Cable (American band)
Encyclopedia
Cable is an American band formed in 1994 in Rockville, Connecticut
. They combine a hardcore punk
and emo
aesthetic with a rhythmically complex, often discordant metal
-influenced musical approach. Lineup changes and delays between recordings may have hindered their notoriety over the years.
(bass) and were players in Connecticut's "noise-core" scene. This line-up recorded a demo and appeared on a split 7" with Malcolm's Lost. Vocalist Aaron Lazauski joined the band briefly and appeared on the "Part Three"/"Feed Me Glass" 7" in 1995. Soon, both Lazauski and Larsen left the band and Bernie Romanowski joined the group as vocalist/guitarist. In the documentary Last Call, Jeff Caxide stated that he was unhappy with Larsen's departure and soon, he parted ways with Cable, only to, ironically, be replaced by a returning Randy Larsen, who picked up the bass upon re-entry into the band. In 1997, their debut, Variable Speed Drive was released by Doghouse Records
.
After a brief split, the band's second full-length (and first for label Hydra Head Records
), Gutter Queen
, was released in 1999. Cable was down to just a three-piece for Gutter Queen, with Becker having left by this point. The next couple of years saw shows with bands including Neurosis
, Today is the Day
, Cave In
, Botch
, Isis
, and others. The group split again when Romanowski moved to Colorado
without informing the rest of the group. After a year, he returned and Cable reunited. In 2001, the trio of Larsen, Romanowski, and Szalaj recored Northern Failures
, their last release for Hydra Head, as well as a new EP entitled Skyhorse Jams, issued by This Dark Reign Recordings in 2001. The group was back to a quartet lineup for this EP after the addition of second guitarist Ben Cowles.
The Skyhorse Jams EP showed the group moving towards more of a Southern rock-influenced hardcore/metal style. In 2003, the band released Never Trust A Gemini, which saw the band adding another member, second vocalist Peter Farris. After what was termed as a "nasty falling out with the other dudes in the band", Cable regrouped again for 2004's Pigs Never Fly, which saw the band move to Philadelphia's Translation Loss Records and swap Ben Cowles for Aaron Lewis, who also recorded the album. Chris Fischkelta joined the band after its recording and Bernie Romanowski departed once again. The band's final performance was on December 18, 2005 at NYC's now defunct CBGB. The band called it quits shortly after. 2006's Last Call CD/DVD compiled a new song with a selection of previously released tracks, a documentary on the band, and included audio and video of the CBGB show.
The band became active again after re-forming in 2/08. In mid-2008, Cable re-released the Variable Speed Drive record on Translation Loss Records. In 3/09, recorded a new album, The Failed Convict, with Joel Hamilton at Studio G in Brooklyn, NY. The Failed Convict was released on 8/8/09 on The End Records. This album features 13 songs, which is the band's longest album to date. The Failed Convict was engineered by Joel Hamilton
. featured artwork by Aaron Horkey (Mogwai, Pelican) and guest vocals by Mike Watt
on the track "Outside Abeline."
Rockville, Connecticut
Rockville is a census-designated place and a village of the town of Vernon in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 7,708 at the 2000 census...
. They combine a hardcore punk
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...
and emo
Emo (music)
Emo is a style of rock music characterized by melodic musicianship and expressive, often confessional lyrics. It originated in the mid-1980s hardcore punk movement of Washington, D.C., where it was known as "emotional hardcore" or "emocore" and pioneered by bands such as Rites of Spring and Embrace...
aesthetic with a rhythmically complex, often discordant metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
-influenced musical approach. Lineup changes and delays between recordings may have hindered their notoriety over the years.
History
The quartet formed in 1994, at which time it consisted of Randy Larsen (guitar/vocals), Vic Szalaj (drums), Matt Becker (guitar), and Jeff CaxideJeff Caxide
Jeff Caxide is an American bassist, best known for his time with post-metal band Isis, of which he was a founding member and present until its dissolution in 2010. He was also a founding member of Red Sparowes, but left after the release of their first full-length. He also contributed to...
