The Recher Theatre's doors had been open for 20 minutes, but a long line of local music fans was still snaked around the block, waiting to enter the venue Friday night. Inside, concertgoers were waiting for local pop-punk group American Diary to take the stage in support of its new EP "The Brightest Colors."
While fans waited to enter the venue, Towson University senior and American Diary's guitarist Mike Clark greeted fans and helped them find extra tickets. Two girls leapt out of line to speak to Clark, who stood outside for more than 20 minutes.
"Every time we play here it's always a huge show," Clark said in an interview before the show started. "I think we have super fans."
When the doors opened he watched the concertgoers rush for the merchandise table to buy the band's newest release and obtain their signatures.
For guitarist Ben DeHan, every fan is a friend.
"They'll really try to help us out without even having to ask. They'll spread our names to all our fans and we couldn't be more appreciative," DeHan said.
Long-term, DeHan said he hopes the fan base, spread as far as Japan, where American Diary is a part of the Fabtone Records family, and across the U.S., where the band is the main candidate on the roster for Toss Up Records, will bring more nights like Friday at Recher Theatre.
"I think what I see is us making a career out of it, hopefully meeting new people and affecting people's lives. These guys are my best friends," DeHan said.
During the group's performance, fans in the front row announced that they'd driven more than eight hours to see American Diary, which also includes vocalist and bassist Brandon Ingley and drummer Brandon Reeder.
"It's something you can really get down to," Clark said about their newest release. DeHan described "The Brightest Colors" as an album worthy of a summer drive.
During a detailed description of American Diary's sound and new album, the members couldn't help but have fun: "Imagine the Teletubbies got older and started a band," Ingley said.
The band's fun doesn't stop with their music, though. Ingley said his primary goal offstage is to pull as many pranks at Reeder's expense as possible. Luckily for the band, Reeder said he takes it in stride.
Despite the group's penchant for pranks and fun, American Diary remains focused.
"We want [our listeners] to have fun and have a good time," Clark said. "They can have as much fun listening to our music as we have writing it."
The music and new EP embody the same joy as "singing every single word at the party with your friends," Clark said.
As for the future, American Diary's said they hope to film a music video this spring before joining the Vans Warped Tour on the East Coast Independent Stage. They also said a full-length album will follow "The Brightest Colors" within the next year.
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