The Classic Crime

Reflective Seattle rock outfit the Classic Crime formed in 2004 with vocalist Matt MacDonald, drummer Paul Erickson, bassist Alan Clark, and guitarists Justin Duque and Robbie Negrin. First meeting in high school, all but Negrin were playing together in the band Orizon before his addition prompted a name change. They spent time on the road in early 2006 with Mest and Tooth & Nail labelmates Anberlin and Emery leading up to the May release of their debut album, Albatross, and their first appearance on the Warped Tour. The following year brought more touring and the acoustic EP Seattle Sessions. Their next two releases, 2008's Silver Cord and 2010's Vagabonds, both landed on the Billboard 200 and, though the band doesn't brand itself Christian as rock, the Top Ten of the Christian albums chart. After parting ways with Tooth & Nail and with Duque, their self-produced fourth album, Phoenix, arrived via Goomba Music in 2012 and repeated that chart success. The Classic Crime celebrated ten years together in 2014 with the live record What Was Done, Vol. 1: A Decade Revisited, released by independent label BC Music. The Seattle co-operative also handled their fifth studio LP, 2017's How to Be Human. ~ Marcy Donelson & Corey Apar