Beatnik Termites
Encyclopedia
The Beatnik Termites are a Cleveland, Ohio
power pop
band with a heavy surf rock influence.
The band's original lineup of Reggie Silvestri on drums, Pat Kim (AKA Pat Termite) on guitar and lead vocals and Brian McCafferty on bass formed in 1987. Their sound and vocals are similar in style to the Beach Boys and early 1960s girl group
s. While often lumped under the category pop punk
, what sets them apart from other bands in this genre is their more complicated melodies, vocal arrangements, and mid-tempo beats. They are seen as the progenitors of subgenre of punk dubbed oldies-core, which is characterized by sugary doo-wop
/oldies-influenced harmonies coupled with aggressive buzzsaw guitars and surf punk drumbeats.
After releasing several EPs and compilation tracks, the Beatnik Termites released their first full-length album, Taste the Sand, in 1995, which established them as the torchbearers of the oldies-core genre.
After Brian McCafferty left the band in 1995 and joined another Cleveland area pop-punk band, The Unknown, the band lacked a bass player for several years. Soon after, Josh Yakunich, formerly with The Proms, joined the band to record the live album "Live at the Orifice" in 1996 which was later released in 1997. Also in 1997, they recorded Bubblecore with Pat Kim playing Bass. This release was a foray into harder-edged sounds, and after discussions to release the album with pop-punk giant Lookout! Records, they eventually released it with Recess Records in 2002.
In 1997, the band covered the entire Ramones
1981 album Pleasant Dreams
released jointly by Coldfront Records and Clearview Records. In 2003, they returned to their classic oldies-influenced sound with Girl Crazy. The Beatnik Termites' catalog is currently available on Insubordination Records
.
Examples of other bands derivative of this style (some of whom cite the Beatnik Termites as a direct influence) include the Spazzys
, The Proms, The Travoltas and The Unlovables. The Beatnik Termites are also cited as a major influence by numerous straightforward pop punk acts including the Teen Idols
, Mach Pelican
, and The Steinways. The Queers
are rumored to have named their Bubblegum Dreams EP after two Beanik Termites releases, Bubblecore and Schoolboy's Dream, respectively; even co-opting the artwork theme from Bubblecore. Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain
is documented to have cited the Beatnik Termites as a favorite band in the Cobain Diaries.
Charlie Brown Gets A Valentine
Strawberry Girl
When She's Nearby
Circles
Veronica
Faces
Sand Castles
Ode to Susie and Joey
Termite Hop
Charlie Brown Gets A Valentine
Denise,Denise
9:15
Veronica
Angel Saw Reggie's D*ck
Ode To Susie and Joey
9:15
Denise, Denise
Angel Saw Reggie's D*ck
Halfpipe
Surf Dancin'
Mary Lou
Voice On The Radio
Termite Hop
Undesirable
My Sweet Valentine
Strawberry Girl
When She's Nearby
Charlie Brown Gets A Valentine
9:15
How Many Times
Strawberry Girl
Angel Saw Reggie's D*ck
Mary Lou
When She's Nearby
Granola Head
Veronica
Surf Dancin'
Ode To Susie and Joey
Termite Hop
I Don't Wanna Be Bad
Shit, Fuck
I Don't Wanna Hang Around
You're All Talk
A Girl I Know
Sh*t, F*ck
I Don't Wanna Be Bad
Skateboard
You're the Only One
You Make Me Sick
Circles
Eddie's Got a New Zit
Can't Pretend
Jailbreak
Beach Girl
Don't Tell Me
We Want the Airwaves
All's Quiet on the Eastern Front
The KKK Took My Baby Away
Don't Go
You Sound Like You're Sick
She's a Sensation
7-11
You Didn't Mean Anything to Me
Come on Now
This Business is Killing Me
Sitting in My Room
Red Haired Girl
Somebody Else's Baby
Amanda Tells Me
Rock All Night
Reanna
Dream Girl
Angel
Sorry
All Messed Up
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
band with a heavy surf rock influence.
The band's original lineup of Reggie Silvestri on drums, Pat Kim (AKA Pat Termite) on guitar and lead vocals and Brian McCafferty on bass formed in 1987. Their sound and vocals are similar in style to the Beach Boys and early 1960s girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
s. While often lumped under the category pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
, what sets them apart from other bands in this genre is their more complicated melodies, vocal arrangements, and mid-tempo beats. They are seen as the progenitors of subgenre of punk dubbed oldies-core, which is characterized by sugary doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
/oldies-influenced harmonies coupled with aggressive buzzsaw guitars and surf punk drumbeats.
After releasing several EPs and compilation tracks, the Beatnik Termites released their first full-length album, Taste the Sand, in 1995, which established them as the torchbearers of the oldies-core genre.
