Whirr

Last updated
Whirr
Whirr.jpg
Whirr in 2014
Background information
Also known asWhirl
Origin Modesto, California, United States
Genres
Years active2010 (2010)–present
Labels
Spinoffs
Members
  • Nick Bassett
  • Joseph Bautista
  • Loren Rivera
  • Eddie Salgado
  • Devin Nunes
Past members
Website freewhirlrecords.com

Whirr is a shoegaze band from Modesto, California. The group formed in 2010, originally as Whirl, but had to legally change its name after a woman performing acoustic covers of Black Sabbath songs trademarked the name and threatened a lawsuit. [1] Whirr's shoegaze sound is often compared to My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive. [1] [2] Founding guitarist Nick Bassett also played in the band Deafheaven surrounding and including the release of their 2011 album Roads to Judah . [1] [2]

Contents

History

Whirr self-released a demo cassette and the EP Distressor before signing to Tee Pee Records in 2011. The band released June that year, followed by their 2012 debut album, Pipe Dreams. The latter was met with a generally positive reception from music critics. [3] [4] [5]

Whirr released the Around EP on July 9, 2013, and toured to support it that August with the band Nothing. [6] [7] As a result of touring together, members of Nothing and Whirr formed a side project called Death of Lovers, [8] and Whirr and Nothing released a split EP. Bassett then joined Nothing on bass and toured with them. [9] Bassett also started a new indie pop project with former Whirr vocalist Alexandra Morte called Camera Shy, [10] while guitarist Joseph Bautista joined Best Coast as a touring member.

On September 23, 2014, Whirr released their second studio album, Sway, on Graveface Records. [11]

On October 25, 2019, Time Well Recordings announced that Whirr would be releasing their third studio album, Feels Like You. [12] Initially intended as a vinyl only release, the album was made available through the band's website as a limited pressing of 650 copies which sold out within the first day. Following this, the album was leaked online and the band opted to do an official digital release made available on Bandcamp. [13]

On February 14, 2023, Whirr announced the release of a live album – titled Live In Los Angeles. Orders of the album came with two new songs recorded in January 2023 at Earth Analog Studios Muta and Blue Sugar. [14]

Controversies

Whirr became notorious for being inflammatory toward its own fans on social media, an action that the band described in a 2014 interview as "weeding out the pussies". [15] [16] After Pitchfork writer Ian Cohen gave Bassett's other band Nothing a mixed review, the band wrote on Facebook, "Ian Cohen is still a retarded pussy and pitchfork still don't know what they're talking about". [17] A fan-created Tumblr page documented Whirr's instances of insulting its fans. When given an offer to apologize, Bassett refused and said that if Whirr alienated its entire fanbase, he would "be stoked that we didn't suck anyone's dick as a band and were just real dudes being real." [16]

On October 19, 2015, a series of derogatory remarks towards the Washington-based hardcore punk band G.L.O.S.S. were posted on Whirr's Twitter account, including one that read: "[G.L.O.S.S. is] just a bunch of boys running around in panties making shitty music". [18] The transphobic nature of these tweets resulted in a backlash on social media; Graveface, who released the band's Sway, and Run for Cover Records, who released three of their EPs, severed ties with the band. [15] Bassett admitted to posting the first tweet toward G.L.O.S.S. (which read: "Lol @ G.L.O.S.S." [18] ), in response to hearing a rumor that the band was only permitting certain types of people to attend their shows and buy their merchandise. [19] According to Bassett, the remaining tweets were posted by a friend of the band and did not reflect the views of band members. [19] Whirr posted a public apology to their Twitter account the following morning and claimed to have severed ties with the person responsible for the offensive tweets. [20]

In an interview with Bassett by Eli Enis of Chasing Sundays, he expressed remorse over the behavior the band used to have on their social media accounts as well as the G.L.O.S.S. incident, where he revealed that the person responsible for the offensive tweet was a close friend of the band who used to be in charge of their merchandising at live shows. Bassett also offered an apology and stated that him and the rest of members of Whirr are not transphobic. [21]

Band members

Current members

Former members

Former live/session musicians

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

EPs

Singles

Split releases

Compilation appearances

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Le Tigre</span> American electronic rock band

Le Tigre is an American electronic rock band formed by Kathleen Hanna, Johanna Fateman and Sadie Benning in 1998 in New York City. Benning left in 2000 and was replaced by JD Samson. They mixed punk's directness and politics with playful samples, eclectic pop, and lo-fi electronics. Like with many bands in and from the riot grrrl movement, many of the lyrics addressed feminist themes and ideas. The group also added multimedia and performance art elements to their live shows, which often featured support from like-minded acts such as the Need.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slowdive</span> British shoegaze band

