Cap'n Jazz | |
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![]() Cap'n Jazz performing live in 2010. From left: Davey von Bohlen (obscured), Tim Kinsella, Sam Zurick, Mike Kinsella, and Victor Villarreal. | |
Background information | |
Origin | Buffalo Grove, Illinois, U.S. [1] |
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Years active |
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Spinoffs | |
Past members |
Cap'n Jazz (sometimes stylised as caP'n Jazz) is an American emo band from Buffalo Grove, Illinois.
Brothers Tim Kinsella and Mike Kinsella formed the band Toe Jam with Victor Villarreal, and Sam Zurick, in 1989, before eventually changing the band's name to Cap'n Jazz. [4] Drawing influence from such bands as Gauge and Fugazi, [5] [4] Cap'n Jazz recorded several singles for independent labels in the early 90s as well as contributing to several compilations.
In 1995, the band released its only full-length album, Burritos, Inspiration Point, Fork Balloon Sports, Cards in the Spokes, Automatic Biographies, Kites, Kung Fu, Trophies, Banana Peels We've Slipped On and Egg Shells We've Tippy Toed Over , on the Man with Gun label. The album is sometimes referred to as Shmap'n Shmazz, which was printed on top of the CD release. [6]
The band broke up in July 1995, shortly after Shmap'n Shmazz's release, on the night of a show at Little Rock's Das Yutes a Go-Go. In 1998, Jade Tree assembled a double-disc Cap'n Jazz retrospective titled Analphabetapolothology which compiles the band's complete recorded works (save for Naive, their song on Achtung Chicago! Zwei): Shmap'n Shmazz, early singles, material from split releases, compilation tracks, unreleased demos and outtakes and several tracks from their farewell performance in Chicago.
Cap'n Jazz reunited at the Empty Bottle on Friday, January 22, 2010, as part of Joan of Arc's Don't Mind Control Variety Show. [7] After playing a short, impromptu set in Chicago, the band played its first official reunited show at the annual Forecastle Festival in Louisville on July 10, 2010, [8] and a hometown reunion show a week later at the Bottom Lounge, supporting the vinyl re-release of Analphabetapolothology on Jade Tree Records, where they gained success. [9] [10] [11] Due to the show selling out in about 48 hours, a second show was added the next night. Later, it was announced that they would also be playing reunion shows across the United States [12] during the summer and fall of 2010.
Cap'n Jazz was included in the lineup for the 2017 FYF Fest in Los Angeles' Exposition Park. [13] The FYF appearance was followed by shows in San Francisco, Chicago, New York and London, including an appearance at Riot Fest 2017 in Chicago.
The band reunited again for a show at the Empty Bottle in Chicago on Sunday, October 6, 2024. [14] The band also played Best Friends Forever Fest in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 11, 2024. [15]
Former members of the band continue to play music, most notably in Make Believe, The Promise Ring, American Football, Owls, Ghosts and Vodka, Joan of Arc and Owen.[ citation needed ]
Cap'n Jazz have influenced a number of bands.[ citation needed ] Algernon Cadwallader has been noted for their sonic similarities to Cap'n Jazz, and have likewise cited the band as a primary influence. [16] The American post-hardcore band Scary Kids Scaring Kids took their name from a homonymous Cap'n Jazz song. [17]
'Cap'n Jazz had that sort of Dischord, Fugazi influence,' says [Mike] Kinsella.
22:07 'Unquantifiably, I think Gauge was the biggest inspiration on Cap'n Jazz. Like, we were just trying to sound like Gauge'