The Number Twelve Looks Like You

The Number Twelve Looks Like You are an American mathcore^[1][2] band from Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Their music combines elements of grindcore, progressive metal, hardcore punk and jazz. They're a highly influential piece in the local New Jersey scene.

The band originally split in 2010 after an eight year long career. After a six year long hiatus, the band performed a secret show in Kingston, NY on May 19, 2016. The day after, they confirmed their return.

History

Formation and Brutal Records years (2002-2004)

In early 2002, Jesse Korman, Chree Conger and Justin Pedrick met through mutual acquaintances and recruited Jamie McIlroy and Alexis Pareja which formed the bass-free outfit And Ever. The band was reportedly formed by "accident" where Pedrick was originally the only vocalist and Korman played drums. Korman then apparently realized he was a "terrible drummer", and as a result, took up being a second vocalist for the band wherein Conger then played drums in his place. After releasing a five-song demo and playing a handful of songs together, the band's style began to change slightly. They then soon changed their name to The Number Twelve Looks Like You, a name taken from the title of a Twilight Zone episode which was named "Number 12 Looks Just Like You".

In early 2003, with newly added bassist Mike Smagula, the band was heard at a live show by an A&R representative from Brutal Records, who was impressed, and informed the heads of the record label about the band.^[3] After hearing all the songs the band had currently recorded, the label signed the band in March and commissioned them to record two new songs,^[3] which along with the songs they had already recorded, were soon released on the band's first full-length album, Put On Your Rosy Red Glasses

Eyeball Records: An Inch of Gold for an Inch of Time and Nuclear. Sad. Nuclear. (2004-2006)

After extensive touring in promotion of Put On Your Rosy Red Glasses, the band began to catch the attention of Eyeball Records, and eventually they were signed in October 2004.^[4] Soon thereafter the band returned to the studio and began work on recording their first release for Eyeball, An Inch Of Gold For An Inch Of Time. The EP, released on January 25, 2005, featured a cover of The Knack's hit, "My Sharona", two new songs, and a re-recording of "Don't Get Blood On My Prada Shoes" and "Jesus And Tori", from their first full-length.

After a short promotional tour for An Inch of Gold for an Inch of Time, the band returned to the studio in March, and with producer D. James Goodwin, recorded their follow-up full length Nuclear. Sad. Nuclear.. Finished in seven days and later released on June 7, the album contained, amongst 10 new tracks, re-recordings of two tracks featured on An Inch Of Gold For An Inch Of Time, "Like A Cat" and "Clarissa Explains Cuntainment".

The final years: Mongrel, Worse Than Alone and break-up (2007-2010)

On June 19, 2007, the band released another full-length album, Mongrel, which featured all new material. The album peaked at No. 19 Billboard Heatseekers and No. 34 on the Top Independent Albums chart.^[5] Mongrel spawned only one single which was Grandfather.^[6] In 2008, TNTLLY released two CDs. One was a live CD/DVD entitled, Here at the End of All Things and the second release was a limited edition "alien green" 7" titled, The Remixes.^[7]

The Number Twelve Looks Like You released their follow up to Mongrel, entitled, Worse Than Alone, on March 10, 2009.^[8] Worse Than Alone leaked in its entirety to various internet websites and communities on March 6, 2009. Worse Than Alone also reached the Billboard Heatseekers charts, peaking at No. 47.^[9]

During the band's tour with Protest the Hero, Misery Signals and Scale the Summit, the band announced that Justin Pedrick had left the band due to his long-time struggle with depression and anxiety. On a blog on the band's MySpace page, they talked about Pedrick's departure from the band.

"We’ve seen a number of posts and comments wondering about Justin, and we are sad to announce that Justin is no longer with the band. It is unfortunate that he will not be part of what’s to come. The No. 12 has always maintained a positive outlook, one that feeds off the support of our fans. We will continue playing and writing music for the wonderful fan base we have".^[10]

In early 2010, the band confirmed rumors that they had broken up.^[11] The reason the band split was due to internal issues with each member. The group played their final show on January 29, 2010.^[12]

The band now claims, on their Twitter page, that if they reach 10,000 followers they "...will play a show or two", they have also asked fans on their Facebook page the question "so what cities love the 12 the most?" along with a rumour stating that they were expected to reform on December 12, 2012 (12/12/12) to coincide with their band name.

On August 2, 2013, The Number Twelve Looks Like You released the first episode of their upcoming video series, called 24/7.12, onto YouTube. In the first episode of the video series, the band speaks of their formation. As of May 2016, no other video has yet been uploaded.

Reunion

On May 18, 2016, the band posted an image on their Facebook account which appeared to be a gig flyer, displaying an updated band logo, a short set list of songs from their back-catalogue, and further text on the side stating the date May 19, 2016 and the location of Kingston, NY. Fans raised speculation that this would be a secret show where the band would announce their return.

As speculated, on May 19, 2016, the band played their first show together since January 2010, and frontman Jesse Korman confirmed the following day that the band were back with "News to follow. Maybe."^[13] The line-up at the band's return show saw both Korman and guitarist Alexis Pareja performing, completed by Michael Kadnar on drums and DJ Scully on bass.

The band is confirmed to be opening for The Dillinger Escape Plan on their current Limerent Death tour.

Band members

Final line-up

• Jesse "Jase" Korman — lead vocals (2002–2010, 2016–present)
• Alexis Pareja — guitars, lap steel, keyboards, synthesizers, piano, mandolin, strings, percussion, vocals, programming (2002–2010, 2016–present)
• DJ Scully — bass guitar (2016–present)
• Michael Kadnar — drums, percussion (2016–present)

Past members

• Chris Russell — bass guitar (2006–2010)
• Jon Karel — drums (2006–2010), vocals (2009-2010)
• Justin Pedrick — lead vocals (2002–2009)
• Christopher "Chree" Conger — drums (2002–2006)
• Mike "Smoogs" Smagula — bass guitar (2002–2006)
• Jamie McIlroy — guitar (2002–2008)

Timeline

Discography

Full-lengths

• Put on Your Rosy Red Glasses (2003)
• Nuclear. Sad. Nuclear. (2005)
• Mongrel (2007)
• Worse Than Alone (2009)

EPs

• An Inch of Gold for an Inch of Time (2005)
• The Number Twelve Looks Like You (2007; limited Hot Topic exclusive)
• The Remixes (2008; limited Hot Topic exclusive)

Live albums

• Here at the End of All Things (2008)^[14]

Videography

References

External links

• Discography The Number Twelve Looks Like You on thenumber12.ning.com archived in the Wayback Machine