American Football - Never Meant Video

American Football Reunion @ Pygmalion Fest

Here is the festival's website. Tickets go on sale Friday at 11 AM.

The One Up Downstairs

While in Cambridge, MA this summer I happened upon this Ep in Newburry Comics. Polyvinyl must have just re-released all of their old stuff onto vinyl, which seems to be a common trend amongst record companies these days. Anywho, The One Up Downstairs was an emo band from the Chicago area from '96 to '97, whos line up consisted of Allen and David Johnson on bass and guitar, Steve Lamos on drums, and Mike Kinsella doing vocals. Aparently the band recorded these songs back in '97, but broke up before the record could be pressed. Polyvinyl didnt get around to releasing these songs until '06, and even then it was just a digidownload. Kinsella and Lamos went on to form American Football, while the Johnson brothers(I'm assuming they are brothers) went on to play in Very Secretary and Favorite Saints. Kinsella was once in Cap'n Jazz and Owls, and currently plays in Joan of Arc and makes music as Owen. Lamos plays in The Geese and DMS.


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The One Up Downstairs EP

Sharks Keep Moving

Sharks Keep Moving was an indie band in the Seattle Aea in the 90s. Their sound is constantly being compared to Minus The Bear, due in part to the fact that Jake Snider sings in both bands. The best way i can describe their sound is this: Sharks Keep Moving is to Minus The Bear what The One Up Downstairs is to American Football. Sharks had a pretty mellow sound, sometimes getting pretty spacey and jazzy. Their songs vary in length, ranging from two minutes to fourteen minutes. Sharks Keep Moving had one split, one LP, two EPs, and were featured on three compilations. I have had their music for years, but could not find the split or compilation songs, until last night, when my man Cheese hooked it up with some music database. Thank you kind sir. As for the split and compilations, I only have the Sharks songs, sorry guys.

If you just download one album, please make it Desert Strings and Drifters, just so you can hear the song Cashmere, Washington. The chorus haunts my thoughts. I was lucky enough to snag this on vinyl in Cambridge, MA at Newburry Comics, and let me tell you, it sounds amazing.

The members of Sharks Keep Moving went on to play in such bands as Minus The Bear, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Kill Sadie, Onalaska, The Blood Brothers, and Jaguar Love.

Heres the Video for the song "Logger", its just a slideshow with the music behind it, but its the best song that is on youtube, seeing as SKM dosn't have any live videos. The only downside of being a band before like 2002.


Buck buck, tour was fun.


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Pause and Clause



Sharks Keep Moving


Desert Strings and Drifters


Compilations and a Split

Colossal

Formed in Elgin, Illinois around 2001, Colossal featured members of renowned punk acts like The Lawrence Arms and Tuesday. However, Colossal's sound was much more rooted in the gentle, jazz-influenced emo styling that dominated Chicago's music scene in the mid-90's; taking a nod from bands such as Braid, Friction, American Football, and Cap'n Jazz (huh, imagine that) Colossal's sound is characterized by clean guitar tones, jangly pop riffs, the occasional flourish of trumpet, upbeat drums, and baritone vocals.

Pat Ford is the primary vocalist here, and his deep voice dominates the tracks. However, when other band members pipe up the result is absolutely wonderful (check out "Plateau Song" on the EP and "The 1/5 Compromise" on the full length).

The music that Colossal has created is imaginative, and rehashes many staples of the midwestern emo scene without making them seem old and worn out. So check it out!

The band is currently on hiatus.

Their myspace is here.

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Brave the Elements [EP] (2003)



Welcome the Problems (2004)