Rainbow Runner

From The Circus Liquor Sessions. 
The 3rd and final EP. 
Produced by Tape. 
Recorded and mixed by Mauro and Gavin McKillup, presumably in the Winter of 2001 and early 2002 in North Hollywood, CA.

All songs written by Tape.
_____________________________

From 1999-2003 I was a member of a band called, Tape. If you were in Los Angeles at the time or were able to see one of our shows in NYC, then you know a little bit about it. 

After playing in bands for years, this was the one. We were a killing machine. Every musician brought something special to the table, and as 4 friends making music for the pure love of it, we rehearsed damn near every day in our little Noho lockout, pooling what little money we had so that we could make noise until the wee hours of the night, talk music for hours, argue, debate, fight, hug and make up, make flyers at Kinko's, pass them out at shows, post them on telephone poles and in record stores, and finally taking it to the stage at the local spots we frequented; Spaceland, The Knitting Factory, and The Troubaduor. We came just before the garage rock revival of The Strokes and White Stripes, and in the unfortunate wake of nu-metal and the predominantly dire late 90's of alternative rock, but musically we weren't quite like anything around at the time.

Sharing the stage with our friends and contemporaries, The Start, Enemy, Distortion Felix, Autolux, and Moving Units, as well as supporting some larger bands we adored like GVSB and Placebo -  we were one of three or four local bands that could pack a Spaceland residency for a 4-week run with a fresh crowd each week. It may not seem like a lot now (though promoting shows is actually harder than ever in the over-saturated social media age), but at the time it was everything. 

There were two incarnations of the band, the first being myself on Vocals and 4-string bass, Gianni Garofalo on Fender Bass VI, Norm Block on Drums/Samples/Backing Vocals, and #KirkHellie on guitars/loops/noise, and the second in which Thomas Froggatt played 4-string bass and I switched over to Fender Bass VI in Gianni's absence. Kirk had previously played in Pink Noise Test, Norm in Plexi, and Gianni and myself in the British/American band, One Inch Punch (Thomas who later joined had just played in V.A.S.T.).  Sonically it was a war between garage rock, shoegaze, hip-hop and a CBGB's era punk rock that combined for a beautifully chaotic sound and one of the most exciting live shows one could see at the time. Bodies falling over, equipment being toppled, jumping off of amps and over drums, and loud...very loud. 

Very little video exists, and up until now there has been no recorded evidence, so after many years, we would like to share with you one by one, the recorded EP's of the band for you to stream and download.

Pays To Be Paranoid

Just Like Sugar

Happy

Competitive Mourning

Eyelash

Breathe Slow

The Con

Remix by Swedish duo BF/C.  Barish Firatli & Californiaman.

The Con - BF/C Remix

1/2 Life

From the second EP, "SIGNAL LEVEL WILL NOW INCREASE".
Produced By Tape
Recorded by Manny Nieto at Wet And Dry studios, Eagle Rock, CA.
Mixed by Bill Kennedy (Kill Bennedy). RIP.
Written by Tape

While the music was written by the original incarnation, the lineup featured on this recording saw Thomas Froggatt on bass, (replacing Gianni Garofalo and with Justin switching from 4-string bass to Fender Bass VI). 

_____________________________

From 1999-2003 I was a member of a band called, Tape. If you were in Los Angeles at the time or were able to see one of our shows in NYC, then you know a little bit about it. 

After playing in bands for years, this was the one. We were a killing machine. Every musician brought something special to the table, and as 4 friends making music for the pure love of it, we rehearsed damn near every day in our little Noho lockout, pooling what little money we had so that we could make noise until the wee hours of the night, talk music for hours, argue, debate, fight, hug and make up, make flyers at Kinko's, pass them out at shows, post them on telephone poles and in record stores, and finally taking it to the stage at the local spots we frequented; Spaceland, The Knitting Factory, and The Troubaduor. We came just before the garage rock revival of The Strokes and White Stripes, and in the unfortunate wake of nu-metal and the predominantly dire late 90's of alternative rock, but musically we weren't quite like anything around at the time.

Sharing the stage with our friends and contemporaries, The Start, Enemy, Distortion Felix, Autolux, and Moving Units, as well as supporting some larger bands we adored like GVSB and Placebo -  we were one of three or four local bands that could pack a Spaceland residency for a 4-week run with a fresh crowd each week. It may not seem like a lot now (though promoting shows is actually harder than ever in the over-saturated social media age), but at the time it was everything. 

There were two incarnations of the band, the first being myself on Vocals and 4-string bass, Gianni Garofalo on Fender Bass VI, Norm Block on Drums/Samples/Backing Vocals, and #KirkHellie on guitars/loops/noise, and the second in which Thomas Froggatt played 4-string bass and I switched over to Fender Bass VI in Gianni's absence. Kirk had previously played in Pink Noise Test, Norm in Plexi, and Gianni and myself in the British/American band, One Inch Punch (Thomas who later joined had just played in V.A.S.T.).  Sonically it was a war between garage rock, shoegaze, hip-hop and a CBGB's era punk rock that combined for a beautifully chaotic sound and one of the most exciting live shows one could see at the time. Bodies falling over, equipment being toppled, jumping off of amps and over drums, and loud...very loud. 

Very little video exists, and up until now there has been no recorded evidence, so after many years, we would like to share with you one by one, the recorded EP's of the band for you to stream and download.

The Breakdown

Following their 2012 EP, Los Angeles’ Asian She have returned with their debut full length, Milk The Fire.
Consisting of Noah Lebenzon (12 rounds) & Thomas Froggatt (She Wants Revenge) with help from David Brotherton on drums, this duo have crafted a refreshing album which manages the feat of sounding entirely fresh and cozily familiar at the same time.
Tracked at Lebenzon’s home in Studio City with drums recorded at indie-rock stalwart Manny Nieto’s in Lincoln Heights, the album blends feel good rhythms, hard hitting drums and the most tasteful guitars with flourishes of keyboards, live horns (Froggatt), and loads of delicious ear candy, all underpinning Lebenzon’s gravely melodic storytelling which belies a tremendous pop sensibility.
With moments which bring to mind 90’s indie-rock such as GVSB, the drawling eastside swagger of Circle Jerks era Keith Morris, and the alt-twang of Cracker at their best, Lebenzon and Froggatt have assembled 10 songs which document the ups and downs of relationships: the tough talks, the uncomfortable moments, the highs and lows, all with an attention to detail both in the acerbic lyrical wit and the deceptively complex chord changes.
Standouts “10 Years”, “Wish It Happened To You”, and “Buried In Glendale” all showcase a sophisticated hand at the wheel both in terms of songwriting as well as production, taking the listener on a journey that never disappoints, often surprises and inevitably leaves you wanting more.

Rainbow Runner

Asian She

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