- Crystal Antlers
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Crystal Antlers 
Crystal Antlers at Debaser in Stockholm, SwedenBackground information Origin Long Beach, California, USA Genres indie rock, neo-psychedelia, psychedelic rock Years active 2006–present[1] Labels Touch and Go Website [1] Members Jonny Bell
Former
Andrew King
Cora Foxx
Kevin Stuart
Damian Edwards
Errol Davis
Victor RodriguezCrystal Antlers is an American band from Long Beach, California.
History
Early History
The band started as a 3 piece, Kevin Stuart (Drums), Errol Davis (Guitar) and Jonny Bell (Bass/Vocals) in late 2006 in Long Beach, California. Stuart, Davis, and Bell met while attending a music class in High School. Later, the three all worked together as Chimney Sweeps for an eccentric boss who helped them purchase musical equipment in exchange for learning cover songs.
The first single was recorded at Closer Studio in San Francisco and Engineered by Joe Goldring (Enablers/Toiling Midgets/Swans). The single was funded by a small label (Majic Wallet) created by a friend of the band who had recently been released from Federal Prison for multiple counts of bank robbery. The label was named "Majic Wallet" after the money used for the single had been won while betting on a horse race. The A-side of the single was the first song written by the band "Parting Song For The Torn Sky" which was later re-mixed and included on the band's first EP. The B- side featured a cover of Blue Cheer's version of Mose Allison's "Parchman Farm" which had to be included as a condition of the agreement with the label Majic Wallet. A third instrumental song, "Theme for Time" was also recorded during the session but never commercially released.
After the band recorded the first single, Victor Rodriguez-Guerrero joined the band on Organ. Rodriguez was the son of a Mariachi, and a natural musician. The organ had been given to the band by their former boss while working as Chimney Sweeps, and Rodriguez-Guerrero had to learn to play with no prior experience on keys.
In 2007, the band added another addition, Damian Edwards on Percussion. Damian had been a long time friend of the band, as well a the drummer and leader of a side-project called Black Geisha which featured Bell (bass/vocals) and Davis (keys). Edwards originally joined the band during their first West Coast tour. He had come along as the tour manager and unexpectedly joined the band on stage while performing in Oakland, California.
A second single was released in 2007 under the label Backflip, out of Orange, California. The single was produced by Guitarist Michael Belfer of the influential late 1970s punk/experimental bands The Sleepers and Tuxedomoon and recorded at the legendary, Mama Jo's.[2] The band paid for the sessions by helping to remodel the studio, mainly by pulling nails out of old floorboards for days. The single featured the song "Until The Sun Dies (Part 2)" which was later re-recorded for the EP, backed with "Swamp Song." At the release show for the single, Isaiah "Ikey" Owens performed with the band playing organ.
Crystal Antlers EP, Tentacles, and Touch & Go Records (2008–2009)
In the fall of 2007, Crystal Antlers began recording their first EP with producer Issiah "Ikey" Owens, who had been making regular guest appearances with the band for several months. After the majority of the tracking was complete, Guitarist Errol Davis left the band to pursue other interests and Andrew King joined. Edwards and King had played together previously in a band with H.R. from Bad Brains. King played guitar on the track "Until The Sun Dies (Part 2)."
In March 2008 the band self-released the EP to great critical acclaim and began touring extensively, joining the F-Yeah Tour which featured Monotonix, Dan Deacon, Circle Jerks, Team Robespierre, Death Set, and many more. In the summer 2008 the band signed with the label Touch And Go records, who re-issued the EP with new art by Jefferson Mayday Mayday. The original version of the EP featured a cropped version of the painting "The Robbing Of The Bride" by dada artist Max Ernst.
After signing with Touch and Go the band quickly began work on their first full-length release entitled Tentacles. The album consisted of new songs as well as a few songs written previous to the EP. The album was recorded and mixed again at Closer in San Francisco, allegedly in only seven days due to time constraints and pressure from the label. Immediately following the recording, the band left for their first European tour in support of the EP and the soon to be released Tentacles. The tour lasted two-months and was filmed by director Michael Reich (videothing.com) for a feature-length scripted film starring the band. The film tentatively titled Until The Sun Dies has yet to be released.
During the tour the band was notified that their label Touch and Go would be drastically downsizing and would no longer be releasing new records. Tentacles released on April 7, 2009 and was the last new release issued by Touch and Go. The band spent the rest of 2009 touring the US and Europe in support of the release. The artist Janet Beeler did the cover art and layout for Tentacles.
Current 2010-
In the summer 2009, Organist Victor Rodriguez-Guerrero left the band and was replaced by Cora Foxx. In fall 2009 the band self-released a tape entitled "Tapes' Volume 1 Tentacles Era" featuring home recordings, previously unreleased demos, and other rarities. The tape is to be the first in a series of very limited hand made releases by the band.
In February 2010, the band briefly moved into a barn in La Punta Banda, Mexico to begin writing for their next album.
Members
- Current
- Johnny Bell – bass, woodwinds, vocals
- Andrew King – guitar
- Cora Foxx – organ
- Kevin Stuart – drums
- Damian Edwards – percussion
- Former
- Victor Rodriguez - organ
- Errol Davis – guitar, organ
Discography
Studio Albums
Year Title Label Notes 2008 Crystal Antlers EP CD/LP/Download Self-Released, Touch & Go Records S/R version limited to 3000 2009 Tentacles CD/LP/Download Touch And Go Records - 2011 Two-Way Mirror Recreation Ltd. - 2011 Son of The Mirror 10" Vinyl only Recreation Ltd. Limited to 500 Singles
Year Title Label Notes 2006 Parting Song For The Torn Sky 7"/CDR Majic Wallet Limited to 500 2007 Swamp Song 7" Backflip Limited to 250 2010 Little Sister/Dead Horses 7"/Download Self-Released Limited to 500 2011 Summer Solstice 4-Ways 7" Recreation Ltd. Limited to 500 Collections & Compilations
Year Title Label Song/Notes 2007 Spanish Archer Compilation CD/Download Spanish Archer Featured a cover of Bob Dylan's It's all over now baby blue 2008 Trust Us "A Long Beach Compilation" CD/Download Fidotrust Featured an alternate mix of the song Arcturus 2009 Tapes' Volume #1 "Tentacles Era" Cassette Self-Released Featured 21 Tracks of demos, work tapes and other rarities 2010 Chickens In Love Compilation CD/LP/Download 826 LA Featured the song "100 Pigs" written by kids with the band References
- Notes
Official Website www.crystalantlers.com
- Further reading
- Review, Pitchfork Media
- Review, The Independent
- Review, Dusted Magazine
- Artist to Watch, XLR8R
- Review, PopMatters
- Review, Citizen Dick
Categories:- Musical groups from California
- American indie rock groups
- Touch and Go Records artists
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