Cash Audio
Encyclopedia
Cash Audio was an American
rock band based in Chicago
, Illinois
. Formed in 1996 as a guitar-and-drums duo consisting of John Humphrey and Scott Giampino, they released three full-length albums for Touch and Go Records
and a variety of singles and a full-length for Orange Recordings
. Cash Audio toured nationally and performed live until 2002.
and the Toilet Rockers. Conceived as a two-piece rock band, the duo's style quickly led them to be categorized in the blues minimalist genre that gained popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s. They were known for their strong musicianship and great live shows (including frying bacon on stage with a hot plate). Cash Audio's music covered a variety of classic styles, including rock, blues, country, and R&B. During the early 2000s the final recordings of the group focused on strong thematic instrumentals.
# 814, in a humorous sidebar piece comparing Cash Money’s low-key touring style (two guys in a station wagon) to the excesses of the hip-hop stars of New Orleans' Cash Money Records
. Lawyers from Cash Money Records quickly sent Touch and Go Records a cease and desist
for Cash Money "the band". Fresh off the legal settlements with several other acts and in order to avoid the costs of another legal battle, Corey Rusk, President of Touch and Go, and the band decided to change their name to Cash Audio for their upcoming Green Bullet release in 2000.
, in 1999. Three full-length albums were released by Touch and Go Records, while four releases and all its vinyl recordings were released on Orange Recordings
Cash Audio toured and performed with many well known acts on the Touch and Go
label including, Calexico, Girls Against Boys
, Killdozer
, Man or Astroman, The Delta 72
, Arcwelder
, P.W. Long, New Wet Kojak
and Silkworm
. They also toured or performed with numerous bands on Seattle's Sub Pop
label, including the Supersuckers, Zen Guerilla and Mudhoney
.
Cash Audio’s last live performance was the opening slot for Mudhoney on September 21, 2002, at Chicago’s Abbey Pub. In 2008 a recording from 1999 done for a Killdozer compilation tribute album
was released.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock band based in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. Formed in 1996 as a guitar-and-drums duo consisting of John Humphrey and Scott Giampino, they released three full-length albums for Touch and Go Records
Touch and Go Records
Touch and Go Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, USA.After its genesis as a hand-made fanzine in 1979, it grew into one of the key record labels in the American 1980s alternative and underground rock scenes, Touch & Go carved out a reputation for releasing adventurous...
and a variety of singles and a full-length for Orange Recordings
Orange Recordings
Orange Recordings is a record label that started in Chicago in 1997. In 2000 the label moved to San Diego and then relocated again to Los Angeles in the early 2002...
. Cash Audio toured nationally and performed live until 2002.
History
Cash Audio was originally named Cash Money and was formed in 1996 by John Humphrey and Scott Giampino while playing with The Late Great Danes. Humphrey’s previous band was God and Texas (Ohio/ Chicago on Rave and Restless Records), while Giampino played with local Chicago group the Mystery Girls while also doing a stint with the infamous GG AllinGG Allin
Kevin Michael "GG" Allin was an American punk rock singer-songwriter, who performed and recorded with many groups during his career. GG Allin is perhaps best remembered for his notorious live performances, which often featured transgressive acts, including coprophagia, self-mutilation, and...
and the Toilet Rockers. Conceived as a two-piece rock band, the duo's style quickly led them to be categorized in the blues minimalist genre that gained popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s. They were known for their strong musicianship and great live shows (including frying bacon on stage with a hot plate). Cash Audio's music covered a variety of classic styles, including rock, blues, country, and R&B. During the early 2000s the final recordings of the group focused on strong thematic instrumentals.
Controversy
Originally named Cash Money, the band received national attention in 1999 in Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
# 814, in a humorous sidebar piece comparing Cash Money’s low-key touring style (two guys in a station wagon) to the excesses of the hip-hop stars of New Orleans' Cash Money Records
Cash Money Records
Cash Money Records is a record label founded by brothers Bryan "Birdman" Williams and Ronald "Slim" Williams. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed by Universal Republic Records as of 2011...
