Currently showcasing Rev. J Niimi on drums, with his ol' stalwart Dr Lee joining him on guitar n vocals. Carla Bruce-Lee completes the backline (bass, vocals, melodica, percussion), and back in Australia David Nichols does drums & lyrics.
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But ... we've had many different lineups for live/studio rendez-vous with various international musicians & gueststars over past ~15 years, including: Dave Trumfio, J Niimi, Neil Johnson, Thomas Tallis, Andy Creighton, James Dutton, Jo Packer, Laurie Whitby, Tim Maher, Ian Wadley, Penny McBride, Stephen O'Neil, Stevie Kicks, Ali Madani, Geoff Greenberg, Liz Phair, Angie Kreamer, Trevor Ramsey, Mark King, Jeff Zimmerman, Shintaro! Kiyonari, Andre Hartmann, Dave Winer, Phil 'Hoo-Hah', Tim Adams (yes, of Ajax fame--he plays sax), Dave Crawford, Mike Hagler (probly did something?), Ingrid Spielman, Stewart Anderson, Pat Maley, Carson Tonn, Lois Mafio, Mark Greenberg, Nicole Thibault, Toby Dutton, various ephemeral others ... whose memories we subconsciously 'cherish', of course.
Influences
weather (ie rain in the tank), sea breezes, logic & common sense, creative humour, the price of bananas, greens
Sounds Like
Looks like ... see our video by Jeff Economy:
http://www.all..com/a/Ashtray%20Boy/Vacum%20Cleaner%20Salesman/index.html
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For full discography see: http://www.ashtrayboy.net/jellyboy/JellyBoy%20Music/jellyboy.music.html
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Ashtray Boy has had many incarnations, here's a brief timeline:
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Late 80s-1991/2 early development/formation of the band by Randall Lee (Sydney) with Dave Trumfio and J Niimi (Chicago). Feel Good All over Records are instrumental in getting Randall to US and realeasing the first album 'Honeymoon Suite' in 1993.
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1992-96 annual US tours/recordings on AJAX records, formation (and dissolution!) of original Aussie lineup with Neil Johnson and Thomas Tallis (reunion show Feb 1997), J tours Oz with Aussie AB, Ian Wadley joins up (briefly) for the tour
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Jul 1997 - Jan 98 AB resident Chicago with J Niimi and Andy Creighton, major US tour fall 97
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1998-2001 AB resident Sydney--New Aussie AB develops w/ Jo Packer, James Dutton, Tim Maher, Penny McBride, Steven O'Neil, Phil 'Hoo-Hah', Carla Bruce-Lee, --James moves to Melbourne boo-hoo! 'There's Your Heart' (2000) the first AB release with Jellyfant Records (known then as the Bouncing Corp.) and Phonostatique in Australia, US tours (1999, 2001), Europe tours (1999, 2000, 2001), Japan tours (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002) -- an even more internationally diffuse AB
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2002-2004 AB relocates to Vancouver, BC, Canada ... Vancouver AB develops w/ Angie Kreamer, Stevie Kicks, Ali Madani, Carla & Steve switch off on bass/drums, multiple Chicago shows with Geoff Greenberg &/or Jeff Zimmerman, guest appearance on vibes by Mark Greenberg (gotta love The Coctails), mini West coast tour with Boyracer & Kanda (2003-almost arrested/fainted at US-Canada border)
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2004-present AB relocates to Melbourne, loses Sydney members (bye Jo, Penny, Phil!), restarts in Melbourne w/David Nichols (played some with Toby Dutton and Nicole Thibault. Appearing on numerous compilations and playing select shows.
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Currently on tour of the US & Canada ( 15 June - 20 July ) in Pac NW and Chicago area.
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Email: the_ashtrayboy @ yahoo.com.au (take spaces out in order to email)
Hey……… Thanks for being our friend over the years…... We're about to release in a few weeks our new 5th CD….”SIGNS” Have a preview listen and a look at our new myspace face lift for the promo for it..... The Streamliners sending you some good vibes for 2009.
just thinking about you guys,in the uk right now just finished are tour got a couple day off before going back home,playing in another band called the cute lepers check it out,hope all is good....k
Ok, I caught you at the Empty Bottle but I missed the Schubas show. Did I miss Cal's too? Ugh. Sorry. This week has been a blur. You playing again? Or?
It was so awesome to be in the studio while you played live on the radio. I enjoyed every minute of it....very fun. Thanks for the invite! Until we meet again--be safe!
I hope the show went well last night. You stole the show here in Portland!!!! It was a blast! Australia is my first choice for a final destination. So possibly in the near future... $ <-Oh, and a lot more of this. --Justin!
I should have been more specific. It's an East/West thing, us being in the prosperous East end and you being in the bad ass West.
What's it like there anyway?
..
