Caesar (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Caesar


Background = group_or_band
Origin =
Genre = Alternative rock
Years_active = 1994- 2006 (active)
Label = Excelsior Recordings
URL = [http://www.caesartheband.com/ Official website]
Current_members = Roald van Oosten
Marit de Loos
Sem Bakker

Caesar is an indie rock trio from Amsterdam consisting of Roald van Oosten, Marit de Loos and Sem Bakker. The band was founded in 1994. Caesar has released four studio albums, plus one retrospective release in 2006, "Before My Band Explodes". The band is currently on hiatus.

History

The Early Days

In 1994 Roald van Oosten and Marit de Loos think of starting a band together. Later that year Van Oosten meets Sem Bakker. They discuss the idea that De Loos and Van Oosten have and Bakker agrees to join on bass. The fact that Bakker does not play bass yet is seemingly not a problem. Thus Caesar’s line up is complete. After a mere month of playing together the trio releases their first demo.

The following year three more demos follow. The band is swiftly improving and Excelsior Recordings (then still known as "(Nothing sucks like) Electrolux") notices. It is for this label that the band records its first single "Goodbye To Barruschna", it is released on vinyl in the fall of ’95.

Clean

Caesar’s debut album Clean is released in May 1996. It is the first official album release of the Excelsior Recordings label. Upon its release in June Clean is received enthusiastically by the press, even appearing in the Moordlijst, the chart of music magazine "OOR". The positive response towards the album translates into a slot at the Lowlands festival in August.

Caesar also plays alongside Daryll-Ann on a tour in the Netherlands. The tour is a great success as audience turn-outs are consistently strong. The band also plays other select dates with label mates Johan, Benjamin B and Scram C Baby.

No Rest For the Alonely

In 1998 the band plays at Noorderslag, Pinkpop and Lowlands, three of the biggest Dutch festivals. The band is also judged as most promising new act of the year and receives a Zilveren Harp, a prestigious Dutch award. In March the band’s second album "No Rest for the Alonely" is released in the Netherlands . It is a success and its first single "Situations Complications" receives a lot of airplay. Later that year the album is also released in the United Kingdom with a slightly different title, "No Rest for the Lonely". Following this release the band tours the UK under the banner of British music magazine Melody Maker.

Leaving Sparks

Caesar plays Noorderslag again in 1999 and receives an Edison nomination for No Rest for the Alonely. For the Marlboro Flashback Tour the band plays a set of Motown covers. In September Caesar flies to Chicago to work with infamous producer Steve Albini to record their third album, Leaving Sparks. In the meantime an acoustic version of Before My Head Explodes is included on the collection cd Twee Meter Sessie NL 1. The band also plays a set on the accompanying TV show. "Leaving Sparks" is released in March 2000.

Caesar

In early 2001, after a break of a six months, Caesar starts recording demo tracks for their upcoming self-titled album. In May the band plays as support act for US musician Stephen Malkmus. A year later the fictional rockumentary Shooting Stars is released. Two years earlier the band had participated in a 12 day shoot, playing a famous Dutch pop group. This pop group is the main focus of this feature film directed by Ronen Abas and Guy Mel.

Marien Dorleijn leaves Caesar in December to focus more on his main band Nimbus. He does play on the band’s fourth album released in the following year. This self-titled album marks a return to the raucous and energetic sound of the band’s debut album. In March and October the band visits the US, respectively playing at South By South West and the CMJ Music Marathon in New York.

ide Projects

Caesar plays some shows in France in March 2004. Van Oosten composes music for Zoenen of Schoppen (‘Kissing or Kicking’), a movie directed by Janice Pierre. The picture premieres at the Dutch Film Festival in Utrecht in September. Marit de Loos joins Solex on drums during their October tour in the US.

During a self-proclaimed ‘sabbatical year’ the band actively pursues more side projects in 2005. Roald van Oosten starts Ghost Trucker with members of Alamo Race Track and Kopna Kopna. In January this band records a 3voor12-session at the Noorderslag festival.

Van Oosten also writes and produces the music for short film "Brommermeisje" by Janneke van Heesch. The film opens at the Dutch Film Festival in October. Van Oosten also produces music for "Based on a True Story", a movie by W. Stokman.

Before My Band Explodes

In November Caesar reconvenes for two try-out concerts for an oncoming tour in January and February. This tour coincides with the release of "Before My Band Explodes". This retrospective album gives an overview of ten years of Caesar.

After this tour the band is again put on hold indefinitely.

Discography

* Clean (1996)
* No Rest for the Alonely (1998)
* Leaving Sparks (2000)
* Caesar (2003)
* Before My Band Explodes (2006)