Trenchmouth
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Defunct | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois , United States |
| Products | Punk rock, post-hardcore, math rock, dub music |
Trenchmouth was a punk ensemble originating from Chicago, Illinois, established in 1988. The principal members comprised Damon Locks (vocals and percussion), Chris DeZutter (guitar), Wayne Montana (bass), and Fred Armisen (drums).
Biography
The group formed in 1988 following Locks and Armisen's departure from the School of Visual Arts and their move from New York to Chicago. Initially, the band consisted of five musicians, including two guitarists, and released their first EP titled "Snakebite" in 1989. They subsequently issued two full-length albums, Construction of New Action and Inside The Future, before launching Trenchmouth vs. The Light of the Sun under East West Records, a subsidiary of Elektra Records. Their last studio album, The Broadcasting System, was released in 1996, after which the band ceased activity.
After Trenchmouth disbanded, Armisen went on to join the cast of Saturday Night Live and later created and starred in the television series Portlandia. Damon Locks became part of Super ESP and eventually collaborated again with Montana to establish The Eternals.
In a 2014 discussion, Armisen reflected on leaving Trenchmouth, stating that it seemed other bands were surpassing them in popularity. He remarked that groups with more mainstream appeal gained wider recognition, noting that even avant-garde bands such as Tortoise found notable success despite their unconventional sound.
Musical style
Although mainly identified as a post-hardcore group,[1] Trenchmouth also fell within the genres of punk rock and math rock.[2] Their music drew upon various styles including no wave, post-punk, funk, reggae,[3] and influences from Latin rhythms.[4] Their initial single "Snakebite" combined post-punk with aspects of acid-jazz, worldbeat, and the sound reminiscent of Fugazi.[5] Later works such as Trenchmouth Vs. the Light of the Sun featured intricate time signatures, elaborate guitar arrangements, and rapid walking basslines characteristic of 1970s prog-rock.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Their final album represented a transition toward a bass-centered dub style.[2]
Discography
Studio albums
- Construction of New Action (Skene! Records, 1991)
- Inside The Future (Skene!, 1993)
- Trenchmouth Vs. the Light of the Sun (Skene!/EastWest, 1994)
- Volumes, Amplifiers, Equalizers (Runt, 1994)
- The Broadcasting System (Skene!, 1996)
EPs
- Kick Your Mind and Make It Move EP (Dead Bird, 1991)
Compilation appearances
- Achtung Chicago! Zwei compilation (Underdog Records, 1993)
- More Motion: A Collection (Thick Records, 2003)
Singles
- "Snakebite" (1989)
External links
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