David Pajo
Encyclopedia
David Pajo is an American
alternative rock
musician
. He has played a wide variety of music, loosely fitting into several other genres: hardcore
, math-rock
, post-rock
, electronica
, folk
and indie-pop
. Though a multi-instrumentalist (including guitar, bass, banjo and drums), he is best known for his guitar work.
A native of Louisville, Kentucky
, Pajo played with three Louisville hardcore and hardcore-inflected bands in his early career. The first band in which he played was called Obscene Routine, after which he performed as guitarist in Maurice, but it was with Solution Unknown that he made his first recording. He rose to prominence, however, for his work with the influential post-rock band Slint
. Since the breakup of Slint, Pajo has seldom held positions in other bands for very long, moving from one to the other quite often. As a result he has contributed to many line-ups, playing and recording with Will Oldham
, The For Carnation
, Tortoise
, Stereolab
, Royal Trux
, King Kong
, Bush League, Zwan
, Peggy Honeywell, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
and, most recently, Interpol
.
He has also released music as a solo artist using various monikers, as Aerial M, M, and most notably, Papa M. Among his many 7" and splits with various bands, he has released (as Aerial M) 1997's Aerial M, and (as Papa M) 1999's Live from a Shark Cage, 2001's Whatever, Mortal, and 2003's Hole of Burning Alms.
In February and March 2005 he joined his old bandmates from Slint, Britt Walford and Brian McMahan, for a reunion tour, and in April released his first solo album not bearing a pseudonym, simply entitled Pajo. The follow-up to Pajo, entitled 1968, was released in August 2006.
Around the middle of 2005, he helped to form the band Dead Child
, with Todd Cook (from Shipping News
, Retsin
, The For Carnation, and Aerial M—and who also played guitar on the 2005 Slint reunion tour), Michael McMahan (from The For Carnation, Starkiller
, and Phantom Family Halo—and who also joined Slint on the reunion tour), and Tony Bailey (from Anomoanon, The Party Girls, Verktum, and Aerial M).
In 2009, Pajo joined the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
on the tour for their third album, It's Blitz!
.
He was confirmed to perform as Papa M at the ATP New York 2010
music festival in Monticello, New York in September 2010.
In June 2010 it was announced that he would be joining the band Interpol
as a tour member. He left the tour early on February 27, 2011.
With Bush League:
With Slint
:
With King Kong
:
With The For Carnation
:
With Tortoise
:
With Royal Trux
:
With Zwan
:
With Peggy Honeywell:
Papa M:
Pajo:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. He has played a wide variety of music, loosely fitting into several other genres: hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
, math-rock
Math rock
Math rock is a rhythmically complex guitar-based style of experimental rock that emerged in the 1980s and that was very influenced by progressive rock like King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Henry Cow - and 20th century composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage...
, 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...
, electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
, folk
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
and indie-pop
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
. Though a multi-instrumentalist (including guitar, bass, banjo and drums), he is best known for his guitar work.
A native of Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, Pajo played with three Louisville hardcore and hardcore-inflected bands in his early career. The first band in which he played was called Obscene Routine, after which he performed as guitarist in Maurice, but it was with Solution Unknown that he made his first recording. He rose to prominence, however, for his work with the influential post-rock band Slint
Slint
Slint was an American rock band consisting of Brian McMahan , David Pajo , Britt Walford , Todd Brashear and Ethan Buckler...
. Since the breakup of Slint, Pajo has seldom held positions in other bands for very long, moving from one to the other quite often. As a result he has contributed to many line-ups, playing and recording with Will Oldham
Will Oldham
Will Oldham , better known by the stage name Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded under variations of the Palace name, including the Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, and Palace Music...
, The For Carnation
The For Carnation
The For Carnation are a post-rock band from Louisville, Kentucky who formed in 1994. The band was formed by Brian McMahan, who is the only constant group member. McMahan's previous band Slint hinted at the distinctive sound and sombre aesthetic he would create in The For Carnation...
, 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...
, Stereolab
Stereolab
Stereolab are an alternative music band formed in 1990 in London, England. The band originally comprised songwriting team Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier , both of whom remained at the helm across many lineup changes...
