Hidden In Plain View formed in August 2000, when members Joe Reo (vocals) and Rob Freeman (guitar/backing vocals) merged with members Kenny Ryan (guitar) and Chris Amato (bass), as well as Derek Reilly (drums). This original lineup began playing together much in the DIY style. The young group booked their own shows, arranged their own tours, found their own press, designed their own merchandise and recorded their own demos. That year they recorded a three-track demo and soon got in touch with the local record label DAB Records, who released their now sought after, Chris Badami produced, debut Find in March 2001.
Drummer Jay Snyder was brought on and replaced Derek (who went on to form Red Light Green Light and Jaguar Shark). With this lineup HIPV released their second EP titled Operation: Cut-Throat on Note to Self Records in early 2002. Before the end of the year, another lineup change ensued when Ryan left and went on to co-form Houston Calls, and was replaced by current member Mike Saffert.
In June 2003, HIPV signed with southern California pop punk label Drive-Thru Records. With a solid backing from a label the band began they young professional careers immediately hitting the road with labelmates The Early November. HIPV returned to Chris Badami to record four songs for their self-titled Drive-Thru debut EP. After the recording of the EP, HIPV saw their final lineup change when Snyder suddenly left the band. The self-titled EP was released in November 2003, featuring the liner notes picturing new drummer Spencer Peterson. Together with this lineup and a new label on board, HIPV saw themselves on tour fulltime with such acts as Midtown, Matchbook Romance, The Starting Line, Mae, The Early November, Fall Out Boy, and MXPX taking short stints of time off to write for their anticipated full-length album.
2004 saw HIPV preparing to release their first full-length album and more touring. Early in the year, the band teamed up with producer Jim Wirt (Incubus, No Doubt, Something Corporate, Jack's Mannequin) in Santa Monica, CA to record Life in Dreaming, which was released on February 22, 2005. The new album explored new territories and influences than the band's previous EPs. The rest of 2004 was spent anticipating the release of Life in Dreaming by continuing to tour nationally and internationally in support of bands such as Midtown, Mae, Allister, and Less Than Jake, as well as the entire 10th Anniversary 2004 Vans Warped Tour.
As Hidden in Plain View's fan base continued to grow due to consistent touring and support from their label and various media sources, 2005 saw the release of Life in Dreaming. The year was spent touring domestically and internationally in support of their LP including stints on the Vans Warped Tour, Japan with Fueled by Ramen artists Punchline, co-headling the European Drive-Thru Invasion Tour 2005 with Allister, Halifax and I Am The Avalanche, as well as their very first two month national headlining tour with The Academy Is…, Punchline, Over It, and Spitalfield.
In the fall of 2005, HIPV moved into a house on Lake Muskanetcong in Stanhope, NJ to begin writing their follow up to Life in Dreaming. This kept HIPV off the road for the first time in four years. After months of writing and demoing dozens of songs, the band spent the summer of 2006 in Baltimore, MD with producer Brian McTernan (Hot Water Music, Thrice) at Salad Days Studios. The finished record, titled Resolution showed HIPV's sound again evolving and maturing in more focused directions. 2006 also saw HIPV perform in their home state at The Bamboozle at Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ.
On January 29, 2007, the band announced that they have broken up due to personal and creative differences. Hidden In Plain View's last show was at the School of Rock in Hackensack, NJ in December of 2006. Resolution was released on Drive-Thru Records on July 24, 2007.
On March 8, 2013, Hidden In Plain View along with Company Ink Records released a limited pressing of Life in Dreaming on vinyl sparking discussions among members to prepare for a reunion show on September 7, 2013 in Philadelphia, PA.
