Caroliner

Last updated
Caroliner
Carolinerfirstwomb-1851.jpg
Background information
Origin San Francisco, United States
Genres Experimental, noise, industrial, bluegrass
Years active1983–present
Labels Subterranean Records 'Nuf Sed BullsHit
MembersUnknown

Caroliner is a music group formed in San Francisco in 1983. [1] [2] Described by critics as "industrial-bluegrass," the group uses instruments from bluegrass and rock traditions, as well as homemade electronics and other modified instruments. In their live performances, band members play characters in an other-worldly pageantry, wearing elaborate homemade costumes and performing on a stage decorated with drawings and set pieces, all covered in day-glo paint. The band has toured Europe, [3] Japan, [4] and North America. [5]

Contents

Band membership

Caroliner's members are anonymous, but use aliases (Obsidian Skeleton, The Sickwood Adventure, and Cottypearile Weddingforke). [6] The aliases are only used by them during interviews with the band; no credits appear on any Caroliner records. In her autobiography, cartoonist Dame Darcy writes about her membership in the band in the late 1980s/early 1990s. [7]

Band name

The Caroliner band name changes from album to album, and tour to tour. For instance, the band's name on their 1990 album I'm Armed With Quarts of Blood is Caroliner Rainbow Stewed Angel Skins, whereas on 1995's Sell Heal Holler the band is called Caroliner Rainbow Customary Relaxation Of The Shale. The reason for this is unknown but could be connected to personnel changes within the band.

When referring to the band as a whole, the Caroliner name stands alone (rather than the oft-used 'Caroliner Rainbow').

Press

Jamie Rake, in Sound Choice, described Caroliner's music as follows:

"Caroliner is the sound of atrophy, the noise of salvation and damnation's collision in a parallel dimension to purgatory, the random rumbling of the bowels of the universe turned inside out to become a semblance of music complete with lyrical vantage points so convolutedly arcane to make comprehending them impossible, save for the few gnostically inclined aspirants bent in similar psychic permutations." [8]

Alex Ross of The New Yorker noted:

"On top of the visual extravagance, Caroliner has somehow forged an original musical style. The songs typically fuse together a grinding, relentless bass line, country-ish banjo strummings, spastic vocals ranging across several octaves, a wheezing organ drone, and screeching violin tremolos. Despite the splintered aesthetic, a lumbering grandeur gathers ...... Space does not permit a description of the lyrics, which purport to interpret the prophecies of a 19th-century Wisconsin cow." [9]

In May, 2011, the band received notice on the Fox network cable program "Red Eye," where the host, Greg Gutfeld, lauded the group's work (between 9 and 13 minutes into the clip cited), calling it "brilliant" and "violently obscure." [10]

Carlo McCormick in Reflex issue 3 said his copy of "Hernia Milkqueen 'The Rear End Hernia Puppet Show'" came with a "ripped poster for the band's show at the Kennel Club; a dingy piece of Christmas wrapping; a Maxwell video cassette record-the-action sticker that presumes the 49'ers make it to the '88 Superbowl (which they never did); some painterly gesture on paper that must've been art; a hideous thrift-shop bracelet; a few xerox pages of obscure press clippings and cryptic, hallucinatory stream-of-coniuosness interviews; a half dozen pages torn out of a book called "The Strange Ways of God"; pages 342 and 348 from an anonymous porn novel; more art, bits of stained tissue; and a lyrics page almost as ill as it is illegible." McCormick says "...if dead cockroaches could rock, Caroliner Rainbow is what they'd sound like."

Discography

To date the band has released 13 full-length albums. Their first two albums were released and/or distributed by Subterranean Records. The following five albums were released by Nuf Sed. Since 1995, all of Caroliner's albums have been self-released by BullsHit. Caroliner's music has also appeared on various 7" singles, EPs, split releases, and compilations.

Caroliner's album covers are assembled by hand. Drawings and calligraphy are screen-printed or photocopied onto various materials, which are then glued onto a makeshift record sleeve. Sleeve materials vary (two copies of the same record will seldom be identical), and have included fabric, diaper disposal bags, old record sleeves (spray-painted beyond recognition) and pizza boxes.

Studio albums

7" Singles

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow (rock band)</span> British rock band

Rainbow are a British/American rock band formed in London and Los Angeles in 1975 by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. Established in the aftermath of Blackmore's first departure from Deep Purple, they originally featured four members of the band Elf, including their singer Ronnie James Dio, but after their self-titled debut album, Blackmore fired these members, except Dio, recruiting drummer Cozy Powell, bassist Jimmy Bain and keyboardist Tony Carey. This line-up recorded the band's second album Rising (1976), while Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978) saw Bob Daisley and David Stone replace Bain and Carey, respectively. Long Live Rock 'n' Roll was also the last album with Dio before he left the band to join Black Sabbath in 1979.

The Field Mice were an English indie pop band on the independent record label Sarah Records. They had top 20 success in both the singles and albums UK Independent Charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dame Darcy</span> Cartoonist

Darcy Megan Stanger, better known by the pen name Dame Darcy, is an alternative cartoonist, fine artist, musician, cabaret performer, and animator/filmmaker. Her "Neo-Victorian" comic book series Meat Cake was published by Fantagraphics Books from 1993 to 2008. The Meat Cake Bible compilation was released in June 2016 and nominated for The Eisner Award July 2017. Vegan Love: Dating and Partnering for the Cruelty-Free Gal, with Fashion, Makeup & Wedding Tips, written by Maya Gottfried and illustrated by Dame Darcy, was the Silver Medalist winners of the Independent Publisher Book Awards in 2018.