Slowdive are an English rock band that formed in Reading, Berkshire, in 1989. The band consists of Rachel Goswell, Neil Halstead, Christian Savill (guitars), Nick Chaplin (bass), and Simon Scott, all of whom played on the band's debut studio album, Just for a Day (1991). Halstead is the band's primary songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asobi Seksu</span> American shoegaze/dream pop band

Asobi Seksu was an American shoegaze/dream pop band based in New York City. Their music used a textured and effects-heavy vocal and guitar sound. The band primarily consisted of Yuki Chikudate and James Hanna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beach House</span> American dream pop duo

Beach House is an American indie band formed in Baltimore in 2004 by current members Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally. Their work is characterized by a hypnotic dream pop style.

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

Tamaryn Sitha Brown is a New Zealand songwriter and singer based in Los Angeles. Since 2008, Tamaryn has released four studio albums, an EP and several singles. Her multifaceted style melds various genres such as dream pop, shoegaze, post-punk, gothic rock, synth-pop and electronic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Title Fight</span> American rock band

Title Fight was an American rock band from Kingston, Pennsylvania, formed in 2003. They released three studio albums – Shed (2011), Floral Green (2012) and Hyperview (2015) – gradually shifting from a hardcore punk-oriented sound towards shoegaze and indie rock. Hyperview was released through Anti-, a record label to which the band signed in July 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deafheaven</span> American black metal band

Deafheaven is an American post-metal band formed in 2010. Originally based in San Francisco, the group began as a two-piece with singer George Clarke and guitarist Kerry McCoy, who recorded and self-released a demo album together. Following its release, Deafheaven recruited three new members and began to tour. Before the end of 2010, the band signed to Deathwish Inc. and later released their debut album Roads to Judah, in April 2011. They popularized a unique style blending black metal, shoegaze, and post-rock, among other influences, later called "blackgaze" by reviewers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nothing (band)</span> American rock band

Nothing is an American shoegaze band that formed in 2010. The band self-released several EPs before signing to Relapse Records. They released their debut studio album, Guilty of Everything, in 2014. The follow-up album, Tired of Tomorrow, was released on in 2016. Nothing's third studio album, Dance on the Blacktop, was released in 2018, and their fourth studio album, The Great Dismal, was released in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adventures (band)</span>

Adventures was an American rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was formed in 2012 by three members of the hardcore punk band Code Orange – Joe Goldman, Reba Meyers and Jami Morgan – with their friends Kimi Hanauer and Dominic Landolina. They were initially signed to No Sleep Records, but later transferred to Run for Cover Records.

Camera Shy is an American indie pop band from Oakland, California. The duo consists of instrumentalist Nick Bassett and vocalist Alexandra Morte. They have released two EPs and one full-length album.

<i>Whirr / Nothing</i> 2014 EP (split) by Whirr and Nothing

Whirr / Nothing is a split EP by the American shoegaze bands Whirr and Nothing, released on November 17, 2014 by Run for Cover. The EP was released digitally as well as in 12-inch vinyl format with an etched B-side packaged with a documentary DVD. Nothing announced the EP in February 2014, prior to the release of its debut album Guilty of Everything, describing the split release as "very accessible" and noting a tentative release date of early 2014.

<i>Pipe Dreams</i> (Whirr album) 2012 studio album by Whirr

Pipe Dreams is the debut studio album by alternative rock band Whirr, released on March 13, 2012 by Tee Pee Records. The album served as a follow-up to Distressor, the bands critically acclaimed debut EP.

<i>Sway</i> (Whirr album) 2014 studio album by Whirr

Sway is the second studio album by American alternative rock band Whirr, released on September 23, 2014 by Graveface Records. The album marked the departure of previous lead singer Alexandra Morte, as well as the first release with Devin Nunes who replaced Sergio Miranda on drums. It was produced by Jack Shirley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Youth Code</span> American electronic music group

Youth Code is an American EBM duo, formed in 2012 by Sara Taylor and Ryan George in Los Angeles, California. The duo's musical style, following the model of early Wax Trax! Records, has been described as industrial music infused with "hardcore angst." Following their self-released Demonstrational Cassette in 2012 and a chance meeting with Psychic TV, Youth Code were invited to release their first single, "Keep Falling Apart", through Angry Love Productions. Since then, they have released two full-length studio albums, an EP, and two additional singles.

