Josh Dies

The group built an underground fanbase in the late 1990s and early 2000s through word-of-mouth exposure and frequent touring.

Showbread is an American Christian hardcore band formed in Guyton, Georgia, in 1997.

The group has gone through numerous lineup changes since its initial formation, but maintains its two core members, Josh Dies and Patrick Porter.

The band was formed in 1997 by Patrick Porter and Travis Riner, as a worship band for the Southern Baptist church they attended.

Their church ultimately asked them to leave when they started playing music the church viewed as Satanic.

Eventually, Patrick's younger brother Josh joined the band, serving as the lead vocalist and primary songwriter after starting as the drummer.

The band went through line-up changes, including the addition of Eddie Ortiz as vocalist, and began playing local and regional shows, which garnered the attention of musicians in other Georgia-based Christian rock bands.

It was through these meetings that the additions of Mike Jensen (guitar), Matt Davis (guitar), and John Giddens (synthesizer) took place.

Ortiz left the group in 2001 but does appear as vocalist, and is credited, on the independently produced and released record The Dissonance of Discontent and plays guitars on the album "Goodbye Is Forever", he returned briefly to tour and run merchandise for the band in 2004.

In 2004, the band signed with Tooth & Nail Records and released their major-label debut, No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Practical.

With their new line-up, Showbread toured independent of management, booking agents, and record labels for two years before signing to Tooth & Nail / Solid State Records in 2004.

Showbread played at the Cornerstone Festival in summer of that year and quickly gained a strong following.

In fall 2004, they released their debut album for Tooth & Nail Records, titled No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Practical.

No Sir was produced by Sylvia Massy, who has also worked with Prince, Tool, and Johnny Cash.

Showbread's Age of Reptiles, was released on August 1, 2006.

On this album, Showbread departed drastically from the spastic, screeching style of their previous albums, to a more alternative rock sound, while keeping with their trademark lyrical style and keytar.

Also produced by Sylvia Massy, it was recorded in Weed, California at RadioStar Studios.

On March 4, 2007, Showbread posted on their official website that they would be writing a new record in the spring that they hope to record in the fall and release in 2008.

Showbread announced on April 2, 2007, that Ivory Mobley would be leaving the band in May, his last show being Cornerstone Florida.

Ivory continues to be a close friend to the band and has even appeared on various songs for their records after his departure.

Two months later, on July 13, 2007, they announced that they asked drummer Justin Oblinger to step down from the band.

Oblinger was replaced by Ricky Holbrook, the former drummer of Our Heart's Hero.

On May 1, 2007, the band's blog became home to bizarre videos and messages filled with codes and hidden messages leading to more clues and hidden messages about the band's new record.

Fans worked together to connect the puzzle pieces that they believe coincide with the new album.

Anorexia Nervosa was announced by the band to be released May 13, 2008.

The "album" was released as two separate albums, one called Anorexia and the other Nervosa.

Many of the songs on each album share the same names, although the sound is different for each album.

They also come with a different story to be read along with the song.

The story comes in the form of a booklet in each of the albums.

There are time markers above each section of text in the booklet to inform the listener when to read that section during the album.

The music often matches the tone of the story in the album booklet in order to create a true multi-sensory experience.

Soon after the joint-release of Anorexia and Nervosa and shortly before the start of the band's "You Can't Save Yourself Tour", John "JG" Giddens, the keytar player, left the band to pursue other interests.

Guitarist Matt Davis also left around this time, however Josh decided against announcing his departure.

Matt Davis's guitar role was replaced by Landon Ginnings, also known by Landon D. Mise (formerly of The Wedding) for the tour and JG's by Garrett Holmes.

Both members were released after they completed the tour, but returned in 2009.

In 2010, the band left Tooth & Nail and joined Come&Live!, an independent record label that releases music via free downloads.

Throughout their career, the band has been subject to much controversy among Christian listeners, over their lyrical themes and personal lifestyles.

The members of Showbread have labeled their musical sound as "Raw Rock".

According to former guitarist Matt Davis, the band's name comes from "a biblical reference that Jesus used to show how Christianity isn't so much about rules but about love."

Showbread released their final album, Our Fathers Were Models For God, on November 15, 2022.