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American Music Club: Difference between revisions
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| instrument = | | instrument = | ||
| years_active = 1982–1994, 2004–2009 | | years_active = 1982–1994, 2004–2009 | ||
| label = [[Cooking Vinyl]], [[Merge Records]], [[Reprise Records]], [[Virgin Records]], [[Frontier Records]], [[Grifter Records]], [[Zippo]], [[ | | label = [[Cooking Vinyl]], [[Merge Records]], [[Reprise Records]], [[Virgin Records]], [[Frontier Records]], [[Grifter Records]], [[Zippo Records]], [[Warner Bros.]], [[Demon Records]], [[Alias Records]] | ||
| associated_acts = [[The Cowboys]], [[ | | associated_acts = [[The Cowboys]], [[Naked Skinnies]], [[Toiling Midgets]] | ||
| website = {{url|www.americanmusicclub.com}} | | website = {{url|www.americanmusicclub.com}} | ||
| current_members = | | current_members = | ||
| past_members = [[Mark Eitzel]]<br/>[[Vudi]]<br/>[[Danny Pearson]]<br/>[[Brad Johnson]]<br/>[[Matt Norelli]]<br/>[[Lisa Davis]]<br/>[[Tom Mallon]]<br/>[[Mike Simms]]<br/>[[Bruce Kaphan]]<br/>[[Tim Mooney]]<br/>[[Sean Hoffman]]<br/>[[Scott Alexander]]<br/>[[Greg Bonnell]]<br/>[[ | | past_members = [[Mark Eitzel]]<br/>[[Vudi]]<br/>[[Danny Pearson]]<br/>[[Brad Johnson]]<br/>[[Matt Norelli]]<br/>[[Lisa Davis]]<br/>[[Tom Mallon]]<br/>[[Mike Simms]]<br/>[[Bruce Kaphan]]<br/>[[Tim Mooney]]<br/>[[Sean Hoffman]]<br/>[[Scott Alexander]]<br/>[[Greg Bonnell]]<br/>[[Marc Capelle]]<br/>[[Jason Borger]]<br/>[[Steve Didelot]]<br/>[[Dana Schechter]]<br/>[[Jonathan Heine]] | ||
| notable_instruments = | | notable_instruments = | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''American Music Club''' | '''American Music Club''' was an American, San Francisco-based rock band, led by singer-songwriter [[Mark Eitzel]].<ref name="The Great Rock Discography">{{cite book | ||
| first= Martin C. | | first= Martin C. | ||
| last= Strong | | last= Strong | ||
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==History== | ==History== | ||
Although born in California, Eitzel spent his formative years in Okinawa, Taiwan, Great Britain and Ohio before returning to the Bay Area in 1981. After a brief stint with the bands [[The Cowboys]] (one single: | Although born in California, Eitzel spent his formative years in Okinawa, Taiwan, Great Britain and Ohio before returning to the Bay Area in 1981. After a brief stint with the bands [[The Cowboys]] (one single: ''[[Supermarket/Teenage Life]]'') and [[Naked Skinnies]] (one single: ''[[All My Life]]'') he founded American Music Club in San Francisco in 1983 with guitarist [[Scott Alexander]], drummer [[Greg Bonnell]] and bass player [[Brad Johnson]].<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> The band went through many personnel changes before arriving at a stable line up of guitarist [[Vudi]], bassist [[Danny Pearson]], keyboardist [[Brad Johnson]] and drummer [[Matt Norelli]]. This lineup would change over the next several years, but Eitzel always remained the core of the band in terms of its vocals, lyrics and thematic focus, with [[Vudi]] and [[Danny Pearson]] accompanying him on guitar and bass. | ||
Their 1985 debut, ''[[The Restless Stranger]]'', is widely considered as the first slowcore release, establishing the band as major pioneers of slowcore and an early influence on post-rock.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/american_music_club/the_restless_stranger/ |title=The Restless Stranger by American Music Club (Album, Slowcore): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list |publisher=Rateyourmusic.com |date= |accessdate=2015-05-18 }}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It was later followed by 1987's ''[[Engine]]'' which saw record producer [[Tom Mallon]] as a full-time member.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> | Their 1985 debut, ''[[The Restless Stranger]]'', is widely considered as the first slowcore release, establishing the band as major pioneers of slowcore and an early influence on post-rock.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/american_music_club/the_restless_stranger/ |title=The Restless Stranger by American Music Club (Album, Slowcore): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list |publisher=Rateyourmusic.com |date= |accessdate=2015-05-18 }}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It was later followed by 1987's ''[[Engine]]'' which saw record producer [[Tom Mallon]] as a full-time member.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> | ||
