Choke (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Jack Jaggard, Clay Shea, Shawn Moncrieff, Stefan Levasseur |
| Defunct | 2007 (initial breakup) |
| Headquarters | Edmonton , Canada |
| Products | Punk rock music, albums, tours |
Choke was a punk rock group originating from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
History
The band was established by Jack Jaggard, Clay Shea, Shawn Moncrieff, and Stefan Levasseur, and they embarked on extensive tours throughout Canada and the United States.
Their initial two albums, Lotion (1995) and Give'er (1996), were self-released, with the latter being reissued by Smallman Records following their signing in 1997. In 1998, they put out Needless To Say, which was acknowledged by Exclaim! as one of the top ten punk albums. The 1999 release Foreword represented a departure from their skate-punk roots; although Shea referred to it as a "career killer," it received acclaim as "a tremendous accomplishment by punk standards" and helped establish their position among Canada's premier punk bands alongside Propagandhi, Painted Thin, and I Spy.
Later works included There's A Story To This Moral in 2002 and Slow Fade Or How I Learned To Question Infinity in 2005, both recorded in Vancouver with producers Blair Calibaba (Gob, Propagandhi) and Paul Forgues (Slayer, Nine Inch Nails, Treble Charger). This fifth release under Smallman Records was praised by Exclaim! as "...one of the finest technically progressive bands on the planet."
Breakup
Choke concluded their activities in 2007 after completing a final tour that ended in Edmonton on June 9. Following the disbandment, Shawn Moncrieff and Clay Shea created Passenger Action, alongside Ryan Podlubny (formerly of The Fullblast, Fordirelifesake) and Allan Harding (formerly of Thirty Nights of Violence, Sleeping Girl).
The group reunited for a farewell tour in 2013. They resumed performing live shows in 2022 and also recorded a new song titled "Out of Sync."
Band members
- Jack Jaggard – guitar, vocals
- Shawn Moncrieff – guitar, vocals
- Clay Shea – bass guitar, vocals
- Graham Churchill – drums
Discography
- Lotion (1994)
- Give'er (1995)
- Needless to Say (1998)
- Foreword (1999)
- Across the Water (Split with Adhesive, Layaway Plan & Astream) (2001)
- There's a Story to This Moral (2002)
- Slow Fade Or: How I Learned to Question Infinity (2005)
- "Out of Sync" (2022)
See also
External links
- Choke at Smallman Records website.