Eleventyseven
Eleventyseven is a pop punk band from Greenville, South Carolina, formed in 2002. The name came from a late night brainstorm that still looked cool the next morning. The story runs through label deals, international trips to Japan, an independent grind, a breakup, and a return powered by new albums and a podcast.
How The Band Got Started
Matt Langston and Caleb Satterfield first played together in a church group from Laurens, South Carolina. They used the name Protective Custody in the earliest days. After adding drummer Johnathan Stephens, they became Eleventyseven. Their first real hometown show was a True Love Waits rally. A five song demo at The Jam Room in Columbia led to work with producer Ricky Rodriguez. With Rodriguez, the band self released an album titled The Happiest Day of My Death. The DIY releases helped reach Flicker Records founders Mark Stuart and Will McGinniss.
Label Years and Early Momentum, 2005-2007
In 2005, a deal with Flicker Records followed a first run on the Extreme Tour. The band joined Superchick’s This Is Your Anthem tour with Seventh Day Slumber in early 2006. The major label debut And the Land of Fake Believe arrived on May 16, 2006. The single “MySpace” gained traction at Christian rock radio and on MTVU. “More Than a Revolution” reached the weekly Top 5 at ChristianRock.Net and number 28 on its annual Top 100. The band also appeared on The Logan Show and at ShoutFest 2006. In September 2007, Galactic Conquest was released and peaked at number 40 on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart. In Japan, the album did well enough to push an invite to Punkspring ’08 in Tokyo.
Independent Cycle, 2008-2013
After struggles with management, Eleventyseven parted ways with Flicker in 2008. A possible move to Gotee did not come together. The band self released Adventures in Eville in 2009. TobyMac appeared at the release show. Sony BMG handled an international release in Japan and the band returned for Punkspring 2010. That year brought a Halloween single, “Flashlight (The Cullen Song),” a satirical nod to Twilight. In mid 2010, bassist Caleb Satterfield stepped away and Davey Davenport joined after previously filling in on guitar due to a thumb injury Matt Langston suffered in 2009.
On April 1, 2011 the band issued the EP Quota. The album Sugarfist followed on October 26, 2011 on Sony Japan. The Japanese edition included all six Quota tracks plus three extra songs. In 2012, the band shifted gears for a folk EP, Attack of the Mountain Medley. Later that year they returned to synth punk for the Christmas EP Regifted and played Geki Fest 11 in Japan with The Cab and The Summer Set.
In 2013, the band announced the EP Good Spells. Ahead of release, they posted electronic versions of hymns such as “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” “Come Thou Fount,” and “’Tis So Sweet.” The EP arrived on September 10, 2013.
Disbandment, 2014
On September 26, 2014, Eleventyseven announced a split. Matt Langston focused on The Jellyrox. Davey Davenport started the Revelry. Johnathan Stephens stepped back to focus on family.
Reunion and Recent Releases, 2016-present
In late 2016, the band returned and launched the Eleventylife podcast. A Kickstarter for the album Rad Science funded in September 2017, and the album dropped on November 7, 2017. A companion EP, Rad Science: B Sides, landed on September 28, 2018. In 2019, the podcast featured an interview with Brendan Brown of Wheatus and the band released a cover of “Teenage Dirtbag.”
Another Kickstarter in November 2019 funded the album Basic Glitches, released January 17, 2020. The B sides EP Betamosh followed on November 6, 2020. The band recorded a cover of “Understatement” for a New Found Glory tribute, released as a single on December 22, 2020 ahead of the album’s March 30, 2021 release. In November 2021 they issued the EP Revenge of the Mountain Medley, a sequel to the earlier folk set. In 2023, the single “Side Hug” previewed the album Gloom & Bloom, released on October 6, 2023, with a release show later that month in Greenville. A deluxe edition arrived on May 24, 2024.
Musical and Lyrical Themes
Comparisons often point to bands like Motion City Soundtrack and the Faint. The lyrics reference pop culture, from Conan O’Brien to Star Wars. The writing aims to keep hope in view rather than settle into gloom, while the sound blends pop punk with synth textures common in the 2000s. The band later stated they do not identify as a Christian band and view faith as a personal matter separate from a label on the music.
Members
- Matt Langston, lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, synths, programming, 2002-2014, 2016-present
- Davey Davenport, bass, keyboards, backing vocals, 2010-2014, 2016-present
- Jonathan Stephens, drums, backing vocals, 2002-2014
- Caleb Satterfield, bass, backing vocals, 2002-2010
Discography, Albums
- And the Land of Fake Believe (2006), Flicker Records
- Galactic Conquest (2007), Flicker Records, peaked at number 40 on Billboard Top Christian Albums
- Adventures in Eville (2009), independent
- Sugarfist (2011), Sony Japan, Japanese edition includes all six Quota tracks plus three more
- Rad Science (2017), Rock Candy Recordings
- Basic Glitches (2020), Rock Candy Recordings
- Gloom & Bloom (2023), Rock Candy Recordings, deluxe edition released May 24, 2024
EPs
- Quota (2011), independent
- Attack of the Mountain Medley (2012), Rock Candy Recordings
- Regifted (2012), Rock Candy Recordings
- Good Spells (2013), Rock Candy Recordings
- Rad Science: B Sides (2018), Rock Candy Recordings
- Betamosh (2020), Rock Candy Recordings
- Revenge of the Mountain Medley (2021), Rock Candy Recordings
Other Projects
In 2011, Matt Langston founded Rock Candy Recordings, an independent label that represents artists across the Southeastern United States. Langston also records as The Jellyrox, releasing two full length albums and EPs. In 2016, he joined members of Five Iron Frenzy to form The Fast Feeling and released the album Pulses in January 2017 following a successful crowdfunding campaign. Langston also worked on Best Friend Fight with Rob Johnson of the Switch Kids, releasing songs and a video in 2010. In 2022, he teamed with Scott Kerr to launch the indie pop project Fantasy League, releasing a self titled debut album on November 18, 2022.
