Joey begins missing practice a lot. One day, Steve Ritt sits in on drums. His playing meshes well with the faster, more technical new material that Brendan is writing, and Joey leaves Flesh Eating Creeps. Steve is replaced on bass by VCU freshman from Virginia Beach, Ryan Joy, who heard Brendan talking at a party about needing a bassist.

The Dodge van dies and the band buys a minivan from a guy off Staples Mill Rd., who has them test-drive it on a beer run for him.