(bass) and were players in Connecticut's "noise-core" scene. This line-up recorded a demo and appeared on a split 7" with Malcolm's Lost. Vocalist Aaron Lazauski joined the band briefly and appeared on the "Part Three"/"Feed Me Glass" 7" in 1995. Soon, both Lazauski and Larsen left the band and Bernie Romanowski joined the group as vocalist/guitarist. In the documentary Last Call, Jeff Caxide stated that he was unhappy with Larsen's departure and soon, he parted ways with Cable, only to, ironically, be replaced by a returning Randy Larsen, who picked up the bass upon re-entry into the band. In 1997, their debut, Variable Speed Drive was released by Doghouse Records
Doghouse Records
Doghouse Records is a Toledo, Ohio based record label, now run out of the New York City office. Since 2004 Doghouse has been a part of the Warner Music Group....
.
After a brief split, the band's second full-length (and first for label Hydra Head Records
Hydra Head Records
Hydra Head Records is an independent record label which specializes in heavy metal music, founded in New Mexico by Aaron Turner in 1993...
), Gutter Queen
Gutter Queen
Gutter Queen is an album by Cable, released in 1999 by Hydra Head Records. The album was produced by Jeff Caxide, the group's original bass player.-Track listing:All tracks written by Cable, except "Planet Caravan", originally written by Black Sabbath....
, was released in 1999. Cable was down to just a three-piece for Gutter Queen, with Becker having left by this point. The next couple of years saw shows with bands including Neurosis
Neurosis (band)
Neurosis is a post-metal band, based in Oakland, California. They formed in 1985 as a hardcore punk band, and their sound progressed towards a doom metal style that also included influences from dark ambient and industrial music as well as incorporating elements of folk music...
, Today is the Day
Today is the Day
Today Is the Day is an experimental noise rock/metal/grindcore band from Nashville, Tennessee. They have a diverse sound that includes influences from alternative rock, grindcore, & progressive rock among other genres...
, Cave In
Cave In
Cave In is an American rock band that formed in 1995, in Methuen, Massachusetts. After several members changes in the late 90's, their lineup solidified with the 1998 release of Until Your Heart Stops through Hydra Head Records. Their early albums were prominent releases in the independent...
, Botch
Botch (band)
Botch was a four-piece mathcore band from Tacoma, Washington, United States, that formed in 1993 and disbanded in 2002.-History:The band released two full-length albums and a handful of smaller releases including several singles and an EP. Its members went on an indefinite hiatus to form Roy,...
, Isis
Isis (band)
Isis was a Los Angeles, California-based post-metal band, founded in Boston, Massachusetts, with a career spanning from 1997 to 2010...
, and others. The group split again when Romanowski moved to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
without informing the rest of the group. After a year, he returned and Cable reunited. In 2001, the trio of Larsen, Romanowski, and Szalaj recored Northern Failures
Northern Failures
Northern Failures is an album by Cable, released in 2001 by Hydra Head Records. The album was produced by Steve Austin of Today Is The Day, the first of three releases he would produce for the group, and the band's last record for Hydra Head Records. "Can't You See" is Marshall Tucker Band cover...
, their last release for Hydra Head, as well as a new EP entitled Skyhorse Jams, issued by This Dark Reign Recordings in 2001. The group was back to a quartet lineup for this EP after the addition of second guitarist Ben Cowles.
The Skyhorse Jams EP showed the group moving towards more of a Southern rock-influenced hardcore/metal style. In 2003, the band released Never Trust A Gemini, which saw the band adding another member, second vocalist Peter Farris. After what was termed as a "nasty falling out with the other dudes in the band", Cable regrouped again for 2004's Pigs Never Fly, which saw the band move to Philadelphia's Translation Loss Records and swap Ben Cowles for Aaron Lewis, who also recorded the album. Chris Fischkelta joined the band after its recording and Bernie Romanowski departed once again. The band's final performance was on December 18, 2005 at NYC's now defunct CBGB. The band called it quits shortly after. 2006's Last Call CD/DVD compiled a new song with a selection of previously released tracks, a documentary on the band, and included audio and video of the CBGB show.