, Royal Trux
Royal Trux
Royal Trux was an American alternative rock band from 1987 to 2001, founded by Neil Hagerty and Jennifer Herrema .-History:...
, King Kong
King Kong (band)
King Kong, a rock band from Louisville, Kentucky, formed in early 1989 by Ethan Buckler, the original bassist in the band Slint. The core trio for many years was made up of Buckler, Willie McClean , and Ray Rizzo...
, Bush League, Zwan
Zwan
Zwan was an American alternative rock band that was formed by members of The Smashing Pumpkins, Slint, Tortoise, Chavez, and A Perfect Circle. Zwan was started in late 2001 by Billy Corgan, lead singer and guitarist of The Smashing Pumpkins, after the Pumpkins disbanded in December 2000. The band...
, Peggy Honeywell, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000. The group is composed of vocalist and pianist Karen O, guitarist and keyboardist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase. They are complemented in live performances by second guitarist David Pajo, who joined as a touring...
and, most recently, Interpol
Interpol (band)
Interpol is an American indie rock and post-punk revival band from New York City. Formed in 1997, the band's original line-up consisted of Paul Banks , Daniel Kessler , Carlos Dengler and Greg Drudy . Drudy left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Sam Fogarino...
.
He has also released music as a solo artist using various monikers, as Aerial M, M, and most notably, Papa M. Among his many 7" and splits with various bands, he has released (as Aerial M) 1997's Aerial M, and (as Papa M) 1999's Live from a Shark Cage, 2001's Whatever, Mortal, and 2003's Hole of Burning Alms.
In February and March 2005 he joined his old bandmates from Slint, Britt Walford and Brian McMahan, for a reunion tour, and in April released his first solo album not bearing a pseudonym, simply entitled Pajo. The follow-up to Pajo, entitled 1968, was released in August 2006.
Around the middle of 2005, he helped to form the band Dead Child
Dead Child
Dead Child is a heavy metal band from Louisville, Kentucky. The band played its first show at Lisa's Oak Street Lounge on August 19, 2006 with Pusher, Lords, and Blade of the Ripper....
, with Todd Cook (from Shipping News
Shipping News
Shipping News is an American post-rock/post-hardcore band. The group formed in the fall of 1996 when members Jason Noble and Jeff Mueller, who were both in Rodan, collaborated to create music for the Chicago-based syndicated National Public Radio program This American Life. Kyle Crabtree was later...
, Retsin
Retsin
Retsin was an American indie rock band founded by Tara Jane O'Neil and Cynthia Nelson.-History:Retsin was founded in 1993 by O'Neil, who had played with Rodan, and Nelson, a member of Ruby Falls...
, The For Carnation, and Aerial M—and who also played guitar on the 2005 Slint reunion tour), Michael McMahan (from The For Carnation, Starkiller
Starkiller
Starkiller, also known as Galen Marek and the Apprentice, is the main character of the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed project , who first appeared in the game Soulcalibur IV. He is voiced by Sam Witwer, who also gave his likeness to the character...
, and Phantom Family Halo—and who also joined Slint on the reunion tour), and Tony Bailey (from Anomoanon, The Party Girls, Verktum, and Aerial M).
In 2009, Pajo joined the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000. The group is composed of vocalist and pianist Karen O, guitarist and keyboardist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase. They are complemented in live performances by second guitarist David Pajo, who joined as a touring...
on the tour for their third album, It's Blitz!
It's Blitz!
It's Blitz! is the third studio album by American indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, released March 9, 2009 on Interscope Records. It was originally set for release on April 13, 2009, however after being leaked to the internet on February 22, the release date was pushed forward to March 9 for the...
.
He was confirmed to perform as Papa M at the ATP New York 2010
All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)
All Tomorrow's Parties is a music festival which takes place at Camber Sands holiday camp in East Sussex and Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset, England....
music festival in Monticello, New York in September 2010.
In June 2010 it was announced that he would be joining the band Interpol
Interpol (band)
Interpol is an American indie rock and post-punk revival band from New York City. Formed in 1997, the band's original line-up consisted of Paul Banks , Daniel Kessler , Carlos Dengler and Greg Drudy . Drudy left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Sam Fogarino...
as a tour member. He left the tour early on February 27, 2011.
