Sleeping in the Aviary
| Company type | Indie rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Madison, Wisconsin; Minneapolis, Minnesota , United States |
| Products | Music albums |
Sleeping in the Aviary was an indie rock ensemble that originated in Madison, Wisconsin and subsequently operated out of the Twin Cities region in Minnesota until their disbandment in 2012. Their musical approach has been likened to early works by XTC, Talking Heads, Violent Femmes, Nirvana, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Bon Iver.
History
Guitarist and vocalist Elliott Kozel, along with bassist Phil Mahlstadt, established Sleeping in the Aviary in 2003, with their first live performance occurring in spring 2004. The group underwent multiple personnel changes before drummer Michael Sienkowski became the third permanent member. Kozel has offered different explanations for the band's name, citing inspirations ranging from an Australian fragrance to a childhood memory involving guitarist Kyle Sobczak. In 2008, Celeste Heule joined the lineup, contributing accordion and musical saw. That same year, they issued a split 7-inch record alongside Madison garage rock outfit The Hussy. After Kozel moved to Minneapolis, the band released their third album, Great Vacation!, in late 2010. He intended their subsequent record to serve as a breakup album characterized by “fuzzed-out, doo-wop music.”
The band embarked on an extensive tour lasting nearly two months during early 2011. Later that year, they supported their fourth album, You and Me, Ghost, with a 13-minute infomercial spoof reminiscent of late-night television commercials and featuring Fancy Ray McCloney. Following the group's dissolution in 2011, Kozel initiated a side project named Tickle Torture, releasing the EPs Spiritual Machete (2012) and Spectrophilia (2014). He describes Tickle Torture’s style as "imagine if Prince and Justin Timberlake were [engaging] in a dumpster encounter."
Reception
KCMP characterized Sleeping in the Aviary’s sound as "vibrant pop-rock." A review on Punknews.org described their debut album, Oh, This Old Thing?, as "raw, defiant lo-fi power-pop," while Wisconsin Public Television referred to their music as "country-punk-rock." Critics have identified influences from 1950s and 1960s music eras and drew parallels between their fourth album, You and Me, Ghost, and bands such as The Clean, the Knack, and Guided by Voices. A review from Minnesota Daily commended the band for transforming fundamental early rock motifs into distinctive compositions, dubbing them "this city’s best-kept secret" within Minneapolis.
Influence
Caroline Smith of Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps acknowledged Kozel as a highly regarded figure owing to his dedicated work ethic.
Discography
- Oh, This Old Thing? (2007)
- Expensive Vomit in a Cheap Hotel (2008)
- Great Vacation! (2010)
- You and Me, Ghost (2011)