The Class Of 98

The Class of '98 formed in 2004, six years after singer/guitarist Steve Wilson moved to Nashville to pursue music full-time. He had been writing and recording in a self-made studio before meeting Nick Baumhardt (guitar), Colby Pitts (drums), and Ben Harms (bass). They also were transplants to the country music capital, and in them, Wilson found a common love of music. Once together, the bandmembers — who incidentally did not graduate in 1998 — began crafting their brand of melodic indie pop/rock along the lines of Jimmy Eat World and Braid. They played anywhere around town that would have them, building a loyal following along the way. Recorded in less than three weeks, their Militia Group debut, Touch This and Die!, appeared in January 2006.