Chisel (band)
Encyclopedia
Chisel was a punk rock
band from the United States
that existed between 1990 and 1997. In that time, the group released two full-length albums and a compilation of early recordings.
, when classmates Ted Leo
(guitar
/vocals
), Chris Infante (bass
), and John Dugan (drums
) began practicing in the basement of a campus dormitory
. Leo had played punk shows with bands such as Animal Crackers in New York's
all-ages scene and Dugan had drummed with the Washington, D.C.
area punk act Indian Summer from the age of fifteen. The band quickly went from playing a covers
set (Wire
, Misfits, Buzzcocks
, Mission of Burma
) to playing original songs written by Leo. Chisel began to perform at various college venues in the Midwest and Northeast
, visiting clubs such as D.C. Space in Washington and ABC No Rio
in New York City.
In 1991, the band released its first single
, "Swamp Fox/Spike" b/w "Listen", on Assembly Records, and followed it up with appearances on compilations released by college radio stations WVFI in Notre Dame, Indiana
and WPRB in Princeton, New Jersey
. In 1992, Infante graduated from college and was replaced on bass by Chris Norborg, who also provided the backing vocal harmonies that soon became integral to Chisel's sound. It was during this period that the band began to change its style from traditional emo
-influenced pop punk
that was inspired by contemporaries in Washington, D.C., to more of a mod-influenced band in the vein of the Small Faces and The Jam
. In 1994, the band members relocated to Washington where Dugan had been intern
ing with Amnesty International
.
release with New Jersey
's Gern Blandsten
label, Nothing New, which included a number of new songs recorded with Guy Picciotto
of Fugazi
in his home studio as well as recordings done the previous year in Chicago
with Tortoise
soundman Casey Rice. It was followed in 1996 by 8 a.m. All Day, an album of all-new material recorded in the basement studio of Velocity Girl
guitarist Archie Moore and produced by the band itself. By this time, Chisel was touring as a support act for bands like Fugazi, Velocity Girl, Blonde Redhead
and Tuscadero
. Following the release of 8 a.m. All Day, the band gained a growing following in the rock clubs of New York, Chicago and Boston
and was being courted by dozens of record labels.
to record brand new material. The band first recorded a single, "It's Alright, You're Okay", in the studio and few months later booked Vernhes for 10 days. Within those ten days, the band tracked and mixed 16 songs. This new set of material found the band incorporating various Britpop
influences, horns, Hammond organ
, and thicker sonics into its sound. But the band also pared some pieces back to an almost minimalist rock aesthetic in order to push Leo's increasingly dark, personal lyrics to the fore. At the other end of the spectrum, Norborg contributed lead vocals to his own compositions "Oh Dear Friends" and "Morley Timmons". Leo also soloed on guitar more often on the album.
The band released its second and final LP
/CD, Set You Free, in mid 1997, and set off on a well-attended tour with Boston band Karate
. Chisel played its last show on May 16, 1997 in Knoxville, TN at the end of its tour. Plans to tour the West Coast
and Europe
were scrapped.
A compilation of Chisel rarities has been in the works for some time, but has no release date.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that existed between 1990 and 1997. In that time, the group released two full-length albums and a compilation of early recordings.
Early years
Chisel began in 1990 on the campus of the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, when classmates Ted Leo
Ted Leo
Theodore F. Leo , called "Ted," as a short form of "Theodore," is an American punk rock/indie rock songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, though he is most known for his singing and guitar playing...
(guitar
Guitar
The 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...
/vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
), Chris Infante (bass
Bass (instrument)
Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
), and John Dugan (drums
Drum kit
A 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 ....
) began practicing in the basement of a campus dormitory
Dormitory
A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
. Leo had played punk shows with bands such as Animal Crackers in New York's
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
all-ages scene and Dugan had drummed with the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
area punk act Indian Summer from the age of fifteen. The band quickly went from playing a covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
set (Wire
Wire
A wire is a single, usually cylindrical, flexible strand or rod of metal. Wires are used to bear mechanical loads and to carry electricity and telecommunications signals. Wire is commonly formed by drawing the metal through a hole in a die or draw plate. Standard sizes are determined by various...
, Misfits, Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
, Mission of Burma
Mission of Burma
Mission of Burma is an American post-punk band formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1979. The band was formed by Roger Miller , Clint Conley , Peter Prescott and Martin Swope...
) to playing original songs written by Leo. Chisel began to perform at various college venues in the Midwest and Northeast
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
, visiting clubs such as D.C. Space in Washington and ABC No Rio
ABC No Rio
ABC No Rio is a social center located at 156 Rivington Street on New York City's Lower East Side that was founded in 1980. It features a gallery space, a zine library, a darkroom, a silkscreening studio, and public computer lab...
in New York City.
In 1991, the band released its first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Swamp Fox/Spike" b/w "Listen", on Assembly Records, and followed it up with appearances on compilations released by college radio stations WVFI in Notre Dame, Indiana
Notre Dame, Indiana
Notre Dame is a census-designated place north of South Bend in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States; it includes the campuses of three colleges: the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College, and Holy Cross College. Notre Dame is split between Clay and Portage Townships...
and WPRB in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
. In 1992, Infante graduated from college and was replaced on bass by Chris Norborg, who also provided the backing vocal harmonies that soon became integral to Chisel's sound. It was during this period that the band began to change its style from traditional emo
Emo (music)
Emo is a style of rock music characterized by melodic musicianship and expressive, often confessional lyrics. It originated in the mid-1980s hardcore punk movement of Washington, D.C., where it was known as "emotional hardcore" or "emocore" and pioneered by bands such as Rites of Spring and Embrace...
