Critters Buggin | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Seattle, Washington, USA |
Genres | Rock, jazz, funk, punk, ambient, electronic |
Years active | 1993–present |
Labels | Ropeadope Records |
Members | Matt Chamberlain Skerik Mike Dillon |
Past members | John Bush Brad Houser |
Website | Crittersbuggin.com |
Critters Buggin is a Seattle, Washington-based instrumental group which performs in a jazz, rock and African-influenced, eclectic style. The band is composed of Matt Chamberlain (drums, percussion, piano, programming, synths, loops, samples and digital editing), Skerik (saxophones, keyboards, loops, samples, effects and guitar), Brad Houser (bass, baritone saxophone, bass clarinet and electronics) and Mike Dillon (vibraphone and percussion).
Critters Buggin defies categorization because of their diverse musical styles. [1] Reviews tend to describe their music as a combination of jazz, rock, funk and electronica. [2] [3] [4] When asked to describe their music in 1994 Chamberlain stated that it is "jazzy, funky, rocky.... it has African rhythms, too." Houser stated it is "African, industrial, tribal music." [5]
While also reviewed in terms such as unique and adventurous, [6] a 2008 review in The Seattle Times described them with such diverse terms as unorthodox, unhinged, tribal, unpredictable, mesmerizing, loud, abrasive, dissonant and ultimately satisfying. [7]
The group began with Matt Chamberlain and Skerik who were later joined by Brad Houser, thus forming a trio in early 1993. John Bush joined soon afterward, and the group gave their first live performance using the "Critters Buggin" name in May 1993 at the Seattle club The Colourbox. [5] Chamberlain, Houser and Bush were all from the then-disbanded Edie Brickell & New Bohemians. Skerik came from another Seattle group, Sadhappy. Their live success was followed by the release of their first album which was produced by Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam on his then new label Loosegroove. The original Critters Buggin trio continued with several guest musicians, including Mike Dillon. Chamberlain and Dillon had both played in the locally popular Dallas, Texas band Ten Hands in the 1980s. All except Skerik were part of the Deep Ellum, Dallas, Texas scene through the early 1990s. By 1998 Dillon had joined Critters Buggin as a fourth member, [8] thus forming the current line-up as of a July 2008 tour. [7]
In 2007 Critters Buggin released the DVD, Get the Clackervalve and the Old Clobberd Biscuits Out and Smack the Grand Ham Clapper's Mother. It is a live set filmed and recorded during the Warsaw Summer Jazz Days 1999 performed in The Palace of Culture and Science of Warsaw, Poland.
In 2006 Skerik, Dillon and Houser toured as Critters Buggin Trio. [9] [10] In the 2007 the trio toured as The Dead Kenny G's and were reviewed as uniquely "combining jazz, rock, punk, funk and world music." [11] In October 2009 they released a debut CD Bewildered Herd. [12] [13] The trio toured with Primus in 2010 [14] [15] and released the CD Operation Long Leash in 2011. [16] [17]
Guest, Host, Monkeypot Merganzer and Bumpa were reissued by Kufala Recordings in 2004.
(Live 6/26/99 Warsaw Summer Jazz Days)
Leslie Edward Claypool is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, filmmaker, and author. He is best known as the founder, lead singer, bassist, and primary songwriter of the band Primus since its formation in 1984. Frequently considered to be one of the greatest bassists of all time, his playing style is well known for mixing tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends, and slapping.
Stone Carpenter Gossard is an American musician who serves as a guitarist and co-lyricist for the rock band Pearl Jam. Along with Jeff Ament, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of the band.
Wayne Horvitz is an American composer, keyboardist and record producer. He came to prominence in the Downtown scene of 1980s and '90s New York City, where he met his future wife, the singer, songwriter and pianist Robin Holcomb. He is noted for working with John Zorn's Naked City among others. Horvitz has since relocated to the Seattle, Washington area where he has several ongoing groups and has worked as an adjunct professor of composition at Cornish College of the Arts.
Bobby Previte is a drummer, composer, and bandleader. He earned a degree in economics from the University at Buffalo, where he also studied percussion. He moved to New York City in 1979 and began professional relationships with John Zorn, Wayne Horvitz, and Elliott Sharp.
