Holy Rollers (band)

Holy Rollers was an American punk band that formed in 1988 in Washington, D.C.[1] The band initially was composed of guitarist/vocalist Marc Lambiotte, bassist/vocalist Joe Aronstamn, and drummer/vocalist Max Micozzi (then known as Maria Jones).[2] Band members alternated lead vocals and Holy Rollers were the first D.C. punk band to incorporate three-part harmonies.[2] Music historians and authors Mark Andersen and Mark Jenkins described the band's sound as "kinetic punk-funk" with "passionate, message-driven songs." Holy Rollers were a part of new trend in post-hardcore artistic diversity that developed within the D.C. punk scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s.[3][4] They released three albums on Dischord Records, an American punk label that Noisey described as "one of the most respected and revered [record labels], punk or otherwise, in the world."[5][6] As AllMusic declared, "[w]ithout being an arena act or coming off with the aggrandizing air of one, the Holy Rollers still make big music that can inspire and go beyond simple post-hardcore approaches."[7]

Holy Rollers
OriginWashington, D.C.
GenresPunk, Post-Hardcore, Alternative
Years active1988-1995
LabelsDischord Records, Adult Swim Records, Shred of Dignity
Past membersJoey Aronstamn, Marc Lambiotte, Max Micozzi, Ed Trask, Chris Maynard Bopst, Dana Wachs, Jerry Busher
Websitehttps://dischord.com/band/holy-rollers

History

Aronstamn and Lambiotte had previously collaborated in the D.C. punk band Grand Mal, which was active from 1983 through 1985, releasing the album Binge Purge on Fountain of Youth Records in 1985. The pair eventually started a new band, auditioning several drummers before meeting Micozzi and starting Holy Rollers. Micozzi suggested the name for the new band, inspired by the way minister and activist Malcolm X used the term in his autobiography.[8] Holy Rollers debuted on March 24, 1989, opening a Fugazi, Swiz, and Edsel show at the Wilson Center,[9] a former church in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood of Washington D.C.[2]

Following their debut concert, Holy Rollers performed throughout 1989 with groups like Jawbox,[10] Fidelity Jones,[11] and Shudder to Think.[12] Also that year, the band's debut EP, Origami Sessions, was released on Dischord Records and Adult Swim Records, the latter a then-new record label by Dischord co-founder, Jeff Nelson. Around this time, Holy Rollers frequently collaborated with poet Juliana Luecking on performances and recordings.[2][13]

The group's debut album, As Is, was released by Dischord in 1990. It was co-produced by the band with Geoff Turner of Gray Matter. Aronstamn later remarked that As Is “didn’t capture our live sound" and "the basic tracks just didn’t have the power I felt.”[14] The Washington Post described one of the band's performances at a 1990 benefit concert organized by the Positive Force DC punk activist group as "jamming with meaning [...] It's amazing. [...] The awesome and unutterable power of it!"[15] In a favorable review of As Is, Trouser Press observed that Holy Rollers "display a remarkable range of musical knowledge that adequately supplements their limited musical abilities."[16]

Fabuley was released in 1991 and was co-produced by Ian MacKaye (of Fugazi and Minor Threat) and Don Zientara. The Washington Post described Fabuley as "questing and unsatisfied, as always, and a little more tuneful and produced than in the past," before praising the group's vocals and "layered harmonies."[4] Noisey's retrospective review of Fabuley remarked that, "[w]ith their three-part vocal harmonies, strident politics and more experimental approach to songs, Holy Rollers were perhaps one of the more overlooked bands on Dischord."[6]

Following the release of Fabuley, Micozzi left Holy Rollers and moved to San Francisco, joining the influential queercore band Tribe 8.[1]

Micozzi was replaced by Ed Trask, a drummer from Richmond, Virginia. Trask's friend Chris Maynard Bopst joined the band shortly after as a bassist[1] and Aronstamn shifted to second guitar.[2] The group's eponymous third album was released by Dischord in 1993 and was described by The Washington Post as "a testament to post-hardcore-punk's ability to open itself up without losing its original intensity."[17] In a critical review, Trouser Press remarked that the "material and craftsmanship are strong" on Holy Rollers, "but the band seems to have narrowed its vision, opting to stick with tried and true D.C. rock variations while cutting back on the vocal intricacy and the thematic diversity of individual songs."[16] The Washington City Paper gave Holy Rollers a favorable review, calling the album "something of a new beginning" and noting the band "have a new versatility and show themselves unafraid to use it."[18]

