July Fourth Toilet
Encyclopedia
July Fourth Toilet is a band from Vancouver
, Canada
. They are an experimental act that can be loosely described as rock
, although they incorporate elements of several styles of music.
They were founded in late 1993 by zine
publisher Robert Dayton (best known now for Canned Hamm) and cartoonist Julian Lawrence
. Their name was bestowed upon them by the Zip Code Rapists
from a list of band names that was used to name several bands on the Amarillo Records
label. They have had a loose cast of dozens of members throughout the years; long-time stalwarts of note include Stephen Hamm (Slow
, Canned Hamm), Andre Lagace (Young and Sexy
), Jody Franklin (MungBeing), and Clancy Dennehy.
July Fourth Toilet is unique in that every live performance is a themed show that is different every time. They have done improvised sets, song-poems and covered entire albums by artists in tribute shows. They are also known for outlandish "bargain basement" theatrical costumes, audience confrontation and performance art antics. Their oeuvre has made it difficult for critics to pin them down and make comparisons. As they have played shows with the Zip Code Rapists
, Sun City Girls
, Three Day Stubble, Caroliner
and Old Time Relijun
, one can perhaps draw out an affinity underlying the spirit of all of these groups.
In 2004, July Fourth Toilet celebrated their tenth anniversary doing a live stage performance of Rock Fantasy, an obscure, generic K-Tel
children's record from the 1970s. In 2006, they performed a tribute set to composer Paul Williams
that he attended. They finished recording July Fourth Toilet Presents Balls Boogie Featuring Me And Bobby McGee, a new studio album that is set to be released sometime in 2007. In 2007, MungBeing magazine released their "long-lost" seven-inch record Childhood Will End online.
They have also appeared on several compilations.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. They are an experimental act that can be loosely described as 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...
, although they incorporate elements of several styles of music.
They were founded in late 1993 by zine
Zine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
publisher Robert Dayton (best known now for Canned Hamm) and cartoonist Julian Lawrence
Julian Lawrence
Julian Lawrence is a Canadian cartoonist. He was born in England and raised in Quebec. He is an instructor at Emily Carr University of Art and Design and part of the musical group July Fourth Toilet. Lawrence was awarded a Xeric Grant in 2000....
. Their name was bestowed upon them by the Zip Code Rapists
Zip Code Rapists
Zip Code Rapists were an avant-garde band active in the 1990s. The band was composed of guitarist John Singer and singer Gregg Turkington. The band is known for their confrontational, deconstructionist, absurd live performances. as well as their bizarre, more fleshed-out recordings...
from a list of band names that was used to name several bands on the Amarillo Records
Amarillo Records
Amarillo Records is a defunct independent record label that operated out of San Francisco from 1992 to 2001. It was owned by Gregg Turkington. The label specialized in releasing experimental post-punk avant-garde rock...
label. They have had a loose cast of dozens of members throughout the years; long-time stalwarts of note include Stephen Hamm (Slow
Slow (band)
Slow is a Canadian punk rock band that started in the mid-1980's. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the band consisted of vocalist Thomas Anselmi, guitarist Christian Thorvaldson, bassist Stephen Hamm and drummer Terry Russell...
, Canned Hamm), Andre Lagace (Young and Sexy
Young and Sexy
Young and Sexy is a Canadian indie pop band from Vancouver, British Columbia, consisting of vocalists Paul Pittman and Lucy Brain, guitarist André Lagacé, bassist Brent McDonald and former drummer Alex Brain...
), Jody Franklin (MungBeing), and Clancy Dennehy.
July Fourth Toilet is unique in that every live performance is a themed show that is different every time. They have done improvised sets, song-poems and covered entire albums by artists in tribute shows. They are also known for outlandish "bargain basement" theatrical costumes, audience confrontation and performance art antics. Their oeuvre has made it difficult for critics to pin them down and make comparisons. As they have played shows with the Zip Code Rapists
Zip Code Rapists
Zip Code Rapists were an avant-garde band active in the 1990s. The band was composed of guitarist John Singer and singer Gregg Turkington. The band is known for their confrontational, deconstructionist, absurd live performances. as well as their bizarre, more fleshed-out recordings...
, Sun City Girls
Sun City Girls
The Sun City Girls were an American experimental rock band, formed in 1979 in Phoenix, Arizona. From 1981 the group consisted of Alan Bishop , his brother Richard Bishop , and the late Charles Gocher . Their name was inspired by Sun City, Arizona, an Arizona retirement community...
, Three Day Stubble, Caroliner
Caroliner
Caroliner, a group formed in 1983 in San Francisco, is an industrial bluegrass–experimental–Noise conceptual art band that utilizes instruments from bluegrass and rock traditions, as well as homemade electronics and other modified instruments...
and Old Time Relijun
Old Time Relijun
Old Time Relijun is a band founded in Olympia, Washington, United States and a longtime member of K Records. Current members are Germaine Baca on drums, Aaron Hartman on upright bass, Ben Hartman on saxophones, and Arrington de Dionyso on electric guitar, vocals and bass clarinet...
, one can perhaps draw out an affinity underlying the spirit of all of these groups.
In 2004, July Fourth Toilet celebrated their tenth anniversary doing a live stage performance of Rock Fantasy, an obscure, generic K-Tel
K-tel
K-tel International is an "As-Seen-On-TV" company, which is most noted for its compilation music albums, such as "The Super Hits" series, "The Dynamic Hits" series and "The Number One Hits" series...
children's record from the 1970s. In 2006, they performed a tribute set to composer Paul Williams
Paul Williams (songwriter)
Paul Hamilton Williams, Jr. is an Academy Award-winning American composer, musician, songwriter, and actor. He is perhaps best known for popular songs performed by a number of acts in the 1970s including Three Dog Night's "An Old Fashioned Love Song", Helen Reddy's "You and Me Against the World",...
that he attended. They finished recording July Fourth Toilet Presents Balls Boogie Featuring Me And Bobby McGee, a new studio album that is set to be released sometime in 2007. In 2007, MungBeing magazine released their "long-lost" seven-inch record Childhood Will End online.
Discography
- White (Trash) Album, cassette, Trackshun Industries 1994
- Lovebeads, Turtlenecks and Overalls, cassette, 1995
- Something For Everyone, CD, Pro-Am 2002
- Rock Fantasy Live, CD & DVD, Pro-Am 2004
- Childhood Will End EP, download, MungBeing 2007
- July Fourth Toilet Presents Balls Boogie Featuring Me And Bobby McGee, to be released in 2007
They have also appeared on several compilations.