This is an active rock band who is actively making waves, so we hope you check them out and follow them online to keep up with the tsunami that they’re actively on the cusp of creating.
Rising rock band Die Tired is doing their best to not only break into the scene and liven it up, but bring back the energy felt in the nineties when alternative rock music was alive and well.
You could say that their sound dates back to the grunge scene, but you can, and will, hear how they mix that up with some modern melodies and a bit of an alternative edge. The trio, consisting of vocalist Matt DeAngelis, bassist Jim Lee, and drummer Brandon Ballantyne, are pushing for the success they know deserve. Die Tired is a determined regional band ready for valiant global success. They are putting in the hard work on stage and off, and rocking out with all the intensity, heart, and motivation needed to become the next big thing.
The three band members got together in 2021 in their home base of Reading, Pennsylvania – the original stomping grounds of Taylor Swift. Over the last four years, the men of Die Tired have grown closer, honed their respective skillsets, and written songs from the depths of their souls. They created powerful rock anthems like “Slow Down” and “Whatcha Gonna Do?” with classic rock moments and memorable riffs that are heavy enough to leave quite a lasting impression, but cool and fun enough for the more passive, pop-leaning rock’n’rollers to still enjoy.
Most recently, the guys have been pouring their efforts into new tunes, including the lighthearted track “Open Hearts Club” and the lush cinematic acoustics of “Play.” Like we said, they’re not done yet, so they didn’t stop there and they recorded a trifecta of soon-to-be hits: “Reel Me In,” “(So Called) Complex,” and “Fall Forever” – all made for release over these hot summer months. The band is steadily gaining streams and air play across the nation with these songs and more, so if there is ever a time to get on board with this Reading rock group, it’s now. They have a mission and they’re ripping up radio and stage to accomplish it.
The adage of Die Tired originates from the Marines, as well, and it suggests that fleeing a difficult situation will not save you, but rather exhaust you before the inevitable outcome. Bassist Jim says, “There was a point in time where Matt and I couldn’t come up with a band name at all. I started thinking back to my military experience and we thought of Die Tired.”
The guys love to perform. Period. When it comes to festivals versus venues, though, lead vocalist Matt says, “It goes back and forth. There’s a ton of people at festivals. We just played Mickey’s Black Box here in Pennsylvania and that venue was unbelievable – from the lighting to the stage crew and people that came out. We had a great set.”
Photo by Chris Kauffman
“It also depends,” the singer continues. “What’s nice about the festivals is that your music gets introduced to a ton of new people. There is something intimate about the venue, too, and about a rock show there. If I had to pick a festival show or a club show, I’d pick one of the bigger festivals, because then there’s the challenge to win over that new audience. Then, maybe they will go to the venue after the festivals, because they became a Die Tired fan at that festival.”
The concert Die Tired referenced in conversation at Mickey’s Black Box, near their stomping grounds of Reading, led the band to notice that their crowd enjoyed a show that is as diverse and nostalgic as possible. “It is very evident to me that grunge and alternative music are making a comeback. Dudes with fingernails painted black, the long hair, and their black zip-up hoodies made me believe that the music I liked is coming back to style. Personally, I think a resurgence in the alternative scene will happen, but how long it will last will remain to be seen. It’s cyclical – every 15 years or so, real rock music comes back,” Lee says.
Two of the three members, DeAngelis and Ballantyne, work in the psychology field outside of the band, which reflects on the themes in their music regarding mental health and well-being. “We are giving a lot of mental health support and counseling to individuals who need it from day-to-day, so the music and lyrics become our own form of therapy. We get to talk about it in our music in a positive way,” says Matt, who urges listeners to listen close and find resources when needed. “It’s ok to reach out and say that you will need help.”
Two of the trio’s latest songs really tap into their social work: “(So Called) Complex” and “Reel Me In.” However, this past Friday they released a masterful rock love song called “Fall Forever.” It’s a fan favorite already.
Die Tired had worked on “Complex” for over seven years, and it took on different forms and had many evolutions to get to the final stage that people can now listen to. “There’s two parts to it: the verses are related to someone’s own perspective and anxiety while living in the digital world and looking for outside validation. Meanwhile, the chorus says that all our blood runs red and that we are all human. It builds tension until the chorus when it’s released for universal acceptance. It comes in with a nineties grunge melody and Jim’s bass solo is what we really lean on. We are happy with how it came out,” vocalist DeAngelis explains.
Meanwhile, “Reel Me In” came from an acoustic jam session. “We started jamming together on guitar, and the song grew up and evolved. We had that one in the bag for a while, too,” the singer admits.
“‘Fall Forever,’ is our first legitimate love song,” adds Lee. “There’s a line that says, ‘Take me into the further now’ and the ‘further’ is a metaphor for love and commitment to each other. Then you find that one and fall forever.”
Lee adds, “I don’t think we have ever written a love anthem,” but here it is!
The band just completed the construction of their new, state-of-the-art studio in Reading over the winter months. “We did some soundproofing and updated the studio gear,” Matt explains excitedly. “It’s our practice space and recording space. Our workflow gets done in a more modern and efficient way. As far as recording songs, we just scratched the surface there, but we plan on doing more recording and more music there.”
This lead singer of theirs has done some solo shows on his own, as well, but with his Die Tired brothers showing up in support. “You might hear our song ‘Play’ done acoustically there, and I have more freedom to play some cover songs – anything from Alice In Chains deep cuts to Metallica to Jimmy Eat World. It’s a nice mix of our stuff, but it’s pretty much all unplugged, and the guys may or may not join me on stage. It’s laid back and showcases what we could do acoustically,” he says.
It is difficult now to uproot the band from Reading. It’s not only where they are from, but they have full time gigs, are married, and have children. Pennsylvania is really their home. “We’ve been trying to get up and down the East Coast. We must keep following through. We saw some success in the Midwest. We went to Omaha, and they were incredible, and we are headed back out there in August. It’s tough for all three of us with our families to leave Reading. It’s not a closed book, but we are up to traveling a lot more for sure,” shares DeAngelis.
Die Tired’s following is growing rapidly all over the world, as discussed. Locally, it is thanks to some help from Facebook, and globally, kudos to Instagram. Ballantyne is mostly in control of the band’s socials, adding to just how personal this operation is. “I think I actually prefer Facebook,” the drummer admits, “because it is easier to post different links to different platforms. We have a larger following on Facebook, and it was our original platform.”
Following the recent death of Brian Wilson, we reflected with the band on what an American treasure he was, as well as the legacy The Beach Boys. “Always been fan of The Beach Boys’ musical prowess,” the Die Tired singer says. “Brian Wilson was a genius. It’s not like I dug deep into their catalog, yet when you hear them, you know every song. That’s how influential they are. From the vocal harmonies to the music he wrote.”
Brian Wilson was a dedicated musician and creative throughout all the ups and downs of his life, and Die Tired are working just as hard to shape their career as a rock unit on-the-rise with their own level of influence.
STREAM DIE TIRED’S NEW SINGLE NOW & CATCH THEM AT FALL FEST IN READING, PA DURING THE WEEKEND OF 9/19!
