Hawk Nelson

Hawk Nelson is a rock band that started in Peterborough, Ontario and spent two decades moving from small independent releases to charting albums, lineup changes, and tours across North America.

From SWISH To Hawk Nelson

The story goes back to 2000, when friends Jason Dunn, Dave “Davin” Clark, and Matt “Matty” Paige formed a local band called SWISH in Peterborough. Around the same time, bassist Daniel Biro fronted another group, the Cheese Monkeys from Planet Nine, based in Barrie. Both bands were doing the small town cycle of youth events, local clubs, and self made CDs.

SWISH released their first independent album, Riding Around the Park, on Mime Radio in 2000. In January 2002 Biro moved to Peterborough and joined forces with Dunn, Clark, and Paige. The band briefly renamed themselves Reason Being before finally landing on the name Hawk Nelson. With a settled lineup and a new name, they recorded a second independent album, Saturday Rock Action, in 2003 and kept working the Ontario circuit. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Breaking Out With Letters To The President

As the band toured around Ontario, they ended up on the radar of Tooth & Nail Records. Trevor McNevan from Thousand Foot Krutch and FM Static played a key part here. He was also from Peterborough, knew the band, and recommended them to the label. Hawk Nelson signed with Tooth & Nail and released their debut studio album, Letters to the President, in July 2004. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

The album was produced by Aaron Sprinkle and McNevan, who co wrote many of the songs. Tracks like “California,” “The Show,” and “Things We Go Through” helped define their early style, with energetic guitars and big, shout along choruses. The band landed TV and film placements, including an appearance as The Who in the series American Dreams, and the song “Bring ’Em Out” for the film Yours, Mine and Ours. “The Show” and “Bring ’Em Out” also turned up in Sunday Night Football promotions, which put their music in front of a much wider audience. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

In October 2005, Hawk Nelson re released Letters to the President with extra tracks, including a cover of “My Generation,” acoustic versions of key songs, and alternate artwork. They followed it with the Bring ’Em Out EP in December 2005 and kept touring heavily to support the record. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Building A Catalog And Touring The Festivals

The second studio album, Smile, It’s the End of the World, arrived on April 4, 2006. McNevan again contributed co writing, and the record pushed their sound toward bigger choruses and polished production. The album won the GMA Canada Covenant Award for Modern Rock/Alternative Album of the Year in 2006. Its single “Everything You Ever Wanted” spent nine weeks at number one on the R&R Christian CHR chart and ended up as one of that format’s most played songs of the year. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

That success pulled Hawk Nelson onto major festival stages. They played Creation Fest in both the Northwest and Northeast, joined Winter Jam lineups in 2007 and 2009, and toured with bands like MxPx, Run Kid Run, Project 86, The Fold, and The Classic Crime. Along the way they also released acoustic sets and holiday themed EPs, including Connect Sets, Gloria, and Holiday Trio, which kept new music coming between full albums. Drummer Aaron Tosti departed in 2007 and was replaced by Justin Benner, marking one of several lineup changes that would define the band’s long run. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

On April 1, 2008, they released their third full length, Hawk Nelson Is My Friend. Guest writers included Trevor McNevan, Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace, and Richard Marx. The band continued to pick up soundtrack and commercial placements, including a cover of “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” for a compilation and a back to school ad campaign. A compilation called Hawkology: Anothology of Hawk Nelson (sic) later bundled the first three albums. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Frontman Changes And Later Years

Hawk Nelson released Live Life Loud in 2009, followed by Crazy Love in 2011. These records continued their mix of upbeat rock, reflective ballads, and polished production. Around this period, touring and recording schedules started to shift as members’ lives changed. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

In early 2012, longtime vocalist Jason Dunn left the band to pursue other projects. Bassist Daniel Biro, the only remaining original member from the very beginning, stayed on and helped steer the transition. Guitarist Jonathan Steingard moved into the role of lead vocalist, reshaping the band’s sound while keeping its core melodic approach. Under this lineup Hawk Nelson released additional albums and singles, including material that leaned more into modern pop rock production. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

The band’s final run of releases stretched through the 2010s, after which activity slowed. Hawk Nelson’s official timeline lists their active years as 2000 to 2020, marking a twenty year span from independent Ontario beginnings to label backed albums and international touring. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Band Members

• Daniel Biro – bass and backing vocals, original member and the only person to stay with the band for its entire run
• Jason Dunn – lead vocals and rhythm guitar in the classic early years until 2012
• Jonathan Steingard – guitar in the mid period, later lead vocals after Dunn’s departure
• Matt “Matty” Paige – drums in the early SWISH and Hawk Nelson era
• David “Davin” Clark – guitar in the earliest lineups
• Aaron “Skwid” Tosti – drummer through the mid 2000s, followed by Justin Benner
• Gideon Courtney, Micah Kuiper, David Niacaris and other touring and recording members who stepped in on guitar and drums across later years

Selected Discography

• Riding Around the Park (2000) – independent SWISH album that predates the Hawk Nelson name.
• Saturday Rock Action (2003) – second independent release that helped attract label attention.
• Letters to the President (2004) – debut studio album on Tooth & Nail, later re released with bonus tracks.
• Smile, It’s the End of the World (2006) – second album, winner of a GMA Canada Covenant Award.
• Hawk Nelson Is My Friend (2008) – third album featuring co writing from McNevan, Raine Maida, and Richard Marx.
• Live Life Loud (2009) – continued their high energy rock approach with polished production.
• Crazy Love (2011) – album that closed out the Jason Dunn fronted era.
• Later albums with Jonathan Steingard on vocals, reflecting the band’s shift toward a more modern pop rock sound.