Caspian (band)
Encyclopedia
Caspian is an instrumental post-rock
band from Beverly, Massachusetts
. Since 2003 Caspian have released 2 full-length albums, an EP
and a split 7".
, developing material through the first year of its existence, recording a demo in May 2004 and performing a small number of shows in late 2004 and early 2005, including a support for the Japanese post-rock band Mono
. The band's first performance took place at The Pickled Onion in Beverly, Massachusetts
on August 26, 2004. At the time the band had not yet chosen the name Caspian and were looking for a vocalist.
, releasing a debut EP, You Are the Conductor in November 2005. This was followed, in January 2006, with the band's first tour of the Northeast comprising 4 dates in New York, DC and Pittsburgh. In April and May 2006, the band embarked on its first full tour of the USA, reaching to the west coast and back. A hand pressed, limited edition (100 total) tour EP was released by the band in September 2006 on their 2nd full tour of the USA.
on April 10, 2007., their debut album "The Four Trees" continued their positive exposure to a growing underground of Post-Rock
fans, and was named the #1 album of 2007 by The Silent Ballet. The album was re-released in Europe by Make My Day Records in July 2008. Later that year, they recorded a Split 7" with fellow Massachusetts
band Constants
.
Once again Caspian embarked on three long coast to coast tour of the United States to support the release. After learning that founding member, guitarist Calvin Joss, could no longer fulfill touring duties, Erin Burke-Moran of The Fly-Agaris Sky, was initially recruited to tour in place of Joss, but became a full time member immediately following their 2007 Spring US Tour.
in Europe on 7 August 2009 and in the US on 15 September 2009.Caspian once again recorded the album in February 2007 at New Alliance Audio with Ethan Dussault.
To tour the album upon it's release, Caspian enlisted Washington DC area guitarist, Jonny Ashburn to assist. "Tertia" was supported by two massive European tours (Fall of 2009 and Spring 2010) and a two month North American tour (March/April 2010) that included a supporting slot for Los Angeles based Post-Rock outfit, Red Sparowes
and Brooklyn indie rockers, Fang Island
. In July 2010 the band played their first ever shows in China. The 2 date "Asian Tour" was July 16 at the Hidden Agenda Live House and the second was on the 17th of July in Guangzhou, as part of the Qiangyuan Music Festival. The band toured the US in September and then Europe in November and December playing support with God is an Astronaut
.In 2010 alone the band performed close to 150 concerts in 33 countries on 3 continents. The band played their final concert of 2010 at the Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge MA as part of the "Last Night on Earth", the 8th of the series, with Constants, Irepress and Moving Mountains. Portland Maine based artist Kris Johnsen created a limited number of posters for the show.
After much time away from the stage, November 11th and 12th had the band playing their first hometown shows since early in the year. On November 11th they played in Northampton, MA and then the 12th at Great Scott in Alston, MA. The band dove deep in to the archive, playing "Loft" for the first time in Boston in over 4 years. The set also included 3 new songs, none which have titles. The music remains heavy, but the band appears to be reaching out more. One of the new songs even featured vocals, albeit it sung through a vocoder.
Around this same time the bands label mylene sheath announced plans for the first ever live album release from the band. Songs taken from the October 2010 Old South Church show will be pulled together for a limited vinyl release of 1000 copies (in various colors). Within two days, two of the versions were sold out. The band as confirmed a digital version will be forthcoming. The vinyl release is slated for January 2012.
The band is still working on new material and announced on November 12, 2011 they'd be performing the "Last Night on Earth" at the Middle East Nightclub in Cambridge MA. The show is slated for December 30, 2011. They are slated to record their 4th album in January 2012, with an unspecified release date for 2012.
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
band from Beverly, Massachusetts
Beverly, Massachusetts
Beverly is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 39,343 on , which differs by no more than several hundred from the 39,862 obtained in the 2000 census. A resort, residential and manufacturing community on the North Shore, Beverly includes Beverly Farms and Prides...
. Since 2003 Caspian have released 2 full-length albums, an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
and a split 7".
Early History 2003-2004
Caspian loosely formed in Autumn of 2003 in Beverly, MassachusettsBeverly, Massachusetts
Beverly is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 39,343 on , which differs by no more than several hundred from the 39,862 obtained in the 2000 census. A resort, residential and manufacturing community on the North Shore, Beverly includes Beverly Farms and Prides...
