Gregor Samsa (band)

Gregor Samsa
Gregor Samsa
Background information
Origin	Richmond, Virginia, United States
Genres	Post-rock, shoegazing
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Iodine Recordings (Past); The Kora Records (United States); Own Records (Europe)

Gregor Samsa is a band from Virginia formed in 2000 and fronted by Champ Bennett. It takes its name from the main character of Franz Kafka's novella The Metamorphosis.

The band's sound, although rooted in the post-rock genre, differs from that of other bands in the genre in that it employs dual vocals by Bennett and Nikki King, a feature which relates them to the shoegazing and slowcore genres. Gregor Samsa has stated on its website that "the early history of the group has been lost in a wash of noise, strange beeps, and outright lies”.[1]

Reviews of their album compared it to acts such as Brian Eno,[2] Sigur Rós, Múm,[3] Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Low.[4]

In support of its latest release, the band played twenty-one eastern US venues in March before then venturing a 23-date tour of the United Kingdom, France, Luxembourg, and Germany during April. Historically, the band has chosen to tour and perform alongside a wide array bands and genres including Spokane, Kayo Dot, Barzin, Part Chimp, Calla, Engine Down, Isis, Pelican, Explosions in the Sky, Interpol, and many others.

The band completed their most recent album, "Rest", in late 2007 and released it in April 2008.

Current members

Champ Bennett - guitar, vocals, piano
Billy Bennett - drums, video, samples
Nikki King - Rhodes piano, keyboard, vocals
Jeremiah Klinger - guitar, baritone guitar, clarinet, theremin
Cory Bise - bass guitar
Bobby Donne - Synth
Mike Ashley - drums
Mia Matsumiya - violin

Past members and contributors

Brandon Evans - guitar, keyboard, lap steel guitar
Jason LaFerrera - bass guitar
Earl Yevak - drums
Bobby Donne - bass guitar
Rick Alverson - guitar
Jason Wood - bass guitar
Eric Yevak - guitar
Amber Blankenship - cello, violin
Jon Sullivan - double bass
Nick Wurz - bass guitar (sometimes played with a bow)
Nathan Altice - guitar, keyboard
Tony Thaxton - drums
Toby Driver - clarinet and vibraphone

Discography

Albums

55:12 (CDLP 2006)
Rest (CDLP 2008)
Over Air (CD 2009)

EPs

Gregor Samsa (CDEP 2002)
27:36 (CDEP 2003)
27:36+2dot (LP 2004)

Splits

Split with The Silent Type (2001)[5]
Split with Red Sparowes (2005)

gollark: In any case, *any* government could decide to start being more authoritarian one day. Like Turkey's a few years back.

gollark: I must have been been confused.

gollark: (also, I thought you lived in the UK...?)

gollark: Or random third parties with access to your data? That could be bad too?

gollark: Oh, and THEY could never do evil things!

References

External links

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[1] Stylus Magazine review of Gregor Samsa

[2] Allmusic.com

[3] Popmatters.com

[4] Stylusmagazine.com

[5] Splendid E-zine reviews: Gregor Samsa/The Silent Type