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In 1991 American Music Club emerged with the record that is widely considered their masterpiece, ''[[Everclear]]''. Critical acclaim attracted the attention of several major labels. ''Rolling Stone'' called it the Album of the Year and named Eitzel Songwriter of the Year for 1991.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> Eventually, AMC—now consisting of Eitzel, [[Vudi]], Pearson, multi-instrumentalist [[Bruce Kaphan]] and drummer [[Tim Mooney]]—signed with [[Reprise Records]] in the US and [[Virgin Records]] throughout the rest of the world. | In 1991 American Music Club emerged with the record that is widely considered their masterpiece, ''[[Everclear]]''. Critical acclaim attracted the attention of several major labels. ''Rolling Stone'' called it the Album of the Year and named Eitzel Songwriter of the Year for 1991.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> Eventually, AMC—now consisting of Eitzel, [[Vudi]], Pearson, multi-instrumentalist [[Bruce Kaphan]] and drummer [[Tim Mooney]]—signed with [[Reprise Records]] in the US and [[Virgin Records]] throughout the rest of the world. | ||
The band contributed the track "[[All Your Jeans Were Too Tight]]" to the 1993 AIDS-Benefit Album ''No Alternative'' produced by the Red Hot Organization. ''[[Mercury]]'' followed in 1993 and, despite positive reviews, the album fared poorly on the charts and earned virtually no recognition from radio or MTV. In 1994, AMC issued ''[[San Francisco]]'', which balanced confessional tunes like "[[Fearless]]" and "[[The Thorn | The band contributed the track "[[All Your Jeans Were Too Tight]]" to the 1993 AIDS-Benefit Album ''No Alternative'' produced by the Red Hot Organization. ''[[Mercury]]'' followed in 1993 and, despite positive reviews, the album fared poorly on the charts and earned virtually no recognition from radio or MTV. In 1994, AMC issued ''[[San Francisco]]'', which balanced confessional tunes like "[[Fearless]]" and "[[The Thorn In My Side Is Gone]]" alongside more accessible offerings such as "[[Wish The World Away]]," one of the band's biggest hits. | ||
The band disbanded soon after ''[[San Francisco]]'' was released and reunited in 2003 to record a new album, ''[[Love Songs For Patriots]]'', which is described by reviewer Mark Deming as "a stronger and more coherent effort than the group's last set, 1994's ''[[San Francisco]]'', and while it's too early to tell if this is a new start or a last hurrah for AMC, it at least shows that their formula still yields potent results. Here's hoping Eitzel and Vudi have more where this came from."<ref>{{cite web|author=Mark Deming |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/love-songs-for-patriots-mw0000170265 |title=Love Songs for Patriots - American Music Club | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=2004-10-12 |accessdate=2015-05-18}}</ref> | The band disbanded soon after ''[[San Francisco]]'' was released and reunited in 2003 to record a new album, ''[[Love Songs For Patriots]]'', which is described by reviewer Mark Deming as "a stronger and more coherent effort than the group's last set, 1994's ''[[San Francisco]]'', and while it's too early to tell if this is a new start or a last hurrah for AMC, it at least shows that their formula still yields potent results. Here's hoping Eitzel and Vudi have more where this came from."<ref>{{cite web|author=Mark Deming |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/love-songs-for-patriots-mw0000170265 |title=Love Songs for Patriots - American Music Club | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=2004-10-12 |accessdate=2015-05-18}}</ref> | ||
