External links
- Transistor Sound & Lighting Co. on Myspace
- Transistor Sound & Lighting Co. Official Webpage - Official website of the band, now defunct.
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Transistor Sound & Lighting Co. | |
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| Also known as | Transister Flux; The Transister Family; Transister Sound & Lights Co,…, [1] Transister Deli [2] Transister, Transister Sound & Lighting Co. [3] |
| Origin | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Genres | Indie rock, pop |
| Years active | 1995–2000 |
| Labels | ViK. Recordings |
| Members | Jason Churko Marty Kinack Dino D'Ottavio |
| Past members | Marcia Fifer, Mark Sawatzky, Michael Marshall, [4] [5] [6] |
Transistor Sound & Lighting Co. was an indie rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The group was active from 1995 to 2000. [7] Throughout the band's lifespan, they went under different names, such as: Transister Flux, The Transister Family, Transister Deli, Transister, & Transister Sound & Lighting Co. [3]
The band formed in 1995, [7] and self-released a 3-song cassette recording that year, The Transister Flux [8] and performed local shows. The band distributed a 5-song cassette EP in 1996, called Transistor Sounds. [9] They were signed to the Canadian arm of Sony Records, ViK. Recordings, and released a 5-song CD EP, called Transister Sound & Lighting Co., of early mixes in November 1996, [10] [11] a 7" vinyl single called Transister Sound & Lighting Co., featuring a different 4-track version of "Prince Vince", and two non-LP tracks, in 1996. [12] Their debut, eponymous LP, was due to be released in 1997, [11] but wasn't released until April 1998 [13] The band released two music videos for the album, "Anyways/Mayonnaise", [14] and "Prince Vince". [15] "Anyways/Mayonnaise" was also released as a promotional-only CD single. [16]
The band toured throughout Canada performing at festivals such as NXNE, [17] SXSW [18] and Halifax On Music in 1996 [19] Canadian Music Week both in 1997, [20] and 1998 [21] & and opening for many different bands and artists, such as Hayden, [22] Beth Orten, [23] By Divine Right, [24] [25] The Weakerthans, [24] Duotang [24] Treble Charger, [26] Cracker [24] Swervedriver, [27] and Sianspheric. [28]
The band received a 1998 Juno Nomination for Best Alternative album. [29] The band and their single, “Anyways/Mayonnaise” were nominated for Best New Group in the 1999 Canadian Radio Music Awards. [30]
During live performances in 1998, the band performed two songs that weren’t released on their self-titled record, but were recorded during the album sessions; “Gone Mind”, [31] and “Evil Song” [31] They were hired by Emm Gryner in October 1997, [32] to record a single version of her songs "Summerlong"/“Phonecall 45" from her major label debut Public , for a special 7” promotional-only release. [33] “Summerlong” was later released on Gryner’s 2000 release, Dead Relatives. [34] In July 1999, Churko began working at Winnipeg’s local record store, Music Trader / Into The Music. [35] At Canadian Music Week 2000, members of the band backed Emm Gryner for her performance at The Horseshoe Tavern, in Toronto. [36] [37] [38] In the course of record label reorganization, they left the label.
In December 2023, Innerservice Records in Winnipeg, released a tribute album to Transistor Sound & Lighting Co.’s eponymous sole LP, featuring many local Winnipeg bands’ takes on the songs, called A Tribute to Transistor Sound & Lighting Co., for the albums twenty-fifth anniversary. [39]
During a July 2024 appearance on the Meowing Into the Abyss Podcast, Jay & Dino discussed that there are many different outtakes of songs to what was eventually released on the Transistor Sound & Lighting Co. album. [40] They stated that there are about 21 different alternate versions of “Prince Vince" that the band recorded. [41] An unreleased acoustic version of “Sasparilla”, with tambourine, also exists and is circulating amongst fans. [42] “Three Chords” had a couple different versions recorded, notably one as a full band which featured drums. [43] A version of “Crayola” exists without keyboards, and there may be alternate, different mixes of the song. [44]
During the podcast, Jay & Dino also discussed that there were about nine or ten unreleased songs, recorded for a potential second album, that were 90% completed, including mixing. [45] One of those tracks slated for the 2nd LP, was "Gone Mind". "Gone Mind" was recorded, in 1995, in two different versions. A fast version of the song was released on The Transister Flux cassette, in 1995. [8] The song was performed live by the band in August 1998, [31] A slow, bass & guitar-only version of "Gone Mind" is circulating amongst collectors. [46] Another song slated for a second LP was "Freedom Park". A studio recording exists for this song. This song was also performed live in October 1998, by the band. [23] Another unreleased song, "Evil Song" was also performed live in August 1998. [31] It is unknown if a studio version of this song exists or was recorded.
Within the interview, the band noted that they own 50% of their song publishing. The band sold their masters to the record label. [47]
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