Carissa's Wierd
Encyclopedia
Carissa's Wierd was an indie rock band from Seattle that formed in 1995 and disbanded in late 2003. Their sound has been described as "chamber rock". The band deliberately misspelled the word "Weird" in their name. Their vocals, provided by Mat Brooke
and Jenn Ghetto
, were always very quiet and often could not be clearly heard over the music.
in Seattle in November 2003.
Following the band's breakup, Jenn Ghetto and Sera Cahoone
started solo projects, Ghetto's under the name "S." Mat Brooke and Ben Bridwell
formed Band of Horses
, which Brooke later left to form the band Grand Archives
.
On July 13, 2010, Hardly Art
released a "best of" compilation titled They'll Only Miss You When You Leave: Songs 1996-2003. The release was preceded by a one-off reunion show on July 9, 2010 at Seattle's Showbox at the Market, which featured Brooke, Ghetto, Cahoone, Robin Peringer, Sarah Standard and Jeff Hellis.
In July 2010 Brooke revealed that he and Ghetto had recently bought back all rights to Carissa's Wierd's back catalogue, which was previously owned by Sad Robot Records. He said, “Me and Jenn have been working for a while to buy back the rights to all of our records and we finally were able to get them all back.” This should allow all of Carissa's Wierd's albums to be re-released soon.
In July 2011, Mat Brooke told The Air-Raid Podcast, in an episode entitled "History Repeats Itself With Grand Archives," that another reunion show was scheduled at Neumos in Seattle on September 24. Brooke said that the band may play the Ugly But Honest album in its entirety, with the original band line-up. In August 2011, a new single, "Tucson" was released.
Mat Brooke
Mathew Etter "Mat" Brooke is the lead singer of American rock band Grand Archives and a former member of the bands Band of Horses and Carissa's Wierd.-Early life:...
and Jenn Ghetto
Jenn Ghetto
Jenn Ghetto is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who performs under the name S. She is a former member of the band Carissa's Wierd.-Early life:...
, were always very quiet and often could not be clearly heard over the music.
History
The band played their final shows at the Crocodile CafeCrocodile Cafe
The Crocodile is a music club at 2200 2nd Avenue at Blanchard Street in the neighborhood of Belltown in Seattle, Washington, USA. Opened as the "Crocodile Cafe" on April 30, 1991 by Stephanie Dorgan, it quickly became a fixture on the local music scene. It closed on December 15, 2007...
in Seattle in November 2003.
Following the band's breakup, Jenn Ghetto and Sera Cahoone
Sera Cahoone
Sera Cahoone is a singer-songwriter from Seattle, Washington. Cahoone's music combines elements of both classic country-western and modern indie rock and lo-fi....
started solo projects, Ghetto's under the name "S." Mat Brooke and Ben Bridwell
Ben Bridwell
Benjamin "Ben" Bridwell is the lead singer of American rock band Band of Horses and a former member of the band Carissa's Wierd.-Early life:Bridwell was born on April 25, 1978 and grew up in Irmo, South Carolina...
formed Band of Horses
Band of Horses
Band of Horses, originally briefly known as Horses, are an American rock band formed in 2004 in Seattle by Ben Bridwell. They have released three studio albums, the most recent and most successful of which is 2010's Grammy nominated Infinite Arms...
, which Brooke later left to form the band Grand Archives
Grand Archives
Grand Archives is an American indie rock band that formed in Seattle. They were originally called Archives and are led by principal songwriter Mat Brooke, formerly of Carissa's Wierd and Band of Horses.-The Grand Archives:...
.
On July 13, 2010, Hardly Art
Hardly Art
Hardly Art is an independent record label based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in early 2007 by Sub Pop Records, Hardly Art is run by two full-time employees and is distributed by the Alternative Distribution Alliance and Sub Pop...
released a "best of" compilation titled They'll Only Miss You When You Leave: Songs 1996-2003. The release was preceded by a one-off reunion show on July 9, 2010 at Seattle's Showbox at the Market, which featured Brooke, Ghetto, Cahoone, Robin Peringer, Sarah Standard and Jeff Hellis.
In July 2010 Brooke revealed that he and Ghetto had recently bought back all rights to Carissa's Wierd's back catalogue, which was previously owned by Sad Robot Records. He said, “Me and Jenn have been working for a while to buy back the rights to all of our records and we finally were able to get them all back.” This should allow all of Carissa's Wierd's albums to be re-released soon.
In July 2011, Mat Brooke told The Air-Raid Podcast, in an episode entitled "History Repeats Itself With Grand Archives," that another reunion show was scheduled at Neumos in Seattle on September 24. Brooke said that the band may play the Ugly But Honest album in its entirety, with the original band line-up. In August 2011, a new single, "Tucson" was released.
Albums
- Ugly But Honest: 1996-1999Ugly But HonestUgly But Honest: 1996–1999 is a collection of Carissa's Wierd songs recorded and mixed in early fall of 1998 by Paul D'Amour in his basement; other songs recorded winter of 1999 at Alleged Studios by Mike Epting and Jon Tschurwald, and later mixed on February 14 by Mat Brooke and Mike Epting, all...
- Brown Records (19991999 in music-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
) - You Should Be at Home Here - Brown Records (20012001 in musicSee also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....
) - Songs About LeavingSongs About Leaving-Track listing:-Reception:AllMusic gave Songs About Leaving a lukewarm review, stating that its "abundance of down-turned emotional muck may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it definitely stands out as something not quite so ordinary in the musical landscape." Pitchfork gave the album a positive...
- Sad Robot Records (20022002 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI...
) - Scrapbook (20032003 in music-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
) - I Before E - Sad Robot Records (20042004 in musicSee also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
) - They'll Only Miss You When You Leave: Songs 1996-2003 - Hardly ArtHardly ArtHardly Art is an independent record label based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in early 2007 by Sub Pop Records, Hardly Art is run by two full-time employees and is distributed by the Alternative Distribution Alliance and Sub Pop...
(20102010 in music2010 in music may refer to:*2010 in American music*2010 in Australian music*2010 in British music*2010 in Canadian music*2010 in European music *2010 in Irish music*2010 in Japanese music*2010 in New Zealand music...
)
Singles
- You Should Be Hated Here 7" - Sub Pop Records (20012001 in musicSee also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....
) - Tucson b/w Meredith & Iris 7" - Hardly Art (2011)
Compilation albums featuring tracks by the band
- Home Alive Compilation, Volume 2: Flying Side Kick - Broken Rekids (2001)
- Keepsake, Volume 1 - Keep Recordings (2004)