Biography:
The Brooklyn-based alternative rock quartet the Honorary Title initially formed as a duo between vocalist/lyricist/guitarist Jarrod Gorbel and bassist/multi-instrumentalist Aaron Kamstra in 2003. Gorbel, who took up guitar at 13 while living in the Long Island suburbs, cut his teeth playing solo gigs in Manhattan`s downtown venues before teaming up with Kamstra, an N.Y.C. transplant from Indiana. The pair`s emphasis on acoustic-based hooks and soul-baring narratives attracted the attention of Dashboard Confessional`s Chris Carrabba, who handpicked them as Dashboard`s opening act for a series of touring dates in fall 2002. The warm-up slot generated label interest, and the Honorary Title inked a deal with Ohio-based indie Doghouse Records in September 2003. A self-titled EP featuring only Gorbel appeared in 2003, while a debut album featuring both musicians, Anything Else But the Truth, followed the next summer.
The Honorary Title embarked on a slew of tours in support of their debut, hitting the road with such acts as the Format, Switchfoot, Lucero, and Taking Back Sunday. A brief headlining tour alongside Limbeck in February 2006 led to the reissue of their debut (with five bonus tracks and two music videos) later that month, while a contract with major label Reprise Records (under the Warner umbrella) followed soon after. In anticipation of their sophomore release, the band issued a short EP, Untouched & Intact, in July 2007. Containing two B-sides and two new tracks, the EP also announced the promotion of former touring members Jon Wiley (keyboards/guitar) and Adam Boyd (drums) as full-fledged bandmates. The Honorary Title`s second full-length album, Scream & Light Up the Sky, was released the following month, featuring a fuller sound more reminiscent of contemporaries Rock Kills Kid and Jimmy Eat World than the band`s earlier acoustic material.