Cock E.S.P. is a band based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The group draws on the most extreme, subversive and absurdist elements of both popular and experimental twentieth century music and performance art, creating abstract high-energy entertainment. Influences include noise music, punk rock, improvised free-jazz, Japanoise, industrial hardcore, glam metal and electronica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Okkervil River</span> American rock band

Okkervil River is an American rock band led by singer-songwriter Will Sheff. Formed in Austin, Texas, in 1998, the band takes its name from a short story by Russian author Tatyana Tolstaya set on the river Okkervil in Saint Petersburg. They began as a trio made up of Sheff and friends he had met in his native state of New Hampshire but, over time, have gone through many lineups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thinking Fellers Union Local 282</span> American experimental indie rock group

Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 were an American indie rock band, which was formed in 1986 in San Francisco, California though half of its members are from Iowa. Their albums combine lo-fi noise rock and ambient sounds with tightly constructed rock and pop songs. There is a small but fiercely devoted cult following for the band.

Hazel was an American alternative rock band based in Portland, Oregon. The band was a quartet, consisting of Jody Bleyle, Pete Krebs, Brady Smith (bass), and Fred Nemo (dancer). It lasted from 1992 to 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Manning</span> American musician

Barbara Manning is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist whose albums blend elements of rock, folk, pop and proto-punk. She is also known for her cover versions of often obscure pop songs. In addition to an acclaimed solo career, Manning has been active in a number of bands, including 28th Day, World of Pooh, SF Seals, and The Go-Luckys!.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rubella Ballet</span> English gothic anarcho-punk band

Rubella Ballet are an English gothic anarcho-punk band formed in 1979, who released several albums before splitting up in 1991. They reformed in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gregg Turkington</span> American comedian

Gregg Turkington is an American entertainer, actor, musician and writer. He is known for his performances as Neil Hamburger, a stand-up comedian persona he developed in the 1990s. Alongside Tim Heidecker, Turkington also stars as a fictionalized version of himself on the comedic web series On Cinema (2011–). In addition, he formed one-half of the band Zip Code Rapists and has collaborated on numerous projects with musicians including Trey Spruance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Split Lip Rayfield</span>

Split Lip Rayfield is an American vocal and acoustic instrumental group from Wichita, Kansas, United States. Though they are sometimes classified as a bluegrass, alternative country, or cowpunk band, their music draws on a wide array of influences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culturcide</span> American punk band

Culturcide was an American, Houston-based experimental punk band, active from 1980 to 1990 and from 1993 to the present day. They were notorious for their 1986 album Tacky Souvenirs of Pre-Revolutionary America, which earned the band a cult following, but also several legal threats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tarnation (band)</span> American band

Tarnation is an American alternative country band formed by Paula Frazer in late 1992, primarily recording on the 4AD label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boys and Girls (The Human League song)</span> 1981 single by The Human League

"Boys and Girls" is a song by the British synthpop group The Human League. It was released as a stand-alone single in the UK in February 1981 and peaked at number 48 in the UK Singles Charts. It was written by lead singer Philip Oakey and the band's visual director / keyboard player Philip Adrian Wright.

Joseph Calvin "Butch" Robins is an American five-string–banjo player with his own, distinct style. He's an individualist and, according to himself, "a seeker of information, knowledge and wisdom."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Titus Andronicus (band)</span> American punk/indie rock band

Titus Andronicus is an American indie rock band formed in Glen Rock, New Jersey, in 2005. The band is composed of singer-lyricist-guitarist Patrick Stickles, guitarist Liam Betson, bassist R.J. Gordon, and drummer Chris Wilson. The group takes its name from the Shakespeare play Titus Andronicus, and has cited musical and stylistic influences such as Neutral Milk Hotel and Pulp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lovely Eggs</span> British band

The Lovely Eggs are a two-piece lo-fi psychedelic punk rock band from Lancaster, England. They consist of married couple Holly Ross and David Blackwell. Ross was formerly the lead singer and guitarist in the all-female band Angelica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Husband (music project)</span> Musical artist

James Husband is the recording project of James Huggins III, Montreal's multi-instrumentalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gibson Brothers (bluegrass duo)</span> American singer-songwriter

The Gibson Brothers is an American bluegrass band which has performed professionally since the late 1980s.

Strapps was a British hard rock group formed in 1975. The band was popular for the straightforward rock songs and for the raunchy visual image created by photographer Mick Rock. Strapps toured with Deep Purple and Ian Gillan Band, and have recorded four albums.

References

  1. Simonini, Ross. "Singing bulls and Day-Glo tapestry: The spectacle of Caroliner Rainbow". SF Weekly. Retrieved Aug 10, 2011.
  2. Staff, SF Weekly (July 24, 2008). "Last Night: Caroliner Rainbow". SFWeekly. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  3. Weddingforke, Cottypearile. "The tour was in Europe 1803 (some of the missives)". MySpace. Retrieved Oct 9, 2011.
  4. Higashiseto, Satoru. "Augen/Horen Catalog" . Retrieved Oct 9, 2011.
  5. Weddingforke, Cottypearile. "Caroliner on tour in the United States". Yahoo Groups. Archived from the original on January 5, 2013. Retrieved Oct 9, 2011.
  6. Identity Theory: Random Truths About Caroliner
  7. Dame Darcy, Hi Jax & Hi Jinx (Feral House, 2018), pp. 99-107.
  8. "Jaime Rake: Record Review". Archived from the original on 2006-12-13. Retrieved 2006-11-28.
  9. Alex Ross: The Rest Is Noise Archived November 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  10. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : Red Eye: Modern Day Bulls Have It Easy. YouTube .