. Lawyers from Cash Money Records quickly sent Touch and Go Records a cease and desist
Cease and desist
A cease and desist is an order or request to halt an activity and not to take it up again later or else face legal action. The recipient of the cease-and-desist may be an individual or an organization....
for Cash Money "the band". Fresh off the legal settlements with several other acts and in order to avoid the costs of another legal battle, Corey Rusk, President of Touch and Go, and the band decided to change their name to Cash Audio for their upcoming Green Bullet release in 2000.
Recording and touring history 1996- 2002
Cash Audio had a strict discipline for analog recording and recorded exclusively in Chicago from 1996 to 2001, at Idful, King Size, Clava and Engine Studios, with a single session at Chase Park Transductions in Athens, GeorgiaAthens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, in 1999. Three full-length albums were released by Touch and Go Records, while four releases and all its vinyl recordings were released on Orange Recordings
Cash Audio toured and performed with many well known acts on the Touch and Go
Touch and Go Records
Touch and Go Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, USA.After its genesis as a hand-made fanzine in 1979, it grew into one of the key record labels in the American 1980s alternative and underground rock scenes, Touch & Go carved out a reputation for releasing adventurous...
label including, Calexico, Girls Against Boys
Girls Against Boys
Girls Against Boys are an indie rock/post-hardcore band, originally forming in Washington, D.C. in 1988 and currently based in New York City.-Career:...
, Killdozer
Killdozer (band)
Killdozer was an American noise-rock band, formed in Madison, Wisconsin in 1983, with members Bill Hobson, Dan Hobson and Michael Gerald. They took their name from the 1974 TV movie, directed by Jerry London, itself based on a Theodore Sturgeon short story. They released their first album,...
, Man or Astroman, The Delta 72
The Delta 72
The Delta 72 were an American alternative music band formed in Washington, DC in the summer of 1994, later relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, Arcwelder
Arcwelder
Arcwelder is an American indie rock band which formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1988. Originally named Tilt-A-Whirl, the group changed its name to Arcwelder after being informed by Sellner Manufacturing Co. of copyright infringement....
, P.W. Long, New Wet Kojak
New Wet Kojak
New Wet Kojak was an American indie rock band from New York and Washington, D.C.The group was formed when two members of Girls Against Boys, Scott McCloud and Johnny Temple, joined three other former residents of Washington, D.C., Geoff Turner , Nick Pellicciotto , and Charles Bennington...
and Silkworm
Silkworm (band)
Silkworm was an indie rock band active from 1987 to 2005.The members were Tim Midgett, Joel RL Phelps, Andy Cohen, and Michael Dahlquist. Phelps left the band in 1994. Matt Kadane of Bedhead and The New Year played keyboards on Italian Platinum and It'll Be Cool...
. They also toured or performed with numerous bands on Seattle's Sub Pop
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
label, including the Supersuckers, Zen Guerilla and Mudhoney
Mudhoney
Mudhoney is an American alternative rock band. Formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1988 following the demise of Green River, Mudhoney's members are vocalist and rhythm guitarist Mark Arm, lead guitarist Steve Turner, bassist Guy Maddison, and drummer Dan Peters. Original bassist Matt Lukin left the...
.
Cash Audio’s last live performance was the opening slot for Mudhoney on September 21, 2002, at Chicago’s Abbey Pub. In 2008 a recording from 1999 done for a Killdozer compilation tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
was released.
As Cash Money
- 1997- Oil Can 7”- Tug of War Records
- 1997- Black Hearts and Broken Wills CD- Touch and Go Records
- 1998- Halos of Smoke and Fire CD- Touch and Go Records
- 1999- Letter to Stax “2 x 7” - Double 45 rpm vinyl- Orange Recordings
As Cash Audio
- 2000- Green Bullet CD- Touch and Go Records
- 2001- The Orange Sessions CD & 12 inch Vinyl- Orange Recordings
- 2002- The Orange Sessions Vol 2 - 12 inch Vinyl- Orange Recordings
- 2008- “Lupus”- We will bury you- A tribute to Killdozer- Crustacean Records
External links
- [ Allmusic article]
- Touch and Go Records
- Orange Recordings
- Epitonic.com
- Pitchfork
- Engine Studios