Polkadot Cadaver

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Polkadot Cadaver
Polkadot Cadaver Live 2012.jpg
Polkadot Cadaver live in 2012
Background information
Origin Rockville, Maryland, U.S.
Genres Avant-garde metal, experimental rock, alternative metal
Years active2007 (2007)–present
LabelsRotten
Razor to Wrist
Members Todd Smith
Jasan Stepp
Brian White
John Ensminger
Alex Crowley
Past membersMike Oliver
David Cullen
Scott Radway
Mike Smirnoff

Polkadot Cadaver is an American band formed by members of the Rockville, Maryland, rock band Dog Fashion Disco. [1] The band is stylistically similar to Dog Fashion Disco and inherited many of their fans. [2] [3]

Contents

History

Inception and Purgatory Dance Party

Polkadot Cadaver formed shortly after the breakup of Dog Fashion Disco in 2007. Their debut album, Purgatory Dance Party , was released via internet pre-sales on November 17, 2007, with a street date of November 27, 2007. Two Polkadot Cadaver demos were featured on the Dog Fashion Disco rarities album, Beating a Dead Horse to Death... Again in 2008. [4] During the tours for Purgatory Dance Party, Dave Cullen was brought on as the band's full-time bassist, and in 2010, Scott Radway became the full-time live drummer.

Sex Offender and subsequent tours

On May 5, 2011, Polkadot Cadaver debuted at No. 17 on the Billboard New Artist Chart (aka Heatseeker's Chart) with their second album Sex Offender . [5] This album was the first to include bassist David Cullen (also of Knives Out!), though Ensminger still played drums on the album. In support of the album, they toured with Wednesday 13, Vampires Everywhere! and Korpiklaani. In January 2012 they toured as main support for Wayne Static, [6] and in April began the Fight to Unite Tour in support of Brokencyde and Blood on the Dance Floor with other supporting acts including Deuce, William Control, and The Bunny The Bear. [7] [8]

Last Call in Jonestown and Christmas EP

On July 17, 2012, the band uploaded a picture to their official Facebook page, announcing a new album to be released in 2013 and that fellow Maryland-based rock band Clutch's lead singer Neil Fallon is to appear on a track titled "Transistors of Mercy". Additionally, drummer Scott Radway is present in the picture as a full-time member of the band (he had toured with the band since 2010). The band announced in December that the album would be released in April 2013 and a tour will follow. In early January 2013 it was revealed through the band's Facebook that the new album would be called Last Call in Jonestown and was scheduled for release on May 7. [9] [10] However, the release date ended up being pushed back to May 14. On March 23, the band began the "Our Tour can Beat up your Tour Tour" supporting Psychostick alongside Downtown Brown. [10]

Dave Cullen quit the band before the album was completed, contributing on only two songs. Former Dog Fashion Disco bassist Brian White replaced Dave Cullen for the tour and has stuck with the band since. In support of the album, the band began their "Last Call in Jonestown 2013 Tour" on June 14, supported by One-Eyed Doll and Exotic Animal Petting Zoo. [11] It is the first tour the band has headlined in over two years. [12]

The band began recording a Christmas EP in early September 2013, titled From Bethlehem to Oblivion. The artwork was released on September 5, and pre-orders began October 31. In addition, Last Call in Jonestown has been released on colored vinyl in a limited run of 500 copies.

In April 2014, Scott Radway left the band. Former DFD drummer Mike Oliver joined the band in his place, but since leaving DFD in August 2015, he has had no contact with vocalist Todd Smith, indicating that he is no longer a member of Polkadot Cadaver as well. Former drummer John Ensminger is set to drum on the next Polkadot Cadaver album.

Get Possessed

The band released their fourth album, Get Possessed, on November 17, 2017. The record release party for the album was held at The Agora in Cleveland on November 4, 2017.

Purgatory Dance Party

The 2007 debut album Purgatory Dance Party was re-recorded in 2020 and released by Razor To Wrist. The band didn't own the recordings of the original album and the record company doing that wasn't interested in making a new release. The group's other band Dog Fashion Disco did a similar thing with their albums Anarchists of Good Taste and Committed to a Bright Future

Echoes Across The Hellscape

Echoes Across The Hellscape is the band's fifth album, released on December 8, 2023

Music videos

March 2008 saw the release of the band's first two videos, "Chloroform Girl" and "Pure Bedlam for Halfbreeds", which are available on the band's official MySpace page. Both videos were directed by Dan Edwards. A video has also been produced for "Bring Me the Head of Andy Warhol", which was available on YouTube. It has since been taken down. However was recently uploaded onto the YouTube Channel Kennison Swah so the music video for "Bring me the Head of Andy Warhol" is no longer "lost" it has been put back up on Youtube.

