The Draft

• Genre: Punk
• Hometown: Gainesville
• The Draft Website

About

When Hot Water Music singer/guitarist Chuck Ragan decided to call it quits in 2005, the three remaining members of Gainesville, Florida's premier post-hardcore outfit -- bassist Jason Black, drummer George Rebelo and singer/guitarist Chris Wollard -- decided to keep playing together under a new name: the Draft. Quickly diving into writing songs and playing shows two months after the split, the Draft was filling the massive gap HWM left in the underground scene in no time. After hitting the studio to record their first album, the group added a fourth member in guitarist and friend Todd Rockhill. While continuing their old band's signature style of raspy vocals, heartfelt lyrics, odd time signatures and intelligent melodies, the Draft are a refreshed adaptation of Hot Water Music's strengths with their own unique energy and vibe. Signed to Epitaph Records, the band's first full length, In a Million Pieces (2006), and self-titled digital EP (2007) were both released to critical acclaim and HWM fan approval.

- Jen Guyre