-influenced pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
that was inspired by contemporaries in Washington, D.C., to more of a mod-influenced band in the vein of the Small Faces and The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
. In 1994, the band members relocated to Washington where Dugan had been intern
Intern
Internship is a system of onthejob training for white-collar jobs, similar to an apprenticeship. Interns are usually college or university students, but they can also be high school students or post graduate adults seeking skills for a new career. They may also be as young as middle school or in...
ing with Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
.
8 A.M. All Day
In 1995, Chisel issued its first full-length CDCompact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
release with New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
's Gern Blandsten
Gern Blandsten Records
Gern Blandsten Records is an independent record label based in River Edge, New Jersey.The label's acts have included The World/Inferno Friendship Society, Canyon, Chisel, the Van Pelt, Radio 4, The Flesh, and Rye Coalition...
label, Nothing New, which included a number of new songs recorded with Guy Picciotto
Guy Picciotto
Guy Picciotto is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, musician, and producer from Washington, DC.He is most widely known for his role as the guitarist and vocalist of Fugazi, as well as Rites of Spring.-Rites of Spring & Early Projects:...
of Fugazi
Fugazi (band)
Fugazi is an American post-hardcore band that formed in Washington, D.C. in 1987. The band's continual members are guitarists and vocalists Ian MacKaye and Guy Picciotto, bassist Joe Lally and drummer Brendan Canty....
in his home studio as well as recordings done the previous year in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
with Tortoise
Tortoise (band)
Tortoise is an American post-rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1990.-Music:Tortoise's almost entirely instrumental music defies easy categorization, and the group gained significant attention from their early career. The members have roots in Chicago's fertile music scene, playing in...
soundman Casey Rice. It was followed in 1996 by 8 a.m. All Day, an album of all-new material recorded in the basement studio of Velocity Girl
Velocity Girl
Velocity Girl was an American indie rock band formed in 1989 in College Park, Maryland, although it was generally known as a Washington, DC-area band...
guitarist Archie Moore and produced by the band itself. By this time, Chisel was touring as a support act for bands like Fugazi, Velocity Girl, Blonde Redhead
Blonde Redhead
Blonde Redhead is an American alternative rock band composed of vocalist/rhythm guitarist Kazu Makino and twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace , which formed in New York City in 1993....
and Tuscadero
Tuscadero
Tuscadero was an indie rock band from Washington, DC, one of the most prominent on the Washington-based TeenBeat Records roster. The band, which took its name from the Happy Days character Leather Tuscadero, crafted a blissful pop punk influenced by girl groups and the pop culture of its members'...
. Following the release of 8 a.m. All Day, the band gained a growing following in the rock clubs of New York, Chicago and Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and was being courted by dozens of record labels.
Set You Free
For its next album, the band enlisted Nicolas Vernhes and his Rare Book Room studio in Williamsburg, BrooklynWilliamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordering Greenpoint to the north, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south, Bushwick to the east and the East River to the west. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 1. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 90th ...
to record brand new material. The band first recorded a single, "It's Alright, You're Okay", in the studio and few months later booked Vernhes for 10 days. Within those ten days, the band tracked and mixed 16 songs. This new set of material found the band incorporating various Britpop
Britpop
Britpop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. Britpop emerged from the British independent music scene of the early 1990s and was characterised by bands influenced by British guitar pop music of the 1960s and 1970s...
influences, horns, Hammond organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
, and thicker sonics into its sound. But the band also pared some pieces back to an almost minimalist rock aesthetic in order to push Leo's increasingly dark, personal lyrics to the fore. At the other end of the spectrum, Norborg contributed lead vocals to his own compositions "Oh Dear Friends" and "Morley Timmons". Leo also soloed on guitar more often on the album.
The band released its second and final LP
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
/CD, Set You Free, in mid 1997, and set off on a well-attended tour with Boston band Karate
Karate (band)
Karate was an American band, formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1993 by Geoff Farina, Eamonn Vitt and Gavin McCarthy. In 1995, Jeff Goddard joined the band as bass player, and Vitt moved to second guitar...
. Chisel played its last show on May 16, 1997 in Knoxville, TN at the end of its tour. Plans to tour the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
were scrapped.
A compilation of Chisel rarities has been in the works for some time, but has no release date.
EPs and albums
- Nothing New (April 1995; Gern Blandsten)
- 8 a.m. All Day (January 1996; Gern Blandsten)
- Set You Free (April 1997; Gern Blandsten)
Singles
- "Swamp Fox/Spike" b/w "Listen" (September 1991; Assembly Records. Limited 7" release)
- "Spectacles" split with Brian, Colin & Vince (August 1993; Sudden Shame Records)
- "Sunburn" b/w "Little Gidding" "3 O'Clock High" (August 1994; Gern Blandsten)
- "O.T.S." b/w "If You Believe in Christmas Trees" (December 1995; Darla Records)
- "It's Alright. You're O.K." b/w "Guns of Meridan Hill" (February 1997; Gern Blandsten)
Compilations
- "Swamp Fox/Spike" on The Jericho Sessions (April 1991; WVFI Radio)
- "Dream Bar" on Incubus 1993 (April 1993)
- "Nothing New" on Dog So Large I Cannot See Past It (1997; WPRB Radio)
- "Out for Kicks" on Squirrel (September 1995; Level Records)
- "Six Different Ways" on Give Me the Cure (September 1995; Radiopaque)
- "Chiefs" on Storm of the Century (February 1997; Sudden Shame Records)
- "Guns of Meridian Hill" on Fort Reno Benefit Compilation (September 1997; Resin Records)
- "The O.T.S." on Darla 100 (2002; Darla Records)
External links
- [ AllMusic Artist Page]
- Epitonic page
- Band web site as of 2008
- Official myspace website