, developing material through the first year of its existence, recording a demo in May 2004 and performing a small number of shows in late 2004 and early 2005, including a support for the Japanese post-rock band Mono
Mono (Japanese band)
Mono are a Japanese post rock band, formed in 1999 in Tokyo, Kantō, Honshū. The band consists of Takaakira Goto , Yoda , Tamaki Kunishi , and Yasunori Takada .Mono have released five studio albums...
. The band's first performance took place at The Pickled Onion in Beverly, Massachusetts
Beverly, Massachusetts
Beverly is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 39,343 on , which differs by no more than several hundred from the 39,862 obtained in the 2000 census. A resort, residential and manufacturing community on the North Shore, Beverly includes Beverly Farms and Prides...
on August 26, 2004. At the time the band had not yet chosen the name Caspian and were looking for a vocalist.
"You Are The Conductor", 2005-2006
In January of 2005, the band signed with Dopamine RecordsDopamine records
Dopamine Records is an independent record label with national and international distribution based in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is part of what is known as the Dopamine/Amalagate Family...
, releasing a debut EP, You Are the Conductor in November 2005. This was followed, in January 2006, with the band's first tour of the Northeast comprising 4 dates in New York, DC and Pittsburgh. In April and May 2006, the band embarked on its first full tour of the USA, reaching to the west coast and back. A hand pressed, limited edition (100 total) tour EP was released by the band in September 2006 on their 2nd full tour of the USA.
"The Four Trees", 2007-2008
Over the course of 2006, the band developed material for a debut album, recording with Ethan Dussault again in August 2006 in Cambridge, MA at the newly renovated New Alliance Audio. Released on Dopamine RecordsDopamine records
Dopamine Records is an independent record label with national and international distribution based in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is part of what is known as the Dopamine/Amalagate Family...
on April 10, 2007., their debut album "The Four Trees" continued their positive exposure to a growing underground of Post-Rock
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
fans, and was named the #1 album of 2007 by The Silent Ballet. The album was re-released in Europe by Make My Day Records in July 2008. Later that year, they recorded a Split 7" with fellow Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
band Constants
Constants (band)
Constants is a post-rock / shoegaze band from Boston, Massachusetts.- Nostalgia For The Future:Constants was originally formed as a three piece in 2003, consisting of Will Benoit, Ben Fowlie, and Duncan Rich. Their first album "Nostalgia for the Future" was produced by Daryl Rabidoux with...
.
Once again Caspian embarked on three long coast to coast tour of the United States to support the release. After learning that founding member, guitarist Calvin Joss, could no longer fulfill touring duties, Erin Burke-Moran of The Fly-Agaris Sky, was initially recruited to tour in place of Joss, but became a full time member immediately following their 2007 Spring US Tour.
"Tertia", 2009-2011
Now officially a 5 piece band, Caspian released a follow-up to their debut called TertiaTertia (album)
Tertia is the second full-length studio album by the American post-rock band Caspian, released through The Mylene Sheath digitally on August 11, 2009 and physically on September 15, 2009...
in Europe on 7 August 2009 and in the US on 15 September 2009.Caspian once again recorded the album in February 2007 at New Alliance Audio with Ethan Dussault.
To tour the album upon it's release, Caspian enlisted Washington DC area guitarist, Jonny Ashburn to assist. "Tertia" was supported by two massive European tours (Fall of 2009 and Spring 2010) and a two month North American tour (March/April 2010) that included a supporting slot for Los Angeles based Post-Rock outfit, Red Sparowes
Red Sparowes
Red Sparowes is a Los Angeles post-rock band comprising current and former members of Isis, Halifax Pier, Angel Hair and Pleasure Forever. Their sound is characteristic of soundscape-influenced experimental rock, with an otherwise uncommon extensive use of a pedal steel guitar.-History:Red Sparowes...
and Brooklyn indie rockers, Fang Island
Fang Island
Fang Island is an American indie rock band formed in Providence, Rhode Island, and based in Brooklyn, New York. The group consists of guitarists Jason Bartell, Chris Georges and Nicholas Andrew Sadler, bassist Michael Jacober, and drummer Marc St. Sauveur...
. In July 2010 the band played their first ever shows in China. The 2 date "Asian Tour" was July 16 at the Hidden Agenda Live House and the second was on the 17th of July in Guangzhou, as part of the Qiangyuan Music Festival. The band toured the US in September and then Europe in November and December playing support with God is an Astronaut
God Is an Astronaut
God Is an Astronaut are an instrumental/post-rock band from the Glen of the Downs, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.-History:After forming in 2002, God is an Astronaut took the inspiration for its name from a famous quote in the movie Nightbreed...
