Paw (band)

Infobox musical artist
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Origin = Lawrence, Kansas, USA
Genre = Hard Rock, Grunge
Years_active = 1991–Present
Label = A&M Records Koch Records
Current_members = Mark Hennessy Grant Fitch Jason Magierowski
Past_members = Peter Fitch Dan Hines Charles Bryan

Paw is a hard rock band from Lawrence, Kansas that formed in 1991. The band, in its original incarnation, consisted of Mark Hennessy (words & vocals), Grant Fitch (guitars), Charles Bryan (bass), and Peter Fitch (drums). To date, they have released 3 studio albums – "Dragline", "Death to Traitors", and "Home Is a Strange Place". The band has also released an album of covers and B-sides entitled "Keep the Last Bullet for Yourself".

History

Paw formed in 1991 in Lawrence, Kansas, alongside Kill Creek and Stick. Their work from this era can best be characterized as aggressive rock with melodic undertones, or 'Southern Rock' as Mark Hennessy explained in an MTV interview. They were hailed by many record companies as "the next Nirvana" and a bidding war erupted to sign them. The band signed a three-album deal with A&M Records during the height of the grunge wave, and released their first album, "Dragline", in 1993. Their most well-known songs from this period included the singles "Lolita", "Jessie", "Couldn't Know", "The Bridge", and "Sleeping Bag" – all of which received heavy rotation on both the radio airwaves and on Headbanger's Ball, MTV's hard rock/heavy metal showcase. The band also recorded a session for BBC Radio 1's rock show in 1994, and the songs "Jessie", "Pansy", and "The Bridge" were featured in the 3DO, PC, Saturn and Playstation versions of the video game "Road Rash".

In 1995, the band released their second album, "Death to Traitors", on A&M Records. During this period, the band evolved by adding more instrumental and country elements to soften their hard rock edge. While the album received favorable reviews from the press, sales quickly fizzled due to a lack of promotional support from the band's label. Paw was later dropped by A&M in 1996, before their contract was fulfilled.

In 1998, Grant Fitch and Peter Fitch formed the band Palomar and released the album "World Without Horses". Paw still played together during this period, and released a full-length compilation of B-sides and rarities entitled "Keep the Last Bullet for Yourself" on their own label, Outlaw Records.

In 2000, founding members Mark Hennessy and Grant Fitch signed Paw with Koch Records and released the mini-album "Home Is a Strange Place" that same year. The new album incorporated a more pronounced "stripped-down" blues element to it.

In 2008, as a result of a shared billing between their post-Paw bands, Mark Hennessy and Grant Fitch mended their fences and played together on June 6, 2008 at the Revival Tent, Wakarusa Festival, Clinton Lake, Kansas. The [http://backtorockville.typepad.com/back_to_rockville/2008/06/waka-day-2-cake.html performance] included the songs "Couldn't Know," "Home Is a Strange Place," "Death to Traitors," "Sunflower," "Hope I Die Tonight" and "Dragline." Grant Fitch has said the band has scheduled shows in Kansas City and Lawrence in July and August 2008; however, all shows have been postponed until Fall 2008. The band will play In Lawrence, Kansas on Saturday, October 4th at The Bottleneck.

Post-Paw Activities

Mark Hennessy's book of poetry "Cue the Bedlam (More Desperate With Longing Than Want of Air)" was published in December 2005 from Unholy Day Press.

Mark Hennessy (lyrics & vocals) played with Mike (bass, vocals & guitar), Justin Parr (drums), Brody Buster (guitar, harmonica & keys), Heather Lofflin (vocals & guitar), James Garvic (bass & guitar), and Kurt Nesbitt (bass) in [http://www.myspace.com/thediamondheartclub 1950 DA] (formerly The Diamond Heart Club) in Lawrence, KS, from 2006-2007.

Grant Fitch (guitar) is currently playing and performing with Jason Jones (drums) in The [http://www.myspace.com/newfranklinpanthers New Franklin Panthers] based in Lawrence, KS. The duo released its debut instrumental album "Hot Dogs Are Cool: In III Movements" on February 1, 2008.

Peter Fitch (drums) is currently playing and performing with [http://www.brianconwaymusic.com/main.html Brian Conway] (vocals & guitar) in Las Vegas, NV.

Jason Magierowski (bass) is currently living in St. Barts and practices philanthropy and shuffleboard.

Members

* Mark Hennessy - vocals
* Grant Fitch - Guitar
* Jason Magierowski - Bass

Previous members

* Peter Fitch - drums
* Dan Hines - Bass
* Charles Bryan - Bass

Discography

tudio albums

*"Dragline" (1993)
*"Death to Traitors" (1995)
*"Home Is a Strange Place" (2000)

Compilations

*"Keep the Last Bullet for Yourself" (1998)

ingles

*"Lolita" (Vinyl Single) 1992
*"Sleeping Bag" (Vinyl Single) 1992
*"Sleeping Bag" (CD Single) 1993
*"Jessie" (CD Single) 1993
*"Couldn't Know" (CD Single) 1993
*"Surrender" (CD Promo) 1994
*"Hope I Die Tonight" (CD Single, UK and US versions) 1995
*"Traitors and Covers" (Promo 5 track EP) 1995
*"Seasoned Glove" (Tour Promo CD) 1995
*"Max the Silent" (CD Promo) 1995

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/pawofficial Paw's official website]
* [http://defgav.com/paw/ Paw (fansite)]
* [http://www.lawrence.com/bands/paw/ Band Profile at Lawrence.com]
* [http://www.timmcmahan.com/paw.htm Lazyeye interview]