So Many Dynamos
Encyclopedia
So Many Dynamos is a rock band
from St Louis, Missouri, USA. Their music is generally classified as indie rock
, combining aspects of pop
, dance-punk
, and math rock
. They take their name from a famous palindrome
. The band signed a contract with Vagrant Records in late 2008.
/vocalist
Aaron Stovall and guitarist
Ryan Ballew were members of Children's Audio, while guitarist Ryan Wasoba and drummer
Clayton "Norm" Kunstel were members of Saving Boy Wonder. The four had known each other since 2000, when the two bands began playing shows together. Saving Boy Wonder disbanded in August 2002, and a few months prior, Wasoba joined Children's Audio. On September 22, 2002, Children's Audio broke up. The same evening, Stovall, Ballew and Wasoba decided to start a new band
.
Shortly afterwards, the group began practicing
and writing
, initially with drummer Corey Smale. Smale was soon replaced by Kunstel after a few practices. Aaron Stovall played bass guitar, but began using a Realistic synthesizer
on most songs to play the basslines (to date, only three songs by So Many Dynamos have used bass guitar). The band's first performance was at Sally T's in Saint Peters, Missouri
, on January 2, 2003.
The band's first recording, a five-song EP
entitled Are We Not Drawn Onward to New Era?, was released by now-defunct St. Louis label Ambivalent Records. The album was recorded by John John on Pro Tools
at Red Light Studios in St. Louis. Like the band's name, the name of the EP is also a palindrome
.
Shortly after recording, So Many Dynamos bought a 1993 Chevy G-Van 20
and went on their first self-booked tour on the West Coast of the United States
in June 2003. Griffin Kay, who later replaced Ballew in the band, came along on the tour to sell merchandise
. In Seattle, Washington, the group met Robbie Skrocki, owner of Skrocki Records, who later released the band's first album. In July 2003, the group toured again, a week-long midwest trek with The Texas Chainsaw Mass Choir from Columbia, Missouri
. Around this time, Stovall began using a second keyboard to play melodies in addition to basslines.
So Many Dynamos recorded their first full-length, When I Explode, in February 2004 at Semaphore Studios in Chicago
. The album was written in Stinson's basement during a session called Camp Dynamo, where Stinson was the camp counselor. The album was recorded onto 2" tape by Jeremy Lemos and was mixed on 1/2" tape by former Dismemberment Plan member Jason Caddell at Inner Ear Studios in Arlington, Virginia.
When I Explode was released by Skrocki Records in June 2004, and the band toured the U.S. for six weeks, playing most shows with Houston band Bring Back the Guns. In August, before a tour with HORSE the Band
, guitarist Ryan Ballew quit the group. Stinson filled in for Ballew on the tour, and former merchandiser Griffin Kay became a permanent guitarist in the group on September 11, 2004.
In summer 2004, Kunstel, Kay and Ballew started a record label, Aim and Fire Records. They released music by Target Market, The Happening
and Dancing Feet March to War. Around the same time, Kunstel and Wasoba began playing as an instrumental two-piece entitled Chunnel.
During a short tour with HORSE the Band in October 2004, Kay injured his knee in Columbus, Ohio
. This developed into a near-fatal staphylococcus
infection, and Nathan Bernaix of band Target Market replaced him for two shows in November.
In February 2005, the band recorded "It's Gonna Rain" for a split 7"
single with Bring Back the Guns. The song was recorded and mixed on 1" tape by Chris Deckard at Radio Penny Studio in St. Louis. The record was planned for immediate release on Aim and Fire Records, but the release was delayed because of insufficient funds. The band spent most of 2005 touring, attempting to play all 48 continental states within the year, but ultimately only playing in 35.
In October 2005, the band toured as backing band for Emperor X
, a solo project of Chad Matheny. This tour also included more dates with Bring Back the Guns, and Matheny released the "So Many Dynamos"/"Bring Back the Guns" split 7" on his Discos Mariscos label in December 2005.
So Many Dynamos began recording their second full-length album, Flashlights, with Chris Deckard at Radio Penny in March 2006. The band spent more time in the studio than with When I Explode, and consequently was able to experiment wildly with instrumentation; the record utilizes a horn section and a choir, and incorporates instruments such as thumb pianos and toy accordions. This resulted in a more intricate and "live" sounding record, expanding on the band's existing sound and showcasing new influences (Broken Social Scene
, Steve Reich
, Talking Heads
).
In April and May 2006, the band (excluding Aaron Stovall) went on a second tour as backing band for Emperor X. The tour included a few dates with singer/songwriter John Vanderslice
.
Flashlights was released on CD by Skrocki Records in June 2006, and Hello Sir Records released the vinyl in early 2007. Architecture Label
released the CD in Australia and New Zealand in June 2007.
