Giant Drag
Encyclopedia
Giant Drag is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formerly a duo, the band was founded in 2003 by Annie Hardy
who continues to be the band's sole singer and songwriter.
Giant Drag has released an EP, Lemona, in 2005 and their debut album, Hearts and Unicorns
, which was released in the United States on September 13, 2005, and February 27, 2006 in the UK. Hardy released the Swan Song EP on February 16, 2010 on Red Distribution.
Giant Drag have played live shows supporting The Jesus and Mary Chain
, Scissor Sisters
, Pretty Girls Make Graves
, Nine Black Alps
, The Lemonheads
and The Cribs
, and were tipped by the NME
for "big things in 2006". They also performed in the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
in 2006.
Annie Hardy can also be heard on the song "Pink Cellphone" from the 2006 Deftones album entitled "Saturday Night Wrist".
Celebrity fans include Daniel Radcliffe
.
In December 2008, NME announced that she was suffering from muscle disorder fibromyalgia
. According to College News, her condition was later referenced in Paul Avion
's (song "Fibromyalgia".
On June 5, 2008, mixing and mastering for the Swan Song EP was completed, and a completed version of the song "Stuff To Live For" was uploaded to the band's MySpace
page. Calabrese played drums on the EP.
In January 2010, fellow L.A. musician Paul Avion
chose "Kevin is Gay" to kick off a series of articles about Africa for SPIN
Earth.
The Swan Song EP was released on February 16, 2010.
As of December 2010, Hardy's Twitter mentioned a new full-length album had been completed, with no firm date set for release yet.
, PJ Harvey
, and Mazzy Star
although the band does not completely agree with some of the comparisons and Hardy has shown herself to be especially confused by Breeders comparisons. It is suggested by Hardy and another journalist that most articles that have been written about Giant Drag are re-wordings of their press pack (which compared them to such bands).
Their song titles, which are known for their bluntness and black humor, include "Kevin Is Gay," "My Dick Sux," "High Friends in Places," and "YFLMD" - an acronym for "You Fuck Like My Dad". Live performances were often notable for Hardy's monologues in-between songs while Calabrese set up his synthesizer, as well as hecklers in the audience asking Hardy to show her breasts to which Annie often said something back. During performances in 2006 the duo covered Chris Isaak
's "Wicked Game
." Hardy jokingly introduced the song by telling a variation on the basic story that she wrote the song for Chris Isaak when she was 8, and that he stole it from her after a love affair, and that she saw him years later on MTV singing "her" song "rolling around in the sand with some hooker." In the summer of 2007, this cover was used in the promos for Season 5 of the FX Networks TV show Nip/Tuck
.
In 2007, Hardy posted a recording of Silver Bells on her blog from a recording session 3 years prior.
Annie Hardy
Annie-Summer Hardy is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter for the American rock act Giant Drag.Previously signed to Interscope Records, she was voted one of NMEs "50 Coolest People," and has received major news coverage in NME, Spin, MTV News and Rolling Stone, among others.She is known...
who continues to be the band's sole singer and songwriter.
Giant Drag has released an EP, Lemona, in 2005 and their debut album, Hearts and Unicorns
Hearts and Unicorns
Hearts and Unicorns is the first full-length release by California indie-rock band Giant Drag. It was released September 13, 2005 in the U.S...
, which was released in the United States on September 13, 2005, and February 27, 2006 in the UK. Hardy released the Swan Song EP on February 16, 2010 on Red Distribution.
Giant Drag have played live shows supporting The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride, Glasgow in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid...
, Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters are an American band "spawned by the scuzzy, gay nightlife scene of New York" who took their name from a sexual position between two women also known as tribadism...
, Pretty Girls Make Graves
Pretty Girls Make Graves
Pretty Girls Make Graves was an art punk band, formed in Seattle in 2001, named after The Smiths song of the same name...
, Nine Black Alps
Nine Black Alps
Nine Black Alps are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester, named after a line in The Couriers by Sylvia Plath and fronted by Sam Forrest.-Career:...
, The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads are an American alternative rock band first formed in 1986 by Evan Dando, Ben Deily and Jesse Peretz. Dando has remained the band's only constant member....
and The Cribs
The Cribs
The Cribs are an English three-piece indie rock band from Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The band consists of twins Gary and Ryan Jarman and their younger brother Ross Jarman. They were subsequently joined by ex-The Smiths and Modest Mouse guitarist Johnny Marr who was made a formal member of the group...
, and were tipped by the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
for "big things in 2006". They also performed in the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a three-day annual music and arts festival, organized by Goldenvoice and held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley...
in 2006.
Annie Hardy can also be heard on the song "Pink Cellphone" from the 2006 Deftones album entitled "Saturday Night Wrist".
Celebrity fans include Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Jacob Radcliffe is an English actor who rose to prominence playing the titular character in the Harry Potter film series....
.
In December 2008, NME announced that she was suffering from muscle disorder fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a medical disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain and allodynia, a heightened and painful response to pressure. It is an example of a diagnosis of exclusion...
. According to College News, her condition was later referenced in Paul Avion
Paul Avion
Paul Avion is a musician from Los Angeles, CA. In 2009, he was chosen by SPIN.com as an Artist to Watch, and he is also known for living and working in the slums of Africa for SPIN Earth....
's (song "Fibromyalgia".
On June 5, 2008, mixing and mastering for the Swan Song EP was completed, and a completed version of the song "Stuff To Live For" was uploaded to the band's MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page. Calabrese played drums on the EP.
In January 2010, fellow L.A. musician Paul Avion
Paul Avion
Paul Avion is a musician from Los Angeles, CA. In 2009, he was chosen by SPIN.com as an Artist to Watch, and he is also known for living and working in the slums of Africa for SPIN Earth....
chose "Kevin is Gay" to kick off a series of articles about Africa for SPIN
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
Earth.
