Crystal Antlers
Crystal Antlers was an American band from Long Beach, California.[1]
Crystal Antlers | |
|---|---|
 Crystal Antlers at Debaser in Stockholm, Sweden | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Long Beach, California |
| Genres | indie rock, neo-psychedelia, psychedelic rock |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Labels | Innovative Leisure |
| Members | Jonny Bell Andrew King Kevin Stuart |
| Past members | Errol Davis Victor Rodriguez Cora Foxx Damian Edwards |
| Website | www |
History
Origins
The band started in late 2006[2] in Long Beach, California, as a 3-piece, Kevin Stuart (drums), Errol Davis (guitar) and Jonny Bell (bass/vocals). The three had met in high school music class and later worked together as chimney sweeps.[3] Their first single was recorded at Closer Studio in San Francisco; "Parting Song For The Torn Sky" was later re-mixed for the band's first EP.
After the first single was recorded, Victor Rodriguez-Guerrero joined the band on organ. In 2007, Damian Edwards joined on percussion. A second single was released in 2007 under the label Backflip, out of Orange, California, produced by guitarist Michael Belfer, and recorded at Mama Jo's; this song, "Until The Sun Dies (Part 2)", was likewise later re-recorded for the EP.
Crystal Antlers EP, Tentacles, and Touch & Go Records (2008–2009)
In the fall of 2007, Crystal Antlers began recording its first EP, Crystal Antlers, with producer Ikey Owens, who had been making regular guest appearances with the band for several months. After the majority of the tracking was complete, guitarist Errol Davis left the band to pursue other interests and Andrew King joined. The EP was released in March 2008.[4] In summer 2008 the band signed with the label Touch and Go records, who re-issued the EP with new art by Jefferson Mayday Mayday.[3]
Tentacles, their debut LP,[5] was released on April 7, 2009, as the last new release issued by Touch and Go.[6] The band spent the rest of 2009 touring the US and Europe in support of the release.[3]
2010
In the summer of 2009, organist Victor Rodriguez-Guerrero left the band and was replaced by Cora Foxx. In the fall of 2009 the band self-released a tape entitled Tapes Volume 1 Tentacles Era, featuring home recordings, previously unreleased demos and other rarities. The tape is to be the first in a series of very limited hand-made releases by the band.
In February 2010, the band briefly moved into a barn in La Punta Banda, Mexico, to begin writing for its next album, Two-Way Mirror,[3] which was released in summer 2011.[7]
2013
On October 15, the band released its third album, Nothing Is Real, on the boutique Los Angeles label Innovative Leisure.[8]
Members
- Current
- Jonny Bell – bass, woodwinds, vocals
- Andrew King – guitar
- Kevin Stuart – drums
- Former
- Victor Rodriguez - organ
- Errol Davis – guitar, organ
- Cora Foxx - organ
- Damian Edwards – percussion
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Crystal Antlers EP CD/LP/Download | Self-Released, Touch & Go Records | S/R version limited to 3000 |
| 2009 | Tentacles CD/LP/Download | Touch And Go Records | - |
| 2011 | Two-Way Mirror | Recreation Ltd. | - |
| 2011 | Son of The Mirror 10" Vinyl only | Recreation Ltd. | Limited to 500 |
| 2013 | Nothing Is Real CD/LP/Download | Innovative Leisure | - |
Singles
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Parting Song For The Torn Sky 7"/CDR | Majic Wallet | Limited to 500 |
| 2007 | Swamp Song 7" | Backflip | Limited to 250 |
| 2010 | Little Sister/Dead Horses 7"/Download | Self-Released | Limited to 500 |
| 2011 | Summer Solstice 4-Ways 7" | Recreation Ltd. | Limited to 500 |
Collections and compilations
| Year | Title | Label | Song/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Spanish Archer Compilation CD/Download | Spanish Archer | Featured a cover of Bob Dylan's It's all over now baby blue |
| 2008 | Trust Us "A Long Beach Compilation" CD/Download | Fidotrust | Featured an alternate mix of the song Arcturus |
| 2009 | Tapes' Volume No. 1 "Tentacles Era" Cassette | Self-Released | Featured 21 Tracks of demos, work tapes and other rarities |
| 2010 | Chickens In Love Compilation CD/LP/Download | 826 LA | Featured the song "100 Pigs" written by kids with the band |
References
- Notes
- Jayasuriya, Mehan (November 17, 2008). "Crystal Antlers: EP". PopMatters. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- Reynaldo, Shawn (February 13, 2009). "Artist to Watch: Crystal Antlers". XLR8R. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- Newkirk, Shea (March 5, 2012). "Crystal Antlers". Long Beach Independent.
- Mugan, Chris (January 27, 2009). "Crystal Antlers, Luminaire, London". The Independent.
- "Crystal Antlers - Tentacles". Citizen Dick. April 1, 2009. Archived from the original on June 21, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- Ducker, Eric (April 15, 2009). "Crystal Antlers rolls with the punches". Los Angeles Times (Blog).
- Young, Alex (July 15, 2011). "Crystal Antlers – Two-Way Mirror". Consequence of Sound.
- Larson, Jeremy D. (October 16, 2013). "Crystal Antlers Nothing Is Real Innovative Leisure; 2013". Pitchfork.