Floater (band)
Encyclopedia
Floater is an American
rock
band
currently based in Portland, Oregon
. The band was started in 1993 by Robert Wynia, Peter Cornett and David Amador. They are known for their progressive concept album
s, stylized storytelling, intense live performances, and devoted fanbase. Floater routinely sells out local venues in Oregon
and periodically plays shows in the neighboring states of Washington, California
, Nevada
, and Idaho
. Floater has played a variety of venues, including CBGB
in New York and the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles. The band was also a musical guest for Live Wire! on OPB radio. The band has been voted the "Best Band" in the Willamette Week
's "Best of Portland" reader's poll for 2009 and 2010.
, Oregon
and answered a musician-wanted ad placed by Robert Wynia. By 1992, they had created Henry's Child. When their guitarist got drunk and ruined a local gig
, Dave Amador stepped in to replace him. The moniker of Henry's Child was quickly shed and Floater was born. It was 1993 and the new trio recorded a four-song demo and began playing small garage parties and eventually at the University of Oregon
. Later, Floater recorded a nine-song demo which impressed the indie record label Elemental
, who signed them soon after.
Floater's first full-length album, Sink
, was released in 1994 and contained some songs from the demos. One year later, a second full-length album was released, Glyph
, which increased the band's popularity in the Pacific Northwest
and allowed tours further east, into Arizona
, Utah
and Texas
.
With the popularity of their song "The Sad Ballad of Danny Boy" and the help of then soon-to-be defunct national Z Rock
radio network, Floater's airplay increased greatly. The network shut down in late 1996, but not before acquiring scattered fans across the nation as in Georgia
, Iowa
, New Jersey
, and even outside the U.S. in Quebec
. In another deleted internet article, it was mentioned that Floater also received play via Digital Music Express
circa 1996.
During these first few years, Floater received nominations to the preliminary level of the Grammys from NARAS in 1995 under Best Rock Performance for Sink and in 1996 under Best Alternative Performance for Glyph. According to World Drum! a newsletter for CD World in Eugene and Corvallis
, Floater had sold 21,000 copies of Sink and Glyph combined. This same newsletter also mentions Floater ranked in the top 5 of Pandemonium's Annual Readers' Poll for Best Northwest Band on an Independent Label, consistently in The Rocket
's Northwest Top Twenty Chart, and having garnered the esteemed "Gavin Rocks" selection of the best band of all 300 participating in the NXNW Music Festival conference. At this time, Floater was also playing popular venues like the WOW Hall
in Eugene, and La Luna
and the Crystal Ballroom
in Portland.
, the band moved to Portland
, Oregon where they remain today. Coinciding with this move, the band's sound slightly changed with the release of Angels. In an article from The Rocket newspaper, it was mentioned the band was ready to "ditch some of [their more rude fans.]" The album is noted for the college radio single "Mexican Bus". Prior to and throughout this time, Floater was being visited by interested major labels including Zoo Records, but they would remain unsigned by a major label.
In 2000, Burning Sosobra was released and it marked a shift in the use of samples that Floater was known for. Rather than sampling movies and television, the band began creating the majority of their own sounds for inclusion on their albums. Burning Sosobra represented a lifting of burdens for Floater, symbolized by the burning effigy on the cover of the album. With Sosobra, Floater moved into a new phase, having purged a dubious manager and beginning to work with Cassandra Thorpe, who bought Elemental Records after the release of this record. The sculpture in the cover photo was a collaboration between Floater and Mark Orme. "Exiled" is considered the single of Burning Sosobra. The lyrics suggest a euphemistic position of being outside the flock as outsiders looking in with contempt. Other notable tracks with "Independence Day" and "Waiting for the Sun," a cover
of The Doors
.
sets in their performances. A part of the Aladdin show would be released on their second live album, Live at the Aladdin
. Floater subsequently released Alter, their fifth full-length album. The album was noted as a first step in altering their sound; however, the shift in sound was markedly less than expected. Floater's sound shifted from a focus on heavy riffs to a well-rounded and eclectic sound.