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On June 20, 2007, AMC announced a new lineup connected to the band's base of operations moving to Los Angeles. Eitzel and Vudi remained, while Mooney and Pearson stayed behind in San Francisco. They were replaced by bassist [[Sean Hoffman]] and drummer [[Steve Didelot]] from the band The Larks. AMC's next record, entitled ''[[The Golden Age]]'', was released in the UK on February 4, 2008 on [[Cooking Vinyl]] and in the US on February 19 on [[Merge Records]]. | On June 20, 2007, AMC announced a new lineup connected to the band's base of operations moving to Los Angeles. Eitzel and Vudi remained, while Mooney and Pearson stayed behind in San Francisco. They were replaced by bassist [[Sean Hoffman]] and drummer [[Steve Didelot]] from the band The Larks. AMC's next record, entitled ''[[The Golden Age]]'', was released in the UK on February 4, 2008 on [[Cooking Vinyl]] and in the US on February 19 on [[Merge Records]]. | ||
[[ | Shortly after an extensive 2008 tour, the group disbanded and then reformed with a new line-up including [[Mark Eitzel|Eitzel]], [[Vudi]] and [[Steve Didelot|Steve]] as well as members of Bee and Flower: [[Dana Schechter]] on bass and [[Jonathan Heine]] on second guitar. This short-lived lineup disbanded for good in 2009. | ||
[[Tom Mallon]] died after a long battle with brain cancer on January 9, 2014; he was 57.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/tom-mallon-s-f-brain-tumor-support-group-benefit/44462 |title=Tom Mallon at Coming Home Hospice, SF | Medical Expenses |publisher=YouCaring.com |date= |accessdate=2014-04-24}}</ref> | [[Tim Mooney]] died of a blood clot on June 13, 2012; he was 53.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/blog/uncut-editors-diary/american-music-clubs-tim-mooney-rip |title=American Music Club's Tim Mooney: RIP |publisher=Uncut.co.uk |date=2012-06-19 |accessdate=2014-04-24}}</ref> | ||
[[Tom Mallon]] died after a long battle with brain cancer on January 9, 2014; he was 57.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/tom-mallon-s-f-brain-tumor-support-group-benefit/44462 |title=Tom Mallon at Coming Home Hospice, SF | Medical Expenses |publisher=YouCaring.com |date= |accessdate=2014-04-24}}</ref> Prior to his death, a benefit festival for Mallon (TomFest) took place in San Francisco at The Great American Music Hall on March 3, 2013. A band consisting of various former members and associates performed under the American Music Club name - this band consisted of Mallon (bass), [[Danny Pearson]] (guitar, vocals), Joe Goldring (guitar), [[Mike Simms]] (drums), Nancie Lualhati (backing vocals), [[Vudi]] (percussion) and Steve Lindstrom (backing vocals). The band performed "[[Clouds]]", "[[Electric Light]]", "[[Mom's TV]]" and "[[Bad Liquor]]".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://grifterrec.org/tomfest/tomfest.html | work=grifterrec.com | date=2013 | author=Tom Mallon | title=TomFest | accessdate=June 16, 2017}}</ref> | |||
==Discography== | ==Discography== | ||
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*[http://www.markeitzel.com/ Mark Eitzel's official website] | *[http://www.markeitzel.com/ Mark Eitzel's official website] | ||
*[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p3539|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic entry] | *[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p3539|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic entry] | ||
*[https://archive.org/details/AmericanMusicClub American Music Club collection] at the | *[https://archive.org/details/AmericanMusicClub American Music Club collection] at the Internet Archive's live music archive | ||