Janet Weiss
Encyclopedia
Janet Lee Weiss was the drummer of now defunct Sleater-Kinney
and is currently a member of Quasi
and Wild Flag
. She was the drummer for Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
, leaving after the album Mirror Traffic
.
and graduated with a degree in photography. While in college, she started playing drums with an all-girl trio, The Furies.
, even though she had only been playing for two weeks.
She moved to Portland, Oregon
in 1989 and soon after began playing with Sam Coomes
(her ex-husband and Quasi
bandmate).
and Carrie Brownstein
in Sleater-Kinney in 1996, after seeing them play a show. Tucker and Brownstein then played her a new song they were working on at the time, "Dig Me Out." Her bandmates later said that she made up a beat so solid "you could practically bang your head against it." Weiss eventually became the band's drummer; she was the fourth in the band's history.
, Elliott Smith
, and one Goldcard song. Upon the dissolution of Sleater-Kinney, she joined The Jicks
, Stephen Malkmus
' band.
On June 4, 2007, she performed with Bright Eyes on The Late Show With David Letterman before joining the band for their summer European tour.
As of September 2010 performing with the band Wild Flag, with Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney), Mary Timony (Helium), and Rebecca Cole (The Minders).
kit (ca. 1973) in natural maple finish. Specs. as follows:
She played a similar kit at Coachella
in April 2008, except the Ludwigs were the Blue Oyster 'Bowling Ball' finish. The Craviotto snare was still natural maple.
Cymbals: Zildjian
Hardware: DW
Heads:
Sticks:
Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney was an alternative rock band from Portland, Oregon that formed in 1994. Originally formed in Olympia, Washington, the group's name is derived from Sleater-Kinney Road, Interstate 5 off ramp #108 in Lacey, Washington, the location of one of their early practice spaces. They were a...
and is currently a member of Quasi
Quasi
Quasi is an American indie rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1993 by ex-husband and wife Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss . Since 2007 the group has been a trio, following the addition of bassist Joanna Bolme.-History:In 1990 , Coomes, Weiss, and Brad Pedinov formed the band Motorgoat...
and Wild Flag
Wild Flag
Wild Flag is an American four-piece group based in Portland, Oregon and Washington, D.C.. The group consists of Carrie Brownstein , Mary Timony , Rebecca Cole and Janet Weiss...
. She was the drummer for Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks is a rock band consisting of Stephen Malkmus, Mike Clark, Joanna Bolme, and Jake Morris. Malkmus was the main singer and songwriter behind the influential 1990s indie rock band Pavement.-History:...
, leaving after the album Mirror Traffic
Mirror Traffic
Mirror Traffic is an album by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks. It was released on August 23, 2011 by Matador Records. It is the first collaboration between Malkmus and producer Beck and the last Jicks album to feature drummer Janet Weiss, now a member of Wild Flag. -Critical Response:"Mirror...
.
Early life
Weiss was born in Hollywood, California, and began playing guitar at the age of 16. She attended San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
and graduated with a degree in photography. While in college, she started playing drums with an all-girl trio, The Furies.
Furies
At the age of 22, Weiss went on tour with a San Francisco band, The Furies, as the drummerDrummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
, even though she had only been playing for two weeks.
She moved to 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...
in 1989 and soon after began playing with Sam Coomes
Sam Coomes
Samuel J. Coomes is an American musician, and currently one-third of the Portland-area indie band Quasi, along with drummer and ex-wife Janet Weiss and bassist Joanna Bolme...
(her ex-husband and Quasi
Quasi
Quasi is an American indie rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1993 by ex-husband and wife Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss . Since 2007 the group has been a trio, following the addition of bassist Joanna Bolme.-History:In 1990 , Coomes, Weiss, and Brad Pedinov formed the band Motorgoat...
bandmate).
Sleater-Kinney
Weiss started playing with Corin TuckerCorin Tucker
Corin Lisa Tucker is a singer and guitarist, best known for her work with rock band Sleater-Kinney.- Early life :In the early 1990s, Tucker attended Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, where she studied film, political economy, and social change...
and Carrie Brownstein
Carrie Brownstein
Carrie Rachel Brownstein , is an American musician, writer, and actress, best known as a guitarist and vocalist in the now-defunct Portland, Oregon-based band Sleater-Kinney...
in Sleater-Kinney in 1996, after seeing them play a show. Tucker and Brownstein then played her a new song they were working on at the time, "Dig Me Out." Her bandmates later said that she made up a beat so solid "you could practically bang your head against it." Weiss eventually became the band's drummer; she was the fourth in the band's history.