Around the initial release of Flashlights, the band was recruited by booking agent Skinny Touring, and as a result So Many Dynamos began an extensive tour schedule that put them on the road for over 100 shows between June and November. This included a Midwest and East Coast tour in September with Harvey Danger
. On October 21, outside the Paradox, a Seattle venue, the band fell victim to a robbery; all of the group's guitars were stolen. Fortunately, the band had become friends with Death Cab for Cutie
member Christopher Walla, who lent them guitars to finish the tour.
In early 2007, the members of So Many Dynamos began playing in instrumental rock band Thor Axe along with guitarist Phil Ring and keyboard player Kyle Work. Shortly afterward, the band finished a tour with HORSE the Band, Heavy Heavy Low Low
, The Number 12 Looks Like You and Light This City
.
In July 2007, So Many Dynamos began recording the follow-up to Flashlights with Christopher Walla. Sessions took place at the Tiny Telephone Studio in San Francisco, Alberta Court in Portland, and the band's house in Edwardsville, Illinois. The record was mixed by Alex Newport at Metropolitan Sound, Brooklyn, New York, in December 2007. The band recorded another track for the album in February 2008 at Great Western Records Recording in Champaign, Illinois
. This track was mixed by Alex Newport in May 2008. The album is set to be called The Loud Wars.
In late July 2007, a tire blew on the band's van on the highway outside Lincoln, Nebraska
. The van turned over on the highway and was totalled. No other cars were involved, and the band suffered only minor back injuries.
So Many Dynamos has performed at the 2007 CMJ conference in New York and 2008 South By Southwest
conference in Austin, as well as performances at festivals such as San Francisco's Noise Pop, Pop Montreal
, Athens Georgia's Popfest and The Over The Top Festival in Toronto.
So Many Dynamos released The Loud Wars on June 9, 2009.
On August 25, 2009, Ryan Wasoba announced that he was leaving the band. Nathan Bernaix of St. Louis band Target Market took his place as guitarist for the band.
Former
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
from St Louis, Missouri, USA. Their music is generally classified as indie rock
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...
, combining aspects of pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, dance-punk
Dance-punk
Dance-punk is a music genre that emerged in the late 1970s, and is closely associated with the post-punk and No Wave movements.-Predecessors:...
, and math rock
Math rock
Math rock is a rhythmically complex guitar-based style of experimental rock that emerged in the 1980s and that was very influenced by progressive rock like King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Henry Cow - and 20th century composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage...
. They take their name from a famous palindrome
Palindrome
A palindrome is a word, phrase, number, or other sequence of units that can be read the same way in either direction, with general allowances for adjustments to punctuation and word dividers....
. The band signed a contract with Vagrant Records in late 2008.
History
So Many Dynamos was formed in late 2002 when two St. Louis area groups broke up; bass guitaristBassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
/vocalist
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
Aaron Stovall and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Ryan Ballew were members of Children's Audio, while guitarist Ryan Wasoba and drummer
Drummer
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...
Clayton "Norm" Kunstel were members of Saving Boy Wonder. The four had known each other since 2000, when the two bands began playing shows together. Saving Boy Wonder disbanded in August 2002, and a few months prior, Wasoba joined Children's Audio. On September 22, 2002, Children's Audio broke up. The same evening, Stovall, Ballew and Wasoba decided to start a new band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
.
Shortly afterwards, the group began practicing
Practice (learning method)
Practice is the act of rehearsing a behavior over and over, or engaging in an activity again and again, for the purpose of improving or mastering it, as in the phrase "practice makes perfect". Sports teams practice to prepare for actual games. Playing a musical instrument well takes a lot of...
and writing
Writing
Writing is the representation of language in a textual medium through the use of a set of signs or symbols . It is distinguished from illustration, such as cave drawing and painting, and non-symbolic preservation of language via non-textual media, such as magnetic tape audio.Writing most likely...
, initially with drummer Corey Smale. Smale was soon replaced by Kunstel after a few practices. Aaron Stovall played bass guitar, but began using a Realistic synthesizer
Moog Concertmate MG-1
- Background :The Realistic Concertmate MG-1 is an analog synthesizer manufactured by Moog Music in 1981. Though built by Moog, it was sold by Radio Shack from 1982 to 1983 under their "Realistic" brand name and it was produced without some standard Moog features, such as pitch and modulation...
on most songs to play the basslines (to date, only three songs by So Many Dynamos have used bass guitar). The band's first performance was at Sally T's in Saint Peters, Missouri
Saint Peters, Missouri
St. Peters is a city in St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. The 2010 census showed the city's population to be 52,575.Interstate 70 passes through the city, providing a major transportation link. In 2008 St. Peters was named the 60th best place to live by Money magazine, putting it at the...
, on January 2, 2003.