Members

Current

Former

Timeline

Polkadot Cadaver

Discography

YearAlbum DetailsChart Peaks [13]
Heatseeker
2007 Purgatory Dance Party
  • Released: November 27, 2007
  • Label: Rotten
-
2010Wolf in Jesus Skin/Horse's Head (split 7-inch w/ Ideamen)
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Rotten
-
2011 Sex Offender
  • Released: May 10, 2011
  • Label: Rotten
17
2013 Last Call in Jonestown
  • Released: May 14, 2013
  • Label: Razor to Wrist
38
2013 From Bethlehem to Oblivion EP
  • Released: December 10, 2013
  • Label: Razor to Wrist
-
2017Get Possessed [14]
  • Released: November 17, 2017
  • Label: Razor to Wrist
-
2020 Purgatory Dance Party
  • Released: July 10, 2020 [15]
  • Label: Razor to Wrist
  • Re-recording of the 2007 album
-
2023Echoes Across The Hellscape [16]
  • Released: December 8, 2023
  • Label: Razor to Wrist
-
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dog Fashion Disco</span> American metal band

Dog Fashion Disco is an American heavy metal band from Rockville, Maryland, that was originally active from 1995 to 2007 before disbanding. The band officially reunited in October 2013.

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

The Alter Boys is an American rock supergroup from Cleveland, Ohio. The band includes members of the bands Dog Fashion Disco, Polkadot Cadaver, Unified Culture, Mudfoot, Original Pranksta, Venomin James, and Mushroomhead. Also featured in the band was Ryan Dunn of the stunt show Jackass. They play in various musical styles and released their first album, The Exotic Sounds of the Alter Boys, in March 2005. They were signed to the Fractured Transmitter record label. However, in late February 2009, they were removed from the Fractured Transmitter site. Rotten Records re-released The Exotic Sounds of the Alter Boys in January 2009. Though they never broke up, Todd Smith has since stated that The Alter Boys are "dead".

<i>Adultery</i> (Dog Fashion Disco album) 2006 studio album by Dog Fashion Disco

Adultery is a concept album by Dog Fashion Disco, their sixth album, released in 2006, and last album to be released by the band before their dissolution in 2007. The album loosely follows the story of a private detective.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shitdisco</span> Scottish dance-punk band

Shitdisco were a dance-punk band from Glasgow, Scotland. They formed in 2003 while studying at the Glasgow School of Art, consisting of Joel Stone, Joe Reeves, Jan Lee and Darren Cullen (drums). The band's first single "Disco Blood"/"I Know Kung Fu" was released in December 2005. Signed to record label Fierce Panda, their debut album Kingdom of Fear was released on 16 April 2007.

<i>DFDVD</i> 2004 video by Dog Fashion Disco

DFDVD is the first DVD by Dog Fashion Disco released in July 2004. It includes two hours of footage following the band and their exploits on the road through various steps of their career, from early lineups to current. Also included are all their music videos, an entire live set shot in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a collection of bonus live videos and the making of the "Grease" video. It was out of print, very rare and costly to get a hold of for over seven years, but was re-released on the band's label Razor to Wrist Records in 2012. Creation of the "DFDVD" partially inspired the production of the documentary "Working Class Rock Star".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neil Fallon</span> American singer

Neil Fallon is an American musician, best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the rock band Clutch. He is also the lead singer for The Company Band and Dunsmuir, and joined The Bakerton Group on guitar starting with their El Rojo album.

Margret Heater was an American, Baltimore, Maryland, based alternative metal band from 1997 to 2003.

<i>Purgatory Dance Party</i> 2007 studio album by Polkadot Cadaver

Purgatory Dance Party is the debut album by Polkadot Cadaver released via internet pre-sales on November 17, 2007, with a street date of November 27, 2007. The cover art is a reference to the John Travolta film Saturday Night Fever. Dog Fashion Disco had earlier covered the theme tune to another Travolta film, Grease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Smith (musician)</span> American musician

Todd Edward Smith is an American vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist who most notably fronts the band Dog Fashion Disco. He is currently involved with the bands Polkadot Cadaver, Knives Out!, Beyond Paranoid, and his solo project El-Creepo!.

