Root!
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, EPs |
Root! was a rock ensemble originating from Melbourne, Australia, established in 2005. Their sound is an amalgamation of alt-country, blues, and indie rock, enriched with aspects of spoken word, satire, societal critique, and postmodern themes. The band attracted notice partly because one member had previously been associated with the Melbourne group TISM.
History
Root! started in early 2005 with demo recordings by lead vocalist Damian Cowell (known as "DC Root"). In late 2006, guitarist Henri Grawe ("Henri Root"), a musician trained in jazz who initially joined for carpentry tasks, became part of the band. By that year, the lineup was rounded out by Steve Root on keyboards and Barnaby Root handling drums. Cowell and Grawe had earlier collaborated on TISM’s 2001 album De Rigueurmortis.
Their first live appearance took place at Melbourne’s Spanish Club closing event on 17 June 2007. Although promotion was limited, interest surged due to Cowell's TISM background, resulting in a solid crowd and online buzz including a dedicated fan site called The Root! Compendium, along with growing anticipation for an album release.
While intermittently performing live, Root! focused on re-recording songs destined for their debut album, Root Supposed He Was Out Of The Question. During 2008 shows, additional musicians joined: Joe Talia ("Joe Root") contributed pedal steel guitar and banjo, and Douglas Lee Robertson ("Doug Lee Root") played bass.
Their first album came out in December 2007 without preceding singles. Touring throughout 2008 featured new tracks such as "Get Up Yourself," which later became the title of a four-song EP.
In 2009, drummer Barnaby Root exited the group and was succeeded first by Smiley Root and then by Owen Root following a short stint by Smiley. Around this time, the band unveiled their sophomore album, Surface Paradise.
After a handful of performances in mid-2010, Root! declared their "Last Ever Show" scheduled for 20 August 2010, while hinting at upcoming projects.
Between 2010 and 2012, Cowell, Robinson, and Grawe performed under the name The DC3. To celebrate their one-year milestone in February 2012, Root! briefly reunited to support The DC3 at the Regal Ballroom.
Musical style and influences
DC Root and Henri Root identify the Flying Burrito Brothers and Mark E. Smith as key inspirations. DC characterizes Root!’s music as a fusion of country with diverse genres that results in an extended musical journey enriched with cleverness. This method allows for poetic and literary imagery paired with self-deprecating humor, embodying the band’s distinctive artistic approach.
Members
- DC Root (a.k.a. Damian Cowell) – vocals, samples
- Henri Root (a.k.a. Henri Grawe) – guitar, vocals
- Doug Lee Root (a.k.a. Douglas Lee Robertson) – bass, vocals
- Steve Root (a.k.a. Steve Paix) – keyboards, vocals
- Owen Root (a.k.a. Owen Smythe) – drums
- Former members
- Barnaby Root (a.k.a. Barnaby Gold) – drums, vocals
- Joe Root (a.k.a. Joe Talia; live only) – slide guitar, banjo
- Smiley Root (a.k.a. Derek Smiley) – drums
Albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Root Supposed He Was Out of the Question... |
|
| Surface Paradise |
|
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Get Up Yourself |
|