Absinthe Blind
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Seth Fein, Adam Fein, Tristan Wraight |
| Headquarters | Urbana, Illinois , United States |
| Products | Shoegaze and dream pop music |
Absinthe Blind was a shoegaze and dream pop ensemble originating from Urbana, Illinois, in the United States. The group was established in 1996 by siblings Seth and Adam Fein along with Tristan Wraight. This band resulted from the fusion of Adam Fein's earlier project, also named Absinthe Blind, with The Dr. Johanson Band, which featured Seth Fein and Wraight. Bassist Mike Zolfo, formerly of The Dr. Johanson Band, completed the lineup. As the Champaign-Urbana music scene attracted national recognition alongside bands such as Hum and Poster Children, Absinthe Blind became affiliated with the Toast Music collective. During the production of Music for Security, Erin Fein, the younger sister of Seth and Adam, joined the band while attending the University of Illinois.
In support of their album Music For Security, Absinthe Blind embarked on a national tour that included an appearance at The CMJ Music Marathon. For their fourth release, The Everyday Separation, they signed with Mud Records, which was distributed by Parasol Records. In 2002, Mike Zolfo departed to pursue music studies and was succeeded by Brett Sanderson on bass. The band’s final album, Rings, was released in 2003 before Adam Fein announced his exit from the group. This announcement led to a farewell tour culminating at Urbana’s Canopy Club on September 13, 2003.
Following Adam Fein’s departure, the remaining members initially intended to continue under the Absinthe Blind name but ultimately formed a new band called Orphans, which later became known as Headlights. Adam Fein currently collaborates with Jeff Dimpsey of Hum in the project Gazelle. After Headlights disbanded, Erin Fein and Brett Sanderson created Psychic Twin. After her divorce, Erin moved to Brooklyn and in 2016 signed with Polyvinyl Records, releasing the album Strange Diary, which was preceded by the single "Hopeless."
Discography
Albums
- When Our Flashes Sway (Hammerhead, 1997)
- Solarshift (Hammerhead, 1998)
- Music For Security (Hammerhead, 2000)
- The Everyday Separation (Mud, 2001)
- Rings (Mud, 2003)
- Winning Is Our Business and Business Is Good (rarities collection) (2004)
Singles and EPs
- Image (1999)
- Live to Forget (self-released, 2000)
- 6.28.01 live (self-released, 2001)
- The Separation B-Sides (self-released, 2002)
- 9.13.03 live (self-released, 2006)
Compilations
- Stuck in the Chimney (More Christmas Singles) – contributed "Silent Night" (Parasol, 2000)
- Parasol's Sweet Sixteen, Volume 4 – contributed "Antarctica" (Parasol, 2001)
- Small, My Table: Innocent Words – contributed "The Night You Came Home" (Innocent Words, 2002)
- Parasol's Sweet Sixteen, Volumes 6 & 7 – contributed "Shields" and "The Break (It's Been There All This Time)" (Parasol, 2003)
- Soak Your Shoes In Red Wine & Strike The Angels Dumb – contributed "The Truth That Paints Your Eyes" (Grand Theft Autumn, 2003)
- openingbands.comp (A Snapshot of Champaign-Urbana: 2003) – contributed "The Break" (OpeningBands, 2003)
Film and television
- Cold Case: The Road (2008) – featured "Bands 2" from Rings
- Speakeasy, Project Greenlight Season 2 (2002) – featured "Bands 1" from Rings