Half Visconte

Last updated
Half Visconte
Origin Phoenix, Arizona; Tempe, Arizona
Genres Indie rock
Years active1998-2000
LabelsThis Argonaut Records,
Sunset Alliance
Past members
  • Scott Tennent
  • Ben Taylor
  • Rich Minardi
  • Dan Sylvester
  • Mike Wright

Half Visconte was an indie rock band from Tempe, Arizona, fronted by Scott Tennent and Rich Minardi. Tennent was owner and operator of the now-defunct label, This Argonaut Records, and the former manager of the Phoenix indie/art rock-music venue Modified Arts. At that time Mike Wright, original drummer, also owned The Argo which was a warehouse venue designed to support touring bands by the collection of donations and support of volunteer work offered by the local underground music community.

Contents

History

In the late 1990s, singer/guitarist Scott Tennent ran the Phoenix art and music space, Modified Arts. [1] There, he was known to sometimes step in and play solo sets to fill in empty slots during any given show. [1] His musical gifts would also lead him to work with other local artists to create Half Visconte, which Hayden Blades at SLAM Magazine would call an "underrated band [that] was a unique addition to the shortage of truly alternative sounds in the industry in the late 90s and early 2000s." [1]

During its short-lived existence, Half Visconte would release two records on Tennent's own This Argonaut Records before deciding to call it quits when members of the band decided to relocate to Chicago and New York, [2] and the rest of the band did not wish to continue without them. [3] When making their "break-up" announcement, the band also announced that they were finally going to release their debut LP when they were finished with their farewell tour. [3] While this was certainly unorthodox, the band continued with its plan, touring through Texas, the Midwest, Chicago, the West Coast, and then finished with a final performance in Phoenix. [3]

Upon finishing its tour in July 2000, Half Visconte holed itself up for three days in Phoenix's Livinghead Studios to produce its last, and quite possibly its best, recording: Was it Fear. [2] Released on Sunset Alliance almost two years after the band's break-up, Adequacy.net would call the album "a wonder," [2] Jeff Petermen at Action Attack Helicopters Magazine called it a disc "packed full of rock and roll and indie goodness," [4] and before giving the album a score of 90%, Matt Shimmer at Indieville.com would simply state that "Was It Fear? is an amazing record." [5]

Discography

Albums

Release dateTitleLabelNotes
1999Self-titled EPThis Argonaut Records,
Sunset Alliance 		Produced by Clay Holley and Mike Hissong at Living Head Studios.
2000Death of Marat/Half Visconte SplitThis Argonaut RecordsSplit 7-inch EP.
2002 Was It Fear Sunset Alliance Produced by Mike Hissong at Living Head Studios. This record was released "post-humously." [6]

Compilations

Song: Blue-Eyed Baldwin
Various previously released songs

Related Research Articles

Fine China is an American indie rock band from Phoenix, Arizona, comprising Rob Withem, Greg Markov and Thom Walsh (drums).

Seven Storey Mountain was an American rock group from Phoenix, Arizona. The group's music was heavily influenced by the early Washington, D.C. post-hardcore scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry and the Potters</span> Harry Potter fandom rock band

Harry and the Potters are an American rock band known for spawning the genre of wizard rock. Founded in Norwood, Massachusetts, in 2002, the group is primarily composed of brothers Joe and Paul DeGeorge, both of whom perform under the persona of the title character from the Harry Potter book series. Harry and the Potters are known for their elaborate live performances, and have developed a cult following within the Harry Potter fandom.

Fivespeed was an American rock band, formed in Peoria, Arizona, United States, in 1997, and later based in Phoenix, Arizona. While in the beginning, Fivespeed's style was greatly influenced by the punk and hard-core movements, its later efforts could be described as a mixture of nu metal and mainstream rock.

Sunset Alliance Records is an independent record label based in Mesa, Arizona. It is owned and operated by David Jensen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Before Braille</span> Musical artist

Before Braille is an independent rock band from Mesa, Arizona known for its DIY work ethic and as a pioneer of Arizona's emo-core movement, or as they liked to call it, "480-area-core," during the early 2000s.

<i>The Rumor</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Before Braille

The Rumor is the first studio album recorded by indie rock band Before Braille. It was originally released on September 10, 2002 by Aezra Records and distributed by BMG. Ownership of the album has since passed to Sunset Alliance Records.

<i>Cattle Punching on a Jack Rabbit</i> 2004 EP by Before Braille

Cattle Punching on a Jack Rabbit is Before Braille's third studio recording and was released as a limited release Extended Play in 2004 by Sunset Alliance Records.

<i>Keep Moving</i> (Novi Split album) 2004 studio album by Novi Split

Keep Moving is the first studio album recorded by the indie-folk act Novi Split. It was released on January 1, 2003 by Sunset Alliance Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajiv Patel</span> Musical artist

Rajiv Patel is a musician and virtuoso solo-guitarist from Mesa, Arizona.

<i>Obey the Cattle</i> 2003 EP by Rajiv Patel

Obey the Cattle! is the first solo-recording released by guitarist Rajiv Patel. This EP was released by Sunset Alliance in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Letterpress</span> American rock band

The Letterpress was a rock band from Mesa, Arizona, most widely known for its lack of guitars, as the band originally only consisted of two basses and a drum set.

<i>Input/Output</i> (EP) 2003 EP by The Letterpress

Input/Output is an EP by the band The Letterpress that was released in 2003 by Sunset Alliance.

Tickertape Parade was a band from Arizona that gained quick success on the indie scene.

The Necronauts is a band originally from Mesa, Arizona. It has been active for well over ten years and maintains a place in the Arizona punk rock scene, and has now started to find a place nationwide.

<i>Was It Fear</i> 2002 studio album by Half Visconte

Was it Fear is the debut full-length album of indie rock band Half Visconte. It is also the band's final recording and was released almost two years after the band broke up.

<i>Not One Light Red: A Modified Document</i> 2000 studio album by Various Artists

Not One Light Red: A Modified Document is a compilation album created by Scott Tennent and David Jensen to serve 3 essential missions. Its first mission was to create a record that would showcase and introduce local Phoenix bands to the rest of the United States. Second, it was supposed to serve to help promote the local Phoenix music and art venue, The Modified. Finally, it was to serve as a springboard for a national independent record label based in the Phoenix area along the same lines as Kill Rock Stars in Olympia, Washington and Dischord Records in Washington, D.C.

Stereotyperider is an American post-hardcore/punk band from Phoenix, Arizona, United States.

<i>Faux Light</i> 2012 studio album by Loyal Wife

Faux Light is the first studio album recorded by the indie rock band Loyal Wife. It was released on April 3, 2012 by Sunset Alliance Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Fantastical</span> American rock musician

Mr. Fantastical, a.k.a. Harvey B. Fantastical, is the alter-ego of Jason Corman, former guitar player for Arizona rock band Jesus Chrysler Supercar, butcher, and solo-artist.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.