ANOREXIC BEAUTY QUEEN

ABQ started as a trio of teens from Syracuse, New York in the early 2000s and the band members went on to have an impact on not only the CNY music community but also on several artists globally. Mike Watson, Jake Patterson and Nick Irvine started the band in the early 2000s releasing their debut album Together You and I Soar to the Moon (January 20, 2004 only on CD and limited online streaming from that era) and then the EP Me in Reverse (January 1, 2005, also below). Jake Patterson departed the band after writing for the Aux debut This Little Light (August 3, 2006) with Isaac Deitz taking over bass duties. After the members pursued other interests for a few years, including Deitz moving on to music video work for artists like Lecrae, Manchester Orchestra, Grouplove and Any Mineo, Watson revived ABQ in 2013 with the emotionally draining album Demons (June 11, 2013) featuring "Why Don't You Write" — quite possibly the saddest song the band has ever released. 

Watson also played in Bleak, The Afro Nips and A Kid Called Danger (2024 Syracuse Area Music Award winner). Nick Irvine also played drums for The Icon and the Axe. Jake Patterson went on to play with Sympathy.