Caveman Shoestore
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Fred Chalenor, Henry Franzoni, Elaine di Falco |
| Defunct | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Portland , United States |
| Products | Avant-prog music albums |
Caveman Shoestore was an avant-prog ensemble formed in 1991 by bassist Fred Chalenor, drummer Henry Franzoni, and keyboardist/vocalist Elaine di Falco.
History
Since 1976, bassist Fred Chalenor and drummer Henry Franzoni had worked together, most notably in the group Face Ditch. Their paths crossed with Elaine di Falco, a vocalist from the punk band God Wads, during a performance at a music festival in Portland. This meeting led to the creation of Caveman Shoestore, which produced a ten-song cassette entitled Rock in 1991.
Their first full-length release, Master Cylinder, appeared in 1992 through Tim/Kerr Records. The album reflected a wide range of inspirations, from Conlon Nancarrow to Black Sabbath, and was often likened to the sound of King Crimson during their Discipline period. In 1994, they released Flux, which featured guest vocalist Amy DeVargas. The following year, the band collaborated with Hugh Hopper on the project Caveman Hughscore. After a ten-year break, Caveman Shoestore regrouped and unveiled Super Sale in 2005. Their last album, Frankensongs, was recorded in 2006, finalized in 2010, and ultimately released in 2020. Between 2011 and 2018, Chalenor, Franzoni, and Doug Therealt performed as a noise improvisation trio under the same band name. Guitarist Mike Gamble made a guest appearance for one show. Fred Chalenor died from early onset Alzheimer's disease on June 23, 2018, and was honored with induction into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame in 2023.
Discography
- Studio albums
- Master Cylinder (Tim/Kerr, 1992)
- Flux (Tim/Kerr, 1994)
- Caveman Hughscore (Tim/Kerr, 1995)
- Super Sale (Build-a-Buzz, 2005)
- Frankensongs (Buildabuzz, 2010)