After Brian McCafferty left the band in 1995 and joined another Cleveland area pop-punk band, The Unknown, the band lacked a bass player for several years. Soon after, Josh Yakunich, formerly with The Proms, joined the band to record the live album "Live at the Orifice" in 1996 which was later released in 1997. Also in 1997, they recorded Bubblecore with Pat Kim playing Bass. This release was a foray into harder-edged sounds, and after discussions to release the album with pop-punk giant Lookout! Records, they eventually released it with Recess Records in 2002.
In 1997, the band covered the entire Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
1981 album Pleasant Dreams
Pleasant Dreams
Pleasant Dreams is the sixth studio album by the American punk rock band the Ramones. It was released on July 20, 1981 through Sire Records. Pleasant Dreams reached #58 on the US Billboard album charts. It was frowned upon by guitarist Johnny Ramone because to him it sounded "too slick" and is...
released jointly by Coldfront Records and Clearview Records. In 2003, they returned to their classic oldies-influenced sound with Girl Crazy. The Beatnik Termites' catalog is currently available on Insubordination Records
Insubordination Records
Insubordination Records is an independent record label based in Baltimore, Maryland.-History:Insubordination Records was founded by Beatnik Termites members Reggie Silvestri and Pat Kim in 1996. As their label specializing in Lookout! Records styled pop punk started to grow, they partnered with...
.
Examples of other bands derivative of this style (some of whom cite the Beatnik Termites as a direct influence) include the Spazzys
Spazzys
-History:The three girls went to school together and Kat and Lucy are also twins. They formed in 2000 and played their first show as a support for Mach Pelican....
, The Proms, The Travoltas and The Unlovables. The Beatnik Termites are also cited as a major influence by numerous straightforward pop punk acts including the Teen Idols
Teen Idols
The Teen Idols were a pop punk band originally from Nashville, Tennessee. They were formed in 1992 by Phillip Hill and originally broke up in 2003...
, Mach Pelican
Mach Pelican
Mach Pelican were a punk rock band formed in Perth, Australia in 1996. In 1998, they relocated to Melbourne, Australia. They announced their farewell tour in July 2007, and played their final show in Tokyo, Japan on 17 September 2007.-Biography:...
, and The Steinways. The Queers
The Queers
The Queers are a punk band formed in 1981 by Portsmouth, New Hampshire native Joe King . The band originally broke up in 1984, but reformed with Joe Queer and a new line-up in 1986. In 1990, the band signed with Shakin' Street Records and released their first album Grow Up...
are rumored to have named their Bubblegum Dreams EP after two Beanik Termites releases, Bubblecore and Schoolboy's Dream, respectively; even co-opting the artwork theme from Bubblecore. Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
is documented to have cited the Beatnik Termites as a favorite band in the Cobain Diaries.
Discography
- Self-Titled [LP] (1989)
Charlie Brown Gets A Valentine
Strawberry Girl
When She's Nearby
Circles
Veronica
Faces
Sand Castles
- Ode to Susie and Joey [7"] (1991)
Ode to Susie and Joey
Termite Hop
- Schoolboy's Dream [7"] (1993)
Charlie Brown Gets A Valentine
Denise,Denise
9:15
Veronica
Angel Saw Reggie's D*ck
- Taste the Sand [LP/CD] (1995)
Ode To Susie and Joey
9:15
Denise, Denise
Angel Saw Reggie's D*ck
Halfpipe
Surf Dancin'
Mary Lou
Voice On The Radio
Termite Hop
Undesirable
My Sweet Valentine
- Strawberry Girl [7"] (1995)
Strawberry Girl
When She's Nearby
- Live at the Orifice [LP/CD] (1997)
Charlie Brown Gets A Valentine
9:15
How Many Times
Strawberry Girl
Angel Saw Reggie's D*ck
Mary Lou
When She's Nearby
Granola Head
Veronica
Surf Dancin'
Ode To Susie and Joey
Termite Hop
I Don't Wanna Be Bad
Shit, Fuck
- Bubblecore [LP/CD] (1996)
I Don't Wanna Hang Around
You're All Talk
A Girl I Know
Sh*t, F*ck
I Don't Wanna Be Bad
Skateboard
You're the Only One
You Make Me Sick
Circles
Eddie's Got a New Zit
Can't Pretend
Jailbreak
Beach Girl
Don't Tell Me
- Pleasant Dreams [LP/CD] (1997)
We Want the Airwaves
All's Quiet on the Eastern Front
The KKK Took My Baby Away
Don't Go
You Sound Like You're Sick
She's a Sensation
7-11
You Didn't Mean Anything to Me
Come on Now
This Business is Killing Me
Sitting in My Room
- Girl Crazy [CD] (2003)
Red Haired Girl
Somebody Else's Baby
Amanda Tells Me
Rock All Night
Reanna
Dream Girl
Angel
Sorry
All Messed Up