Japanther

Infobox musical artist
Name = Japanther

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Img_capt = Japanther performing at The Farmhouse in 2005.
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Brooklyn
Genre = Noise rock, Punk rock
Years_active = 2001 – present
Label = Tapes Records Menlo Park Recordings
URL = [http://www.japanther.com www.japanther.com]
Current_members = Ian Vanek Matt Reilly
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Japanther is a noise rock [cite news|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0747,fischer,78393,22.html|title=Doom, But Not Gloom|author=Fischer, Annie|date=November 20 2007|publisher=The Village Voice] band from New York City formed in 2001 by two students at Pratt Institute. The band consists of Ian Vanek — who plays drums, cassettes, and sings — and Matt Reilly — who plays bass, a Casio SK-1, and also sings. They have recorded with Plan It X Records, Tapes Records, and the Menlo Park label. Japanther has been featured in "Vice", "The New York Times", "Gothamist", "Dallas Observer", "Razorcake", and "New York" magazine among others. In the first two years of the band, they toured nine times.

In April 2006, Japanther teamed up with Aquadoom, a synchronized swimming group at New York University to play the "Dangerous When Wet" event at the school's Palladium Pool. [http://japanther.com/swimming.htm] On July 2, 2006, Japanther played under a plastic tarp in the rain at [http://www.solar1.org/education/citysol/ CitySol] , an annual summer music and market series on Manhattan’s East River waterfront ( [http://www.solar1.org/park/index.html Stuyvesant Cove Park] ) to raise awareness for environmental issues. [http://www3.flickr.com/photos/suckapants/187792316/]

The band appears in the indie documentary film "B.I.K.E", which premiered at the 2006 Slamdance Film Festival.cite web |url=http://www.slamdance.com/2006/festival/film_detail.asp?film_id=796 |title=B.I.K.E. |publisher=Slamdance Film Festival |accessdate=2007-01-26]

Japanther worked with Dan Graham, Rodney Graham, Laurent P. Berger, and Tony Oursler to create an abstract video installation for the 2006 Whitney Biennial.cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/03/arts/design/03bien.html |title=Biennial 2006: Short on Pretty, Long on Collaboration |work=The New York Times |date=2006-03-03 |accessdate=2007-01-26 |last=Kimmelman |first=Michael]

Discography

* "The Last of the Living Land Pirates" CD-R (2001)
* "South of Northport" EP (2002)
* "Leather Wings" (2003)
* "Dump the Body in Rikki Lake" (2003)
* "The Operating Manual for Life on Earth "EP (2004)
* "Japanther/Sneeze" Split 7" (2004)
* "Japanther/Viking Club" Split CD (2004)
* "Master of Pigeons" (2005)
* "Wolfenswan" (2005)
* "Yer Living Grave" EP (2005)
* "Don't Trust Anyone Over Thirty" (2006)
* "Japanther/ The Good Good" Split 7" (2006)
* "Skuffed Up My Huffy" (2007)
* "Challege" 7" (2008)
* "Chemical X Zine" DVD (2008)
* "Tut Tut Now Shake Ya Butt" (2008)

References

External links

* [http://japanther.com/ Japanther.com]
* [http://www.tapesrecords.com/secretsight.html Japanther's hidden home] at tapesrecords.com
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:5cktk60xtkr0~T0 Japanther profile] at Allmusic
* [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/18952/Japanther_Leather_Wingsl A Review of Leather Wings] by Pitchfork Media
* [http://www.last.fm/music/japanther Japanther station] at Last.fm
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LyUvhgDcJA How to have fun at a Japanther show: See: Dude in red shirt.]
* [http://artintheage.com/post.php?x=108&m=1&y=2007 January 2007 Interview on Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction]