Usually:
Thomas Comerford - voice, guitars, harmonica.
Steve Kiraly - drum kit, percussion.
Matt Seifert - guitars, voice.
Kaspar Hauser Nation:
Gregg Ostrom - electric guitar.
Kent Lambert - keyboard, percussion, voice.
Ed Crouse - acoustic guitar, piano, voice.
Sam Wagster - pedal steel.
Chris Sherman - bass guitar.
1-Up PR - PR.
Stephen "the Kid" Howard - electric guitar.
Chris Allen - electric guitar.
Carl Saff - mastering.
Dean Rank - layout.
Jodie Mack - artwork.
Dominique Holmes - artwork, website.
Kris Poulin - production, engineering.
Jim Duffy - drum kit.
Dennis Stacer - drum kit.
Theo Katsaounis - drum kit, foot taps.
Tatsu Aoki - upright bass.
Laura Watral - keyboards, voice, percussion.
Seth Vanek - production, drums, shakers, tambourine, glockenspiel, vibes.
Gerard Barreto - engineering.
Andrew Leach - pedal steel.
Stanley Ross - pianner.
The Armitage Shanks Glee Club - backing voices.
Simon Hunt - keyboards, voice.
Sean Doyle - label.
Becca Taylor - artwork.
Chris Auman - guitar, label.
Bill Brown - voice.
Johnathan Crawford - keyboards, percussion, drum kit.
Erica Dicker - violin.
Jonathan Durlam - production, bass, vocals, guitar, percussion.
KJ Mohr - voice.
Mark Wright - brownie, voice.
Michael Annuse - drum kit.
Ben Armstrong - keyboards.
Paul Sargent - voice, guitar, burner, security.
Sterling Ruby - drum kit.
Mom - banjo.
Kimba - logistics.
Henry Francis - percussion.
Freelance Cowbell Players - cowbell.
and YOU - ________.
Influences
Songwriters: John R. Cash, Hank Williams, Lou Reed, Jay Farrar, Neil Young, Tim Rutili, Jagger-Richards, Lennon-McCartney, Richard Buckner, Gene Clark, John Fogerty, Chan Marshall, Robert Pollard, Richard Hell and Ray and Dave Davies.
Other guiding lights: 1970s AM Radio, Nuggets, Scat Records, SST Records (mid-80s), Harry Smith (& his Anthology of American Folk Music), Link Wray, Roky Erickson, Robert Quine, Beatles, Chuck Berry, Iggy, Ziggy, T. Rex, Lou Reed/Velvet Underground, Eno, Wire, Pere Ubu, Television, Pavement, Sebadoh, Alex Chilton, Jojo, Syd Barrett (& The Pink Floyd), Howlin' Wolf, John Fahey, Muddy Waters, Ed Gray, Will Oldham/Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Gram Parsons, Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zandt, Tim Hardin, Neil Young (& Crazy Horse), Petty, Dylan, Stones, AC/DC, Ozzie/Sabbath, Led Zep, Califone, Red Red Meat, Otis Redding, Van Morrison (TB Sheets through Veedon Fleece), the Who, Hot Snakes, Thin Lizzy, the Clash, Mott the Hoople, the Carter Family and the Replacements.
Also: Kaspar Hausers (& feral children), J.D. Salinger, Chris Ware, David Heatley, Jim Shepherd, Lester Bangs and Flannery O'Connor.
The real story is here, no doubt written by the finest scholars. The rest here below is all biz ...
• Our new LP, entitled The Sons, is finished. All manner of participants listed at screen left. Three songs are streaming above. The LP will be out in CD format on ol' Spacesuit Records (ssr 004!) on 20 FEB 2009 -- if you attend our release show at the Beat Kitchen, you will receive one. If you want to purchase it now at $10.00 postpaid (paypal/credit card) or via the iTunes, click away. Also available at Insound.
Some press for The Sons:
• "Comerford and his current bandmates--bassist Matthew Seifert, drummer Steve Kiraly, and fellow guitarist Stephen Howard (Pinebender, Tight Phantomz)--place their faith in the kind of rock-solid attack that relies on an intimate and innate rapport between band members ... Considering how often Kaspar Hauser’s lineup has changed over the years, the accomplishment is all the more impressive. The twin guitars burn and surge, moving precisely within the lean grooves." -Peter Margasak, Post No Bills/Chicago Reader
• "Despite the life-altering events that spurned it, 'The Sons,' recorded over the course of a year in a basement studio in Logan Square, remains joyously unvarnished. Songs such as "Mark of Cain" and "Macbeth II (In the Morning)" are loaded with ragged blues riffs and drummer Steve Kiraly's loose-limbed kit-work." -Andy Downing, Chicago Tribune
• "'The Sons' is a testament to the concept of long-players — records you listen to from end to end, soaking in each and every note, coda and phrase." --Matthew R. Perrine, Duluth Budgeteer News
• The Quixotic/Taxidermy compact disc came out in 2007 on Backwardmasking Records in a lovely, hand-silkscreened gatefold package featuring drawings by Chicago comics artist Becca Taylor. Use the link to purchase via paypal or credit card for a mere $10 postpaid. Also iTunes. See below for some reviews of this record.