As a part of a band
With Solution Unknown:- Taken for Granted EP (1986)
- Karen LP (1987)
- Louisville Sluggers Compilation EP (1988)
- Atskoo (Full Discography CD) (1996)
With Bush League:
- Fetor EP
- Sicko EP
- DiscographyDiscographyDiscography is the study and listing of the details concerning sound recordings, often by specified artists or within identified musical genres...
(1994)
With Slint
Slint
Slint was an American rock band consisting of Brian McMahan , David Pajo , Britt Walford , Todd Brashear and Ethan Buckler...
:
- Tweez (1989)
- SpiderlandSpiderlandSpiderland is the second studio album by the American post-rock band Slint, released on March 27, 1991 on Touch and Go. Featuring dramatically alternating dynamics and vocals ranging from spoken word to shouting, the album contains narrative lyrics that emphasize alienation...
(1991) - Slint (EP)Slint (EP)Slint, also known as Glenn/Rhoda or Untitled, is the first and only EP released by the rock band Slint.Released after the band had already broken up, it includes two songs that were recorded in 1989...
(1994)
With King Kong
King Kong (band)
King Kong, a rock band from Louisville, Kentucky, formed in early 1989 by Ethan Buckler, the original bassist in the band Slint. The core trio for many years was made up of Buckler, Willie McClean , and Ray Rizzo...
:
- Old Man On The Bridge (1991)
With The For Carnation
The For Carnation
The For Carnation are a post-rock band from Louisville, Kentucky who formed in 1994. The band was formed by Brian McMahan, who is the only constant group member. McMahan's previous band Slint hinted at the distinctive sound and sombre aesthetic he would create in The For Carnation...
:
- Fight Songs (Apr 6, 1995)
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...
:
- Millions Now Living Will Never DieMillions Now Living Will Never DieMillions Now Living Will Never Die is the second album by the Chicago-based band Tortoise. Released in 1996 by Thrill Jockey Records, Millions... is renowned as a groundbreaking album for post-rock; an uncredited review from Outersound.com declares that not long after the album's release, the group...
(Jan 30, 1996) - TNT (Mar 10, 1998)
With Royal Trux
Royal Trux
Royal Trux was an American alternative rock band from 1987 to 2001, founded by Neil Hagerty and Jennifer Herrema .-History:...
:
- 3-Song EP (1998)
With Zwan
Zwan
Zwan was an American alternative rock band that was formed by members of The Smashing Pumpkins, Slint, Tortoise, Chavez, and A Perfect Circle. Zwan was started in late 2001 by Billy Corgan, lead singer and guitarist of The Smashing Pumpkins, after the Pumpkins disbanded in December 2000. The band...
:
- Mary Star of the SeaMary Star of the SeaMary Star of the Sea is Zwan's only album, released on January 28, 2003. It is a generally upbeat pop-rock/alternative rock record, driven by melodic basslines, flashy drumming, and lots of guitars. "Honestly" and "Lyric" were released as singles...
(Jan 28, 2003)
With Peggy Honeywell:
- Honey for Dinner (May 20, 2003)
As a solo artist
Aerial M:- Aerial M (Aug 25, 1997)
- M Is (1997)
- Vivea (1998)
- October (1998)
- Post Global Music (Jan 26, 1999)
Papa M:
- Travels in Constants Vol. 5 (1999)
- 1999 Tour Single (1999)
- Live from a Shark CageLive From A Shark CageLive from a Shark Cage is the first album by Papa M, the third such pseudonym used by David Pajo , released in 1999 on the Chicago-based Drag City label .The album was released on both CD and 180-gram vinyl...
(Oct 25, 1999) - Papa M Sings (2001)
- Whatever, MortalWhatever, MortalWhatever, Mortal is the second album by Papa M, the third such pseudonym used by David Pajo , released in 2001 on the Chicago-based Drag City label .-Track listing:# "Over Jordan" - 4:20...
(2001) - Songs Of Mac (2002)
- Three Songs (2002)
- One (2003)
- Two (2003)
- Three (2003)
- Four (2003)
- Five (2004)
- Six (2004)
- Hole of Burning Alms (Feb 24, 2004)
Pajo:
- Pajo (Jun 28, 2005)
- 1968 (August 22, 2006)
- Scream with Me (February 24, 2009)