Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and Tinuviel Sampson, and based in both Olympia, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, but was originally known for its commitment to underground punk rock bands and the Olympia area music scene.
Weasel Walter is an American composer, improviser, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and founder of ugEXPLODE Records. Walter's work has been informed by techniques and traditions of music including Avant-garde, experimental, no wave, free jazz, extreme metal, punk jazz, hardcore punk, noise, new music and free improvisation. He coined the term "brutal prog" to describe the aggressively dissonant strain of prog played by groups like his band the Flying Luttenbachers.
Deerhoof is an American musical group formed in San Francisco in 1994. They consist of founding drummer Greg Saunier, bassist and singer Satomi Matsuzaki, and guitarists John Dieterich and Ed Rodriguez. Beginning as an improvised noise punk band, Deerhoof became widely renowned and influential in the 2000s through their self-produced albums.
Cock E.S.P. is a band based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The group draws on the most extreme, subversive and absurdist elements of both popular and experimental twentieth century music and performance art, creating abstract high-energy entertainment. Influences include noise music, punk rock, improvised free-jazz, Japanoise, industrial hardcore, glam metal and electronica.
Karate is an American band, formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1993 by Geoff Farina, Eamonn Vitt and Gavin McCarthy, with Jeff Goddard joining in 1995. The band split up in 2005 before reuniting in 2022.
Unwound is an American post-hardcore band. Formed in 1988 in Tumwater and Olympia, Washington, the band currently consists of Justin Trosper, Jared Warren, Sara Lund (drums), and Scott Seckington (guitar).
Bob Nanna is an American musician best known as the singer and guitarist for the bands Braid and Hey Mercedes. Nanna also currently performs as part of the band Lifted Bells, as well as a solo project The City on Film.
Quintron is an American musician and one-man-band. He is a nightclub organist and inventor, who has patented a number of his own inventions and often performs at his own private club, the Spellcaster Lodge in New Orleans. He frequently performs with his wife, musician and puppeteer Panacea Pussycat, co-founder of the 9th Ward's defunct Pussycat Caverns.
Erase Errata was a band from San Francisco, California.
Tim Kinsella is an American musician, author, and film director from Chicago, Illinois.
Lync was a 1990s post-hardcore band from Olympia, Washington.
Sixth in Sixes is the second studio album by the rock band XBXRX. It was released in 2005 through Polyvinyl Records. The follow-up to 2001's Gop Ist Minee, the record quickly earned underground acclaim and gained such notable fans as Peaches and Sonic Youth.
Hawnay Troof is an American electronic indie band formed in late 2001.
5 Rue Christine is a semi-defunct Olympia, Washington based independent record label, formed as a spin-off from the Kill Rock Stars label in 1997. Before its dormancy, it had become a premier label for experimental rock bands. In 2007 5RC released its final record.
Wooden Wand is the stage name of singer-songwriter James Jackson Toth, who has recorded under his given name as well as the name WAND. The style of music recorded by Toth and his many incarnations has drawn on a variety of both conventional and experimental folk and rock influences, including psychedelic folk, freak folk and indie. Though he was a significant player in the New Weird America trend of the early to mid-2000s along with Devendra Banhart, Akron/Family, Joanna Newsom, and collaborators The Vanishing Voice, Toth has been difficult to pigeonhole in one genre; recent releases have been identified as acid folk, free jazz, outlaw country, and country-tinged rock. Toth has appeared on labels including Kill Rock Stars, Ecstatic Peace!, Rykodisc, and Young God.
The Flying Luttenbachers are an American instrumental unit led by multi-instrumentalist, composer, improviser and producer Weasel Walter.
A Single History: 1991–1997 is a compilation album by Unwound released on Kill Rock Stars. It contains tracks previously released on various 7-inch singles and multiple-artist compilations. "Crab Nebula" and "Stumbling Block" originally appeared on the band's 1991 demo tape. The fourth song is a reference to the U.S. government's secret MKUltra brainwashing program. The "Negated"/ "Said Serial"/ "Census" 7-inch was the first-ever release on Troubleman Unlimited Records. "Plight" is a cover of a Minutemen song, from the tribute disc Our Band Could Be Your Life. "Seen Not Heard" is from a split 7-inch with Steel Pole Bath Tub; the song comes from the Repetition album sessions. Following an extended drum and bass-style intro, "The Light At The End..." features odd vocal snippets from a man trying to persuade some band to make upbeat, "tribal-sounding" aerobics music.
Behold… The Arctopus is an American avant-garde metal band from Brooklyn, New York City, formed in 2001.
The Oblivians are an American garage punk trio that has existed since 1993. In the 1990s, their blues-infused brand of bravado, crudely recorded music made them one of the most popular and prominent bands within the underground garage rock scene.
Red Monkey were an English DIY post-hardcore, post-riot grrrl band, active from 1996 to 2005. The band are notable for their political lyrics.
