skies as bassist.

The band celebrated the release of Flood with a record release show at the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a major hometown moment that reflected how far the band had come. From there, The April Skies continued playing shows in major cities throughout the Northeast, taking their music to larger audiences and strengthening their reputation as a powerful live act.

In March 2005, the band also headed out on an East Coast tour with Washington, D.C. band Lejeune. The run included stops in cities such as Brooklyn, Baltimore, Lancaster, and Philadelphia, giving The April Skies even greater exposure and helping them build momentum beyond their Central Pennsylvania roots.

2006: How It All Played Out and a New Evolution

In November 2006, The April Skies released How It All Played Out, a record that captured another stage in the band’s evolution. Produced and engineered by Matt Beck and Jeff Mowery, the album reflected a group continuing to grow creatively while navigating the changes that come with time, touring, and shifting lineups.

The record featured the single “X”, which became a focal point of the release. The band also produced an official music video for the song, available on The April Skies’ YouTube page, helping to expand their reach beyond live audiences. In support of the album, the band launched a national radio campaign along with a coordinated press campaign, marking one of their most ambitious promotional efforts to date and bringing their music to a broader audience.

The lineup during this era featured Jake Crawford on vocals and guitars, Jason Leidich on bass and vocals, Mark Higgins on keys and vocals, Andy Book on guitars, and Mark Tritico on drums. During the recording process, Andy Book left the band and was replaced by Chris Gunnell, affectionately nicknamed “Junior.” Gunnell had already been helping the band by filling in on bass for Leidich as he made his move back to Central Pennsylvania, and his arrival marked another natural transition in the group’s history.

To support How It All Played Out, The April Skies played a series of high-profile shows, including headlining performances at The Chameleon Club in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as well as appearances in New York City at Mercury Lounge and in Philadelphia at JC Dobbs. These shows demonstrated the band’s continued growth and their ability to hold their own in some of the most respected venues on the regional indie rock circuit.

During this period, The April Skies also played shows in support of nationally known acts including The Lemonheads and The Hold Steady, further cementing their standing as a band that had grown from a local favorite into a seasoned and respected live presence throughout the Northeast.

By the end of 2006, The April Skies had firmly established their second chapter. What began as an unexpected reunion had become something much more enduring: a band writing some of its strongest material, playing some of its biggest shows, and continuing to evolve without losing the heart that had defined them from the beginning.

[More to come...]