Waterparks (band)

Early years and EPs (2011–2016)[edit]

The band was formed in 2011 by Awsten Knight and Gage Matthieu, who met while playing in different bands including The Blue Poptarts.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} The band was later joined by drummer Owen Marvin, guitarist Tommy Denley, and briefly, keyboardist Tyler Comer.^[5][6][7][8] This lineup soon dissipated before the band's first release. Their first EP, Airplane Conversations, was released independently on April 3, 2012,^[9] and was the only release with Matthieu and Marvin before they both left the band in 2012.^[5] Guitarist Geoff Wigington and drummer Otto Wood joined the band that same year following the prior departures. The band's first show was on August 17, 2012 at Warehouse Live in Houston^[10] alongside Invent, Animate, DWHB, and Life as Lions.^[11] The band continued performing at local venues throughout Texas over the following years.^[3] The band performed as a supporting act for pop musician Aaron Carter, opening his Houston tour date on May 11, 2013.^[3][12] Their second EP, Black Light, was released on June 5, 2014.^[13] The band also performed on the Houston dates of the Warped Tour in 2013^[14][15] and 2015.^[16]


On November 6, 2015, the band signed with label Equal Vision Records.^[17] After searching for producers, the band chose twins Benji Madden and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte as their managers.^[18][19] On January 15, 2016, the group released an EP titled Cluster, co-produced by Benji Madden.^[20][21] Mikey Way, known as the bassist of My Chemical Romance, played bass for the EP.^[22] On November 19, 2015, the band performed with Good Charlotte during the group's comeback performance at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, California.^[23]


The group performed on the Black Cat Tour supporting Never Shout Never in 2016,^[24] and on every date of the 2016 Warped Tour.^[25][26] The band then embarked on the End The Madness Tour supporting Sleeping with Sirens in late 2016.^[27]