Rain City Drive
Also known asSlaves (2019–2021)
Rain City (2021)
OriginPalm Coast, Florida, U.S.
Genres
Years active2019–present
Labels
  • SBG
  • Thriller
Members
  • Colin Vieira
  • Weston Richmond
  • Felipe Sanchez
  • Zachary Baker
  • Matt McAndrew

Rain City Drive is an American post-hardcore ensemble from Palm Coast, FL.

Born from the ashes of Sacramento based Post Hardcore band SLAVES[3], Rain City Drive consists of bassist Colin Vieira, guitarist Felipe Sanchez, vocalist Matt McAndrew, guitarist Wes Richmond, and drummer Zack Baker.

Having parted ways with their lead vocalist Jonny Craig just days before a UK/EU/AUS tour[4], McAndrew was asked to be a last minute fill in for Craig [5] and subsequently became an official member of the band when they began writing together on the road.

What transpired from these early writing sessions would be the quintet's debut studio album, To Better Days. Before its release on August 7, 2020, the band stated To Better Days would be their last album under the name SLAVES and that it would mark the beginning of a new chapter for the five of them.[6] It was subsequently rereleased under Rain City Drive in 2021.

On October 15, 2021, the band announced a change in name to Rain City and secured an agreement with the independent record label Thriller Records. This transition culminated in the formal adoption of the name Rain City Drive. In 2022, Rain City Drive and the reformed Slaves, featuring Jonny Craig, emerged as distinct entities.

A significant milestone occurred on July 15, 2022, with the release of their [eponymous studio album] as Rain City Drive. The year saw them embarking on a summer tour with Memphis May Fire, followed by a fall tour alongside Set It Off. In January 2023, the band ventured to the UK for a tour in collaboration with Dance Gavin Dance.

History

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Arrival of Matt McAndrew, To Better Days and Name Change (2020–2021)

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SLAVES continued their touring endeavors across Europe and Australia, with Matt McAndrew assuming the role of lead vocalist following Craig's departure. On March 28, a music video for "Wasting My Youth" was released.[7]

On June 25, 2020, the band officially announced on Facebook that their final release under the name Slaves would be To Better Days. In a statement, the band expressed their support for the BLM movement and their decision to disassociate their music from a term laden with negative connotations.[8] The fourth studio album, To Better Days, was subsequently released on August 7, 2020.

On October 15, 2021, the members announced their decision to continue creating music and performing under the name Rain City, formally marking the end of the Slaves era. The new name, Rain City, pays tribute to the fortuitous meeting of the band members in Manchester, England, often referred to as the Rainy City. It stands as a reminder to maintain hope even in challenging times. The band expressed deep gratitude to their dedicated fans, dedicating their new album to their unwavering support.[9]

Then, on November 6, 2021, the band announced through their Instagram page that they would adopt the name Rain City Drive due to unforeseen circumstances and a desire to preempt any potential challenges. Accompanying this announcement was the release of their new single, Cutting It Close, on November 12, 2021, marking a significant step forward in their musical journey.[2]

Band members

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Timeline

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Discography

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Studio albums

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Singles

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Year Song Peak chart positions Album
US
Main.

[10]
"Cutting It Close" 2021 Rain City Drive
"Dreams" 2022
"Waiting On You"
"Dying For"
"Frozen" 2023 32 TBA

Videography

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Year Title Link From the album Directors
2021 "Cutting It Close" [1] Rain City Drive Matt Boda
2022 "Dreams" Katharine White
"Waiting on You" Vicente Cordero
"Blood Runs Cold" Matt Boda
2023 "Frozen" TBA Matthue Coda

References

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  1. ^ "Slaves (US) Rebrand as Rain City Drive with First Single 'Cutting It Close'". November 12, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Rain City Drive (fka Slaves) release first song with new band name, "Cutting It Close"". November 12, 2021.
  3. ^ https://www.altpress.com/slaves-band-name-change-to-better-days-new-album-interview/
  4. ^ https://twitter.com/raincitydrive/status/1088408995474358272
  5. ^ https://www.altpress.com/slaves-matt-mcandrew-jonny-craig-interview/
  6. ^ https://loudwire.com/slaves-change-name-rain-city/
  7. ^ "SLAVES to Release 'To Better Days' Album in August". Blabbermouth. May 29, 2020.
  8. ^ "SLAVES to Change Name Due to 'Racial Connotations'". Blabbermouth. June 26, 2020.
  9. ^ "Slaves Have Changed Their Name To Rain City Due To 'Racial Connotations'". Theprp.com. October 15, 2021.
  10. ^ "Mainstream Rock Airplay: Week of January 27, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
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Category:Musical groups from Sacramento, California Category:Rock music groups from California Category:Name changes due to the George Floyd protests