Icy Demons
Encyclopedia
Icy Demons is an experimental music project started by Bablicon
's Griffin Rodriguez (credited as Blue Hawaii) and Man Man
/ Need New Body
's Christopher Powell
(Pow Pow). A project of various Chicago musicians, they have released three albums, Fight Back! on the Elephant 6-associated label Cloud Recordings.
Tears of a Clone on the Eastern Developments Music
, and in 2007 Miami Ice on Easel (Japan release only).
which involved acts like Soft Machine
and Robert Wyatt
. They do however move forward into new ground by mixing this Canterbury style with a noticeable Krautrock
influence, especially that of Can
. Some melodic lines and rhythmic patterns are strongly reminiscent of Frank Zappa
's compositions. Other similar acts include Aksak Maboul
, Pit er Pat, Pop-off Tuesday, Lightning Bolt, and Cheer Accident.
and Icy Demons,
he has engineered and mixed many local and regional bands' records. Most recently he has worked with Beirut to record their newest double LP "March of the Zapotec" and a forthcoming LP with rapper Count Bass D.
Bablicon
Bablicon was an Elephant 6-related free-jazz band consisting of members of Neutral Milk Hotel and The Gerbils.The band was formed in 1996 when Dave McDonnell , Jeremy Barnes , and Griffin Rodriguez teamed up to write and improvise music...
's Griffin Rodriguez (credited as Blue Hawaii) and Man Man
Man Man
Man Man is an experimental band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Man Man is known for their exuberant live performances. When performing, the members of the band sometimes coordinate their outfits, often seen in white outfits and, more commonly, war paint....
/ Need New Body
Need New Body
Need New Body is an avant garde music collective band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and beyond, numerous members of which have gone on to become members of the band Man Man.-Members:*Christopher Powell / Pow Pow – Drums*Tookie Sherman – Keyboard...
's Christopher Powell
Christopher Powell
Christopher Powell is a musical artist from Philadelphia. He has been the drummer and percussionist for experimental rock group Need New Body, the equally adventurous music group Man Man and the Chicago sextet Icy Demons....
(Pow Pow). A project of various Chicago musicians, they have released three albums, Fight Back! on the Elephant 6-associated label Cloud Recordings.
Tears of a Clone on the Eastern Developments Music
Eastern Developments Music
Eastern Developments Music is a music label formed by Scott Herren, Peter Rentz, Carolina Chaves, Ben Loiz, Carlos Niño, and Paz Ochs.-History:...
, and in 2007 Miami Ice on Easel (Japan release only).
Influences & Style
Demons can be seen as a continuation of the Canterbury SceneCanterbury Scene
The Canterbury scene is a term used to loosely describe the group of progressive rock, avant-garde and jazz musicians, many of whom were based around the city of Canterbury, Kent, England during the late 1960s and early 1970s...
which involved acts like Soft Machine
Soft Machine
Soft Machine were an English rock band from Canterbury, named after the book The Soft Machine by William S. Burroughs. They were one of the central bands in the Canterbury scene, and helped pioneer the progressive rock genre...
and Robert Wyatt
Robert Wyatt
Robert Wyatt is an English musician, and founding member of the influential Canterbury scene band Soft Machine, with a long and distinguished solo career...
. They do however move forward into new ground by mixing this Canterbury style with a noticeable Krautrock
Krautrock
Krautrock is a generic name for the experimental music scenes that appeared in Germany in the late 1960s and gained popularity throughout the 1970s, especially in Britain. The term is a result of the English-speaking world's reception of the music at the time and not a reference to any one...
influence, especially that of Can
Can (band)
Can was an experimental rock band formed in Cologne, West Germany in 1968. Later labeled as one of the first "krautrock" groups, they transcended mainstream influences and incorporated strong minimalist and world music elements into their often psychedelic music.Can constructed their music largely...
. Some melodic lines and rhythmic patterns are strongly reminiscent of Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
's compositions. Other similar acts include Aksak Maboul
Aksak Maboul
Aksak Maboul were a Belgian avant-rock band founded in 1977 by Marc Hollander and Vincent Kenis. They made two studio albums, Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine and Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits , the last one with ex-Henry Cow members Chris Cutler and Fred Frith...
, Pit er Pat, Pop-off Tuesday, Lightning Bolt, and Cheer Accident.
Discography
- (2003) Fight Back!
- (2005) Jump Off 7" b/w Pit Er Pat
- (2006) Tears of a Clone
- (2007) Miami IceMiami IceMiami Ice is the third full-length album by experimental rock group Icy Demons.-Track listing:#"Buffalo Bill"#"Miami Ice"#"1850"#"Summer Samba"#"Jantar Mantar"#"Who There"#"Spywatchers"#"Centuration"#"Realize It"#"Crittin' Down to Baba's"...
Members (Past and Present)
- Griffin Rodriguez aka Blue Hawaii aka Tombstone G
- Chris Powell aka Pow Pow aka Rick Daggers
- The DiminisherThe Diminisher"The Diminisher" is the alter-ego of Chicago musician David McDonnell , who was a founding member of the trio Bablicon, bass player Griffin Rodriguez informally assigned the moniker in reference to McDonnell's liberal use of the so-called diminished chord in Bablicon songs...
aka Da Minister aka Thousand Rabbits Running - Moylando Calrissian
- Dylan Ryan aka Ilcativo
- TA-FREAK-YA
- Ali Hawkbar
- Young Master Schneider
- Smart Cousin
- Yo!Hanan
- Monsieur Jeri
Shape Shoppe
Blue Hawaii also runs a recording studio in Chicago's south loop called the Shape Shoppe. Besides BabliconBablicon
Bablicon was an Elephant 6-related free-jazz band consisting of members of Neutral Milk Hotel and The Gerbils.The band was formed in 1996 when Dave McDonnell , Jeremy Barnes , and Griffin Rodriguez teamed up to write and improvise music...
and Icy Demons,
he has engineered and mixed many local and regional bands' records. Most recently he has worked with Beirut to record their newest double LP "March of the Zapotec" and a forthcoming LP with rapper Count Bass D.