Chris Barth
Encyclopedia
Chris Barth is an American Singer-songwriter
and multi-instrumentalist originally from Indianapolis, IN. He is best known for his work as principal songwriter and lead vocalist of the band The Impossible Shapes
, as well as his solo work under his own name and the alias Normanoak. He was also a member of the soul/punk band John Wilkes Booze. He currently resides in Bloomington, Indiana
where he performs in a variety of musical projects and works in Early childhood education
, writing and performing original music for young children.
while still in high school, with friends Aaron Deer
and Peter King. They self-released several cassette tapes and performed locally. In 1999 Barth and Deer moved to Bloomington, IN to attend Indiana University
and the band expanded to include Mark Rice and Jason Groth. They released their first album The Great Migration in 2000, and followed with Laughter Fills Our Hollow Dome and Bless The Headless, all released by Indianapolis-based labels Recordhead/Mr.Whiggs. Barth also released a solo album on Mr. Whiggs titled Loving Off the Land.
and released We Like It Wild, touring the U.S. and Europe with Jens Lekman
and Songs: Ohia
. The Impossible Shapes also shared the stage with Wilco
, Guided by Voices
, Elf Power
, David Berman
, U.S. Maple
, and Interpol (band)
, among others, while garnering acclaim in publications such as Spin (magazine)
, Magnet (magazine)
, and Skyscraper (magazine). The band went on to release three more albums on Secretly Canadian, including Horus, Tum, and The Impossible Shapes, playing their final show in July 2009.
, and performed with bands such as The White Stripes
and The Decemberists
.
under the name Normanoak. Subsequent Normanoak releases include A Double Gift of Tongues, Estra, and Elixir. Barth toured the U.S. as Normanoak from 2004–2008, and Great Britain in 2009, performing with such acts as Vampire Weekend
and Calvin Johnson. He continues to perform as Normanoak with a revolving cast of Bloomington musicians.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and multi-instrumentalist originally from Indianapolis, IN. He is best known for his work as principal songwriter and lead vocalist of the band The Impossible Shapes
The Impossible Shapes
The Impossible Shapes are an independent rock band from Bloomington, Indiana. Since forming in 1998, the band has released eight albums in North America and Europe, sharing the stage with acts such as Wilco, Guided By Voices, Interpol, Danielson Famile, and Jens Lekman, among others, while...
, as well as his solo work under his own name and the alias Normanoak. He was also a member of the soul/punk band John Wilkes Booze. He currently resides in 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....
where he performs in a variety of musical projects and works in Early childhood education
Early childhood education
Early childhood education is the formal teaching and care of young children by people other than their family or in settings outside of the home. 'Early childhood' is usually defined as before the age of normal schooling - five years in most nations, though the U.S...
, writing and performing original music for young children.
Early Years
Barth began his music career in Indianapolis, forming The Impossible ShapesThe Impossible Shapes
The Impossible Shapes are an independent rock band from Bloomington, Indiana. Since forming in 1998, the band has released eight albums in North America and Europe, sharing the stage with acts such as Wilco, Guided By Voices, Interpol, Danielson Famile, and Jens Lekman, among others, while...
while still in high school, with friends Aaron Deer
Aaron Deer
Aaron Deer is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist originally from Indianapolis, IN, now residing in Oakland, CA. He is best known for his work in the Bloomington, IN music scene in the early 2000s, playing with bands such as The Impossible Shapes, John Wilkes Booze, and The Horns of Happiness...
and Peter King. They self-released several cassette tapes and performed locally. In 1999 Barth and Deer moved to Bloomington, IN to attend Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
and the band expanded to include Mark Rice and Jason Groth. They released their first album The Great Migration in 2000, and followed with Laughter Fills Our Hollow Dome and Bless The Headless, all released by Indianapolis-based labels Recordhead/Mr.Whiggs. Barth also released a solo album on Mr. Whiggs titled Loving Off the Land.
With The Impossible Shapes 2003 - 2009
In 2003, The Impossible Shapes signed with Bloomington, IN label Secretly CanadianSecretly Canadian
Secretly Canadian is an American independent record label based in Bloomington, Indiana. It was started in 1996 by Chris and Ben Swanson, Eric Weddle, and Jonathan Cargill. Their first release was a re-issue of an album by June Panic...
and released We Like It Wild, touring the U.S. and Europe with Jens Lekman
Jens Lekman
Jens Martin Lekman is a Swedish musician. His music is guitar-based pop with heavy use of samples and strings, with lyrics that are often witty, romantic, and melancholic. The English lyrics reflect an advanced knowledge of the language and its idioms...
and Songs: Ohia
Songs: Ohia
Jason Molina is an American singer-songwriter, originally from Lorain, Ohio. He first came to prominence performing and recording as Songs: Ohia, both in solo projects and with a rotating cast of musicians...
