Downplay

Dustin Bates - Vocals, Evan McKeever - Guitar, Brian Patrick - Drums, Trevor Connor - Guitar
Downplay released its first record in 2006 at Ohio University in Athens, OH. Soon after, in 2007, the band moved to Columbus, OH, after graduating from OU. In 2010, after a long process of showcasing for major labels, Downplay was signed to Epic Records. As primary songwriter, Dustin Bates spent the next 4 months in Nashville and LA writing the record. Also that year, the band signed with In de Goot management and began touring with bands like Puddle of Mudd, Chevelle, 10 Years, and Sevendust. Throughout this period, Downplay accumulated what would become the longstanding lineup of today. Trevor Connor, Evan Mckeever, Brian Patrick and Corey Catlett.
In Jan 2011, Downplay began recording the record with producer Dave Fortman (Evanescence, Slipknot, Mudvayne, Godsmack) . It was finished in May 2011. Throughout the summer of 2011, Downplay played a number of major tours and Rock festivals including Rock on the Range in Columbus, XFest in Dayton, and Common Ground in Lansing.
In July 2011 Epic hired new president LA Reid. Downplay was dropped immediately in order to make room for the many acts that were to be signed from Reid's X-Factor TV show.
Downplay released their fourth record, 'Beyond the Machine', in November 2011 and has recently finished another EP in Nashville to be released in June 2012.