Together, they recorded a 5 track demo in Enders' basement and sent it, along with a poorly edited videotape to only one label: Drive-Thru Records.
A couple of months passed while both Sacco and Anello had to budge for more skilled replacements, Steve Nakovich (guitar) and Mike Klemash (bass), until the band got in touch with Richard Reines of Drive-Thru, who luckily was visiting their hometown and agreed to meet with the band to give advice.
Stunned by what he had heard, Reines returned to California to discuss a possible signing with Drive-Thru co-owner Stefanie Reines. A few weeks and yet another line-up change later (Joe Marro joined for Nakovich), Drive-Thru signed The Early November and put them, despite their practically non-existent on stage experience, on 2002's Skate and Surf Fest and on selected dates of the Warped Tour.
Klemash and Marro left the band before the recording of their debut EP For All of This. Anello re-joined on bass, while a temporary second guitarist was found in John Dubitsky. The CD came out on Drive-Thru Records in early November 2002. Enders recorded The Acoustic EP on his own, featuring acoustic versions of most songs off their debut EP, which was released a mere two months later. Simultaneously, guitarist Marro had re-joined the band in exchange for Dubitsky.
Throughout 2003, the band continued to tour and write songs in preparation for their first full-length CD The Room's Too Cold, which was released in fall of that year. Soon afterwards, Enders recorded a solo record under the name I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business. The CD was almost scrapped due to Enders wanting to focus on The Early November after Kummer left the band in summer 2004 and re-joined two weeks later.
While in the long and grueling process of recording their second full-length, the band had their guitar tech Bill Lugg aka UltraBill join, and the triple disc entitled The Mother, the Mechanic and the Path was released on July 11, 2006.
On March 13th, 2007, TEN announced that they would be going on an indefinite hiatus after they complete their current tour. They announced this both online and at their show at the Meridian in Houston that night. They played their last show at the Bamboozle Festival in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on May 6th, 2007, and left open the possibility of one day returning to the stage but were grateful for everyone who supported them throughout the past 6 years.
An official statement from the band:
We would like to announce that at end of our upcoming headlining tour, The Early November will be taking an indefinite hiatus.
Throughout the past six years we have released two LP’s, two EP’s, played over one thousand shows, seen six wonderful countries, have met thousands of great people, made life-long friends, and have broken countless amounts of instruments. We have done more than we have ever thought possible for a small rock band out of southern New Jersey. We are very proud and very grateful of every moment we have spent as The Early November.
In case any of you are wondering, this is not a result of anything one can consider negative. No fighting, no one hates each other, no one has a substance abuse problem… none of the typical baggage that is usually carried along with rock bands taking a hiatus. The situation is actually much the opposite. We all love and care for on another tremendously. We’re as close of friends as we have ever been and, as long as the five of us exist, we will continue to be so. This “hiatus” or “break” is just a result of time and life. As we grow older, priorities change. We’ve decided we need to take some time and see that life isn’t all dirty rock clubs, rest stops at 2 am, and long distance phone calls. We have to be where we haven’t been in the past six years; with our friends, family, and loved ones.
We hope this isn’t completely somber news to anyone of you. We want to view it almost in the same way many cultures view the passing of a friend or loved one. Not to mourn but to celebrate their life and memory. In our small way, we’d like to do the same. We invite you to come and send off something that has meant so much to the five of us for so long. We may or may not be coming back. Who knows. But for now, all we can say is “Thank You.” “Thank You,” to everyone who was or has been a part of making our dreams a reality. Most importantly, “Thank You” to every single TEN fan. We hope you guys understand. We truly love all of you.
- Ace, Joe, Jeff, Serg, Bill
The Early November
Ace carried on writing his solo project and released The World We Know in 2010.
Since then, the band have announced their reunion 2011, and have done a full US tour in 2012. Their first album since the break is set to be released Summer 2012.
Hair
The Early November Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like your shoes, love your hair.
Hello, how are you?
Love that shirt, you look great.
Hello, how are you?
Love your pants and your smile.
Hello, how are you?
How's your wife and your kids?
Love that hat on your head.
Hello, how are you?
Miss you so. It's nice to see ya.
All we have,
At the end of the game,
Is a lonely road out.
All I know,
At the end of the day,
Is a love to smile now,
Even if that's fake.
All I know,
Is I'm done acting,
And I'll be happy for your life,
Even if I hate it all.
