For close to 8 years one band has fought against the odds and despite being practically ignored by the industry, has grown into a successful example of the D.I.Y. ethic.

Without the help of a label or agent, Army of Freshmen have played over 600 shows in 37 states and 5 countries, sharing the stage with bands such as AFI, Alkaline Trio, The Ataris, Bowling For Soup, Fallout Boy, Good Charlotte, Something Corporate, Starting Line, Story of the Year, Sugarcult, Sum 41, Yellowcard and more. It’s been a hard fought battle to get to their current point but if AOF has proved one thing it’s that all the money and connections in the world don’t make up for hard work.

Army of Freshmen started in late 1997 when lead singer, Chris Jay fresh from high school graduation drove cross country from New Jersey to California by himself in hopes of starting a rock band. After writing over 500 songs, he formed Army of Freshmen after meeting the rest of the band at an open mic in Ventura, CA.

The Freshmen wasted no time and honed their original two keyboard, melodic pop meets punk by playing all over Ventura County. Before they knew it they were playing up and down the entire state and just two years after forming, AOF was off on self booked tours throughout the country in the same mini van Chris had left home in. Using an apartment shared by band members as a headquarters of sorts, the 6 piece dove head first in the industry by working day and night on any and all "band stuff".

After a few demos, the band caught the ear of a small local label, Blue Hand Records who agreed to put out The Freshmen’s self titled record. Released in the summer of 2001, Blue Hand almost instantly lost their distribution. With the brand new record now having no hope of getting into stores, The Freshmen took matters into their own hands and hit the road, sound scanning at every venue. 3 years later and with no distribution the band sold and sound scanned over 10,000 copies, a virtually unheard of feet for a record with no distribution or promotional budget.

Along with the sales, the band scored a reputation for a no holds barred, crowd participation heavy, energetic live show. From stage dives, to pits, to pogo sessions, to sing alongs- AOF shows are always good time. Many a band says "you need to see us live" but with the Freshmen it’s actually true. Even the most jaded scenester has admitted that AOF puts on an unrivaled live show.

In 2003 the band’s hard work came back in a big way when a Japanese label heard a copy of AOF’s self titled record and licensed it in that country. The record took off and the band was invited to play at Summersonic, Japan’s premiere music festival in the summer of 2003. The only unsigned artist to play the festival, AOF appeared alongside rock royalty like Radiohead, The Strokes, The Doors, Blondie and more.

Back from the brush with stardom in Japan in the fall of 2003 and still with no label, AOF went in the studio on their own dime with producer Angus Cooke (The Ataris, Lagwagon) to record their second record, Beg, Borrow, Steal. The record was first released in Japan in April 2004 to rave reviews and sales and the band was asked back for a two week whirlwind tour of Japan in May 2004 including shows with The Living End, Sugarcult, and Bowling for Soup. Back in Japan the band saw their new record go top 10 in several cities and the video for "Get Um Up" was put in full rotation on all three major video networks including MTV.

The band returned from Japan and in the summer of 2004 released Beg, Borrow, Steal on Tower Record’s label, 33rd Street. Desperate to tour in support of the record, lead singer Chris Jay sold his car so the band would have enough money to buy a booth at Warped Tour to sell their new CD and play whatever dates they could along the way. After impressing Warped Tour staff with their energetic live show, incredible work ethic and CD sales (over 100 per day), they ended up playing over 25 dates, drawing large crowds and completing the entire grueling packed tour in a van.

After Warped, the band toured England and Scotland in the fall of 2004 for the first time, playing to packed houses and receiving rave reviews in some of the country’s biggest rock magazines.

Not skipping a beat, and home for only one day after the UK tour, AOF toured the entire country again in October and November on the Suburban Curse Tour with Lucky Boys Confusion.

By the end of 2004, Army of Freshmen had played over 150 shows in 5 countries and sold over 5,000 sound scanned copies of their record. They received glowing national press including a mention in Rolling Stone and their music was featured in several network tv shows like Joan of Arcadia, Summerland, Road Rules and Real World. The record’s single, "Get Um Up" was also added to over 20 alternative radio station’s and spent 5 weeks in the top 20 on the U.S. Alternative radio specialty charts. A nearly unheard of feat for an independent band.

AOF refused to rest after their busiest year yet. In March of 2005 they headed to Dallas, Texas to begin work on their third record with Bowling For Soup lead singer, Jaret Reddick producing. Working with the Grammy nominated Reddick, the band expects a 2006 release and feels, "its hand down the best recording we’ve ever done".

As front man Jay sums it up, "Well after 7 years we’ve built up a huge almost underground fan base all over the country. We’ve proven that you can survive and be successful without a label or agent’s permission. We’ve been around long enough to see what works and what doesn’t. Putting on a great show and becoming friends with the kids that come out- that works. Putting on a boring show, hanging out in the bus and not the merch table well not only does that not work- it sucks. We’ve been friends with a lot of bands that just blow up too quick and it changes them. We don’t ever have to worry about that. For starters there is no bus and more importantly we’ve slowly gotten bigger over a long period of time and though we may not have won the race yet- we’re still in it."

At a time in the music world when many undeserving acts get it all and appreciate none of it, it’s nice to know bands like Army of Freshmen are still out there working hard for all the right reasons.