20 Minute Loop
| Company type | Independent band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Greg Giles |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Area served | Bay Area, California, United States |
Key people | Greg Giles, Kelly Atkins |
| Products | Albums, EPs, live performances |
| Website | 20minuteloop |
20 Minute Loop is a band based in San Francisco recognized for their unique "freak-pop" style, characterized by catchy melodies and intricate vocal harmonies.
History
Originating around 1995 as a home-recording endeavor by Greg Giles, 20 Minute Loop began with acoustic sessions alongside Kelly Atkins, who, along with Giles, became the band's sole steady members. After trying out several names, Giles ultimately chose 20 Minute Loop, inspired by the length of cockpit voice recorder tapes.
The official formation of the band took place in 1996, and they released their first EP, With God On The Dog Team Trail, through Trystero Records in 1997. This initial lineup was distinct from the one that would later solidify. Following their departure from Trystero, the band faced difficulties in releasing new music until they signed with Fortune Records, an indie label based in Berkeley. Fortune handled the release of their first three albums as well as a split 7-inch record shared with The Monolith.
Their self-titled debut album, 20 Minute Loop, earned favorable reviews and gained support from local venues and distributors like Aquarius Records, helping them establish a foothold in the Bay Area indie music community. Their subsequent album, Decline of Day, received positive critiques from sources including Pitchfork and Allmusic, although broader acclaim remained elusive. The album's cover art was created by Judah Nagler of The Velvet Teen.
The band achieved greater recognition with Yawn + House = Explosion, which attracted significant attention from print media and indie music blogs. This release was notable for being their only album to sell out, with several thousand copies sold. Its distinctive visual design and inventive lyrical format further heightened interest.
After parting ways with Fortune Records, 20 Minute Loop produced their fourth album, Famous People Marry Famous People (2008), recorded at John Vanderslice's Tiny Telephone Studios in San Francisco. This sophisticated and layered record featured contributions from various guest artists and contained conceptually rich tracks described on their Bandcamp site. Despite limited promotional support due to the absence of a label backing, the album received praise from outlets such as PopMatters and KQED.
Following additional live shows, the group announced their disbandment in 2009, citing difficulties balancing musical pursuits with personal responsibilities. Although they held what was intended as a final concert in November 2009, they reunited for Noise Pop 2012 to serve as the opening act for Imperial Teen.
In 2014, Giles and Atkins revived 20 Minute Loop alongside Kevin Seal of Griddle, adopting a more minimalist approach that highlighted vocal harmonies and lyrical themes. Motivated by this formation, Jim Greer of Fortune Records recorded new material for the band. They released Songs Praising the Mutant Race in 2017 and have maintained an active performance schedule, most recently appearing at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall in February 2023.
Members
- Kelly Atkins – Vocals, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Flute, Samples
- Greg Giles – Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizer
- Nils Erickson – Bass, Guitar, Rhodes, Clavinet, Pedal Steel Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Adam Cunha – Bass, Backing Vocals
- Mike Romano – Drums, Percussion, Piano, Backing Vocals
- Kevin Seal – Piano, Rhodes, Vocals
Previous Members
- Joe Ostrowski – Guitarist
- James Kingsbury – Bassist
- Alex Kamages – Drummer
- Dan Jones – Bassist
- Ethan Turner – Drummer
- Tai Kenning – Drums and Percussion
Albums
- With God On The Dog Team Trail CD (Trystero, 1997)
- Jubilation
- Onion Smut
- Car Crash
- The Song You Hear Before You Die
- 20 Minute Loop CD (Fortune Records, 1999)
- She Hated Dogs
- Everybody Out
- Face Like A Horse
- Aeroflot
- Up On The Hill
- Disconnect
- You Know So Much
- Bunnyman and Chickengirl
- Hookworm
- All My Friends/Drowning
- Decline of Day CD (Fortune Records, 2001)
- Jubilation
- Moses
- All Manner
- Daughter's Down
- Pilot Light
- Force of Habit
- Mechanical Angels
- Elephant
- Mompha Termina
- Vaccine
- Hell In A Handbasket
- Aquarium Song/Kiddie Porn Sting
- Yawn + House = Explosion CD (Fortune Records, 2005)
- Parking Lot
- Cora May
- Properties Of Dirt
- Book of J
- Carlos the Jackal
- It's Time To Honor Ghouls
- Ambassadors
- 5 AM to 9 AM
- Our William Tell
- I'll Never Forget You
- Miriam Hopkins
- Famous People Marry Famous People CD (Self-Released, 2009)
- Vanilla March
- Dr. Vitus Werdegast
- English As A Second Language
- The Bone Is The Orbital Planet Of The Nerve
- Automatic Pilot
- Empire
- We Wait For The Crown
- Mercury Vapor
- Latin Names and Straight Pins
- ESMA
- The Kirkbridge Plan
- Winsor McCay
- Songs Praising the Mutant Race (Self-Released, 2017)
- Mercury Vapor
- English as a Second language
- Empire
- Giftgas
- Elephant
- Hell in a Handbasket
- Parking Lot
- Drowning
- Aquarium
- Carlos the Jackal
- Winsor McCay
- Never My Love
Compilation Contributions
- She Hated Dogs featured on Fortune Cookies (Fortune Records, 2000)
- Pilot Light included in Azadi! (Fire Museum, 2003)
- Miriam Hopkins appeared on West of Eden (Zip Records, 2006)
- Our William Tell on Fortune Cookies: Part II (Fortune Records, 2006)
External links
- Official Facebook Page
- Bandcamp page for streaming and purchasing all releases
- Fortune Records – Label responsible for current releases.