James Bertram (musician)
Encyclopedia
James Bertram is a bass guitarist and singer, who has played with many indie rock
bands from the Pacific Northwest
.
band Lync
, in which he played bass and sang. The band went on to release singles on Magic Pail, Candy Ass, Landspeed
and K Records
, and one full-length album on K Records
, These Are Not Fall Colors
, before disbanding in 1994. In 1997, Troubleman Unlimited and K Records
collected the band's singles and unreleased tracks and released them on one compact disc, Remembering The Fireballs (Part 8).
In early 1995, Bertram formed the band Red Stars Theory
with Tonie Palmasani, Jeremiah Green
and Jason Talley. Red Stars Theory
never officially disbanded, but have not released a record since 2000's Touch and Go
release Life in a Bubble Can Be Beautiful. Suicide Squeeze Records
released a compilation CD combining the band's out-of-print Rx Remedy 7-inch inch and Deluxe Records 10-inch. In 2000 Suicide Squeeze released the "Naima" 7-inch, a minimalistic cover of a song from John Coltrane's Giant Steps album. The b-side of "Naima" is "North to Next (exit)", a remix by Sientific American featuring prominent samples from the first two tracks of Life in a Bubble. In 2006 the band contributed the track "Evergreen and Ivorbean" to Suicide Squeeze's 10th-anniversary compilation, the CD/LP Slaying Since 1996.
For a brief period after Built to Spill
's There's Nothing Wrong With Love was released in 1994, Bertram and Dave Schneider joined Doug Martsch
as the touring version of Built to Spill. This lineup is captured on the live track "Some" on the album The Normal Years
.
In 1998 James was asked by the two members of 764-HERO
, John Atkins and Polly Johnson, to play bass for a session on a radio station. The session went so well that Bertram was made a member of the band. He recorded two albums with the band, 1998's Get Here and Stay and 2000's Weekends of Sound. Bertram left 764-HERO shortly after a tour opening up for Modest Mouse
in 2001. He was replaced by Robin Perringer.
Bertram currently runs Luckyhorse Industries, a tour merchandiser and small record label, in Seattle, Washington
, with his partner Amanda Graham. He has a son who was born in 2003.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
bands from 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...
.
Career overview
In 1992, Bertram joined the indie rockIndie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band Lync
Lync
Lync was a 1990's post-hardcore band from Olympia, Washington.Formed in 1992, Lync was composed of vocalist/guitarist Sam Jayne, bassist/vocalist James Bertram and drummer Dave Schneider...
, in which he played bass and sang. The band went on to release singles on Magic Pail, Candy Ass, Landspeed
Landspeed
Landspeed is a 2002 film starring Billy Zane and Paul Butcher in his film debut.It is about an American team trying to break the Land Speed Record....
and K Records
K Records
K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
, and one full-length album on K Records
K Records
K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
, These Are Not Fall Colors
These Are Not Fall Colors
These Are Not Fall Colors is the first and only studio album by the American post-hardcore group Lync.The album was released on K Records in 1994.-Track listing:# B# Perfect Shot# Silver Spoon Glasses# Pennies To Save# Clay Fighter# Cue Cards...
, before disbanding in 1994. In 1997, Troubleman Unlimited and K Records
K Records
K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
collected the band's singles and unreleased tracks and released them on one compact disc, Remembering The Fireballs (Part 8).
In early 1995, Bertram formed the band Red Stars Theory
Red Stars Theory
Red Stars Theory is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington. The band was formed in early 1995 when James Bertram was looking for someone to play guitar with and found Tonie Palmasani , Jeremiah Green and Jason Talley...
with Tonie Palmasani, Jeremiah Green
Jeremiah Green
Jeremiah Martin Green is a founding member and drummer of the indie rock band Modest Mouse from 1993 to March 2003, and again from July 2004....
and Jason Talley. Red Stars Theory
Red Stars Theory
Red Stars Theory is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington. The band was formed in early 1995 when James Bertram was looking for someone to play guitar with and found Tonie Palmasani , Jeremiah Green and Jason Talley...
never officially disbanded, but have not released a record since 2000's Touch and Go
Touch and Go Records
Touch and Go Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, USA.After its genesis as a hand-made fanzine in 1979, it grew into one of the key record labels in the American 1980s alternative and underground rock scenes, Touch & Go carved out a reputation for releasing adventurous...
release Life in a Bubble Can Be Beautiful. Suicide Squeeze Records
Suicide Squeeze Records
Suicide Squeeze Records is a Seattle, WA - based independent record label that presses a significant number of 7" vinyl singles in addition to the more prevalent compact discs. The label was started in August 1996 with the release of a 7" single from 764-Hero. The label quickly grew from owner...
released a compilation CD combining the band's out-of-print Rx Remedy 7-inch inch and Deluxe Records 10-inch. In 2000 Suicide Squeeze released the "Naima" 7-inch, a minimalistic cover of a song from John Coltrane's Giant Steps album. The b-side of "Naima" is "North to Next (exit)", a remix by Sientific American featuring prominent samples from the first two tracks of Life in a Bubble. In 2006 the band contributed the track "Evergreen and Ivorbean" to Suicide Squeeze's 10th-anniversary compilation, the CD/LP Slaying Since 1996.
For a brief period after Built to Spill
Built to Spill
Built to Spill is an American indie rock band based in Boise, Idaho. The band has released seven full-length albums. Their most recent album, There Is No Enemy, was released on October 6, 2009.-History:...
's There's Nothing Wrong With Love was released in 1994, Bertram and Dave Schneider joined Doug Martsch
Doug Martsch
Doug Martsch is an American musician. Martsch, a native of Boise, Idaho, is best known for his distinctive vocals and guitar style in the band Built to Spill. He has also worked with Calvin Johnson of Beat Happening in The Halo Benders. Martsch's first band was Farm Days, with Andy Capps and Brett...
as the touring version of Built to Spill. This lineup is captured on the live track "Some" on the album The Normal Years
The Normal Years
The Normal Years is a compilation album of singles, live songs, songs on other compilations, and previously unreleased recordings by indie rock band Built to Spill. The album consists of songs that were recorded between 1993 and 1995 by various incarnations of the band, although most feature the...
.
In 1998 James was asked by the two members of 764-HERO
764-HERO
764-HERO was an American Indie rock band from Seattle, Washington, signed to Up Records. The band's name, suggested by a friend, is taken from the Washington State Department of Transportation phone number for reporting HOV lane violators ....
, John Atkins and Polly Johnson, to play bass for a session on a radio station. The session went so well that Bertram was made a member of the band. He recorded two albums with the band, 1998's Get Here and Stay and 2000's Weekends of Sound. Bertram left 764-HERO shortly after a tour opening up for Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse is an American indie rock band formed in 1993 in Issaquah, Washington, by singer/lyricist/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. They are based in Portland, Oregon. Since their 1996 debut album, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think...
in 2001. He was replaced by Robin Perringer.
Bertram currently runs Luckyhorse Industries, a tour merchandiser and small record label, 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...
, with his partner Amanda Graham. He has a son who was born in 2003.
Other recorded appearances
- Bass on One Foot in the GraveOne Foot in the Grave (album)One Foot in the Grave is the fourth studio album by Beck, released in June 1994 on K Records, an independent label. Like predecessor Stereopathetic Soulmanure, the album never charted, however One Foot in the Grave strengthened Beck's critical reputation, arguably allowing him to break into the...
by BeckBeckBeck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck... - Piano on "Lie for a Lie," from the album Ultimate Alternative WaversUltimate Alternative WaversUltimate Alternative Wavers was the first full-length album released by indie rock band Built to Spill. The line-up consisted of Doug Martsch on guitar and vocals, Brett Netson on guitar and bass, and Ralf Youtz on drums, although there was some variation in instrumentation on a few tracks...
by Built to Spill