Mike Spine (guitar & throat), Garland Hooker (low and theory) Doug Starcevich (bass & guitar), Zac Stowell (drums), Aaron Starkey (guitar), Richie Parish (guitar), Chris Croft (drums) Nora Ferranti (boards with keys & dancer)... (previously also: Aaron Semer, Adam Drew, Matt Dente, and Morgan Patton).
Influences
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We could lie here and say a bunch of hipster nonsense, but we won't. We have been influenced by rock, punk rock, folk/folk rock, old school metal, hip-hop, along with some blues, jazz, flamenco, etc. Read below for more details.
Influences range from Fugazi, Treepeople, Built to Spill, Dead Kennedys, The Minutemen and early Neil Young, to Public Enemy, the Coup, Run DMC, Iron Maiden (up to Somewhere in Time album), Black Sabbath, early Judas Priest, The Melvins, Manu Chao's "Clandestino", early Bob Dylan, early Heart, Herb Ellis and Joe Pass (7 come 11), Carlos Montoya, about 10 songs by The Clash, Uncle Tupelo, D.R.I., S.O.D., Suicidal Tendencies, Agent Orange (Living in Darkness), 7 Seconds (Walk Together, Rock Together), Minor Threat, early Cure, a drag racing and Spiderman record from the 1970's, Jimi Hendrix & his bands, Sly and the Family Stone ("I want to take you higher!"), a bunch of inescapable FM "Classic Rock", 45's & 33 1/3's on VINYL, mixed tapes from junior high, KCMU's Brain Pain show, Colin Spring, Aaron Goodrich, Aaron Semer, dudes playing drum buckets on the streets and subways, and thousands of other bands, songs, etc.
1992-2001 PORTLAND BANDS/PERFORMERS/VENUES LIKE: The Help, Team Dresch, Gern Blanston, Sharkskill, Cherry Ice Cream Smile/All Girl Summer Fun Band, Heatmiser, Hazel, Elliott Smith, Holgator, 30.06, Fernando,
31 Knots, Scribble, shows at "The Power House", The X-Ray Cafe/O'Hell, La Luna, EJ's, La Serenita Taqueria, etc., Leroy Vinegar/Mel Brown/Thara Memory/Dan Faehnle Quartet 1994-1998 at Jazz de Opus, and the raw guitar skills of Dan Balmer.
We have also been inspired and influenced by things like the labor movement, SNCC, CORE, The Black Panthers, Emma Goldman, Green Peace, Earth First!, Sojourner Truth, Geronimo, Crazy Horse, AIM, Chavez & the UFW, The Zapatistas, WTO resistance in Seattle in 1999, and many other such movements for social, economic, and environmental justice. And of course thousands our invaluable life experiences.
We do not fear any genre or style of music; only what we perceive as phony, heartless, and inauthentic music.
Sounds Like
A mixture of all of the above, but not really like any of those?
I dunno, listen and think for yourself...
ORDER NOW!!! Sounds from the Seattle Underground CD
PRESS & PROPAGANDA
“At the Spine's great album barely hints at their live power: The band exults madly all over the room with a performance to banish all jadedness. This band is so strong and fresh that watching them, I can't help but imagine…” (The Stranger, Seattle, WA)
"propulsive drums and epic guitar. If Zorro was in a band it could sound like this." (Americana UK, London, UK).
“This is honestly one of the best records, front to back that I’ve heard all year.” (Punk Planet Magazine, Chicago, IL)
"the sound of perfectly serrated pop" (Portland Mercury, Portland, OR)
"blissfully impervious to whatever fad his indie-rock peers are currently into. Even after a few listens (the album) keeps on revealing quirky new hooks, new layers." (Time Out NY, NYC, NY).
"They've been called it all: the next Pixies, just like early Fugazi, early Guided by Voices, early Neil Young. ...after checking out their album, I can say that these guys stand on their own feet. Comparisons aren't really necessary..." (Inlander Weekly, Spokane, WA).
"name dropping doesn’t really do this music justice. If you like those bands, you’ll like this, but At the Spine is really its own unique blend of rock ‘n’ roll." (Punk Planet, Chicago, IL).
“At the Spine’s explosive melodies and withering guitar work build into expansive solos, particularly on ‘Iron Lake.’ Now two full-time members strengthen the band’s sound, making the band’s third album the most impressive to date.” (Sound Magazine).
BIO
At the Spine loves to rock. We believe in the power of music. We try to be good folks, to play good music, and put on energetic and sincere live shows. We try to do what we can to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable planet.
We write about what we have experienced and seen in the world. Sometimes it is about politics, sometimes it is about relationships and love. Sometimes we are raging against something, like war, or imperialism, and sometimes we are celebrating something in solidarity with the masses of the world. Sometimes we cry tears of sorrow and sometimes tears of joy.
We have played hundreds of shows across the U.S. and E.U. since 2002 and released four critically acclaimed albums.
2003 The Curriculum is Never Neutral
2005 First Day of Spring
2006 Sonic Resistance
2008 Vita
Music has inspired us, moved us, and kept us alive though the good and the bad times, so we are doing our best to return the favor to all those that have come before us, and all those that will come after us. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Things be good man. Got a promotion. Moving to the city. And summer school...bummer. Alicia's internship is almost over. She got a faculty position at Colorado St Uni. Moving w/o me...for now. How's things w/u? Still rockin' the spot!
hey Mike, no unfortunatly. there was my last band's manager back in London but i have lost touch. well, if i aint wrong the last time i walked on stage was the gig i met you at the underworld!!!!!!! shame on me!. i'll ask around though. ciao
mike, spoke to a good friend of mine, she's an experienced booking agent in Italy. she's gonna check your space in no time, consider what she can do and she'll get back to me ASAP. keep it up man.
The Neil Young cover night was amazing. The well planned stall for Neil to come out in American flag hat and stone washed jeans was a perfect lead in to the strongest cover of 'Ohio' ever.
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