Thieves And Villains

Sometimes a fresh start is all one needs…. In early 2009, founding Thieves and Villains members Sergio Otaegui (vocals/guitar) and Christopher Pennings (guitar/piano/vocals) realized they needed a change. After returning home from several months of exhausting winter touring, the band had hit a collective wall with where to go next. “We just knew that things weren’t working and something drastic had to happen” states Otaegui. That drastic change came in the form of parting ways with drummer Jimmi Kane and bassist Justin Speca. From there began the process of rebuilding everything from scratch. “At first it was like, did we really make the right decision here? Or did we just end our own band?” remarks Pennings, “but right after it was such a freeing feeling knowing that for the first time ever, we were really in control of our own future, and that we could essentially start fresh with some people that we truly love and care about.” These new additions came in the form of longtime friend, bassist Chris Competiello, and a new face, drummer Joseph Penna, who came about via a chance recommendation from a mutual friend. “We knew that Joe was exactly the drummer we had been looking for from the very first time he sat down and jammed with us” states Otaegui. “It was like finding the missing puzzle piece. And Chris (bass) is like my brother personally and musically. We started playing together in high school when he was just 14 and I was 17. Being in a band with him again just feels like home to me.” Yet, things weren’t always this centered for the New York foursome. When likeminded musicians Christopher Pennings and Sergio Otaegui began writing songs together in early 2007, even they wouldn’t have been able to predict the next two years ahead of them. With nothing but the drive to see their vision through and a vow of always keeping their music honest and inspired, the young band fired out the gate with a nonstop schedule of touring and recording that built them a rampant internet buzz within several months of forming. Following a stint on that summers Van’s Warped Tour as well as high profile appearances across various media outlets, the band had garnered the attention of various record labels. By early 2008, Thieves and Villains had sided with the largest independent rock label in the country, Chicago’s Victory Records, and set about working on their full length debut, Movement. Recorded in Baltimore Maryland, with producer Paul Leavitt (Circa Survive), and released on July 8 2008, Movement serves as the perfect introduction to a band that’s in it for the long haul. “Looking back, I can’t believe we even pulled off making a full length that early in our career. Everything was just so nonstop from the time we formed until when the record came out that I’m happy I can say it’s an album we’re proud of” reflects Pennings. Themed around the concept of growth and making valuable contributions to the world on both a personal and mass level, Movement gradually began gaining momentum thanks to the bands hectic schedule of national touring/press and key appearances on FUSE, MTV2, and popular shows like "The Hills," "The Real World," "Bad Girls Club," and "Gossip Girl" to name a few. Since revitalizing their lineup, Thieves and Villains have been holed up in their home region of New York’s historic Hudson Valley on a tight schedule of writing, rehearsing, and demoing. “While we aren’t due for another record just yet, we couldn’t contain ourselves from letting all this new music out” says Otaegui. “We have such amazing chemistry together that we began writing from day one and what’s even cooler is that the songs on Movement are sounding better than ever. It’s like they have a new life to them, and hell so do we.” With all their cards in place, the newly christened Thieves and Villains will head back out on tour in late July to continue touring behind Movement for the rest of the year. Summing up his feelings on everything, Chris Pennings reveals, “I’m just excited in general these days. I’m excited about getting back on the road to play music for people. I’m excited that we’re making the best music of our lives. And I’m excited about the next record and what the future holds for this band.”