The Swan Song EP was released on February 16, 2010.
As of December 2010, Hardy's Twitter mentioned a new full-length album had been completed, with no firm date set for release yet.
Music
Giant Drag's sound has been described by several music publications as "nü-grunge". The band has also been compared to bands such as My Bloody Valentine, The BreedersThe Breeders
The Breeders are an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 by Kim Deal of the Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. The band has experienced a number of line-up changes; the current line-up consists of Kim Deal , her twin sister Kelley Deal , Jose Medeles , Mando Lopez Todd the Fox...
, PJ Harvey
PJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
, and Mazzy Star
Mazzy Star
Mazzy Star is an American alternative rock band formed in Santa Monica, California, in 1989 from the group Opal, a collaboration of guitarist David Roback and bassist Kendra Smith...
although the band does not completely agree with some of the comparisons and Hardy has shown herself to be especially confused by Breeders comparisons. It is suggested by Hardy and another journalist that most articles that have been written about Giant Drag are re-wordings of their press pack (which compared them to such bands).
Their song titles, which are known for their bluntness and black humor, include "Kevin Is Gay," "My Dick Sux," "High Friends in Places," and "YFLMD" - an acronym for "You Fuck Like My Dad". Live performances were often notable for Hardy's monologues in-between songs while Calabrese set up his synthesizer, as well as hecklers in the audience asking Hardy to show her breasts to which Annie often said something back. During performances in 2006 the duo covered Chris Isaak
Chris Isaak
Christopher Joseph "Chris" Isaak is an American rock musician and occasional actor.-Early life:Isaak was born in Stockton, California, the son of Dorothy , a potato chip factory worker, and Joe Isaak, a forklift driver. Isaak's mother is Italian American, originating from Genoa...
's "Wicked Game
Wicked Game
"Wicked Game" is a 1989 song by Chris Isaak from his third studio album Heart Shaped World. Despite being released as a single in 1989, it did not become a hit until it was later featured in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart...
." Hardy jokingly introduced the song by telling a variation on the basic story that she wrote the song for Chris Isaak when she was 8, and that he stole it from her after a love affair, and that she saw him years later on MTV singing "her" song "rolling around in the sand with some hooker." In the summer of 2007, this cover was used in the promos for Season 5 of the FX Networks TV show Nip/Tuck
Nip/Tuck
Nip/Tuck is an American drama series created by Ryan Murphy, which aired on FX in the United States. The series focuses on McNamara/Troy, a plastic surgery practice, and follows its founders, Sean McNamara and Christian Troy...
.
In 2007, Hardy posted a recording of Silver Bells on her blog from a recording session 3 years prior.
Discography
Albums and compilations- Lemona (2003) Wichita RecordingsWichita RecordingsWichita Recordings is an independent record label located in London, founded in 2000 by Mark Bowen and Dick Green. Its most notable signees are Bloc Party, The Cribs, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Bright Eyes, My Morning Jacket, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Her Space Holiday, Los Campesinos! and Peter Bjorn and John...
- Hearts and UnicornsHearts and UnicornsHearts and Unicorns is the first full-length release by California indie-rock band Giant Drag. It was released September 13, 2005 in the U.S...
(2005) Kickball Records - Swan Song EP (2010) Roar Scratch
Videography
- "This Isn't It" (directed by G.J. Echternkamp)
- "Kevin Is Gay" (directed by G.J. Echternkamp)
- "Stuff to Live For" (directed by G.J. Echternkamp)
Other appearances
- The song "Kevin Is Gay" was featured in episode four, "Walls of JerichoWalls of Jericho (Jericho episode)"Walls of Jericho" is the fourth episode of season one of the CBS drama Jericho.-Plot synopsis:A caption states that the episode takes place "4 days after the bombs, 1 day after the fallout has cleared."...
", of the first season of the 2006 television series JerichoJericho (TV series)Jericho is an American action/drama series that centers on the residents of the fictional town of Jericho, Kansas, in the aftermath of nuclear attacks on 23 major cities in the contiguous United States...
.
- The song "YFLMD" was featured in the television series The L WordThe L WordThe L Word is an American co-production television drama series originally shown on Showtime portraying the lives of a group of lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and their friends, family and lovers in the trendy Greater Los Angeles, California city of West Hollywood...
, in the season three episode "Lifeline".
- The song "This isn't it" was featured on the soundtrack of the movie Love Song for Bobby Long starring John TravoltaJohn TravoltaJohn Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
and Scarlett Johanssen.
- The song "Blunt Picket Fence" was featured on a Nylon/Filter magazine compilation.
- The song "Smashing" was featured on the Filter/Urban Outfitters Katrina benefit CD.
- The song "Wicked Game" was featured as a promotion for the F/X series Nip/Tuck.
- Giant Drag's version of "Oh Father" appears on the Madonna tribute record titled Through the WildernessThrough the WildernessThrough the Wilderness is a tribute album to Madonna by various folk artists, released on November 27, 2007 on Manimal Vinyl Records.*7 out of 10- Pitchforkmedia.com*3.5 Stars - Spin Magazine-Tracks included:...
on Manimal VinylManimal VinylManimal Vinyl is a Los Angeles based record label founded in 2006 by fashion stylist, Paul Beahan. They are known for releasing underground and experimental pop music. They were originally known as a folk label that makes annual tribute records for worldwide charities, having eventually switched to...
Records.
External links
- Giant Drag official website
- Giant Drag forum
- Giant Drag fansite
- Giant Drag LiveJournal community
- Kickball Records
- Rolling Stone: Giant Drag page
- Through the Wilderness: a tribute to Madonna CD/LP