The Agency

by Mario Mesquita BorgesCompiling powerful tunes, blending both pop selections and heavy rock features, the Agency gash their very own vision of the pop/rock style, forwarding flaming themes, also demonstrating the band's better rhythmic ability. Assembling in Miami, FL, in 1994, the Agency's lineup features Chris Drueke (bass, vocals), Klaus Ketelhohn (guitar, vocals), and Mike Marsh (drums). Securing a loyal following from the beginning of their operations, the Agency also started creating a considerable reputation due to their raging live performances. In 1997, Rock to the Apocalypse showed up as the crew's first album, assuring them even greater notice. The group playing as the opening act for bands such as the Get Up Kids, New Found Glory, or the Poison Well. During the years that followed, the Agency continued to solidify their ever-growing multitude of followers. In 1999, after two years and numerous concerts, the band released the EP Fork, Knife & Spoon; that same year, the band embarked on their first national tour alongside the Grey AM. Returning home, Further Seems Forever's Chris Carrabba was added on second guitar for the November 1999 recording of their next album, Engines, which was released via Fiddler Records. Carrabba's schedule with his main band led to his subsequent departure, and the Agency picked up Joe Williams to fill his shoes; an east coast tour later and John Owens (ex-the Vacant Andys) was on board in his place instead. By 2001, however, the band had lost momentum and wound up going on hiatus. Though they'd get together here and there, Marsh concentrated on playing with Dashboard Confessional, while his three band mates teamed up in Seville. A reunion show in April 2003 led to Drueke, Ketelhohn and Marsh seriously starting to write songs together again. In between Dashboard's hectic schedule, the trio managed to pump out a new album; the resulting Turn was issued in February 2007 on Perch Records.