Chamberlain (band)
Encyclopedia
Chamberlain is an indie rock band from Indianapolis
& Bloomington, Indiana
, previously having been known as Split Lip
, they changed their name and their general sound away from post-hardcore
punk in 1996.
again returned to Detroit to record "Fate's Got A Driver." It was this record that set the gold-standard for emo-core. The intricate guitar work and soulful emotive lyrics laid the foundation for bands to come, such as The Get Up Kids. The summer of 1995 saw the band hit the road again, this time with Ohio's Colossus of the Fall, and DC's Samuel. It was during this month-long outing that the decision came to change the name and the direction of the band. Moore and Rubenstein returned to the studio in late 1995 and re-recorded the vocals and re-mixed the album, and Chamberlain was born.
The band re-released the updated Fate's Got A Driver as Chamberlain in 1996, toured the US and Europe and took time out to record a new demo with acclaimed independent music producer Paul Mahern, much of which would go on to become The Moon My Saddle. After much courting by numerous major labels, the band were due to sign for Revolution Records
, an imprint of Warner Music Group
, but a signing freeze just before putting pen to paper thwarted them.
The second Chamberlain studio album, "The Moon My Saddle," was recorded in the summer of 1998 at Echo Park Studios in Bloomington with producer Ray Martin and released later that year by Doghouse. The group continued performing for another two years, but without Snyder (who was not replaced, Mead (replaced by Showermast/Red Devil, Blue Devil's Seth Greathouse) and Walker (replaced by Uvula's Wade Parish). During this time, a collection of demos recorded during rehearsals was compiled as their third album, Exit 263, and was released independently in 2000 through the band's management company, after being rejected from Doghouse.
The double LP retrospective, Five-Year Diary (which is also the name of a song from Fate's Got A Driver) was released independently in 2002. The album features live tracks and old demo recordings as well as tracks from compilations and hard to find releases.
The members are currently involved with many different musical projects in New York City
, Los Angeles
and Indianapolis
. Curtis Mead and Charlie Walker play, together with former Brainiac
bass player and video director Juan Monostereo and ex Bullet LaVolta
drummer Philips, in Model/Actress, which released an EP in 2008.
Chamberlain toured with The Gaslight Anthem
and Tim Barry
in summer 2010, and performed at Krazy Fest
in Louisville, Kentucky in May, 2011. No further touring is planned; however, an interview with Rubenstein in the July '11 Alternative Press hinted at continued collaborations
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
& Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
, previously having been known as Split Lip
Split Lip
Split Lip is responsible for the Midwestern emo-core sound, together with bands like Endpoint, and a group they inspired, The Get Up Kids. After gaining acclaim in the small international hardcore community for their debut album, the band switched gears to more country-leaning pop rock and changed...
, they changed their name and their general sound away from 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...
punk in 1996.
History
In 1995, Split LipSplit Lip
Split Lip is responsible for the Midwestern emo-core sound, together with bands like Endpoint, and a group they inspired, The Get Up Kids. After gaining acclaim in the small international hardcore community for their debut album, the band switched gears to more country-leaning pop rock and changed...
again returned to Detroit to record "Fate's Got A Driver." It was this record that set the gold-standard for emo-core. The intricate guitar work and soulful emotive lyrics laid the foundation for bands to come, such as The Get Up Kids. The summer of 1995 saw the band hit the road again, this time with Ohio's Colossus of the Fall, and DC's Samuel. It was during this month-long outing that the decision came to change the name and the direction of the band. Moore and Rubenstein returned to the studio in late 1995 and re-recorded the vocals and re-mixed the album, and Chamberlain was born.
The band re-released the updated Fate's Got A Driver as Chamberlain in 1996, toured the US and Europe and took time out to record a new demo with acclaimed independent music producer Paul Mahern, much of which would go on to become The Moon My Saddle. After much courting by numerous major labels, the band were due to sign for Revolution Records
Revolution Records
Revolution Records was a record label that was launched in 1996 as a subsidiary of Giant Records. Brian Wilson signed on the label.There was also an earlier label 'Revolution Records', an English distributor of RCA recordings, based at 490A Old Kent Road, London S.E.1, on which various classical...
, an imprint of Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
, but a signing freeze just before putting pen to paper thwarted them.
The second Chamberlain studio album, "The Moon My Saddle," was recorded in the summer of 1998 at Echo Park Studios in Bloomington with producer Ray Martin and released later that year by Doghouse. The group continued performing for another two years, but without Snyder (who was not replaced, Mead (replaced by Showermast/Red Devil, Blue Devil's Seth Greathouse) and Walker (replaced by Uvula's Wade Parish). During this time, a collection of demos recorded during rehearsals was compiled as their third album, Exit 263, and was released independently in 2000 through the band's management company, after being rejected from Doghouse.