Other work
She has also played for Bright Eyes, Junior High, The Shadow Mortons, The Go Betweens, Sarah DougherSarah Dougher
-Career:Dougher has a Ph.D. in comparative literature from the University of Texas. Apart from her musical endeavours, Dougher teaches courses on the History of Women in Rock music and Lyric Poetry in the Women's Studies department at Portland State University...
, Elliott Smith
Elliott Smith
Steven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and resided for a significant portion of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity...
, and one Goldcard song. Upon the dissolution of Sleater-Kinney, she joined The Jicks
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks is a rock band consisting of Stephen Malkmus, Mike Clark, Joanna Bolme, and Jake Morris. Malkmus was the main singer and songwriter behind the influential 1990s indie rock band Pavement.-History:...
, Stephen Malkmus
Stephen Malkmus
Stephen Joseph Malkmus is an indie rock musician and icon, and a member of the band Pavement. He currently performs with Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks.-Early years:...
' band.
On June 4, 2007, she performed with Bright Eyes on The Late Show With David Letterman before joining the band for their summer European tour.
As of September 2010 performing with the band Wild Flag, with Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney), Mary Timony (Helium), and Rebecca Cole (The Minders).
Equipment
Weiss plays a vintage LudwigLudwig-Musser
Ludwig-Musser is a drum and percussion instrument manufacturer that is part of the Conn-Selmer division of Steinway Musical Instruments.The first product made by the Ludwig brothers, William and Theobaldner , was a bass drum pedal capable of playing faster beats than was typical of products of the...
kit (ca. 1973) in natural maple finish. Specs. as follows:
- 5½x14 Craviotto Snare
- 9x13 rack tomTom-tom drumA tom-tom drum is a cylindrical drum with no snare.Although "tom-tom" is the British term for a child's toy drum, the name came originally from the Anglo-Indian and Sinhala; the tom-tom itself comes from Asian or Native American cultures...
- 16x16 floor tom
- 14x22 bass drum
She played a similar kit at Coachella
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 April 2008, except the Ludwigs were the Blue Oyster 'Bowling Ball' finish. The Craviotto snare was still natural maple.
Cymbals: Zildjian
- 14" Quick Beat hi-hatHi-hatA hi-hat, or hihat, is a type of cymbal and stand used as a typical part of a drum kit by percussionists in R&B, hip-hop, disco, jazz, rock and roll, house, reggae and other forms of contemporary popular music.- Operation :...
s - 18" A Custom Projection crashCrash cymbalA crash cymbal is a type of cymbal that produces a loud, sharp "crash" and is used mainly for occasional accents, as opposed to in ostinato. The term "crash" may have been first used by Zildjian in 1928....
- 21" A medium rideRide cymbalThe ride cymbal is a standard cymbal in most drum kits. It maintains a steady rhythmic pattern, sometimes called a ride pattern, rather than the accent of a crash...
- 20" A Custom medium crash
Hardware: DW
Drum Workshop
Drum Workshop is a drum and hardware manufacturing company based in Oxnard, California. Their slogan is "The Drummer's Choice".-History:...
Heads:
- RemoRemoRemo is a male given name of Latin origin - see Romulus and Remus.Remo may also refer to:* Remo, an American drum skin company* Remo , another name for the German wine grape Riesling* Remo language, a Panoan language of Brazil and Peru...
coated Ambassadors on snare and toms, EvansD'AddarioD'Addario is a manufacturer of musical instrument strings, primarily guitar strings, currently headquartered in Farmingdale, Long Island, New York...
EQ4 on bass drum batter.
Sticks:
- Silverfox MR
Album appearances
- QuasiQuasiQuasi is an American indie rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1993 by ex-husband and wife Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss . Since 2007 the group has been a trio, following the addition of bassist Joanna Bolme.-History:In 1990 , Coomes, Weiss, and Brad Pedinov formed the band Motorgoat...
– Early RecordingsEarly RecordingsEarly Recordings is an album by Joan Osborne released on November 5, 1996.Except for "His Eyes Are a Blue Million Miles," it consists of live recordings, mostly from Osborne's debut album, Soul Show: Live at Delta 88.-Track listing:...
(1996, Key Op) - Sleater-KinneySleater-KinneySleater-Kinney was an alternative rock band from Portland, Oregon that formed in 1994. Originally formed in Olympia, Washington, the group's name is derived from Sleater-Kinney Road, Interstate 5 off ramp #108 in Lacey, Washington, the location of one of their early practice spaces. They were a...
- Dig Me OutDig Me OutDig Me Out is the third album by punk group Sleater-Kinney. The album was released on April 8, 1997.Marlene Goldman, in Rolling Stone, has described it as the album that "defined the band's sound." In 2005 it was ranked #24 in Spin's "100 Greatest Albums, 1985-2005"...