The band's exploration in sound fruited with their 2004 acoustic album Acoustics
. This would coincide with an increase in acoustic performances abroad. Floater regularly plays back-to-back shows with one electric set and one acoustic set.
, is their most critically acclaimed record to date. The album bridged a familiar older Floater sound in the case of "An Apology" and coupled it with a new creativity infused in their songs like "Weightless," "Breakdown," and "Tonight No One Knows." "An Apology", considered the single of the album, has lyrical content suggesting a sarcastic apology: as one eye looks to the future and the other in the past.
The album also marks a time of increased effort to tour more extensively in the western United States
. Floater has expanded greatly, playing larger venues in some cities, like The Showbox in Seattle, Washington
and the McDonald Theatre
in Eugene, Oregon. They also began playing more cities along their tours through Idaho
, Utah, Nevada
, Arizona, and California
.
By this time, Floater hired Alex Steininger as their new manager. The band set its sights on achieving national recognition. Floater released its eighth studio album, Wake in 2010 and paid for it out of their own pockets. The album received both positive and negative reviews from both the Willamette Week
and The Portland Mercury
. Already, Steininger's influence can be felt as Floater has made appearances on PDXposed and OPB's Live Wire program.
, and also integrating new verses into their own songs. They are also known for covering songs that do not necessarily coincide with their genre. Here is just a small sample of covers they have done:
, THX 1138
, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
, The Shining
, The Last Temptation of Christ
, Cheech and Chong's Nice Dreams, various episodes of The Twilight Zone
and old radio programs.
Crew & Miscellaneous Personnel
Past and Present
Anthropomorphic Personifications
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
currently based in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. The band was started in 1993 by Robert Wynia, Peter Cornett and David Amador. They are known for their progressive concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
s, stylized storytelling, intense live performances, and devoted fanbase. Floater routinely sells out local venues in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and periodically plays shows in the neighboring states of Washington, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, and Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. Floater has played a variety of venues, including CBGB
CBGB
CBGB was a music club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.Founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands like Ramones, Misfits, Television, the...
in New York and the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles. The band was also a musical guest for Live Wire! on OPB radio. The band has been voted the "Best Band" in the Willamette Week
Willamette Week
Willamette Week is an alternative weekly newspaper published in Portland, Oregon, United States. It features reports on local news, politics, sports, business and culture....
's "Best of Portland" reader's poll for 2009 and 2010.
Seminal years in Eugene: Sink & Glyph (1993-1997)
The seeds for Floater were placed when Peter Cornett moved to EugeneEugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and answered a musician-wanted ad placed by Robert Wynia. By 1992, they had created Henry's Child. When their guitarist got drunk and ruined a local gig
Gig (musical performance)
Gig is slang for a musical engagement in which musicians are hired. Originally coined in the 1920s by jazz musicians, the term, short for the word "engagement", now refers to any aspect of performing such as assisting with performance and attending musical performance...
, Dave Amador stepped in to replace him. The moniker of Henry's Child was quickly shed and Floater was born. It was 1993 and the new trio recorded a four-song demo and began playing small garage parties and eventually at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
. Later, Floater recorded a nine-song demo which impressed the indie record label Elemental
Elemental Records
Elemental Records is an American independent record label originally created in 1992. From its original inception, the label then headquartered in Eugene, Oregon. Original founders included Jonathan Boldt. In 1999, the label restructured under the new ownership of Cassandra and Aaron Thorpe and...
, who signed them soon after.
Floater's first full-length album, Sink
Sink (Floater album)
Sink is an album released by Floater in September 1994. Lyrics of isolation and insanity are set against dark and moody aural landscapes, ambient sampling montages, and savage instrumental punch. Sink received a preliminary Grammy nomination in the category of Best Rock Album. Two pressings of the...
, was released in 1994 and contained some songs from the demos. One year later, a second full-length album was released, Glyph
Glyph (Floater album)
Glyph is an album released by Floater in May 1995. Engineered and mixed by the Grammy-nominated Drew Canulette . Glyph received a preliminary Grammy nomination in the category of Best Alternative Performance. The album was initially intended to be an EP featuring leftover songs that never made it...