The band became active again after re-forming in 2/08. In mid-2008, Cable re-released the Variable Speed Drive record on Translation Loss Records. In 3/09, recorded a new album, The Failed Convict, with Joel Hamilton at Studio G in Brooklyn, NY. The Failed Convict was released on 8/8/09 on The End Records. This album features 13 songs, which is the band's longest album to date. The Failed Convict was engineered by Joel Hamilton
Joel Hamilton
Joel Hamilton is a producer, engineer, and musician originally from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Since the late 1990s he has been based out of Brooklyn, NY. He shares a studio with partner Tony Maimone named Studio G. He has worked with a number of well known artists, as well as writing for various...
. featured artwork by Aaron Horkey (Mogwai, Pelican) and guest vocals by Mike Watt
Mike Watt
Michael David Watt is an American bassist, singer and songwriter.He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Minutemen, dos, and Firehose; , he is also the bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen...
on the track "Outside Abeline."
Original lineup
- Randy Larsen (guitar, vocals)
- Vic Szalaj (drums)
- Matt Becker (guitar)
- Jeff CaxideJeff CaxideJeff Caxide is an American bassist, best known for his time with post-metal band Isis, of which he was a founding member and present until its dissolution in 2010. He was also a founding member of Red Sparowes, but left after the release of their first full-length. He also contributed to...
(bass)
Later members
- Bernie Romanowski (guitar)
- Aaron Lazauski (vocals)
- Ben Cowles (guitar)
- Aaron Lewis (guitar)
Current members
- Bernie Romanowski (guitar)
- Randy Larsen (bass, vocals)
- Vic Szalaj (drums)
- Chris Fischkelta (guitar)
- Peter Farris (vocals)
Discography
- 1994 Demo Cassette (Self released)
- 1995 Cable/Malcom's Lost splitSplit albumA split album is a music album which includes tracks by two or more separate artists. There have been singles and EPs released in the same nature, which can be referred to as split singles and split EPs respectively...
7" (Moo Cow RecordsMoo Cow RecordsMoo Cow Records is an independent record label that was formed in 1992 releasing largely, but not solely, hardcore and punk vinyl. It has been based over the years in Burlington, VT , Boston, MA , and Madison, WI...
004) - 1995 Part Three/Feed Me Glass 7" (Atomic Action Records)
- 1996: Variable Speed Drive - Doghouse RecordsDoghouse RecordsDoghouse Records is a Toledo, Ohio based record label, now run out of the New York City office. Since 2004 Doghouse has been a part of the Warner Music Group....
- 1997: Cable - Atomic Action!
- 1999: Gutter QueenGutter QueenGutter Queen is an album by Cable, released in 1999 by Hydra Head Records. The album was produced by Jeff Caxide, the group's original bass player.-Track listing:All tracks written by Cable, except "Planet Caravan", originally written by Black Sabbath....
- Hydra Head RecordsHydra Head RecordsHydra Head Records is an independent record label which specializes in heavy metal music, founded in New Mexico by Aaron Turner in 1993... - 2001: Northern FailuresNorthern FailuresNorthern Failures is an album by Cable, released in 2001 by Hydra Head Records. The album was produced by Steve Austin of Today Is The Day, the first of three releases he would produce for the group, and the band's last record for Hydra Head Records. "Can't You See" is Marshall Tucker Band cover...
- Hydra Head Records - 2001: Skyhorse Jams - This Dark Reign
- 2003: Never Trust a Gemini - This Dark Reign
- 2004: Pigs Never Fly - Translation Loss Records
- 2006: Last Call CD / DVD Retrospective - Translation Loss Records
- 2008: Variable Speed Drive (re-issue w/Bonus Tracks) Translation Loss Records
- 2009: The Failed Convict - The End RecordsThe End RecordsThe End Records is an independent record label, founded in 1998 in San Diego. Founder Andreas Katsambas initially wanted to bring attention to some underground bands he admired. In 2002, The End moved to Salt Lake City, when his wife took a job at the University of Utah. The label moved...
External links
- official site (taken down)
- Translation Loss Records
- Hydrahead
- This Dark Reign