Estradasphere
Estradasphere | |
|---|---|
 Estradasphere performing in 2007. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Santa Cruz, California, USA Seattle, Washington, USA (now) |
| Genres | Experimental music Experimental rock Various others |
| Years active | 1998–2008 |
| Labels | The End Mimicry |
| Past members | Band members |
| Website | Official website |
Estradasphere was an experimental band that originated in Santa Cruz, California during the late 1990s. The band, which in its last incarnation was based in Seattle, consisted of 6 multi-instrumentalists from a variety of musical backgrounds trained in disciplines ranging from classical music and jazz to heavy metal.[1]
In November 2007, members of Estradasphere started touring with Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls,[2] as well as helping to produce her debut solo album Who Killed Amanda Palmer.[3]
The band is on a "permanent hiatus"[4] since 2010.
Estradasphere were influenced by many different artists from many different subgenres, such as jazz, funk, techno, classical music, pop, heavy metal, New Age, Latin, Balkan, Greek and gypsy.[5] They were influenced by artists such as The Beach Boys and Secret Chiefs 3, and have been compared to Mr. Bungle,[6] Frank Zappa and John Zorn.[7] Similarly to Mr. Bungle and Secret Chiefs 3, the band mixes several genres in its songs.[8] The band was a self-proclaimed inventor of bizarre genres such as "Bulgarian Surf", "Romanian Gypsy-Metal", and "Spaghetti Eastern"[5] and sounded like "Psychedelic-Sci-fi", "Gypsy-Metal-Jazz" and "Epic-Cinema-Thon", according to its MySpace.[9]
Band members
Members
According to www.estradasphere.com:
- Tim Smolens - standup bass, electric bass, vocals, audio production/engineering
- Timb Harris - violin, trumpet, mandolin, guitar, vocals
- Jason Schimmel - guitar, keyboards, banjo, vocals
- Lee Smith - drums
- Kevin Kmetz - tsugaru shamisen, guitar, keyboards
- Adam Stacey - accordion, keyboards, vocals
Former members
Discography
| Title | Release Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| It's Understood (LP) | June 26, 2000 | Mimicry |
| These are the Days (VHS) | 2000 | |
| The Silent Elk of Yesterday (EP) | September 18, 2001 | Mimicry |
| Buck Fever (LP) | 2001 | Mimicry |
| Quadropus (LP) | October 28, 2003 | Mimicry |
| Passion for Life (LP/DVD) | March 9, 2004 | Mimicry |
| These are the Days (DVD Reissue) | October 3, 2005 | |
| Palace of Mirrors (LP) | September 19, 2006 | The End |
| Palace of Mirrors - Live (DVD) | 2007 | The End |
| The Pegasus Vault EP (EP) | February, 2008 | Lobefood |
Notes
- ^ "Estradasphere's website". Retrieved 2007-07-21.
Estradasphere is a band of multi-instrumentalists from an unlikely variety of musical backgrounds. Timb Harris (violin/trumpet), Jason Schimmel (guitar/banjo/keyboards/vocals), Tim Smolens (upright and electric bass/vocals), Kevin Kmetz (Tsugaru Shamisen/guitar/keyboards), Adam Stacey (accordion/keyboards/clavinet), and Lee Smith (drums/percussion) were trained in disciplines ranging from classical and jazz to metal. This diverse instrumental and stylistic palette enables them to execute a vast array of orchestrations and even forge entirely new genres such as "Bulgarian Surf," "Romanian Gypsy-Metal," and "Spaghetti Eastern."
- ^ Live show review of Amanda Palmer with Estradasphere @ 608 Club in Ballard by Three Imaginary Girls
- ^ Estradasphere touring with Amanda Palmer
- ^ "Estradasphere's [[Facebook]]". Retrieved 2011-08-03.
{{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ a b "Estradasphere's [[MySpace]]". Retrieved 2007-07-21.
Estradasphere is a band trained in disciplines ranging from classical and jazz to metal.
{{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ "Biography @ Allmusic". Retrieved 2007-07-21.
Unmistakably derived from the genre-bending loins of experimental rockers Mr. Bungle and Secret Chiefs 3, Estradasphere respectfully lives up to the ambitious musical aims of their wildly talented mentors.
- ^ "SSMT Reviews". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
Estradasphere returns with another collection of Zappa-esquely varied songs spanning almost every musical genre invented since early homo sapiens individuals first blew into hollow branches recreationally.
- ^ "Biography @ Allmusic". Retrieved 2007-07-21.
Their hectic mix of jazz, metal, video game themes, and bluegrass was eaten up by hardcore Mr. Bungle fans, but went largely unnoticed elsewhere.
- ^ "Estradasphere's [[MySpace]]". Retrieved 2007-07-21.
Sounds like a Psychedelic-Sci-fi... Gypsy-Metal-Jazz... Epic-Cinema-Thon.
{{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
External links
- Estradasphere's official website
- Estradasphere MySpace
- The End Records - website of Estradasphere's current record label.
- Web of Mimicry - website for Estradasphere's former record label.
- Obnoxious Listeners: Estradasphere