, which increased the band's popularity in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
and allowed tours further east, into Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
With the popularity of their song "The Sad Ballad of Danny Boy" and the help of then soon-to-be defunct national Z Rock
Z Rock
Z-Rock was a nationally syndicated radio network based out of Dallas, Texas, USA, in the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s that played heavy metal and hard rock music. The format was one of ABC Radio Network's 24-hour satellite formats...
radio network, Floater's airplay increased greatly. The network shut down in late 1996, but not before acquiring scattered fans across the nation as in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, 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...
, and even outside the U.S. in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. In another deleted internet article, it was mentioned that Floater also received play via Digital Music Express
DMX (music)
DMX is a "multi-sensory" branding agency based in Austin, Texas. DMX also provides music for cable and satellite television networks worldwide, including DirecTV.-History:...
circa 1996.
During these first few years, Floater received nominations to the preliminary level of the Grammys from NARAS in 1995 under Best Rock Performance for Sink and in 1996 under Best Alternative Performance for Glyph. According to World Drum! a newsletter for CD World in Eugene and Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
, Floater had sold 21,000 copies of Sink and Glyph combined. This same newsletter also mentions Floater ranked in the top 5 of Pandemonium's Annual Readers' Poll for Best Northwest Band on an Independent Label, consistently in The Rocket
The Rocket (newspaper)
The Rocket was a free biweekly newspaper serving the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, published from 1979–2000. The newspaper's chief purpose was to document local music. This focus distinguished it from other area weeklies such as the Seattle Weekly and the Willamette Week, which...
's Northwest Top Twenty Chart, and having garnered the esteemed "Gavin Rocks" selection of the best band of all 300 participating in the NXNW Music Festival conference. At this time, Floater was also playing popular venues like the WOW Hall
W.O.W. Hall
The W.O.W. Hall is a performing arts venue in Eugene, Oregon, United States.It was formerly a Woodmen of the World lodge.The W.O.W. Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996....
in Eugene, and La Luna
La Luna (Portland, Oregon)
La Luna was a rock-'n'-roll nightclub in Portland, Oregon, United States from 1992 to 1999. It played a central role in Portland's prominence during the emergence of grunge in that era, helping to propel bands from Portland and the surrounding area like Sweaty Nipples, The Dharma Bums, Pond,...
and the Crystal Ballroom
Crystal Ballroom (Portland, Oregon)
Crystal Ballroom, originally built as Cotillion Hall, is a historic building in Portland, Oregon, United States. Cotillion Hall was built in 1914 as a ballroom, and dance revivals were held there through the Great Depression...
in Portland.
Wings to Portland - Angels in the Flesh (1998-2001)
Just before Floater released their third album, Angels in the Flesh and Devils in the BoneAngels in the Flesh and Devils in the Bone
Angels in the Flesh and Devils in the Bone is a Floater album released April 1998. It was a conceptual album that explores a personal saga through the storytelling of singer/bass player Robert Wynia. The overarching story has strong messianic overtones. It obliquely describes the birth, life,...
, the band moved to Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, Oregon where they remain today. Coinciding with this move, the band's sound slightly changed with the release of Angels. In an article from The Rocket newspaper, it was mentioned the band was ready to "ditch some of [their more rude fans.]" The album is noted for the college radio single "Mexican Bus". Prior to and throughout this time, Floater was being visited by interested major labels including Zoo Records, but they would remain unsigned by a major label.
In 2000, Burning Sosobra was released and it marked a shift in the use of samples that Floater was known for. Rather than sampling movies and television, the band began creating the majority of their own sounds for inclusion on their albums. Burning Sosobra represented a lifting of burdens for Floater, symbolized by the burning effigy on the cover of the album. With Sosobra, Floater moved into a new phase, having purged a dubious manager and beginning to work with Cassandra Thorpe, who bought Elemental Records after the release of this record. The sculpture in the cover photo was a collaboration between Floater and Mark Orme. "Exiled" is considered the single of Burning Sosobra. The lyrics suggest a euphemistic position of being outside the flock as outsiders looking in with contempt. Other notable tracks with "Independence Day" and "Waiting for the Sun," a cover
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...
of The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
.