.In 2010 alone the band performed close to 150 concerts in 33 countries on 3 continents. The band played their final concert of 2010 at the Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge MA as part of the "Last Night on Earth", the 8th of the series, with Constants, Irepress and Moving Mountains. Portland Maine based artist Kris Johnsen created a limited number of posters for the show.
2011-Present
In a band blog update in early January 2011 the band said that most of their time over the next year would be spent writing and recording their 3rd full-length album. They performed at the 2011 SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX and played an 8 day European tour in April 2011 visiting Russia, Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands including a headline performance at the Dunk! Festival in Zottegem, Belgium. The band has stated that they plan to take a year long break from touring to focus exclusively on new material, starting May 2011.After much time away from the stage, November 11th and 12th had the band playing their first hometown shows since early in the year. On November 11th they played in Northampton, MA and then the 12th at Great Scott in Alston, MA. The band dove deep in to the archive, playing "Loft" for the first time in Boston in over 4 years. The set also included 3 new songs, none which have titles. The music remains heavy, but the band appears to be reaching out more. One of the new songs even featured vocals, albeit it sung through a vocoder.
Around this same time the bands label mylene sheath announced plans for the first ever live album release from the band. Songs taken from the October 2010 Old South Church show will be pulled together for a limited vinyl release of 1000 copies (in various colors). Within two days, two of the versions were sold out. The band as confirmed a digital version will be forthcoming. The vinyl release is slated for January 2012.
The band is still working on new material and announced on November 12, 2011 they'd be performing the "Last Night on Earth" at the Middle East Nightclub in Cambridge MA. The show is slated for December 30, 2011. They are slated to record their 4th album in January 2012, with an unspecified release date for 2012.
Studio Albums
- The Four TreesThe Four Trees-External links:**...
CD & 2xLP (2007, 2010) The Mylene SheathThe Mylene SheathThe Mylene Sheath is an independent record label, founded by Joel Proper and Lindsay Palmer. The label originated in 2007 in Covington, Kentucky and recently relocated to Athens, Georgia... - TertiaTertia (album)Tertia is the second full-length studio album by the American post-rock band Caspian, released through The Mylene Sheath digitally on August 11, 2009 and physically on September 15, 2009...
CD & 2xLP (2009) The Mylene SheathThe Mylene SheathThe Mylene Sheath is an independent record label, founded by Joel Proper and Lindsay Palmer. The label originated in 2007 in Covington, Kentucky and recently relocated to Athens, Georgia...
EPs
- Live at Old South Church 12" EP (2012) The Mylene SheathThe Mylene SheathThe Mylene Sheath is an independent record label, founded by Joel Proper and Lindsay Palmer. The label originated in 2007 in Covington, Kentucky and recently relocated to Athens, Georgia...
- Live at Old South Church CD (2012) Make My Day Records
- You Are the ConductorYou Are the ConductorYou Are the Conductor is an EP by American Post-Rock band Caspian. The CD version was released on Dopamine Records in 2005 and reissued by The Mylene Sheath on March 13, 2010.In 2008, The Mylene Sheath released the EP in vinyl format on 4 colors...
CD & 12" (2005, 2010) The Mylene SheathThe Mylene SheathThe Mylene Sheath is an independent record label, founded by Joel Proper and Lindsay Palmer. The label originated in 2007 in Covington, Kentucky and recently relocated to Athens, Georgia... - Tour EP (2006) Self-released
- Split 7" with ConstantsConstants (band)Constants is a post-rock / shoegaze band from Boston, Massachusetts.- Nostalgia For The Future:Constants was originally formed as a three piece in 2003, consisting of Will Benoit, Ben Fowlie, and Duncan Rich. Their first album "Nostalgia for the Future" was produced by Daryl Rabidoux with...
(2008) Radar Recordings
Members
- Philip Jamieson - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, keyboardsElectronic keyboardAn electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:... - Calvin Joss - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Chris Friedrich - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Joe Vickers - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Erin Burke-Moran - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(May 2007–present) - Jonny Ashburn - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(August 2009–present)
External links
- Official web site
- MySpace page for Caspian
- Boston Globe: "The show goes on," April 13, 2007
- The Phoenix: "Rising tides - Caspian’s oceans of vocal-less sound," April 9, 2007
- Sonicfrontiers.net: Review of "The Four Trees"
- TheSilentBallet.com: Review of "The Four Trees"
- adequacy.net: Review of "You Are the Conductor"
- Washington Post Review of "Tertia"
- Caspian about their tour: every night in a new city
- Intreview with Caspian in Kiev 26/05/2010 (english)
- - Интервью с группой Caspian в киевском клубе ХLIB 26.05.2010 -