Matthew Chamberlain is an American session musician, drummer, producer and songwriter. He has played with various artists, including Pearl Jam, David Bowie, Tori Amos, The Wallflowers, Elton John, Lisa Marie Presley, Brandi Carlile, Garbage, and Macy Gray.
Skerik is an American saxophonist from Seattle, Washington. Performing on the tenor and baritone saxophone, often with electronics and loops, he is a pioneer in a playing style that has been called saxophonics.
Of Whales And Woe is the first solo album by Les Claypool, the bassist and vocalist of Primus. The album was released on May 30, 2006. The album features Skerik, Mike Dillon, and Gabby La La (multi-instrumentalist). "Back off Turkey" also features Les' children, Cage and Lena. The track "Iowan Gal" is a love song for his wife, Chaney Claypool.
Mike Dillon is an American percussionist, vibraphonist, bandleader, and vocalist born in San Antonio, Texas. He is a member of Critters Buggin, Les Claypool's Fancy Band and Garage A Trois. He has performed with many musicians including Ani DiFranco, Galactic, Brave Combo, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Marco Benevento, Claude Coleman Jr., and New Orleans musicians Kevin O'Day, Johnny Vidacovich and James Singleton.
John Bradley Houser was an American bass guitar, baritone saxophone and bass clarinet player, originally from Dallas, Texas. He was a co-founding member of the New Bohemians, later to become known as Edie Brickell & New Bohemians. He also co-founded Critters Buggin with fellow New Bohemian Matt Chamberlain, Mike Dillon, and Skerik.
Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet is a jazz ensemble formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2002 and led by saxophonist Eric "Skerik" Walton.
III is Stanton Moore's third studio solo album released 2006. As each of Moore's solo albums have had unique character, III features keyboardist Robert Walter and guitarist Will Bernard for a 1970s-like soul funk with a "sense of authenticity" as "artists who live it."
Solarallergy is a jazz and rock instrumental album by Black Frames. Black Frames is a collaborative project by Skerik, Mike Dillon, Earl Harvin and Brad Houser from 2002. The album was accompanied by a national tour. Between the musicians are long-time associations: Dillon and Harvin from Ten Hands and Billy Goat; Skerik, Houser and Dillon from Critters Buggin. Though Dillon and Harvin are primarily percussionists, for Solarallergy all members are credited for percussion. Each musician is also credited for composition.
Stampede is a studio album by Critters Buggin of Seattle, Washington recorded and released in 2004. Although categorized as jazz, funk and rock reviews of Stampede mostly noted it as unique and boundary defying. Reviews also described it as similar to the electronic period of Miles Davis. Dave Segal of The Stranger stated the album "take(s) rewarding detours down psychedelic jazz corridors and non-kitsch exotica parlours."
Amoeba is a studio album by electronic band Critters Buggin, released on October 19, 1999 on Loose Groove.
Monkeypot Merganzer is the third studio album by Critters Buggin of Seattle, Washington and was released in 1997. Originally released independently, Monkeypot Merganzer was reissued by Kufala Recordings in 2004.
Host is the second studio album by Critters Buggin of Seattle, Washington and was released in 1997. It was recorded December 18–20 at Bad Animals and December 21–23 live at OK Hotel 1995. Originally released by Loosegroove, Host was reissued by Kufala Recordings in 2004.
Guest is the first studio album by the rock band Critters Buggin. It was released in 1994 through Stone Gossard's then new label Loosegroove. The album was reissued by Kufala Recordings in 2004.
Chris Combs is a composer, arranger, steel guitarist, and producer from Tulsa, Oklahoma. He has been a part of the jazz group Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey since 2008 and has joined contemporary artists like George Porter Jr, Matt Chamberlain, Jeff Coffin, Steven Bernstein, Skerik, Johnny Vidacovich, and Mike Dillon on stage and in the studio. Combs released a self-titled solo album in Oct 2017 debuting a new project called COMBSY.
Randall Dunn is an American record producer, audio engineer, composer, and musician.
Royal Potato Family is an American independent record label based in Brooklyn, New York. The label's roster includes Marco Benevento, Seth Walker, American Babies, Robert Walter, Holly Bowling, Lukas Nelson, Neal Casal, Mike Dillon, Allison Miller, Superhuman Happiness, and Nolatet. The label was founded in early 2009 by Kevin Calabro and Marco Benevento.