Alter & Acoustics (2002-2006)
Floater experimented with acoustic in-store performances throughout the late 1990s, but around the time of their New Year's Eve show in 2000/2001 at the Aladdin Theater, Floater began including entire acousticAcoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
sets in their performances. A part of the Aladdin show would be released on their second live album, Live at the Aladdin
Live at the Aladdin
Live at the Aladdin is a live album by Floater. The first three tracks were played with acoustic instruments, while the remaining tracks were played electric.-Track listing:#"Persecutor"#"Pet"#"Colorblind"#"The Knowing Dirge"#"American Theatric"...
. Floater subsequently released Alter, their fifth full-length album. The album was noted as a first step in altering their sound; however, the shift in sound was markedly less than expected. Floater's sound shifted from a focus on heavy riffs to a well-rounded and eclectic sound.
The band's exploration in sound fruited with their 2004 acoustic album Acoustics
Acoustics (Floater album)
Acoustics is an album released by Floater in August 2004. Refusing to settle for covering their electric songs, the band brings new tales that are accompanied not only by the guitars and percussion Floater is known for, but also strings, piano, and other facets that are in keeping with this band's...
. This would coincide with an increase in acoustic performances abroad. Floater regularly plays back-to-back shows with one electric set and one acoustic set.
Stone By Stone (2006 to 2008)
Floater's 2006 release, Stone By StoneStone by Stone (Floater album)
Stone by Stone is a studio album by Floater, released on October 31, 2006. This eighth full-length release by Floater contains fourteen new songs and the Behind The Scenes DVD documentary capturing moments from the band’s nearly fourteen years together...
, is their most critically acclaimed record to date. The album bridged a familiar older Floater sound in the case of "An Apology" and coupled it with a new creativity infused in their songs like "Weightless," "Breakdown," and "Tonight No One Knows." "An Apology", considered the single of the album, has lyrical content suggesting a sarcastic apology: as one eye looks to the future and the other in the past.
The album also marks a time of increased effort to tour more extensively in the western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
. Floater has expanded greatly, playing larger venues in some cities, like The Showbox in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
and the McDonald Theatre
McDonald Theatre
McDonald Theatre is a theater and music venue in Eugene, Oregon, United States. Opened in 1925 as a movie house, the building was converted to a theater for performing arts, and is still in business...
in Eugene, Oregon. They also began playing more cities along their tours through Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, Utah, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, Arizona, and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Wake - Setting a new course (2009 to Present)
By 2009, Floater started work on recording their eighth full-length album. Some of the tracks that were expected to appear on the upcoming album were previously recorded during the Stone By Stone sessions.By this time, Floater hired Alex Steininger as their new manager. The band set its sights on achieving national recognition. Floater released its eighth studio album, Wake in 2010 and paid for it out of their own pockets. The album received both positive and negative reviews from both the Willamette Week
Willamette Week
Willamette Week is an alternative weekly newspaper published in Portland, Oregon, United States. It features reports on local news, politics, sports, business and culture....
and The Portland Mercury
The Portland Mercury
The Portland Mercury is an alternative weekly newspaper published in Portland, Oregon. It serves to chronicle the ever-changing Portland music scene, and generally includes interviews, commentaries, reviews, and concert dates...
. Already, Steininger's influence can be felt as Floater has made appearances on PDXposed and OPB's Live Wire program.
Studio albums
- SinkSink (Floater album)Sink is an album released by Floater in September 1994. Lyrics of isolation and insanity are set against dark and moody aural landscapes, ambient sampling montages, and savage instrumental punch. Sink received a preliminary Grammy nomination in the category of Best Rock Album. Two pressings of the...
(1994) - GlyphGlyph (Floater album)Glyph is an album released by Floater in May 1995. Engineered and mixed by the Grammy-nominated Drew Canulette . Glyph received a preliminary Grammy nomination in the category of Best Alternative Performance. The album was initially intended to be an EP featuring leftover songs that never made it...
