The Berlin Project was an American rock band from just outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with influences from the punk, and ska music scenes that was active from 1995–2005. The band took its name from a computer program. In those ten years the band managed to tour North America many times over with popular acts like The Matches, Steel Train, Punchline, The Sloppy Meateaters, The Unsung Zeros, The Juliana Theory, Midtown, River City High, Catch 22 and Clearview Kills. The band also was a featured act on numerous of the side stages during the 2002 and 2003 Van's Warped Tour, being featured on the Ernie Ball, Kevin Says, and Punkrocks.net stages in numerous cities throughout the East Coast and Midwest United States. The Berlin Project was also a part of numerous Radio Festivals and the like such as 2000's X-Fest in Pittsburgh with The Stone Temple Pilots and Everclear, and 2002's Skate and Surf Festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey with The Descendents, Finch and more. In 2004 The Berlin Project finished a two back to back North American tours as co headliners with Art Punkers, The Matches and then as main support for fellow American Rock act Steel Train in time to return home to Pittsburgh for 2004's X-Fest held at the Post-Gazette Pavilion where they shared the stage with The Offspring, Switchfoot and longtime companions both at home and on tour Punchline. Somewhere in here as well The Berlin Project found time to headline the farewell show to the band's home venue in Pittsburgh, Club Laga. This performance was joined by main support acts River City High and Clearview Kills, complete with ceiling mounted cannons shooting ticker tape over the crowd as the band performed the final song to be played at the venue. This stretch of touring and performances in 2004 would be the band's final major activity. The Berlin Project released two albums on US indie label Orange Peal records. The band's final full length, The Things We Say was released to some success on Trident Style Recordings in Japan. To date, the band's most notable recording was an independent release. 1997's cover version of Snoop Dogg's Gin and Juice went on to find massive success with the original spread of Napster and file sharing. Members of The Berlin Project went on to play in Punchline, Craig's Brother, and Gene The Werewolf. In August 2009 the band temporarily reformed with John Garrighan, Chuck Rocha, Paul Menotiades, Cory Muro to perform four concerts in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Maryland. Some of these shows were headlining dates with support from The Composure and some were in support of also regrouped The Ataris. There are no plans of the band ever reuniting in its traditional form, as founding member John Garrighan died of a heroin overdose in January 2011. The Berlin Project reunited for one performance on July 8th, 2017 at Mr. Smalls in Millvale, Pa as the main support act for Punchline's20th Anniversary Show. The band played songs from their entire discography. Returning members included Jon Belan, Brad Evanovich, Brian Camp, Nick Revak, Aaron Mediate, Sean McAfee, Bryan Coles, and Michael "Nacho" Crosby. Dan Garrighan filled in for his late brother on guitar and vocals.
Discography
Studio albums
1998: Running For the Border
1999: Culture Clash
2004: The Things We Say
EPs
2000: The Transition Radio EP
Albums
Running For the Border : 1998
The first official release from The Berlin Project with small circulation on Sour Records. Due to a ska/punk cover of Snoop Dogg's Gin and Juice the album was never picked up by a major label, nor had heavy circulation. Today used copies can found carrying a high price on large used music resellers due to the popularity of the track on napster after its release.
