An Albatross
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| An Albatross | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Wilkes-Barre, PA |
| Genre(s) | Noise rock Post-Hardcore |
| Years active | 1999 - Present |
| Label(s) | Ace Fu Records GSL Bloodlink Records Kitty Play Records Eyeball Records |
| Website | www.analbatross.com |
| Members | |
| Jake Lisowski Jay Hudak Edward B. Gieda III Steven Vaiani Phillip Reynolds Price Daniel Schlett |
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| Former members | |
| Kat Paffett Ed Klinger Jeremy Gewertz Robert Stitzer Christopher Abbott Carl Golembeski |
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An Albatross is a noise rock band based in Wilkes-Barre, PA, known for their chaotic live shows and psychedelic/circus-like presentation.
Formed in the fall of 1999 by guitarist Jake Lisowski, vocalist Edward B. Gieda III, drummer Chris Abbott, bassist Jason Hudak, and organist Phillip Price, the band quickly amassed material and recorded their cassette demo "1.)Sex 2.)Bird 3.)Cake." The following summer marked the first of many expansive tours that An Albatross has become renowned for.
In 2001, Philadelphian upstart label and 90's hardcore staple Bloodlink Records released the Eat Lightning, Shit Thunder CD/LP. The record was completed in two sessions during the winter months of 2000-2001 at Dungeon Studios in Upper Darby, PA. Creatively Eat Lightning, Shit Thunder was a departure from the grindcore-based, deep/growled-vocal laiden 1999 demo and resembled a hybrid of early 1990's screamo, speed metal, and hints of prog rock. The CD/LP debut spawned an exhaustive tour that bled into the writing and recording process of their second album, We Are The Lazer Viking CD-EP.
During the writing process of We Are The Lazer Viking, percussionist Jeremy Gewertz replaced Christopher Abbott, and synth player, Kat Paffett was added. The six person line-up heightened the creative potential of the group and eventually culminated in the Ace Fu Records 2003 release, We Are The Lazer Viking. The eleven-song/eight-minute "fetid noise rock blither" was recorded at the defunct Fun City Studio in Manhattan and produced by Wharton Tiers, who had previously worked with Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr. and Helmet. The composition and recording of We Are The Lazer Viking is markedly more complex and progressive, making heavy usage of synthesizers and erratic time signatures.
The EP fueled nearly three years of extensive national touring (which landed the group a spot at France's 2004 Eurockéennes festival) and created a hugely devoted cult-like following throughout North America & Europe. The buzz also caught ear of English DJ/journalist John Peel, which precipitated into an invite to record a session for BBC Radio 1, which the band recorded in March of 2005.
Prior to the band's second trip to Europe, Jeremy Gewertz was replaced by drummer Ed Klinger. An Albatross toured nearly 130-odd dates with Klinger throughout the US and Europe (including the BBC session). In the summer of 2005, the group labored in Park Slope, Brooklyn, composing the impossible Blessphemy...of the Peace Beast Feastgiver and the Bear Warp Kumite, which would be recorded months later at the unlikely Don One Studios in Brooklyn by Carl Golembeski and Mike Peccio.
Drummer Steven Vaiani took the percussion reigns for the subsequent Blessphemy tours, which have amounted in more than 200 shows since January 2006 in the US, Canada, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemborg, Austria, Germany, Czec Republic, Italy, Switzerland, Spain & France.
Contents |
[edit] Discography
[edit] Demos
- 1.)Sex 2.)Bird 3.)Cake (Cassette tape - 1999)
- An Albatross & Carl G. (3" CD's - tour only 2000)
[edit] Compilations (Exclusive Tracks Only)
- Hoags 2xCD - "Channel 96.2" (2003)
[edit] Albums
- Eat Lightning, Shit Thunder (2001, Bloodlink Records)
- Freedom Sumer Live (2005, Bootleg, Kitty Play Records)
- Blessphemy...of the Peace Beast Feastgiver and the Bear Warp Kumite (2006. Ace Fu Records).
[edit] Singles and EPs
- We Are the Lazer Viking (2003, Ace Fu Records).
- An Albatross / XBXRX split 7-inch (2004. GSL Records)
[edit] Videography
- Godass Soundtrack (2000) Directed by Esther Bell
- Presto Majesto (2003) - Included as part of the bonus material on the We Are the Lazer Viking CD, along with several videos of live performances.
- Lab Results Volume One (2006) - A collection of videos and live performances from Gold Standard Labs Records artists.
- Kevin Dougherty Presents (2006) - A collection of animations & edited/raw live footage from local shows & rehearsals. Available on tour-only.
- Viva La Bam (2006) Episode 204: Mardi Gras Part 1
