American Hi-Fi

American Hi-Fi is a rock band that forms in Boston, Massachusetts and is active from 1998. Its sound combines pop punk, power pop, alternative rock and pop rock, and the band is best known for the 2001 single Flavor of the Weak.

Career and releases

The band releases four studio albums and two live albums. Its self-titled debut appears in 2001 on Island Records and becomes its best-known release, with the singles Flavor of the Weak and Another Perfect Day. The follow-up, Art of Losing in 2003, has a harder edge and includes The Art of Losing and The Breakup Song, both of which appear on film soundtracks. After that album does not match the commercial success of the debut, Island Records drops the band.

In 2005, American Hi-Fi releases Hearts on Parade on Maverick Records. That album has a more pop-oriented sound and includes the singles The Geeks Get the Girls and Hell Yeah!. It also leads to division among some fans and weaker sales, after which Maverick drops the band. After a five-year break, the group returns with its fourth studio album, Fight the Frequency.

American Hi-Fi also releases two live albums. One is Rock N' Roll Noodle Shop: Live From Tokyo, issued in Japan through Universal and recorded in Tokyo, with material largely from the debut album plus an early version of Teenage Alien Nation under the title Waking Up to the End of the World, the song Happy, and a cover of Cheap Trick's Surrender. The other live release is Live from Milwaukee.

Membership and background

The band is fronted by Stacy Jones, who sings, plays drums and guitar, and is a founding member. Jones previously drums for Veruca Salt on the Eight Arms To Hold You tour before leaving in 1998 to start American Hi-Fi. He also works as a producer and songwriter, with credits that include artists such as Hannah Montana, Towers of London and various Miley Cyrus and Hannah Montana tracks. Jones is married to photographer Jade Loop.

Other members listed with the band are Jamie Arentzen on guitar and vocals, Drew Parsons on bass and vocals, Brian Nolan on drums, and Jason Sutter, who plays drums on Hearts on Parade. Brian Nolan is part of the lineup from 2001 to 2004 and again from 2007, while Jason Sutter plays with the band from 2004 to 2007.

Name

The band name comes from a chance meeting with Keith Richards, who suggests “American Hi-Fi” when the group says it is looking for a name.