F44:876 began originally as a loose idea between two friends in the morning hours of an all-night IHOP in New Jersey. Started originally as a “if you could put a band together between the people we know, who’d be in it?” sort of conversation, the ball started rolling, becoming a continuing conversation for weeks at Denny’s, diners, and anywhere else that was open at 3AM were the two could sit, smoke, and not get kicked out. As the momentum turned to fruition, the two started asking around for phone numbers, and began to put the band together.

Over the next three years, the band went through several line-up changes, a sort of revolving door of instruments and friends, until there began to be a distinct chemistry between the members. One they could not ignore. The band toured under various names and incarnations over several states, until solidifying its foundation of J. Hock, S. Rheam, M. Faulkner, N. Simon, and C. Johnson.

After several shows with the new line-up, the band quickly began being dubbed by the local underground as “New Jersey’s best kept secret”, appearing on several flyers and reviews. Since then, the bands’ following has become solid, drawing fans from across the region.

In September of 2001, the band began work on its first release at Trax East Recording Studio in South River, New Jersey. With Eric Kvortek behind the mixing board, the band recorded a collection of songs drawing from their numerous transitions and stages of their career. These songs came together as a unique amalgamation of Radiohead-like ambiance, the industrialism of Nine Inch Nails, and the patience of Mogwai to form a five song EP entitled New York, Illinois (named for the current locations of two of the members ex-fiancé’s). The songs, though differing in feel and sound, are bound together by a unique coherence of both anger and beauty that runs throughout. Their first release is an unmistakable blend of harmonized sung/screamed vocals, animated hollow body guitar riffs, subtle yet profound electronic movements, built over a darkly textured and tight drum section to bring the album to a new surface of exposure, the sound of a band coming into its own.