Knives Out! is an American alternative metal band consisting of members of Dog Fashion Disco, Hellyeah, Nothingface, and Polkadot Cadaver. Stylistically, they are heavier than front man Todd Smith and guitarist Jasan Stepp's other bands Dog Fashion Disco and Polkadot Cadaver.

<i>El-Creepo!</i> 2009 studio album by Todd Smith

El-Creepo! is the debut album by former Dog Fashion Disco and current Polkadot Cadaver as well as Knives Out! singer Todd Smith. Unlike his aforementioned bands, El-Creepo! is a more acoustic approach to songwriting. However, the title cut has been performed with Polkadot Cadaver since its release. The first four tracks were released through Myspace several months prior to the release of the album.

<i>Sex Offender</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Polkadot Cadaver

Sex Offender is the second album by Polkadot Cadaver released via Rotten Records on May 10, 2011. It charted at 17th place on the Billboard Heatseekers chart on May 28, 2011, and stayed there for one week. The album is also notable as the only Polkadot Cadaver album with bassist David Cullen as a full member and the last album with original DFD drummer John Ensminger.

John Ensminger may refer to:

<i>Aloha</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Todd Smith

Aloha is the second album by Todd Smith under the moniker El-Creepo! It was released on November 13, 2012.

<i>Last Call in Jonestown</i> 2013 studio album by Polkadot Cadaver

Last Call in Jonestown is the third studio album by Polkadot Cadaver, released on May 14, 2013.

Celebrity Sex Scandal is an avant-garde metal band from San Antonio, Texas. It was started in 2011 by ex-Dog Fashion Disco guitarist Greg Combs. After raising money through Kickstarter in late 2012, the band released their debut album in February 2013, entitled Derivative.

Ideamen is an art rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borealis (band)</span> Canadian power/progressive metal band

Borealis is a Canadian power/progressive metal band from Orangeville, Ontario. Their first album was recorded in light of a well received opening performance for Sonata Arctica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">From Bethlehem to Oblivion</span> 2013 EP by Polkadot Cadaver

From Bethlehem to Oblivion is the first EP and fourth release overall by Rockville, Maryland band Polkadot Cadaver.

<i>Sweet Nothings</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Dog Fashion Disco

Sweet Nothings is the seventh studio album by Dog Fashion Disco, released in 2014. Their first album in eight years, it was written and recorded after the band reunited in 2013, following an almost seven-year hiatus. It is the first album with Tim Swanson of Ideamen on keyboard. However, he played with the band on the 2006 tour in support for their previous album, Adultery. Todd Smith said about the new album: "It was a love letter to our fans who missed us and grew up listening to DFD".

References

  1. Rockitt, Rob (15 November 2007). "Polkadot Cadaver Schedules CD Release Performances!". Hardrockhideout.com. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  2. "Polkadot Cadaver | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace.com. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  3. Hobsonpublished, Rich (2022-01-25). "10 bands that wouldn't exist without Faith No More". loudersound. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  4. "Inside Pulse | MGF Reviews Dog Fashion Disco – Beating a Dead Horse to Death… Again". Machinegunfunk.com. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  5. Polkadot Cadaver - Sex Offender CD. "Rotten Records Store: Polkadot Cadaver - Sex Offender CD". Store.rottenrecords.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  6. "Razor to Wrist Records » PDot Tapped for Wayne Static tour". Razortowrist.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-27. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  7. "Razor to Wrist Records » Fight To Unite Tour". Razortowrist.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-04. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  8. "The Fight To Unite Tour". Facebook. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  9. "Omslagfoto's - Polkadot Cadaver". Facebook. 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  10. 1 2 "Razor to Wrist Records » The "Our Tour can Beat Up Your Tour" Tour!!!". Razortowrist.com. 2013-01-28. Archived from the original on 2013-07-28. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  11. "HEAVY BLOG PRESENTS: Polkadot Cadaver's The Last Call In Jonestown Tour Featuring One-Eyed Doll and Exotic Animal Petting Zoo!". Heavy Blog Is Heavy. 2013-05-06. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  12. "Razor to Wrist Records » Last Call in Jonestown Tour". Razortowrist.com. 2013-05-07. Archived from the original on 2013-12-18. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  13. "Polkadot Cadaver - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  14. "Polkadot Cadaver (Dog Fashion Disco) Streaming New Song "Robot Assisted Suicide"". theprp.com. October 11, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  15. "Purgatory Dance Party! on Bandcamp". July 10, 2020.
  16. "Echoes Across The Hellscape on Bandcamp". December 8, 2023.