The band's first recording, a five-song EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
entitled Are We Not Drawn Onward to New Era?, was released by now-defunct St. Louis label Ambivalent Records. The album was recorded by John John on Pro Tools
Pro Tools
Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation platform for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, developed and manufactured by Avid Technology. It is widely used by professionals throughout the audio industries for recording and editing in music production, film scoring, film, and television...
at Red Light Studios in St. Louis. Like the band's name, the name of the EP is also a palindrome
Palindrome
A palindrome is a word, phrase, number, or other sequence of units that can be read the same way in either direction, with general allowances for adjustments to punctuation and word dividers....
.
Shortly after recording, So Many Dynamos bought a 1993 Chevy G-Van 20
Van
A van is a kind of vehicle used for transporting goods or groups of people.In British English usage, it can be either specially designed or based on a saloon or sedan car, the latter type often including derivatives with open backs...
and went on their first self-booked tour on the West Coast of the United States
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
in June 2003. Griffin Kay, who later replaced Ballew in the band, came along on the tour to sell merchandise
Merchandising
Merchandising is the methods, practices, and operations used to promote and sustain certain categories of commercial activity. In the broadest sense, merchandising is any practice which contributes to the sale of products to a retail consumer...
. In Seattle, Washington, the group met Robbie Skrocki, owner of Skrocki Records, who later released the band's first album. In July 2003, the group toured again, a week-long midwest trek with The Texas Chainsaw Mass Choir from Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
. Around this time, Stovall began using a second keyboard to play melodies in addition to basslines.
So Many Dynamos recorded their first full-length, When I Explode, in February 2004 at Semaphore Studios in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The album was written in Stinson's basement during a session called Camp Dynamo, where Stinson was the camp counselor. The album was recorded onto 2" tape by Jeremy Lemos and was mixed on 1/2" tape by former Dismemberment Plan member Jason Caddell at Inner Ear Studios in Arlington, Virginia.
When I Explode was released by Skrocki Records in June 2004, and the band toured the U.S. for six weeks, playing most shows with Houston band Bring Back the Guns. In August, before a tour with HORSE the Band
HORSE the band
Horse the Band is a band from Lake Forest, California who are best known for their 8-bit Nintendo-influenced sound combined with metalcore. Frontman Nathan Winneke once described their sound as "Nintendocore".-Biography:...
, guitarist Ryan Ballew quit the group. Stinson filled in for Ballew on the tour, and former merchandiser Griffin Kay became a permanent guitarist in the group on September 11, 2004.
In summer 2004, Kunstel, Kay and Ballew started a record label, Aim and Fire Records. They released music by Target Market, The Happening
The Happening
The Happening is a 1967 American comedy film starring Anthony Quinn, Michael Parks, George Maharis, Faye Dunaway, Robert Walker Jr. that was released in March 1967 by Columbia Pictures....
and Dancing Feet March to War. Around the same time, Kunstel and Wasoba began playing as an instrumental two-piece entitled Chunnel.
During a short tour with HORSE the Band in October 2004, Kay injured his knee in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. This developed into a near-fatal staphylococcus
Staphylococcus
Staphylococcus is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria. Under the microscope they appear round , and form in grape-like clusters....
infection, and Nathan Bernaix of band Target Market replaced him for two shows in November.
In February 2005, the band recorded "It's Gonna Rain" for a split 7"
Split album
A split album is a music album which includes tracks by two or more separate artists. There have been singles and EPs released in the same nature, which can be referred to as split singles and split EPs respectively...
single with Bring Back the Guns. The song was recorded and mixed on 1" tape by Chris Deckard at Radio Penny Studio in St. Louis. The record was planned for immediate release on Aim and Fire Records, but the release was delayed because of insufficient funds. The band spent most of 2005 touring, attempting to play all 48 continental states within the year, but ultimately only playing in 35.
In October 2005, the band toured as backing band for Emperor X
Emperor X
Emperor X is a pop/noise/folk music project headed by American musician C. R. Matheny. The project often performs and records with little more than Matheny on an acoustic guitar and a dynamic microphone, but sometimes also employs large groups of musicians on percussion instruments, various...
, a solo project of Chad Matheny. This tour also included more dates with Bring Back the Guns, and Matheny released the "So Many Dynamos"/"Bring Back the Guns" split 7" on his Discos Mariscos label in December 2005.
So Many Dynamos began recording their second full-length album, Flashlights, with Chris Deckard at Radio Penny in March 2006. The band spent more time in the studio than with When I Explode, and consequently was able to experiment wildly with instrumentation; the record utilizes a horn section and a choir, and incorporates instruments such as thumb pianos and toy accordions. This resulted in a more intricate and "live" sounding record, expanding on the band's existing sound and showcasing new influences (Broken Social Scene
Broken Social Scene
Broken Social Scene is a Canadian indie rock band, a musical collective including as few as six and as many as nineteen members, formed in 1999 by Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning. Most of its members currently play in various other groups and solo projects, mainly based around the city of Toronto...
