Spencer Seim

Spencer Seim (born January 28 1981) is best known as the guitarist in the band Hella. He is also the drummer in the Nintendo music cover band called The Advantage. As a guitarist, he is known for quirky riffs featuring bends, rapid picking style, as well as fret-board tapping, all of which are utilized in phrases as opposed to traditional time signatures. His composition style is mode heavy. He has been practicing on and off with Zach Hill (Hella drummer) since they both started playing music and both have been influencing each other throughout their musicianship. Playing for The Advantage, Spencer drums employing methods such as repetitive doubles on a single bass drum and quick cymbal muting. Spencer's style also often incorporates complex time signatures, well evidenced on "Chirpin' Hard" and recordings by the Advantage.

Spencer's musical abilities aren't just limited to guitar or drums; on some of his more recent work, such as Hella's "Chirpin Hard" album (written and performed by Spencer), Spencer also utilizes keyboards, synths, drum machines, and other instruments in his music. He is very proficient with drum programming, as displayed on the Bitches Ain't Shit But Good People EP. Spencer also enjoys the technical aspect of recording and producing.

Spencer recently started a solo project named sBACH. The sticker on the cover of the self-titled release says "a thousand times better than Hella or The Advantage.

Equipment

The guitar featured in the above-right picture was designed and built for Spencer by guitar designer Scott French. The model name is SF0SS. It features a nut pickup, a built-in amplified egg shaker, and individual outputs for each string pickup. The finish is neon green and is embedded with Spencer's beard trimmings. Scott French says that it is the most interesting guitar he has ever made. Fact|date=August 2008 In February 2006 Spencer bought another Scott French guitar, made of eucalyptus and grafted walnut, it measures ½ inch thick around the outside edge of the guitar's entire body. This is the only guitar Spencer used on Hella's 2007 release "There's No 666 in Outer Space".

Also visible in the photo is Seim's amplifier stack, which consists of a Mesa/Boogie head and an unidentified cabinet.

When Hella was a two piece, Spencer only used a Boss LS-2 Line Selector to switch between distortion and clean tones. On the tour following the release of Church Gone Wild/Chirpin' Hard, Spencer was seen with an expanded setup using a pedal board.

Discography

With sBACH

*"sBACH" August 19 2008, Suicide Squeeze

With The Advantage

* "The Advantage" (April 6 2004, 5RC)
* "2004 West Coast Tour CD" (February 2004, self-released)
* "2004 US Tour CD" (October 2004, self-released)
* "Elf Titled" (January 24 2006, 5RC)
* "Underwear: So Big!" 2006 Tour CD-R" (August 2006, self-released)

= With Hella =

Albums

* "Hold Your Horse Is" CD/LP (2002, 5RC)
* "The Devil Isn't Red" CD (2004, 5RC)
* "Church Gone Wild/Chirpin' Hard" 2xCD (2005, Suicide Squeeze)
* "There's No 666 in Outer Space" CD (2007, Ipecac Recordings)

EPs

* "Leather Diamond" CD-R EP (2001)
* "Falam Dynasty" 7" (2002, 5RC)
* "Bitches Ain't Shit But Good People" EP (2003, Suicide Squeeze)
* "Total Bugs Bunny On Wild Bass" EP (2003, Narnack Records)
* "Acoustics" EP (2004 & 2005, Toad Records (Japan); 2006, 5RC (US), with additional songs)
* "Concentration Face/Homeboy" DVD/CD EP (2005, 5RC)

Split releases

* "Live" 2xCD (Sick Room, October 10 2003) (with Dilute)
* "Hella/Four Tet Split" 7" (Ache, March 12 2004) (with Four Tet)