(1995) - Angels in the Flesh and Devils in the BoneAngels in the Flesh and Devils in the BoneAngels in the Flesh and Devils in the Bone is a Floater album released April 1998. It was a conceptual album that explores a personal saga through the storytelling of singer/bass player Robert Wynia. The overarching story has strong messianic overtones. It obliquely describes the birth, life,...
(1998) - Burning SosobraBurning Sosobra (Floater album)Burning Sosobra is an album that was released by Floater in 2000. It featured eleven new songs, a cover of The Doors' "Waiting for the Sun", "Watched Over By Crows" an older song that existed prior to the release Angels in the Flesh and Devils in the Bone, and a new recording of "Alcoholic", which...
(2000) - AlterAlter (Floater album)Alter is a 2002 album by Portland, Oregon band Floater. Strong self-destructive motifs and a desire to return to an earlier time period are present in many of Alter's songs.-Track listing:#"Zero Hour" – 6:18#"Come See Everything" – 5:11...
(2002) - AcousticsAcoustics (Floater album)Acoustics is an album released by Floater in August 2004. Refusing to settle for covering their electric songs, the band brings new tales that are accompanied not only by the guitars and percussion Floater is known for, but also strings, piano, and other facets that are in keeping with this band's...
(2004) - Stone By StoneStone by Stone (Floater album)Stone by Stone is a studio album by Floater, released on October 31, 2006. This eighth full-length release by Floater contains fourteen new songs and the Behind The Scenes DVD documentary capturing moments from the band’s nearly fourteen years together...
(2006) - WakeWake (Floater album)Wake is an album released by Floater in June 2010. It's Floater first major self-financed and self-released album.-Track listing:#"Concentrate"#"Cannonball"#"Wondering"#"Broken Toy"#"Simplest Way of Life"#"White Dress"#"Matadors"...
(2010)
Live Shows
Floater adds further variety to their live performances by adding various cover songs into their set listSet list
A set list, or setlist, is a document that lists the songs that a band or musical artist intends to play, or has played, during a specific concert performance...
, and also integrating new verses into their own songs. They are also known for covering songs that do not necessarily coincide with their genre. Here is just a small sample of covers they have done:
- Waiting for the Sun by The DoorsThe DoorsThe Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
is featured on their album Burning Sosobra. - U2U2U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
- "Seconds" - "Party Girl" - Pink FloydPink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
- "Run Like Hell" - The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
- "Helter Skelter" - The FixxThe FixxThe Fixx is an English rock band formed in London in 1979. Their hits include "One Thing Leads to Another," "Red Skies," "Stand or Fall," "Saved by Zero," "Sign of Fire," "Are We Ourselves?," "Secret Separation," "Driven Out," "How Much Is Enough?," and "Deeper and Deeper," which was featured on...
- "Red Skies" (partial - included with Settling live) - Elton JohnElton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
- "Rocketman" - Depeche ModeDepeche ModeDepeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
- "Personal Jesus"
Samples
Samples are used extensively in Floater's live performances and earlier albums. Samples from the early albums were primarily from movies. While samples are present on later albums they are not as common. Those that were included, occurred infrequently and were created by the band and local actors. Their albums Sink and Glyph included samples from movies such as Apocalypse NowApocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now is a 1979 American war film set during the Vietnam War, produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The central character is US Army special operations officer Captain Benjamin L. Willard , of MACV-SOG, an assassin sent to kill the renegade and presumed insane Special Forces...
, THX 1138
THX 1138
THX 1138 is a 1971 science fiction film directed by George Lucas in his directorial debut. The film is based on a screenplay by Lucas and Walter Murch...
, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (film)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a 1975 American drama film directed by Miloš Forman and based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Ken Kesey....
, The Shining
The Shining (film)
The Shining is a 1980 psychological horror film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, co-written with novelist Diane Johnson, and starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, and Danny Lloyd. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. A writer, Jack Torrance, takes a job as an...
, The Last Temptation of Christ
The Last Temptation of Christ (film)
The Last Temptation of Christ is a 1988 drama film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is a film adaptation of the controversial 1953 novel of the same name by Nikos Kazantzakis. It stars Willem Dafoe as Jesus Christ, Harvey Keitel as Judas Iscariot, Barbara Hershey as Mary Magdalene, David Bowie as...
, Cheech and Chong's Nice Dreams, various episodes of The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)
The Twilight Zone is an American anthology television series created by Rod Serling, which ran for five seasons on CBS from 1959 to 1964. The series consisted of unrelated episodes depicting paranormal, futuristic, dystopian, or simply disturbing events; each show typically featured a surprising...
and old radio programs.
Associated Personnel
Guest performers- Keith Brown of Drumattica, TV:616 and Sentenced To Life
- Pianist for Burning Sosobra CD release tour
- TV:616 for cover of Run Like Hell
- Jen Folker of Dahlia
- Jeff Chase; flame blower for 1998 performances of Mosquito
- King Black Acid for 2009 performances of the Beatles' Helter Skelter
- Unkle Nancy of Unkle Nancy and the Family Jewels
Crew & Miscellaneous Personnel
Past and Present
- Diogenes Alexander Xenos (DAX) - Soundboard Engineer
- Tom Addison - FOH, Tour Manager
- Sparky - FOH, Monitors
- Keith Brown - Video Effects
- Jeff Chase - Road Manager circa 1998
- Jesse "Juicey" Fletcher - Lights and live samples
Anthropomorphic Personifications
- Omar - Omar
Side projects
- Sentenced to Life - Sometime around 1996, Rob Wynia and Pete Cornett collaborated with Keith Brown to develop a short-lived side project. Allegedly, a demo tape of this exists but has not seen the light of day. At the time of this collaboration, Keith Brown was a part of the band Threscher. Keith would eventually go on to play several shows with Floater as a guest performer, filling in on acoustic guitar.
- Drumattica - A tribal/dance electronic groove band featuring Robert Wynia and David Amador.
- Riverboat - Peter Cornett's side project.
- Rob Wynia's MySpace Page - The spoken word and atmospherics of Rob Wynia.
Floater in the Press
Here are some examples of Floater in the media:- KUFO Marconi Show interview Video Part 1 Part 2
- Eugene WeeklyEugene WeeklyThe Eugene Weekly is an alternative weekly newspaper published in Eugene, Oregon. The paper, published every Thursday, has a circulation of 39,850. It publishes an annual "Best of Eugene" list, a restaurant guide , and special sections on festivals, music, wine, health, and travel....
Interview from 2004 Floater Rising - The SynthesisSynthesis (magazine)Synthesis is a website, weekly newspaper, and a national magazine that deals with popular music, movies, technology, and other interests of pop culture. It is owned by Bill Fishkin, who began the newspaper in Chico, California in his apartment. The magazine is known for publishing eclectic...
Interview Waiting for Floater - Classic Interview Cult of Personality is Dead from the SynthesisSynthesis (magazine)Synthesis is a website, weekly newspaper, and a national magazine that deals with popular music, movies, technology, and other interests of pop culture. It is owned by Bill Fishkin, who began the newspaper in Chico, California in his apartment. The magazine is known for publishing eclectic...
- Willamette WeekWillamette WeekWillamette Week is an alternative weekly newspaper published in Portland, Oregon, United States. It features reports on local news, politics, sports, business and culture....
Interview Stone by Stone - Willamette Week article Floater
- PDXposed Press TV Interview "Floater" Rocks the Crystal Ballroom
- Daily VanguardDaily VanguardThe Daily Vanguard is an independent student newspaper for Portland State University. The newspaper is now generally referred to as simply the Vanguard.-Publishing:...
interview from 10-2008 Float On interview - The Commuter publication audio interview Floater Audio Interview
- Weekly VolcanoWeekly VolcanoWeekly Volcano is a weekly entertainment newspaper in the South Puget Sound, based in Tacoma, Washington. The Weekly Volcano reports on film, theater, food, art and music in the South Sound as well as providing comprehensive arts and music calendars...
article Floater - Grunge band from back in the day plays Hell's Kitchen
External links
- Floater.com (official website)