Beefeater (band)
Encyclopedia
Beefeater was an American post-hardcore
band from late 1984 until 1986. Formed by Tomas Squip, Fred "Freak" Smith, Dug E. Bird (Birdzell) and Bruce Atchley Taylor, they were pioneers of the post-hardcore
genre and the Revolution Summer
which took place in the Washington D.C. hardcore in the mid-'80s with similar bands like Embrace, Rites of Spring
and Gray Matter
, among others. Their debut LP, Plays for Lovers was released in 1985 on the Dischord
and their follow-up House Burning Down was released in 1986, as their farewell LP. Drummers Mark "Two-Chair" Shellhaas and Kenny Craun replaced Taylor on later albums. Squip and Birdzell went on to form Fidelity Jones, while Craun joined the Rhythm Pigs
and Fred "Freak" Smith joined Strange Boutique
.
While Beefeater's songs had all the angry energy of its hardcore
labelmates the energy was channelled as much through funk and jazz as rock and roll. Dug E. Bird's fast-paced bass slap drives a rhythm section over which Fred "Not Sonic" Smith's guitar rides in a way reminiscent of the Minutemen
. House Burning Down saw the incorporation of even more non-punk influences, most notably world music
and included musical cameos many of the Dischord Records regulars (Ian MacKaye
provides an intro to the album, in addition to some saxophone). The EP on the Olive Tree label, was more straight-ahead, sounding a bit more like a Caribbean flavoured Gang of Four
meets The Fall.
Squip's essay in Threat by Example: A Documentation of Inspiration (Martin Sprouse, editor, 1991 Pressure Drop Press: San Francisco, ISBN 0-9627091-1-5) outlines his notably religious world view and motivation, unusual for a Dischord band.
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
band from late 1984 until 1986. Formed by Tomas Squip, Fred "Freak" Smith, Dug E. Bird (Birdzell) and Bruce Atchley Taylor, they were pioneers of the post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
genre and the Revolution Summer
Revolution Summer
Revolution Summer may refer to:* Revolution Summer , a film directed by Miles Montalbano* Revolution Summer , a soundtrack album by Jonathan Richman...
which took place in the Washington D.C. hardcore in the mid-'80s with similar bands like Embrace, Rites of Spring
Rites of Spring
Rites of Spring was an American post-hardcore band from Washington, D.C. in the mid-1980s, known for their energetic live performances. A part of the D.C. hardcore punk scene, Rites of Spring increased the frenetic violence and visceral passion of hardcore while simultaneously experimenting with...
and Gray Matter
Gray Matter
"Gray Matter" is a short story by Stephen King, first published in the October 1973 issue of Cavalier magazine, and later collected in King's 1978 collection Night Shift. It is set in the same area as King's novel Dreamcatcher.-Setting:...
, among others. Their debut LP, Plays for Lovers was released in 1985 on the Dischord
Dischord Records
Dischord Records is a Washington, D.C.-based independent record label specializing in the independent punk music of the D.C.-area music scene. The label is co-owned by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, who founded Dischord in 1980 to release Minor Disturbance by The Teen Idles...
and their follow-up House Burning Down was released in 1986, as their farewell LP. Drummers Mark "Two-Chair" Shellhaas and Kenny Craun replaced Taylor on later albums. Squip and Birdzell went on to form Fidelity Jones, while Craun joined the Rhythm Pigs
Rhythm Pigs
This article is about the Texan punk rock band, for the Californian Rock band see Top Jimmy & The Rhythm PigsThe Rhythm Pigs were a punk band, originally from El Paso, Texas, later relocated to San Francisco. Their first two albums were among the first to be released by the influential independent...
and Fred "Freak" Smith joined Strange Boutique
Strange Boutique
Strange Boutique was a band from Washington, D.C.. They were active between the years of 1987 and 1994 and released 4 full-length albums and 2 live albums on the Bedazzled Records label. They are also featured on several compilation albums...
.
While Beefeater's songs had all the angry energy of its hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
labelmates the energy was channelled as much through funk and jazz as rock and roll. Dug E. Bird's fast-paced bass slap drives a rhythm section over which Fred "Not Sonic" Smith's guitar rides in a way reminiscent of the Minutemen
Minutemen (band)
Minutemen were an American hardcore punk band formed in San Pedro, California in 1980. Composed of guitarist D. Boon, bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley, Minutemen recorded four albums and eight EPs before Boon's death in an automobile accident in December 1985...
. House Burning Down saw the incorporation of even more non-punk influences, most notably world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
and included musical cameos many of the Dischord Records regulars (Ian MacKaye
Ian MacKaye
Ian Thomas Garner MacKaye is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, musician, label owner, and producer. Active since 1979, MacKaye is best known for being the frontman of the influential hardcore punk bands Minor Threat and The Teen Idles, the post-hardcore bands Embrace and Fugazi, as well...
provides an intro to the album, in addition to some saxophone). The EP on the Olive Tree label, was more straight-ahead, sounding a bit more like a Caribbean flavoured Gang of Four
Gang of Four (band)
Gang of Four are an English post-punk group from Leeds. Original personnel were singer Jon King, guitarist Andy Gill, bass guitarist Dave Allen and drummer Hugo Burnham. They were fully active from 1977 to 1984, and then re-emerged twice in the 1990s with King and Gill...
meets The Fall.
Squip's essay in Threat by Example: A Documentation of Inspiration (Martin Sprouse, editor, 1991 Pressure Drop Press: San Francisco, ISBN 0-9627091-1-5) outlines his notably religious world view and motivation, unusual for a Dischord band.
Discography
- Plays For Lovers 1985 Dischord Records (catalog #17) Bruce Atchley Taylor plays drums.
- Need A Job 1986 Olive Tree Records (catalog #106) Mark Shellhaas plays drums.
- House Burning Down 1986 Dischord Records (catalog #23) Kenny Craun plays drums.