Breakfast with Amy
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1986 in La Habra, California, United States |
| Founder | David Koval, Jeff "Tennessee Beans" Beahn, Christopher Colbert, Paul Pellegrin |
| Headquarters | La Habra , United States |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Breakfast with Amy was a Christian alternative rock group originating in 1986 from La Habra, California, specifically formed at the La Habra Four-Square church. The founding members consisted of lead singer David Koval, bassist Jeff "Tennessee Beans" Beahn, guitarist Christopher Colbert, and drummer Paul Pellegrin. This ensemble came together rapidly to cover a last-minute performance opportunity at their church.[1]
Subsequent lineup changes brought Caryn Barker on guitar and Charlotte Stripland on bass; in 1989, Bob "Edwin" Wohler replaced Stripland. During the band's concluding period, brothers Eric and Jeremy Wood contributed on bass and drums respectively.
In 1987, the band independently produced a four-track demo tape containing three songs, recorded at Half Moon Studio with engineer Dan Bush overseeing the session. Drums on this demo were played by Rich Berger.[2] A more polished demo followed the next year.
The year 1989 saw Greg Sostrom from Narrowpath Records approach the group, culminating in their 1990 contract and release of the album Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt. This album was recorded at Casbah Recording Studio located in Fullerton, California. The A side featured fresh tracks produced by Chaz Ramirez, notable for his contributions to Orange County’s New Wave and Punk scenes. The B side compiled earlier studio recordings that had been sold at live shows. Due to distribution difficulties limiting its reach, the band later signed with Michael Knott’s Blonde Vinyl Records in 1991.[3]
With Blonde Vinyl’s stronger backing of their avant-garde style and image, Breakfast with Amy gained recognition within the underground Christian rock movement emerging in Orange County since the early 1980s.[4] They released two full-length albums before Blonde Vinyl folded after Spectra Distribution declared bankruptcy.[5] The band disbanded shortly thereafter. In 1995, Flying Tart Records issued Live At The Hawleywould Bowl!, a live album capturing performances throughout their career. Although influential, they never secured widespread commercial success either inside or outside Christian music circles.
That same year, Gray Dot Records reissued their debut album with remastered audio plus three additional demo tracks. Among enthusiasts of early alternative Christian rock, Breakfast with Amy remains regarded as a key act from Blonde Vinyl’s roster, appearing on various compilations and producing one of the label’s rare music videos.[6]
Their concerts were distinguished by dramatic stagecraft including members in costumes, go-go dancers, flaming taxidermy props, and film projectors utilized as lighting effects. Shows frequently concluded with smashing instruments and intense feedback noise, which often restricted future bookings at clubs or church venues.
Musically, Breakfast with Amy is classified as post-punk infused with elements of psychedelic rock, art rock, and punk genres. Their live performances incorporated extended improvisational jams with vocals referencing popular culture. Their sound varied from catchy pop tunes to complex layers of guitar dissonance and feedback. Influences cited include U2, Echo & the Bunnymen, Sonic Youth, The Who, The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, and The New York Dolls.
Members
Band lineup
- David Koval — lead vocals, electric sitar, acoustic guitar, bass, keyboards, mandolin
- Jeff "Tennessee Beans" Beahn — bass guitar
- Charlotte Stripland — bass guitar
- Bob "Edwin" Wohler — bass guitar
- Eric Wood — bass guitar
- Christopher "Chrissy" Colbert — guitar
- Caryn Colbert — guitar
- Rich Berger — drums
- Paul Pellegrin — drums
- Jeremy Wood — drums
Support crew
- Christopher "Mr. Rhumba" Rumbaugh — band manager and Team captain
- Nathan Pellegrin — Projectionist
- Trish the Dish — Go Go dancer
- LaLa Nellie — Go Go dancer
- Beth — Go Go dancer
- Gina — Go Go dancer
- Sonja — Go Go dancer
- Margaret the Bubble Girl
- Happy Fun Clown — Ken Bower (Vice President of Voice of Youth)
Studio albums
- Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt (1990)
- Dad (1991)
- Love Gift (1992)
Live albums
- Live At The Hawleywould Bowl! (1995)
Compilation albums
- Blonde Vinyl Teaser II: Food for Thought (1991)
- Radioactive Hits: The Definitive Blonde Vinyl Collection (1993)
- Live Long and Perspire: Sub Tart Vol. 1 (1995)
- Afters (1997)
- Toast and Olive. "Friends of Tomorrow" (1998)
Videos
- Me (music video)
- The Sound of One Hand Snacking [unreleased mockudrama]
Other releases
- Breakfast with Amy (custom demo)
- Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt (custom demo)
- Tuck in Your Love Gift [unreleased album from Vox Vinyl] (1991)
- Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt [reissue] (gray dot #gdr 9503CD) (1995)
See also
- ↑ "Recollections of drummer Paul Pellegrin, 25 May 2008" (private email to author).
- ↑ "Liner notes of the 'Breakfast with Amy' three-song demo tape"
- ↑ Artist Profile at Blonde Vinyl Tribute Page
- ↑ AMG review
- ↑ https://www.nifty-music.com/companies/2458.Spectra-Distribution_-Inc-
- ↑ Artist Profile at Blonde Vinyl Tribute Page