The band 'FareCard Captured' was started in the late summer of 2003 with guitarist Christopher Martin and drummer Michael Elia. The two were friends from working at a restaurant in Rockledge, Pennsylvania.
Chris and Mike spent months practicing several cover songs including Pink Floyd's, "In the Flesh" and Blink 182's, "Go." It was during this early period of time that the first true FareCard song was written: "The Indian Song."
May of 2004 brought the very first show to the doorstep. With literally only 2 or 3 days prior to this graduation party Andrew Martin, Chris' younger brother, was quickly recruited to fill a currently open guitar and bass spot in the band. The show was short and sweet, only bearing a 7 song playlist. Andrew's valuable contributions earned him a permanent position in the band.
The following months in the summer of 2004 were valuable to the band's growth. During this time, "You Don't Know" and "The Captain's Lament" became original additions to the playlist. By the end of the summer, the band was progressing but was still missing a crucial element...
With a show on the brink, FareCard was in a bad situation. The band really needed a bassist or vocalist, or better yet, both. The band was lucky enough to pick up bassist and vocalist, Mark Gilmore, just in time for the show. Mark was a friend of Chris's from high school. Mark made a heroic effort to fill the shoes of the empty space in FareCard Captured. With only a month to prepare, Mark and FareCard Captured performed a successful MisChief Night show. It is also interesting to note that this if the first time the band began promoting the name FareCard Captured.
In late July 2005,
FareCard Captured added new bassist Paul Welsh to the lineup, replacing a frequently absent Mark Gilmore.
Paul's skill and personality added a previously missing element to the Farecard style.
With a significant turn and demand for new original material,
the band cranked out three new songs in the following months.
Paul's contributions were apparent and an important element to the new jams.
With a career changing phone call,
the band was invited to participate in 'Next Big Thing,'
a large local band show held at The Trocadero in Philadelphia.
Realizing the importance of the show,
the band seeked feverishly for a frontman to cover vocals.
Paul noted a friend of his from college who might be interested in giving it a shot, Kevin Crockett.
This New Jersey native quickly adapted to the style and feel of FareCard Captured and on November 20, 2005 Kevin Crockett and FareCard Captured took the stage for an amazing show.
Seeing the value of having K. Crock (as the band likes to call him) as the frontman on vocals FareCard Captured adopted him into the band in December, 2005. The band was now complete.
