Estradasphere

Estradasphere was an American experimental band that originated in Santa Cruz, California, during the late 1990s. The band, which in its last incarnation was based in Seattle, consisted of six multi-instrumentalists from a variety of musical backgrounds trained in disciplines ranging from classical music and jazz to heavy metal.[1]

Estradasphere
Estradasphere performing in 2007
Estradasphere performing in 2007
Background information
OriginSanta Cruz, California, United States
Seattle, Washington, United States (now)
GenresExperimental music
Experimental rock
Years active1998–2008
Labels
Past membersBand members
Websiteestradasphere.com

In November 2007, members of Estradasphere started touring with Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls,[2] as well as helping to produce her debut solo album Who Killed Amanda Palmer.[3]

The band is on a "permanent hiatus"[4] since 2010.

Music

Estradasphere were influenced by many different artists from many different subgenres, such as jazz, funk, techno, classical music, pop, heavy metal, New Age, Latin, Balkan, klezmer, Greek and Romani.[5] They were influenced by artists such as The Beach Boys and Secret Chiefs 3, and have been compared to Mr. Bungle,[6] Frank Zappa and John Zorn.[7] Similarly to Mr. Bungle and Secret Chiefs 3, the band mixes several genres in its songs.[8] The band was a self-proclaimed inventor of bizarre genres such as "Bulgarian Surf", "Romanian Gypsy-Metal", and "Spaghetti Eastern"[5] and sounded like "Psychedelic-Sci-fi", "Gypsy-Metal-Jazz" and "Epic-Cinema-Thon", according to its MySpace.[9]

In 1997, members of the group released an avant-garde metal album called Koolaide Moustache in Jonestown under the name Don Salsa.[10]

Band members

Members

According to www.estradasphere.com:

Former members

Discography
Title Release Date Label
It's Understood (LP) June 26, 2000 Mimicry
These are the Days (VHS) 2000
The Silent Elk of Yesterday (EP) September 18, 2001 Mimicry
Buck Fever (LP) 2001 Mimicry
Quadropus (LP) October 28, 2003 Mimicry
Passion for Life (LP/DVD) March 9, 2004 Mimicry
These are the Days (DVD Reissue) October 3, 2005
Palace of Mirrors (LP) September 19, 2006 The End
Palace of Mirrors - Live (DVD) 2007 The End
The Pegasus Vault EP (EP) February, 2008 Lobefood

Notes
  1. "Estradasphere's website". Archived from the original on 2007-07-16. Retrieved 2007-07-21. Estradasphere is a band of multi-instrumentalists from an unlikely variety of musical backgrounds. Timb Harris (violin/trumpet), Jason Schimmel (guitar/banjo/keyboards/vocals), Tim Smolens (upright and electric bass/vocals), Kevin Kmetz (Tsugaru Shamisen/guitar/keyboards), Adam Stacey (accordion/keyboards/clavinet), and Lee Smith (drums/percussion) were trained in disciplines ranging from classical and jazz to metal. This diverse instrumental and stylistic palette enables them to execute a vast array of orchestrations and even forge entirely new genres such as "Bulgarian Surf," "Romanian Gypsy-Metal," and "Spaghetti Eastern."
  2. Live show review of Amanda Palmer with Estradasphere @ 608 Club in Ballard by Three Imaginary Girls Archived December 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  3. Estradasphere touring with Amanda Palmer Archived November 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Estradasphere's Facebook". Retrieved 2011-08-03.
  5. "Estradasphere's MySpace". Retrieved 2007-07-21. Estradasphere is a band trained in disciplines ranging from classical and jazz to metal.
  6. "Biography @ Allmusic". Retrieved 2007-07-21. Unmistakably derived from the genre-bending loins of experimental rockers Mr. Bungle and Secret Chiefs 3, Estradasphere respectfully lives up to the ambitious musical aims of their wildly talented mentors.
  7. "SSMT Reviews". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-07-21. Estradasphere returns with another collection of Zappa-esquely varied songs spanning almost every musical genre invented since early Homo sapiens individuals first blew into hollow branches recreationally.
  8. "Biography @ Allmusic". Retrieved 2007-07-21. Their hectic mix of jazz, metal, video game themes, and bluegrass was eaten up by hardcore Mr. Bungle fans, but went largely unnoticed elsewhere.
  9. "Estradasphere's MySpace". Retrieved 2007-07-21. Sounds like a Psychedelic-Sci-fi... Gypsy-Metal-Jazz... Epic-Cinema-Thon.
  10. Sanvicens, Justin (14 July 2004). "Exclusive Interview". Xtreme Music. Archived from the original on 1 April 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
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