- Beat Circus
Infobox musical artist
Name = Beat Circus
Img_capt = Promotional Photo
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Flagicon|USABoston ,Massachusetts ,United States
Genre =American Gothic Experimental rock
Years_active = 2002–Present
Label =Cuneiform Records Innova Records
URL = [http://www.beatcircus.net/ Official website]
Current_members = Brian Carpenter
Jordan Voelker
Paul Dilley
Andrew Stern
Doug LaRosa
Paran Amirinazari
Gavin McCarthy
Past_members =Alec K. Redfearn
Matt McLaren
Kaethe HostetterJulia Kent
Brandon Seabrook
Briggan Krauss
Curtis Hasselbring
Jim Hobbs
Leigh Calabrese
Jerome Deupree
Ron CaswellBeat Circus is a band formed in
Boston, Massachusetts in2002 . The band is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist /singer-songwriter Brian Carpenter, who has been its only constant member since its inception. The music draws heavily from several disparate genres includingexperimental music ,progressive rock ,cabaret ,circus music , Appalachian string music,bluegrass ,old-time music ,Southern Gospel , and funereal music. [cite news |last=Monger |first=James Christopher |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:abfyxqraldfe |title=All Music Guide Biography |date=2008-01-28 |accessdate=2008-01-28]History
In 2001 Brian Carpenter moved to
Cambridge, Massachusetts and formed a collaboration withtenor banjo playerBrandon Seabrook , which led to the first incarnation of Beat Circus. Aided by saxophonistJim Hobbs , drummerJerome Deupree , accordionistAlec K. Redfearn , tubistRon Caswell , and musical saw playerLeigh Calabrese , the group was a contemporary free improvisation instrumental ensemble which usedcircus music as a jumping off point. After a summer-long residency in Cambridge in 2003, Carpenter recorded the band's first album "Ringleaders Revolt" which was released byInnova Records in 2004. [cite news |last=Garelick |first=Jon |url=http://thebostonphoenix.com/boston/music/giantsteps/multi_1/documents/04140010.asp link |title=To Play is The Thing |publisher=Boston Phoenix |date=2004-09-24 |accessdate=2004-09-24] [cite news |last=Harrell |first=Scott |url=http://tampa.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A5554 |title=When The Circus Comes |publisher=Creative Loafing |date=2005-05-12 |accessdate=2005-05-12]In 2005, Carpenter steered the band in an entirely different direction with the development of "Dreamland", a 150-page through-composed score for nine musicians containing songs based around a stage play treatment of a story involving the turn-of-the-century Coney Island theme park which burned in a devastating fire in 1911. "Dreamland" began a shift away from instrumental music to narrative songs about children, dreams, fatherhood, revenge, and redemption. To develop the "Dreamland" score, Carpenter formed a second incarnation of Beat Circus with drummer
Matt McLaren (a long-time collaborator ofCuneiform Records label-mate Alec K. Redfearn),Kaethe Hostetter from Boston, cellistJulia Kent ofAntony and the Johnsons , trombonistCurtis Hasselbring , saxophonistBriggan Krauss ofSex Mob , and original members Alec K. Redfearn, Ron Caswell, and Brandon Seabrook. In 2006, Carpenter enlistedNew York City -based producerMartin Bisi to record and mix "Dreamland" in Brooklyn. "Dreamland" was released onCuneiform Records in January 2008 and announced as the first installation in Carpenter's "Weird American Gothic" trilogy. [cite news |last=Mason |first=Stewart |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hbfoxz9hldte~T1 link |title=Dreamland |publisher=All Music Guide |date=2008-03-01 |accessdate=2008-03-01]In late 2006 near the completion of recording "Dreamland", Carpenter's son was diagnosed with
autism . While coping with this, Carpenter began writing a song cycle for the second part of the afore-mentioned trilogy, entitled "Boy From Black Mountain". With the departure of Alec K. Redfearn and Matt McLaren, who wished to focus on their band The Eyesores, Carpenter formed the third incarnation of Beat Circus in 2007, casting himself as the lead vocalist with violinistParan Amirinazari and violistJordan Voelker as background vocalists, and introducing arockabilly -style rhythm section comprised of upright bassistPaul Dilley ofReverend Glasseye , guitarist/banjoist Andrew Stern, and drummerGavin McCarthy of Karate. TrombonistDoug LaRosa also joined the band that year. In summer 2008 Carpenter enlisted Boston-based producerSean Slade to record "Boy From Black Mountain". The album reportedly marks yet another shift in direction, inspired by Carpenter's Southern heritage,Southern Gospel music,bluegrass , andSouthern Gothic writers, and is planned for a 2009 release. [cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Jim |url=http://thephoenix.com/article_ektid54107.aspx |title=Notes on Beat Circus |publisher=Boston Phoenix |date=2008-01-11 |accessdate=2008-01-12]Discography
*"Ringleaders Revolt" (Innova Records, 2004)
*"Dreamland" (Cuneiform Records, 2008)Related Projects
*Brian Carpenter's Ghost Train Orchestra (Carpenter, Seabrook, Caswell; 2005-present)
*Alec K. Redfearn & The Eyesores (Redfearn, McLaren; 1998-present)
*HUMANWINE (Carpenter, Dilley; 2005-present)
*Reverend Glasseye (Dilley; 2001-present)References
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