My American Heart gained local fame from many local SoCal venues from which they played. Due to legal troubles concerning their name, the band changed their name from No Way Out to My American Heart to reflect the ethnic and national duality the original members identified with. The band made their first big break winning the Ernie Ball Battle Of The Bands. As popularity grew, the band was pressured to play at larger venues farther from home, causing Clint Delgado to leave the band to focus on his education. The band played the Taste of Chaos tour in 2005 with a four-piece. Shortly after the tour the band recorded the full-length album The Meaning in Makeup with producer Sal Villanueva released on Kevin Lyman's label, Warcon, in fall 2005. While on the Warped Tour, the band picked up bassist Dustin Hook. During the summer of 2006, the band's original guitarist, Jeremy Mendez, left the band. My American Heart picked up guitarist Matt "Spud" VanGasbeck before heading out on their last tour before they went into the studio to record "Hiding Inside the Horrible Weather" with producer James Paul Wisner. It was announced on the Soundwave tour that Steve Oira would leave the band after tour due to a mutual agreement. Jake Kalb replaced him on drums. My American Heart announced on a MySpace page that they were working on a new album. On April 14, 2008, Jesse Barrera announced on his website that they were no longer on Warcon Records, saying "The label that we were on for four years just folded and now we're currently in the most interesting legal situation ever, which I won't get into". In early July 2009, Jesse Barrera announced on his website that he was leaving My American Heart. In October 2009, it was announced through members of the band that they would be disbanding following a few final shows. In early October 2009, Jesse Barrera made four demo tracks available on his website, entitled "Unravel", "Pain", "Lost Inside Of You", and "Circa". The songs had been intended for their third studio album that may never be released. Two more demos were later released, titled "Heart Attack" and "Shine Your Light", which may have also been intended for their third studio album. My American Heart played two reunion shows on February 3 and 4, 2012, at The Epicentre in San Diego and Chain Reaction in Anaheim, respectively. On August 1, 2017, it was announced that, in honor of the ten-year anniversary of Hiding Inside The Horrible Weather, My American Heart would be reuniting.
Discography
No Way Out
The Courtesy Of Stars – 2002
Certainty Kills – 2003
My American Heart
My American Heart – 2004
The Meaning in Makeup – 2005
Hiding Inside the Horrible Weather – 2007
Alder Masters – 2009
Compilation appearances
Punk the Clock Vol. 1 – 2004 – Contributed "The Ruins We Hold:
After announcing his departure from the band, guitarist Jesse Barrera continued work on his eponymous acoustic pop project. On March 24, 2010, he independently released his debut solo album titled Love In Technicolor. Dustin Hook is currently a full-time touring bassist for country act Dan + Shay.
