Akron/Family
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Defunct | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Portland, Los Angeles, and Joshua Tree , United States |
| Products | Music albums |
Akron/Family was a U.S.-based experimental rock group with folk influences, active between 2002 and 2013. Its members were located in Portland, Los Angeles, and Joshua Tree, California.
Music and history
Members Dana Janssen, Seth Olinsky, and Miles Seaton were multi-instrumentalists and vocalists who focused on improvisational performances and harmonizing in three parts. Their first album incorporated field recordings and fused elements of psychedelic, electronic, and folk music.
Early years (2003–2006)
Between 2003 and 2007, Akron/Family played a key role in the Williamsburg, Brooklyn community centered around the "Gimme! Coffee" café, which influenced much of their songwriting.
In 2003, the band submitted demo recordings to Michael Gira, founder of Young God Records, leading to a contract the following year. Their self-titled debut album was released in March 2005, blending complex electronic sounds with pastoral folk styles. That same month, they supported Gira’s Angels of Light on the album Sing "Other People" and embarked on extensive tours throughout the United States and Europe as both opening act and headliner. Their touring companions included Great Lake Swimmers and Sir Richard Bishop.
October 2005 brought the release of Akron/Family & Angels of Light, a split record shared with Angels of Light. After releasing Meek Warrior in October 2006, the band previewed upcoming tracks on WNYC radio, indicating work on another album. They also lent their vocals to Canadian post-rock group Do Make Say Think’s albums You, You're a History in Rust and Other Truths.
Love Is Simple (2007)
In September 2007, founding member Ryan Vanderhoof departed amicably between the completion of Love Is Simple and the beginning of their U.S. tour to reside at a Buddhist Dharma center in the Midwest. The September tour featured support from Megafaun and Greg Davis, who joined Akron/Family on stage to create a seven-member ensemble. During their October west coast tour, Megafaun and Greg Davis continued performing alongside Akron/Family, with The Dodos opening. In spring 2008, Akron/Family toured with Megafaun as support; all three members of Megafaun joined them live, expanding the lineup to six musicians.
Set 'Em Wild, Set Em Free (2008–2011)
On October 5, 2008, Akron/Family announced they had begun work on a new album. Set 'Em Wild, Set Em Free was released by Dead Oceans Records on May 5, 2009; however, it leaked online in February 2009. Toward the end of that year, Akron/Family led a tour supported by Slaraffenland as openers and Jeffrey Lewis and the Junkyard as primary support. Slaraffenland also contributed percussion and horn sections during Akron/Family’s performances.
S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT (2011–2012)
The band confirmed their subsequent release titled S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT, which came out in the United States on February 8, 2011, followed by a U.K. release on March 14. Various versions of this album—including remixes and alternate mixes—surfaced online from December 2010 through January 2011. These iterations were compiled into the <bmbz> 2LP edition for Record Store Day 2011 featuring contributions from Phil Cook, Greg Davis, Dana Janssen, Chris Koltay, Mark Lawson, Seth Olinsky, and Miles Seaton.
During this timeframe, Akron/Family collaborated with Swans on their 2012 album The Seer, appearing on the track "A Piece of the Sky." The band also encountered controversy regarding accusations that they had appropriated a skull logo from California powerviolence group Man Is the Bastard for use on merchandise.
Sub Verses era and hiatus (2013–present)
The band's sixth full-length record, Sub Verses, was launched on April 30, 2013, through Dead Oceans. Akron/Family embarked on a tour spanning from January 29 until December 8, 2013. Following this extensive touring period, the group decided to part ways to pursue individual endeavors, though they did not rule out the chance of reuniting in the future. During this interval, frontman Seth Olinsky established Cy Dune and co-founded Lightning Records; Miles Seaton pursued a solo path; and Dana Janssen initiated the project Dana Buoy.
Tragically, in February 2021, Miles Seaton passed away in a single-vehicle crash at the age of 41, effectively ending any hopes for a reunion.
Studio albums
- Akron/Family (2005)
- Akron/Family & Angels of Light (2005)
- Meek Warrior (2006)
- Love Is Simple (2007)
- Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free (2009)
- Akron/Family II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT (2011)
- Sub Verses (2013)
Other albums
- Eskimo (2003, independently released) CDR, featuring 16 tracks
- Franny & The Portal to the Fractal Universe of Positive Vibrations (2003, independently released) CDR, containing 13 tracks
- Intimate (2003, independently released) CDR with 6 tracks
- Akron (2005, independently released) CD including 7 tracks
- Akron/Family 2006 Tour CD (2006, self-released) – a compilation of 25 tracks recorded between 2002 and 2005, sold during tours with a limited run of 1000 copies
- Sparrow Trout Heart Sprout (2007; Achord Recordings) – Seth Olinsky’s three-disc set under Best of Seth, restricted to 500 copies
- Akron/Family, Greg Davis, and Megafaun OM EP (2007, self-released) – an eight-track collection of live performances and alternate takes sold on tour with only 1000 copies produced
- Totem – Improv Series 1 (2010, self-released) – a set of 14 improvisational recordings