(1997, Kill Rock StarsKill Rock StarsKill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
) - QuasiQuasiQuasi is an American indie rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1993 by ex-husband and wife Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss . Since 2007 the group has been a trio, following the addition of bassist Joanna Bolme.-History:In 1990 , Coomes, Weiss, and Brad Pedinov formed the band Motorgoat...
– R&B TransmogrificationR&B TransmogrificationR&B Transmogrification is an album by the American indie band Quasi. It was released on March 25, 1997, on Up Records.-Track listing:All tracks by Sam Coomes except "Bird's Eye View" by Janet Weiss and Coomes.# "Ghost Dreaming" – 3:24...
(1997, Up Records) - QuasiQuasiQuasi is an American indie rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1993 by ex-husband and wife Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss . Since 2007 the group has been a trio, following the addition of bassist Joanna Bolme.-History:In 1990 , Coomes, Weiss, and Brad Pedinov formed the band Motorgoat...
– Featuring "Birds" (1998, Up) - Sleater-KinneySleater-KinneySleater-Kinney was an alternative rock band from Portland, Oregon that formed in 1994. Originally formed in Olympia, Washington, the group's name is derived from Sleater-Kinney Road, Interstate 5 off ramp #108 in Lacey, Washington, the location of one of their early practice spaces. They were a...
– The Hot Rock (1999, Kill Rock Stars) - QuasiQuasiQuasi is an American indie rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1993 by ex-husband and wife Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss . Since 2007 the group has been a trio, following the addition of bassist Joanna Bolme.-History:In 1990 , Coomes, Weiss, and Brad Pedinov formed the band Motorgoat...
– Field StudiesField StudiesField Studies is an album by the American indie band Quasi. It was released on September 7, 1999, on Up.-Track listing:All tracks by Sam Coomes except "Two By Two" by Janet Weiss.# "All the Same" – 4:05# "The Golden Egg" – 5:16# "The Skeleton" – 1:41...
(1999, Up) - Sleater-KinneySleater-KinneySleater-Kinney was an alternative rock band from Portland, Oregon that formed in 1994. Originally formed in Olympia, Washington, the group's name is derived from Sleater-Kinney Road, Interstate 5 off ramp #108 in Lacey, Washington, the location of one of their early practice spaces. They were a...
– All Hands on the Bad OneAll Hands on the Bad OneAll Hands on the Bad One is the fifth studio album by the American indie rock band Sleater-Kinney. It was released on May 2, 2000, on Kill Rock Stars.- Track listing :All songs written by Sleater-Kinney....
(2000, Kill Rock Stars) - The Go-BetweensThe Go-BetweensThe Go-Betweens were an indie rock band formed in Brisbane, Australia in 1977 by singer-songwriters and guitarists, Robert Forster and Grant McLennan. They were later joined by Lindy Morrison on drums, Robert Vickers on bass guitar and Amanda Brown on violin, oboe, guitar, and backing vocals,...
- The Friends of Rachel WorthThe Friends of Rachel WorthThe Friends of Rachel Worth is the seventh album by Brisbane indie band The Go-Betweens, released 12 years after their sixth, 16 Lovers Lane....
(2000) - QuasiQuasiQuasi is an American indie rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1993 by ex-husband and wife Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss . Since 2007 the group has been a trio, following the addition of bassist Joanna Bolme.-History:In 1990 , Coomes, Weiss, and Brad Pedinov formed the band Motorgoat...
– The Sword of God (2001, Touch and Go RecordsTouch and Go RecordsTouch 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...
) - Sleater-KinneySleater-KinneySleater-Kinney was an alternative rock band from Portland, Oregon that formed in 1994. Originally formed in Olympia, Washington, the group's name is derived from Sleater-Kinney Road, Interstate 5 off ramp #108 in Lacey, Washington, the location of one of their early practice spaces. They were a...
– One BeatOne BeatOne Beat is the sixth studio album by American rock band Sleater-Kinney. Produced by John Goodmanson, the album was recorded between March and April 2002 at Jackpot! Studio in Portland, Oregon. It was released on 20 August 2002 on Kill Rock Stars...
(2002, Kill Rock Stars) - QuasiQuasiQuasi is an American indie rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1993 by ex-husband and wife Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss . Since 2007 the group has been a trio, following the addition of bassist Joanna Bolme.-History:In 1990 , Coomes, Weiss, and Brad Pedinov formed the band Motorgoat...
– Hot Shit! (2003 Touch and Go Records) - Sleater-KinneySleater-KinneySleater-Kinney was an alternative rock band from Portland, Oregon that formed in 1994. Originally formed in Olympia, Washington, the group's name is derived from Sleater-Kinney Road, Interstate 5 off ramp #108 in Lacey, Washington, the location of one of their early practice spaces. They were a...