Some press for Q/T:
• "... Comerford has crafted a set of gems that should satisfy lovers of rusty punks like the Silver Jews and Uncle Tupelo." -CMJ New Music Monthly, Issue 152
• "The Chicago based band should be able to capitalize off of their latest album Quixotic/Taxidermy: packed with cool/bluesy Tweedy-like vocals and tracks that pull influences from both the Stones and Kinks." -Nathaniel Gravely, i guess i'm floating
• "Local act Kaspar Hauser has been kicking around for the last seven years, but has kept a low profile, playing sporadic shows, putting out a new record every couple of years. Their latest, the self-issued Quixotic/Taxidermy, is quite nice -- a loose homage to the Stones grafted to workaday Midwestern indie rock. Frontman and band mainstay Thomas Comerford sounds casual; he sings with a little bit of a cool remove. The band is no-frills but sweet, chimey and has a particularly easy way with a bluesy swagger. Fans of Jeff Tweedy's pre-Wilco works would do well to check them out." -Jessica Hopper, This Week in Live Music/Chicago Tribune
• "Comerford ... sings in a nasal tenor that reminds me of Bill Callahan (the artist formerly known as Smog), ripping through shambling, melodic rock tunes with a bored swagger. There's a definite shot of the Rolling Stones here, particularly in the looseness of the arrangements, but Kaspar Hauser doesn't seem particularly concerned with using classic rock ‘n' roll riffery; the guitars sputter and clamber more than they groove. A few ballads embrace a darker, more atmospheric vibe—including a surprisingly good cover of Big Star's “Holocaust,” a tough tune to mess with—but ultimately Comerford's writing and the way he comfortably wears the skin of these warmly familiar songs is what puts the band over. Even when the songs seem like they're about to fall apart, his singing threads them back together." -Peter Margasak, Post No Bills/Chicago Reader
Attenzione!
Let is be known sons and daughters that Satan was an acid-head, drink from his cup, pledge yourselves . . .
and together we will all freak out!
The Mediums
Jet Age
Dollar Store
The Black Belts
Thursday Night November 5th 8:30PM!
@ The Beat Kitchen 2100 W. Belmont
Chicago Bands and Entainers we are looking to fill some spots in upcoming TV Showcase. If you are looking to get in some clubs and festivals please email us contact information. Chicagoland groups only. Referrals are welcome. Limited space but plenty of opportunity.
We are proud to announce that after MUCH hard work and effort, The Sheriffs of Nottingham will be releasing our debut CD, "Hard Places: The EP" on Saturday, November 14th.
Track Listing: 1. Running Man 2. Easy 3. Hard Places 4. The Road 5. He Said/She Said 6. Same Old Song 7. Nineteen Eighty-Four
We are extremely proud of this CD and cannot wait for you to hear what we've been working on for so long! We will be releasing the CD early online, so visit back often for more details. For now, you can listen to two full tracks (Running Man and Nineteen Eighty-Four) on our MySpace.
We thank you for your patience and support and we hope to see you at a live concert soon,
Chicago Bands and Entainers we are looking to fill some spots in upcoming TV Showcase. If you are looking to get in some clubs and festivals please email us contact information. Chicagoland groups only. Referrals are welcome. Limited space but plenty of opportunity.
How are you, Kaspar Hauser? Haven't checked in on you lately, so I swung by to wish you a happy September & hope you are feeling well! Listen, I have another track up on my page, "Attack Of The Mushroom People." You can Hear it right Now, if you'd like at: www.myspace.com/psychedelicpablo adios for now! Pablo
Chicago Bands and Entainers we are looking to fill some spots in upcoming event show. If you are looking to get in some clubs and festivals please email us.
Attention citizens of the rock'n'roll underground! Adam's (songwriter/guitarist in The Peelers) new band The Mediums will be getting insane with the Bellrays @ The Bottom Lounge Monday night May 18th @ 9PM!!! Pick up one of their new & sparkly Digital 45RPM's... ok...bye!