The double LP retrospective, Five-Year Diary (which is also the name of a song from Fate's Got A Driver) was released independently in 2002. The album features live tracks and old demo recordings as well as tracks from compilations and hard to find releases.
The members are currently involved with many different musical projects in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. Curtis Mead and Charlie Walker play, together with former Brainiac
Brainiac (band)
Brainiac was an American synthpunk band formed in 1992, and disbanded after the sudden death of lead singer Tim Taylor in 1997.-Biography:...
bass player and video director Juan Monostereo and ex Bullet LaVolta
Bullet lavolta
Bullet LaVolta was a post-punk band from Boston, Massachusetts that was originally formed in January 1987 by four college disk jockeys: Clay Tarver , Bill Whelan , Corey "Loog" Brennan and Chris "Cruster" Guttmacher . The band later added singer Yukkie Gipe after he responded to an advertisement...
drummer Philips, in Model/Actress, which released an EP in 2008.
Reunion
On the heels of a mini-Chamberlain reunion at the 2008 South by Southwest festival that featured Moore, Rubenstein, Walker and Mead, The band reformed with Snyder in May 2009 for a series of shows culminating in the Burning Fight book release show in Chicago. The show celebrated the release of the '90s hardcore book of the same name released by Revelation Records. Aside from the Chicago date, two other shows were played in Louisville and Indianapolis in May, followed by a December performance at New York's Bowery Ballroom. Prior to these gigs, Snyder hadn't played with the band since 1998.Chamberlain toured with The Gaslight Anthem
The Gaslight Anthem
The Gaslight Anthem is an American rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey, consisting of Brian Fallon , Alex Rosamilia , Alex Levine and Benny Horowitz...
and Tim Barry
Tim Barry
Tim Barry is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is the former lead singer of the Richmond, Virginia-based punk rock band Avail. In addition to performing with Avail, he was the bass guitarist in the Richmond-based folk punk band Pioneers from 1994-1995...
in summer 2010, and performed at Krazy Fest
Krazy Fest
Krazy Fest was the brain child of Initial Records President Andy Rich. It was a weekend long music and lifestyle festival that ran annually for six years from 1998 through 2003...
in Louisville, Kentucky in May, 2011. No further touring is planned; however, an interview with Rubenstein in the July '11 Alternative Press hinted at continued collaborations
Post-Split Lip/Chamberlain Projects
- Charlie Walker is a touring and session drummer in New York. His most notable work has been as a member of Institute alongside former BushBush (band)Bush are an alternative rock band formed in London in 1992 shortly after vocalist/guitarist Gavin Rossdale and guitarist Nigel Pulsford met in a London nightclub. Realising they shared a love for such diverse artists as the Pixies, Bob Marley, The Jesus Lizard, MC5, Nirvana, Hüsker Dü, and Big...
frontman Gavin RossdaleGavin RossdaleGavin McGregor Rossdale is an English musician, known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Bush as well as an actor. Following Bush's separation in 2002, which lasted for eight years, he was the lead singer and guitarist for Institute, and later began a solo career. He...
,and the band OSLOOsloOslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. He is currently in SamiamSamiam-Biography:Samiam was formed in late 1988 after the breakup of the Gilman club mainstay Isocracy. Their first show was in January 1989 with Christ on Parade. They released records through New Red Archives and Hopeless Records in the US and Burning Heart Records in Europe. In the mid-'90s, the band...
. - Curtis Mead lives in Los Angeles, California and played bass for Little Wolverines and currently Model/Actress.
- Adam Rubenstein released a solo album under the name "Adam Dove", and also plays in the band Dear Lions.
- David Moore's solo LP, "My Lover, My Stranger" was released by 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....
in 2009. - Adam Rubenstein and David Moore contributed a track to 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....
' Bob Dylan tribute album
Full length albums
- Fate's Got A Driver (1995 · 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....
) (Released on Miles Hunt'sMiles HuntMiles Hunt is the singer / guitarist and songwriter for the Stourbridge, England-based Alternative Rock band The Wonder Stuff.- Early life :His father was a union official for the TGWU...
record label For All The Right Reasons in the UK) - The Moon My Saddle (1998 · 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....
) - Exit 263 (2000 · South Bittersweet Lane Music)
- Five-Year Diary (2002 · Engineer Records)
EPs
- Five Year Diary (1995, 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....
/For All The Right Reasons)*can be purchased at bentmusic.ca - Her Side Of Sundown (1995, 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....
/For All The Right Reasons) - Chamberlain/Old Pike Split (1996, 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....
) - Go Down Believing (1998, 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....
) - Doghouse Fan Series (2001, 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....
) - Raise it High (2010, The Blackcloud Label)