, Steve Reich
Steve Reich
Stephen Michael "Steve" Reich is an American composer who together with La Monte Young, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass is a pioneering composer of minimal music...
, Talking Heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
).
In April and May 2006, the band (excluding Aaron Stovall) went on a second tour as backing band for Emperor X. The tour included a few dates with singer/songwriter John Vanderslice
John Vanderslice
John Vanderslice is an American musician and songwriter. Previously a member of the band Mk Ultra, he now records and performs as a solo artist.-Early years:...
.
Flashlights was released on CD by Skrocki Records in June 2006, and Hello Sir Records released the vinyl in early 2007. Architecture Label
Architecture Label
Architecture Label is an independent record label based in Sydney, Australia.- Artists with releases on Architecture :* Belles Will Ring* Bit By Bats* Death Cab for Cutie* Pedro the Lion* School of Emotional Engineering* So Many Dynamos...
released the CD in Australia and New Zealand in June 2007.
Around the initial release of Flashlights, the band was recruited by booking agent Skinny Touring, and as a result So Many Dynamos began an extensive tour schedule that put them on the road for over 100 shows between June and November. This included a Midwest and East Coast tour in September with Harvey Danger
Harvey Danger
Harvey Danger was an American indie rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1993, and rose to prominence in 1998 with the single "Flagpole Sitta." On August 29, 2009, the band played its final show at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle....
. On October 21, outside the Paradox, a Seattle venue, the band fell victim to a robbery; all of the group's guitars were stolen. Fortunately, the band had become friends with Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie is an American alternative rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1997. The band consists of Ben Gibbard , Chris Walla , Nick Harmer and Jason McGerr ....
member Christopher Walla, who lent them guitars to finish the tour.
In early 2007, the members of So Many Dynamos began playing in instrumental rock band Thor Axe along with guitarist Phil Ring and keyboard player Kyle Work. Shortly afterward, the band finished a tour with HORSE the Band, Heavy Heavy Low Low
Heavy Heavy Low Low
Heavy Heavy Low Low is a four piece Mathcore band from San Jose, California.-Biography:Formed in early 2004 in San Jose, California, Heavy Heavy Low Low began playing what may be called thrash , then metalcore, before evolving into a decidedly more style, and now, with the release of...
, The Number 12 Looks Like You and Light This City
Light This City
Light This City was an American melodic death metal band from the Bay Area of San Francisco that was active between 2002 and 2008.-History:They released one independent album and three albums with Prosthetic Records before disbanding in 2008...
.
In July 2007, So Many Dynamos began recording the follow-up to Flashlights with Christopher Walla. Sessions took place at the Tiny Telephone Studio in San Francisco, Alberta Court in Portland, and the band's house in Edwardsville, Illinois. The record was mixed by Alex Newport at Metropolitan Sound, Brooklyn, New York, in December 2007. The band recorded another track for the album in February 2008 at Great Western Records Recording in Champaign, Illinois
Champaign, Illinois
Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
. This track was mixed by Alex Newport in May 2008. The album is set to be called The Loud Wars.
In late July 2007, a tire blew on the band's van on the highway outside Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
. The van turned over on the highway and was totalled. No other cars were involved, and the band suffered only minor back injuries.
So Many Dynamos has performed at the 2007 CMJ conference in New York and 2008 South By Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
conference in Austin, as well as performances at festivals such as San Francisco's Noise Pop, Pop Montreal
Pop Montreal
Pop Montreal is an annual music festival occurring in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in the early fall, usually at the end of September or the beginning of October. More than 400 acts are scheduled to play in more than 50 venues across the city, mostly located in the Mile End area...
, Athens Georgia's Popfest and The Over The Top Festival in Toronto.
So Many Dynamos released The Loud Wars on June 9, 2009.
On August 25, 2009, Ryan Wasoba announced that he was leaving the band. Nathan Bernaix of St. Louis band Target Market took his place as guitarist for the band.
Members
Current- Aaron Stovall - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(2002–present) - Clayton "Norm" Kunstel - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2002–present) - Nathan Bernaix - guitar (2009–present)
Former
- Griffin Kay - guitar (2004 - 2011)
- Ryan Wasoba - guitar, casio (2002–2009)
- Ryan Ballew - guitar (2002–2004)
Discography
| Name | Year | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Are We Not Drawn Onward to New Era? | 2003 | CD-EP | Ambivalent Records |
| When I Explode | 2004 | CD | Skrocki Records |
| So Many Dynamos/Bring Back the Guns split | 2005 | 7" | Discos Mariscos |
| Flashlights | 2006 | CD | Skrocki Records |
| The Loud Wars | 2009 | CD | Vagrant |
| New Bones (single) | 2009 | 7" | Vagrant |