The Audition was an Americanrock band fromChicago, Illinois. The band was composed of singer Danny Stevens, drummer Ryan O'Connor, guitarists Seth Johnson and Timmy Klepek and bassist Joe Lussa. The band's first release was a six trackEP titledAll in Your Head. In early 2005, they signed to record labelVictory Records and released their debut album, titledControversy Loves Company. In early January 2008 they released their second studio albumChampion. On April 28, 2009 they released their third studio albumSelf-titled Album. Their latest full-length albumGreat Danger was released on March 16, 2010.

The Audition released a new EP titledChapter II on February 14, 2012—their first new music since leavingVictory Records.

The original members reunited in 2018 to play three dates on the UK festival, Slam Dunk.

Drummer Ryan O'Connor and bassist Joe Lussa along with former guitarist/songwriter Bob Morris formed the core of the band in their hometown of Elmhurst, Illinois in 2003, working with a revolving cast of musicians in their early years. Their first EP, titled "Every Scar Tells A Story," had 6 songs, including a song called 'A Lifetime In Six Months' which would later be called 'Fashion Hour'. They recorded their second EP, "All in Your Head", at The Gallery of Carpet before Danny Stevens, Seth Johnson and Timmy Klepek joined the group, and played some gigs with other local Chicago acts likeThe Academy Is....^[2] Stevens, who became the singer, was originally brought in to play guitar for the band.^[3] The Audition then signed to Victory Records; national touring followed,^[4][5][6][7] andControversy Loves Company, their debutLP for the label, was released in September 2005 to mixed reviews.^[8] The band's lineup at the time of the CD release included O'Connor, Lussa, guitarists Seth Johnson and Timmy Klepek, and vocalist Danny Stevens. Touring withSilverstein andSpitalfield ensued in February 2006;^[9] more touring withMae andLovedrug followed later in 2006.^[10]

In 2006, The Audition joined 30 Seconds to Mars for their Summer tour. In early 2007 the band joinedHead Automatica andJack's Mannequin on The West Coast Winter Tour,^[11] including dates in Canada.^[12] Shortly after this tour they scored the support slot forNew Found Glory on their Australian tour in April 2007. Following this they headlined a nationwide tour, supported byMonty Are I,New Atlantic, andThe Graduate.^[13] They have also toured nationally withRock Kills Kid.^[14] They played on theWarped Tour in 2006^[15] and returned for Warped Tour 2007.^[16] They also supportedBoys Like Girls on Tourzilla withAll Time Low,We the Kings, andValencia in late 2007. Coming off an appearance at Austin's SXSW festival, the band went on a full US tour withHit The Lights, with sets scheduled at both east and west coastBamboozle events. Following some festival appearances throughout the UK, such as theReading and Leeds Festivals, in May they took part on the entire 2008 edition ofVan's Warped Tour and a visit back to Australia in May/June supportingStory of the Year.

In January 2008 they released their second full-length LP titledChampion to more positive reviews. It is the first album by the band to make it into the Billboard 200, entering at No. 157. Throughout February and March 2009The Audition took part in theSoundwave festival. The band's third album was released on April 28, 2009, titled 'Self-Titled Album'.^[17]Before release, the band released a preview to three songs off of the upcoming album on theirMySpace page.^[18] On January 28 it was announced on their official blog that original bassist and founding member Joe Lussa would be leaving the band.^[19] Bass duties were handled by Klepek and the band continued for this period as a four-piece. The Audition replacedKill Hannah on theMadina Lake 2009 British tour. They also toured withAll Time Low in September and October 2009 and joinedCobra Starship on their "Hot Mess Across the U.S." Tour in late August 2009 withThe Friday Night Boys and Skeet Skeet, replacingPlastiscines. The Audition played withThis Providence,Anarbor, andThe Bigger Lights in the 'Bout Damn Time tour Spring 2010. The band announced in July 2010 that they were no longer signed toVictory Records. The Audition toured in Australia in September 2010 withYou Me At Six.

The band announced they would be writing and recording after the tour and released a fifteen-second clip of a new song on theirFacebook page in November. The clip was unavailable shortly after being posted, but in February, the band announced on theirTwitter that they would be releasing new music in the spring. It was announced on 21 September 2011 that original bass player Joe Lussa had rejoined the band and that original guitarist Seth Johnson had left, to be replaced by Jimmy Lopez. On February 14, 2012, the band released a 6-song EP titledChapter II - EP. In February and March, the group supportedEvery Avenue andWe Are the In Crowd on their co-headlining US tour.^[20] In Spring of 2012 the band toured with the bandEve 6, in support of new albums both had produced.^[21] July 2014 saw the band hinting at the possibility of a new album, with Seth Johnson returning to the fold.^[22] In May 2018, the group reunited for performances atSlam Dunk Festival in the UK.^[23]

According toAllMusic, the band's style ispop-punk that combinesemo with "guitar-driven"rock music.^[24]Kerrang! classified them as a "MySpace band".^[25]

• Danny Stevens – lead vocals, guitars, keyboard, piano (2005–2012, 2018–present)
• Timothy Klepek – guitar, backing vocals (2004–2012, 2018–present)
• Ryan O'Connor – drums, percussion (2003–2012, 2018–present)
• Seth Johnson – lead guitar (2004–2011, 2017–present)
• Joe Lussa – bass (2003–2012, 2018–present)

• Robert "Bob" Morris – guitar (2003–2005)
• Evo Soria – vocals (2003–2005)
• Patrick Fanella (2003–2005)
• Tom Bahri – guitar (2004)
• Jimmy Lopez – rhythm guitar (2011–2012)

• "Dance Dance Revolution (Dance Halls Turn to Ghost Towns)" (2004)
• "You've Made Us Conscious" (2006)
• "Approach the Bench" (2005)
• "Don't Be So Hard" (2005)
• "Warm Me Up" (2008)
• "Make It Rain" (2008)
• "My Temperature's Rising" (2009)
• "You Ruined This" (2010)
• "You Make Me Sick" (2012)

• Official website

• Musical groups established in 2003
• Musical groups disestablished in 2012
• Musical groups reestablished in 2018
• Victory Records artists
• Alternative rock groups from Chicago

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