. The Impossible Shapes also shared the stage with Wilco
Wilco
Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup has changed frequently, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John...
, Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices is an American indie rock band originating from Dayton, Ohio. Beginning with the band's formation in 1983, it made frequent personnel changes but always maintained the presence of principal songwriter Robert Pollard...
, Elf Power
Elf Power
Elf Power is an indie rock band that originated in Athens, Georgia. Currently, the line-up consists of guitarist/vocalist Andrew Rieger, keyboardist Laura Carter, guitarist Jimmy Hughes, bassist Derek Almstead, and drummer Eric Harris...
, David Berman
David Berman
David Berman may refer to:*David Berman , actor and researcher on the TV series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation*David Berman , American singer-songwriter, poet, and cartoonist, member of the band Silver Jews...
, U.S. Maple
U.S. Maple
U.S. Maple was an American noise rock band. The group formed in Chicago in 1995. The band consists of Al Johnson , Mark Shippy , Pat Samson , and Todd Rittmann — who banded together with the intent of becoming the deconstructionists of rock and roll.-Formation and first single:U.S...
, and Interpol (band)
Interpol (band)
Interpol is an American indie rock and post-punk revival band from New York City. Formed in 1997, the band's original line-up consisted of Paul Banks , Daniel Kessler , Carlos Dengler and Greg Drudy . Drudy left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Sam Fogarino...
, among others, while garnering acclaim in publications such as Spin (magazine)
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
, Magnet (magazine)
Magnet (magazine)
Magnet is a music magazine which generally focuses on alternative, independent, or out-of-the-mainstream bands.-History:The magazine is published four times a year, and is independently owned and edited by Eric T. Miller. Music magazines with a similar focus in the 1990s era included Option,...
, and Skyscraper (magazine). The band went on to release three more albums on Secretly Canadian, including Horus, Tum, and The Impossible Shapes, playing their final show in July 2009.
With John Wilkes Booze
In 2001 Barth joined another Bloomington-based band, The John Wilkes Booze, playing bass and touring the U.S. with them until 2006, when the band called it quits. The band released two albums with the Olympia, WA based label Kill Rock StarsKill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
, and performed with bands such as The White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
and The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists are an indie folk rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States, fronted by singer/songwriter Colin Meloy. The other members of the band are Chris Funk , Jenny Conlee , Nate Query , and John Moen .The band's...
.
As Normanoak
In 2004 Barth released Born A Black Diamond on Secretly CanadianSecretly Canadian
Secretly Canadian is an American independent record label based in Bloomington, Indiana. It was started in 1996 by Chris and Ben Swanson, Eric Weddle, and Jonathan Cargill. Their first release was a re-issue of an album by June Panic...
under the name Normanoak. Subsequent Normanoak releases include A Double Gift of Tongues, Estra, and Elixir. Barth toured the U.S. as Normanoak from 2004–2008, and Great Britain in 2009, performing with such acts as Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend is an American indie rock band from New York City that formed in 2006 and signed to XL Recordings. The Band has four members: Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij, Chris Tomson, and Chris Baio. The band released its first album Vampire Weekend in 2008, which produced the singles "Mansard...
and Calvin Johnson. He continues to perform as Normanoak with a revolving cast of Bloomington musicians.
Normanoak
- Born a Black Diamond (Secretly Canadian 2004)
- A Double Gift of Tongues (Secretly Canadian 2007)
- Estra (Secretly Canadian 2008)
- Elixir (Magnetic South 2010)
The Impossible Shapes
- The Great Migration (Recordhead/Mr. Whiggs 2000)
- Laughter Fills Our Hollow Dome (Recordhead/Mr. Whiggs 2002)
- Bless the Headless (Recordhead/Mr. Whiggs 2003)
- The Current (St. Ives 2003)
- We Like It Wild (Secretly Canadian 2003)
- Horus (Secretly Canadian 2005)
- Tum (Secretly Canadian 2006)
- The Impossible Shapes (Secretly Canadian 2008)
John Wilkes Booze
- Five Pillars of Soul (Kill Rock Stars 2005)
- The Heliocentric Views of John Wilkes Booze (St. Ives 2006)
- Telescopic Eyes Glance the Future Sick (Kill Rock Stars 2006)
External links
- Imaginary Berries (Chris Barth's Blog)
- Normanoak Bandcamp
- Normanoak Myspace
- Normanoak Secretly Canadian page
- Normanoak on Musical Family Tree
- The Impossible Shapes Homepage
- The Impossible Shapes Myspace
- The Impossible Shapes Secretly Canadian page
- The Impossible Shapes Daytrotter Session and Interview
- The Impossible Shapes on Musical Family Tree
- The Impossible Shapes on Jambase.com
- The Impossible Shapes Official Facebook Page
- John Wilkes Booze Homepage
- Kill Rock Stars John Wilkes Booze page