Stars Like Fleas

Infobox musical artist
Name = Stars Like Fleas
Img_capt = Stars Like Fleas, circa 2007
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Brooklyn, New York, USA
Genre = Experimental rock Indie rock
Years_active = 1998–present
Label = Hometapes, Praemedia
URL = [http://www.slf.praemedia.com/ Official website]
Current_members = Shannon Fields
Montgomery Knott
Ryan Smith
Tianna Kennedy
Ryan Sawyer
Matt Lavelle
Shayna Dulberger
Laura Ortman
Sam Amidon
Jon Natchez
Shelley Burgon

Stars Like Fleas is a Brooklyn-based band formed by multi-instrumentalist Shannon Fields and vocalist Montgomery Knott in the winter of 1998. Frequently compared to later Talk Talk and Robert Wyatt, their music blends avant-jazz and free improvisation with electronic textures and several overdubbed murmured vocal lines. [Couture, François. " [http://wm05.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hbfrxqtaldke Sun Lights Down on the Fence] ." "All Music Guide".] On their albums and in live performances, Fields and Knott have recruited a host of other musicians, including members and ex-members of Other Dimensions in Music, TEST, No Neck Blues Band, Papa M, Out Hud, Gold Sparkle Band, At the Drive-In, Beirut, Tall Firs, TV on the Radio, Celebration, Fiery Furnaces, The Silent League, and Mercury Rev. [Burns, Todd. " [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/stars-like-fleas/sun-lights-down-on-the-fence.htm Sun Lights Down on the Fence] ." "Stylus Magazine" January 5, 2004.]

Members

* Shannon Fields - "too much to get into right now"; producer
* Montgomery Knott - vocals
* Ryan Smith - piano, synthesizers, laptop, many other things
* Ryan Sawyer - drums, percussion
* Matt Lavelle - bass clarinet, flugelhorn, trumpet, cuica
* Sam Amidon - fiddle, banjo, voice
* Jon Natchez - reeds, brass, strings, keys, etc
* Gerald Menke - pedal steel, dobro resonator, guitars
* Shelley Burgon - harp, laptop, baritone guitar
* Tianna Kennedy - cello
* Shayna Dulberger - bass
* Laura Ortman - violin

Discography

* "Took the Ass for a Drive" (1999; digitally re-released by File 13 2007, downloadable at [http://www.iTunes.com iTunes] )
* "Sun Lights Down on the Fence" (2003, [http://www.praemedia.com Praemedia] )
* "The Ken Burns Effect" (2007, [http://www.talitres.com Talitres Records] in Europe) (May 20, 2008 [http://www.home-tapes.com Hometapes] , distribution via Absolutely Kosher/Misra)

External links

* [http://www.home-tapes.com/ Official Site (Hometapes)]
* [http://www.slf.praemedia.com/ Official Site (Praemedia)]
* [http://www.talitres.com/SLF_e.htm Official Site (Talitres Records)]
* [http://www.myspace.com/starslikefleas MySpace Page]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dvh1z8ba4yv8 Allmusic Guide Entry]
* [http://www.brooklynrail.org/2006/9/music/sounds-paths-radios-notes-on-stars-like- Sounds, Paths, Radios: Notes on Stars Like Fleas]
* [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/stars-like-fleas/sun-lights-down-on-the-fence.htm Stylus Magazine Review of Sun Lights Down on the Fence]
* [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/22266-sun-lights-down-on-the-fence?artist_title=22266-sun-lights-down-on-the-fence Pitchfork Review of Sun Lights Down on the Fence]
* [http://www.blogotheque.net/article.php3?id_article=2652 Video of a Stars Like Fleas Performance]
*

References

Interviews

* [http://www.splendidezine.com/features/slf/ from Splendid eZine] Interview with Shannon Fields and Montgomery Knott by Mike Meginnis.