– The WoodsThe Woods (album)The Woods is the seventh and final studio album by the punk rock trio Sleater-Kinney. Released in 2005, the album was released to widespread critical acclaim. The album was produced by Dave Fridmann, whose earlier work includes collaborations with The Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev...
(2005, Sub PopSub PopSub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
) - QuasiQuasiQuasi is an American indie rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1993 by ex-husband and wife Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss . Since 2007 the group has been a trio, following the addition of bassist Joanna Bolme.-History:In 1990 , Coomes, Weiss, and Brad Pedinov formed the band Motorgoat...
– When The Going Gets DarkWhen The Going Gets DarkWhen the Going Gets Dark is an album by Quasi. It was released on March 21, 2006 on Touch and Go Records. It was released in Europe by Domino Records.-Track listing:...
(2006, Touch and Go Records) - Bright Eyes – Four WindsFour WindsFour Winds is an EP by the indie rock band Bright Eyes, that was released on March 6, 2007. The title track is the first single from their album Cassadaga. The other 5 tracks are exclusive b-sides from the 2006 recording sessions. It is marketed as being "quietly enchanting" and including "a...
(2007, Saddle Creek) - Bright Eyes – CassadagaCassadaga (album)Cassadaga is the seventh studio album by Bright Eyes, released on April 10, 2007. Around 25 to 30 songs were recorded in 2006, with 13 of these appearing on the final track list...
(2007, Saddle Creek) - Stephen Malkmus and the JicksStephen Malkmus and the JicksStephen Malkmus and the Jicks is a rock band consisting of Stephen Malkmus, Mike Clark, Joanna Bolme, and Jake Morris. Malkmus was the main singer and songwriter behind the influential 1990s indie rock band Pavement.-History:...
– Real Emotional TrashReal Emotional TrashReal Emotional Trash is the fourth album by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks. The album was released on March 4, 2008 by Matador Records. The album was leaked on to the internet January 13, 2008...
(2008, Matador RecordsMatador RecordsMatador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.-History:Matador was started by Chris Lombardi in 1989 in his New York City apartment. The following year, Lombardi was joined by former Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy, and the two of them have...
) - Conor OberstConor OberstConor Mullen Oberst is an American singer-songwriter best known for his work in Bright Eyes. He has also played in several other bands, including Desaparecidos, Norman Bailer , Commander Venus, Park Ave., Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, and Monsters of Folk.-Musical career:Oberst began...
- Conor OberstConor Oberst (album)Conor Oberst is a solo-album by Conor Oberst, of the band Bright Eyes, which was released on August 5, 2008 by Merge Records. The album debuted on the UK Albums Chart at #37 and reached #15 on the Billboard Top 200.-Production:...
(2008, Merge RecordsMerge RecordsMerge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
) - QuasiQuasiQuasi is an American indie rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1993 by ex-husband and wife Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss . Since 2007 the group has been a trio, following the addition of bassist Joanna Bolme.-History:In 1990 , Coomes, Weiss, and Brad Pedinov formed the band Motorgoat...
- American GongAmerican GongAmerican Gong is the eighth album by Portland based indie rock band Quasi. It was released on February 23, 2010 on Kill Rock Stars. It was released in Europe by Domino Records...
(2010, Kill Rock StarsKill Rock StarsKill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
) - Stephen Malkmus and the JicksStephen Malkmus and the JicksStephen Malkmus and the Jicks is a rock band consisting of Stephen Malkmus, Mike Clark, Joanna Bolme, and Jake Morris. Malkmus was the main singer and songwriter behind the influential 1990s indie rock band Pavement.-History:...
– Mirror TrafficMirror TrafficMirror Traffic is an album by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks. It was released on August 23, 2011 by Matador Records. It is the first collaboration between Malkmus and producer Beck and the last Jicks album to feature drummer Janet Weiss, now a member of Wild Flag. -Critical Response:"Mirror...
(2011, Matador RecordsMatador RecordsMatador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.-History:Matador was started by Chris Lombardi in 1989 in his New York City apartment. The following year, Lombardi was joined by former Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy, and the two of them have...
) - Wild FlagWild FlagWild Flag is an American four-piece group based in Portland, Oregon and Washington, D.C.. The group consists of Carrie Brownstein , Mary Timony , Rebecca Cole and Janet Weiss...
– Wild FlagWild FlagWild Flag is an American four-piece group based in Portland, Oregon and Washington, D.C.. The group consists of Carrie Brownstein , Mary Timony , Rebecca Cole and Janet Weiss...
(2011, Merge RecordsMerge RecordsMerge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
)
External links
- http://www.sleater-kinney.com/
- http://www.sleater-kinney.net/
- http://www.theequasi.com/
- http://www.quasi2x2.com/
- Tiny Suns Infused With Sour, a Sleater-Kinney news blogBlogA blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...