Wait for me.
I've got to see,
The looks that you will get,
When you,
Turn down the key,
To the town and your social being.
All we have,
At a end of the game,
Is the lonely road out.
All I know,
At the end of the day,
Is a love to smile now,
Even if that's fake.
All I know,
Is I'm done acting,
And I'll be happy for your life,
Even if I hate it all.
All we have,
At the end of the game,
Is a lonely road out.
All I know,
At the end of the day,
Is a love to smile now,
Even if that's fake.
All I know,
Is I'm done acting,
And I'll be happy for your life,
Even if I hate it all.
Hello, how are you?
Like your shoes, love your hair.
Hello, how are you?
Love that shirt, you look great.
Hello, how are you?
Miss you so. It's nice to see ya.
The Early November's song "Hair" is a bittersweet reflection on past relationships and the complex emotions that come with them. The lyrics describe a chance encounter with an old friend or lover, with the singer complimenting the other person's appearance and asking about their life. Despite the friendly veneer, there is a palpable sense of tension and longing, as the singer struggles to come to terms with their feelings of jealousy and regret.
The repeated refrain of "All we have / At the end of the game / Is a lonely road out" underscores the underlying sense of sadness and futility in the song. The "game" may refer to the trials and challenges of life and relationships, and the "lonely road out" suggests that everyone must ultimately face these challenges alone. Nonetheless, the singer tries to find solace in small moments of connection and the ability to fake a smile, even in the face of pain and disappointment.
Overall, "Hair" is a poignant and relatable depiction of the complexities of human relationships and the emotional toll they can take.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello, how are you?
Greeting someone and starting a conversation
Like your shoes, love your hair.
Complimenting the person's appearance
Love that shirt, you look great.
Another compliment on the person's appearance
Miss you so. It's nice to see ya.
Expressing happiness at seeing someone after a long time
Hello, how are you?
Continuing the conversation
Love your pants and your smile.
Complimenting the person's appearance again
How's your wife and your kids?
Asking about the person's family
Hello, how are you?
Keeping the conversation going
Love that hat on your head.
Yet another compliment on the person's appearance
Wait for me.
Requesting someone to wait
I've got to see,
Expressing the need to witness something
The looks that you will get,
Anticipating the reaction of others
When you,
Referring to the person's actions
Turn down the key,
Symbolizing leaving or withdrawing
To the town and your social being.
Referring to the person's social life and activities
All we have,
Acknowledging the situation
At the end of the game,
Referring to the end of something
Is a lonely road out.
Highlighting the difficulty of moving on
All I know,
Stating a personal realization
At the end of the day,
Referring to the end of something again
Is a love to smile now,
Describing the need to put on a happy face, despite inner turmoil
Even if that's fake.
Acknowledging that the happiness is not genuine
Is I'm done acting,
Admitting to pretending or acting before
And I'll be happy for your life,
Wishing the best for the other person
Even if I hate it all.
Despite personal feelings, still willing to support the other person
All we have,
Repeating the acknowledgement of the situation
Is a lonely road out.
Reiterating that moving on is a difficult path
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brittney Frasure
How.. how can I possibly know every word to this still after so many years?!? 🥰
Vernage
only beautiful people know these lyrics duhhhh 🙄
Razor Beard
It's catchy
These Bitches Want Nikes
The way Ace says, "it's nice to see ya" always makes me smile.
Alan Digno
I feel like the music industry has a bigger budget for music videos (in general) back then. Videos like this are so creative!
Grog Mob
Not much to do with budget considering it's an indy band on an indy label
ohalistair
This is from 2006. Music videos and singles were a much big part of selling music back then, as you'd watch music video shows, and hear a song you like/see a video you like, and were more likely to buy the record.
This doesn't happen nearly as much anymore, especially with more niche bands/music and so there isn't as much pressure to have a good video.
zaeemq1
Music videos are very lazily done or layered with a gazillion effects on a performance. That is what most major labels dictate as attractive enough and it fits the modern day perspective of music no longer being relevant to MTV or other platforms showcasing music in a audiovisual format.
Nikki Xaysanasy
The trumpet solo? That's what make this band unique. I like them.
Eduardo Chamorro
December 2022, almost 2023, and I keep coming here sometimes. Man, it's been a long time! At the time I loved this trumpet solo, and I still do! Nostalgic...