Trask and Bopst departed the band by the end of 1994, replaced by bassist Dana Wachs[19] and drummer Jerry Busher. Holy Rollers disbanded in 1995 after six years of performing and releasing music.[2]

During its existence, the group played numerous benefit concerts for various charities and causes, such as the D.C. branch of ACT UP,[20] the American Friends Service Committee,[21] the Washington Peace Center,[21] the Whitman-Walker Clinic,[22] and others. Most of the benefit concerts the band took part in were organized by Positive Force DC, with Micozzi noting in a 1989 interview that Holy Rollers "like to work hand in hand with them completely. They've helped us a lot with our first shows. Big shows where they gave us a chance to be involved. It's a community."[23]

Discography

Holy Rollers released three studio albums, one EP, and made numerous compilation appearances.[24]

Studio albums

  • As Is (1990, Dischord)
  • Fabuley (1991, Dischord)
  • Holy Rollers (1993, Dischord)

EPs and singles

  • Origami Sessions (1989, Dischord/Adult Swim Records)
  • Cringer / Holy Rollers split (1991, Shred of Dignity Records)
  • Watching the Grass Grow / Toy (1993, Dischord)

References
  1. Davis, John (Winter 1994). ""Holy Rollers"". Slanted (2): 23. hdl:1903.1/40329.
  2. Washington, Dischord Records 3819 Beecher St NW; U.s.a. 703.351.7507, Dc 20007-1802. "Dischord Records: Holy Rollers". Dischord Records. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  3. Andersen, Mark (2009). Dance of days : two decades of punk in the nation's capital. Mark Jenkins (4th ed.). New York: Akashic Books. ISBN 978-1-933354-99-6. OCLC 437084126.
  4. Jenkins, Mark (January 15, 1992). "Popular Music: Hard-Core Mainstream A Genre on the Edge Evolves into a Tradition". The Washington Post. pp. D7.
  5. "Dischord Records: Dischord Bands". www.dischord.com. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  6. "Dischord Records Is More Than Minor Threat and Fugazi: A Deep Dig Into The Label's Back Catalogue". www.vice.com. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  7. Holy Rollers - Fabuley Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-01-11
  8. Grotz, Erik (Summer 1989). "The Holy Rollers are Great People". Action Time (7): 19. hdl:1903.1/48963.
  9. "Fugazi, Swiz, Holy Rollers, and Edsel concert flier, Wilson Center, Washington, D.C., March 24, 1989 | Digital Collections @ the University of Maryland". digital.lib.umd.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  10. "Fidelity Jones, Parasite, and Jawbox concert flier, BBQ Iguana, Washington, D.C. September 29, 1989 | Digital Collections @ the University of Maryland". digital.lib.umd.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  11. "Fidelity Jones and Holy Rollers concert flier, BBQ Iguana, Washington, D.C., December 1, 1989 | Digital Collections @ the University of Maryland". digital.lib.umd.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  12. "Holy Rollers and Shudder to Think concert flier, d.c. Space, Washington, D.C., December 28, 1989 | Digital Collections @ the University of Maryland". digital.lib.umd.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  13. Cheslow, Sharon (1990). "Interrobang". hdl:1961/dcplislandora:38122.
  14. Viverito, Chris (1991). ""Holy Rollers"". Who Cares? (1): 17. hdl:1903.1/49108.
  15. Kliman, Todd (December 9, 1990). "Punk is Beautiful". The Washington Post. pp. SM28.
  16. 'Enthal, Andrea, McCaleb, Ian. "Holy Rollers". Trouser Press. Retrieved 2022-11-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. Jenkins, Mark (October 22, 1993). "Potent Rollers, Multi-colored Sky". The Washington Post. p. 24.
  18. Jenkins, Mark (1993-09-17). "On a Roll". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  19. Campbell, Madeleine. "Dana Wachs - Issue 5". Women in Sound. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  20. "Flier for an AIDS benefit for the Carl Vogel Foundation and the ACT UP DC needle exchange program featuring Holy Rollers, Circus Lupus, Girls Against Boys and 3LG at Sanctuary Theater, December 18". DIG DC.
  21. "Flier for a benefit concert for War Resisters League and American Friends Service Committee featuring Shudder-To-Think, Holy Rollers, Desiderata, Jawbox, and Fly at Sanctuary Theater, January 26". DIG DC.
  22. "Holy Rollers, Gray Matter, Outcrowd concert flier, Washington, D.C., April 20, 1990 | Digital Collections @ the University of Maryland". digital.lib.umd.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  23. McClard, Kent (1989). ""HarD.C.ore: The Holy Rollers"". No Answers (8): 33.
  24. "Holy Rollers". Discogs. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
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