<i>Tired of Tomorrow</i> 2016 studio album by Nothing

Tired of Tomorrow is the second studio album by American shoegaze band Nothing. It was released on May 13, 2016, by Relapse Records. It is the first Nothing album to feature bassist Nick Bassett, the guitarist of Whirr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mannequin Pussy</span> American punk rock band

Mannequin Pussy is an American punk and indie rock band from Philadelphia, formed in 2010. The band currently consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Marisa "Missy" Dabice, drummer Kaleen Reading, bassist Colins "Bear" Regisford, and guitarist Maxine Steen. They have released four studio albums: Mannequin Pussy (2014) and Romantic (2016) on Tiny Engines, and Patience (2019) and I Got Heaven (2024) on Epitaph Records. They released an EP, Perfect, in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Bassett</span> American musician, producer and composer

Nick Bassett is an American musician, producer and composer from Modesto, California. He was the bassist of shoegaze band Nothing and is the lead guitarist of shoegaze band Whirr. He also played guitar in the original lineup of blackgaze band Deafheaven.

Kristina Esfandiari is an American singer-songwriter and producer who writes music and performs under the monikers Dalmatian, Miserable, and NGHTCRWLR, and with the bands King Woman and Sugar High.

<i>Dance on the Blacktop</i> 2018 studio album by Nothing

Dance on the Blacktop is the third studio album by American shoegaze band Nothing. It is the last album to feature bassist Nick Bassett and founding member, vocalist and guitarist Brandon Setta before both departed the band between 2018 and 2019, respectively. The album was released on August 24, 2018 by Relapse Records.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gagnon, Sarah (April 4, 2012). "Local shoegaze band Whirr releases debut LP, Pipe Dreams". The Bay Bridged. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Thomas, Fred. "Whirr – Biography". AllMusic . Rovi Corporation . Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  3. ↑ Raggett, Ned. "Review: Pipe Dreams". AllMusic . Rovi Corporation . Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  4. ↑ Douglas, Martin (March 20, 2012). "Review: Pipe Dreams". Pitchfork . Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  5. ↑ Shultz, Brian (March 29, 2012). "Review: Pipe Dreams". Alternative Press . Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  6. ↑ Sacher, Andrew (June 19, 2013). "Whirr releasing a new mini-LP, announce tour (dates, stream)". Brooklyn Vegan. Spin Media . Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  7. ↑ Paul, Aubin (June 19, 2013). "Tours: Whirr / Nothing". Punknews.org. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  8. ↑ McGovern, Kyle (October 22, 2013). "Watch Death of Lovers' Eerie 'Buried Under A World of Roses' Video". Spin . Spin Media . Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  9. ↑ Gelb, Daniel (February 26, 2014). "Philly's own Nothing is really something". Philadelphia Weekly. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  10. ↑ Chandler, Kyle (May 22, 2014). "Alexandra Morte leaves whirr, forms camera shy". Soft Concrete. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  11. ↑ Cimarusti, Luca (July 11, 2014). "12 O'Clock Track: 'Mumble' is the return of shoegaze revivalists Whirr". Chicago Reader . Sun-Times Media Group . Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Time Well Recordings on Instagram: "Now available for preorder at www.freewhirl.com 🌀 . . . Recorded at @timewellrecordings . . 🎞: @documavision"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  13. ↑ "Feels Like You, by Whirr". Whirr. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  14. ↑ "Live In Los Angeles, by Whirr". Whirr. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  15. 1 2 Gordon, Jeremy (October 20, 2015). = October 24, 2015 "Record Labels Sever Ties With Whirr Over Transphobic Tweets". Pitchfork .{{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  16. 1 2 Hodge, Lukas (April 23, 2014). "Whirr Wants You to Fuck Off". Noisey . Vice . Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  17. ↑ Whirr (2014-03-04). "Breaking News, Ian Cohen is a pussy and Pitchfork continues to be clueless about anything they're talking about..." www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  18. 1 2 Ozzi, Dan (October 20, 2015). "Whirr Got Dropped by Their Record Label for Tweeting Transphobic Bullshit". Noisey . Vice . Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  19. 1 2 Hogan, Marc (October 23, 2015). "Indie-Rock Band Whirr Addresses the Outrage, and Fallout, Over Transphobic Tweets". Billboard . Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  20. ↑ Sharp, Tyler (October 20, 2015). "Whirr blame transphobic tweets on 'friend'". Alternative Press . Archived from the original on 2017-03-09. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  21. ↑ Enis, Eli (May 8, 2024). "To be at ease: A long talk with Whirr guitarist Nick Bassett". Chasing Sundays. Chasing Sundays. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
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.