History
Ken Topham and Joseph Andreoli both grew up in Western Massachusetts and met at Keene State college in 2001. Topham studied Music Composition and Music History and Andreoli studied English. They met through mutual friends and connections in Keene's music scene. Some of their first practices and brain storming sessions were held in Topham's studio apartment on Court Street in Keene. Their first show together was at the Owl's Nest Cafe at Keene State College under the name "A Heart Breaking Work of Staggering Genius" taken from a Dave Eggers book.
In 2004, the pair moved to Santa Cruz, California. Shortly after arriving on the west coast Topham and Andreoli committed to working together under the name Giraffes? Giraffes!, also taken from an Eggers book. [1]
The group's first album SUPERBASS!!!! (Black Death Greatest Hits Vol. 1) (2005) was recorded in a warehouse in Santa Cruz, California and was recorded mostly live, as with the rest of the band's output. "We try to record as much as possible live with minimal overdubs," says Topham. "But for the sake of time and frustration, we do some overdubs." Andreoli added "especially with looping. In a recording situation where you’re working with loops one little fuck up a loop 8 minutes in on a ten minute piece it’s just devastating," concluding that the band tries to only record material that they can play live. [1] the two-headed giraffe design from the album cover has become the band's de facto logo.
After the release of SUPERBASS!!!!, the duo began playing regularly in venues in Santa Cruz, San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland. They began writing their second studio album and in 2007, More Skin With Milk-Mouth was recorded in Topham's apartment in Santa Cruz. [1] This album is often seen as quintessential to the more experimental parts of the math rock genre. The following year, they successfully booked and played their first west coast tour, and a few months later, toured much of the east coast.
In 2009, the duo returned to New England and recorded Pink Magick in 2011. In 2013 they recorded a split EP 10-inch with Goddard. In February 2015 the band released a 7-inch titled Spazz Master.
The band released their 4th studio album: Memory Lame, on April 27, 2018. This album features one of the band's most popular tracks, "At the Turf Field Behind My Parents' House", an adapted version of a song from Andreoli's solo work.
In 2020, the band released The Rite Of Summer, a single-song EP featuring a 15-minute track of the same name.
In 2022, the band released Death Breath. Unlike most other G?G! releases, vocals are included throughout the album. After the album's release, the band had a short 10-day tour across the east coast and mid-west, their first tour and first shows outside of the New England area since 2018.
Outside of the band, Topham and Andreoli have intermittently worked on other various projects. Both have released work as solo acts as well as in other groups. Topham also spends time composing for other ventures, such as ensembles and film scores. Inspired by the nature of their music under the Giraffes? Giraffes! name, they focus on experimentation and unique instrumentations.
