An Albatross
is a noise rock band based in Wilkes-Barre, PA, known for their chaotic live shows and psychedelic/circus-like presentation.
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AN ALBATROSS TICKETS
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History
Formed in the fall of 1999 by guitarist
Jake Lisowski, vocalist
Edward B. Gieda III, drummer
Chris Abbott, bassist
Jason Hudak, and organist
Phillip Price, the band quickly amassed material and recorded their cassette demo "1.)Sex 2.)Bird 3.)Cake." The following summer marked the first of many expansive tours that An Albatross has become renowned for.
In 2001, Philadelphian upstart label When Humans Attack! Records produced and released the
Eat Lightning, Shit Thunder
12" EP. Following the release of the 12", the CD version was pressed with permission by Bloodlink Records. The record was completed in two sessions during the winter months of 2000-2001 at Dungeon Studios in
Upper Darby, PA. Despite the record only consisting of 11 minutes of music, nearly 20 hours were spent recording and mixing the record. Creatively
Eat Lightning, Shit Thunder
was a departure from the
grindcore-based, deep/growled-vocal laiden 1999 demo and resembled a hybrid of early 1990s
grindcore,
speed metal, and hints of
progressive rock. The 12" EP debut spawned an exhaustive tour that bled into the writing and recording process of their second album,
We Are The Lazer Viking
CD-EP.
During the writing process of
We Are The Lazer Viking
, percussionist Jeremy Gewertz replaced Christopher Abbott, and synth player, Kat Paffett was added. The six person line-up heightened the creative potential of the group and eventually culminated in the
Ace Fu Records 2003 release,
We Are The Lazer Viking
. The eleven-song/eight-minute "fetid noise rock blither" was recorded at the defunct Fun City Studio in
Manhattan and produced by
Wharton Tiers, who had previously worked with
Sonic Youth,
Dinosaur Jr. and
Helmet. The composition and recording of
We Are The Lazer Viking
is markedly more complex and progressive, making heavy usage of synthesizers and erratic time signatures.
The EP fueled nearly three years of extensive national touring (which landed the group a spot at France's 2004
Eurockéennes festival) and created a hugely devoted cult-like following throughout North America & Europe. The buzz also caught ear of English DJ/journalist
John Peel, which precipitated into an invite to record a session for
BBC Radio 1, which the band recorded in March 2005.
Prior to the band's second trip to Europe, Jeremy Gewertz was replaced by drummer Ed Klinger. An Albatross toured nearly 130-odd dates with Klinger throughout the US and Europe (including the BBC session). In the summer of 2005, the group labored in
Park Slope, Brooklyn, composing the impossible
Blessphemy...of the Peace Beast Feastgiver and the Bear Warp Kumite, which would be recorded months later at the unlikely Don One Studios in Brooklyn by Carl Golembeski and Mike Peccio.
Drummer Steven Vaiani took the percussion reigns for the subsequent
Blessphemy tours (2006-08), which have amounted in more than 200 shows since January 2006 in the supporting the likes of
Blue Cheer,
Melt Banana,
DMBQ, and
Lightning Bolt throughout US, Canada, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland, Spain & France.
In October 2007, former leader of New Jersey's The Post Office Gals, Daniel Schlett, joined on guitars and the group quickly amassed material for a future album. In a quick succession of events, the band announced a spring 2008/
SXSW tour sans guitarist Lisowski, a signing with New Jersey's
Eyeball Records in April 2008, an unveiling of a new song from their February '08 sessions: "And Now Emerges The Silver Pilgrim", and an announcement of an October 21, 2008 release of the group's third full length album "The An Albatross Family Album".
Discography
thumb
Demos
- 1.)Sex 2.)Bird 3.)Cake
(Cassette tape - 1999)
- An Albatross & Carl G.
(3" CD's - tour only 2000)
Compilations (Exclusive Tracks Only)
- Hoags 2xCD
- "Channel 96.2"'' (2003)
Albums
- Eat Lightning, Shit Thunder
(2001, When Humans Attack! Records and Bloodlink Records)
- We Are the Lazer Viking
(2003, Ace Fu Records).
- Freedom Summer Live
(2005 , Kitty Play Records).
- Blessphemy...of the Peace Beast Feastgiver and the Bear Warp Kumite
(2006, Ace Fu Records)
- The An Albatross Family Album
(2008, Eyeball Records)
Singles and EPs
- An Albatross / XBXRX split 7-inch
(2004. GSL Records)
Videography
- Godass
Soundtrack (2000) Directed by Esther Bell
- Presto Majesto
(2003) - Included as part of the bonus material on the We Are the Lazer Viking
CD, along with several videos of live performances.
- Lab Results Volume One
(2006) - A collection of videos and live performances from Gold Standard Labs Records artists.
- Kevin Dougherty Presents
(2006) - A collection of animations & edited/raw live footage from local shows & rehearsals. Available on tour-only.
- ''Viva La Bam (2006) Episode 204: Mardi Gras Part 1