DigHayZoose
Encyclopedia
DigHayZoose was a Christian
funk/Modern rock
band from Kansas City
, Missouri
. The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music describes them as "One of the first Christian alternative rock bands of the 1990s". Their name, when spoken, is audibly similar to saying "Dig Jesus" in Spanish
.
in 1991 and produced their first album, StruggleFish, with Terry Scott Taylor
. The album was widely described as essentially a clone of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
or Janes Addiction. They subsequently toured nationally with bands such as Scaterd Few
and played festivals including the Cornerstone Festival
. The band found their own groove by their second album, MagentaMantaLoveTree
. Magenta was co-produced with Gene Eugene
and is considered more emotional than their first. The bands' sound fuses punk rock and freestyle jazz to create their own brand of neo-psychedelic rock
, as in the songs "Black-Eyed Pea" and "Secret." They also covered Steve Taylor
's "I Want To Be A Clone" for the 1994 tribute I Predict A Clone. In later concerts, Taylor's version came to resemble DigHayZoose's more than his own. (1) (2)
DigHayZoose was released from their contract in 1994 and announced their breakup at the Cornerstone festival that year. At the same time Ascension 7: Rocketship to Heaven
, their final release, was recorded. Ascension 7 includes guests Dan Michaels of The Choir and Allan Aguirre of Scaterd Few
. They began to search for a new record label, and in 1995 added David Coonce (known as "Zoop") as a fifth member. An underproduced demo, which consisted of five songs of modern praise, received what the band later characterized as a "lukewarm reception." When David Andersen left the band in 1996 they reformed under the name Infrared and recorded a demo before disbanding in 1997.
In 2005 the band reunited to rerecord their Infrared era material.
Bil Brown also participated in the initial forming of "neopsychedelic" Christian
Kansas City group Hot Pink Turtle. Hot Pink Turtle released one album, Ticklewigglejigglepickle, in 1993 on R.E.X. Music, and covered Steve Taylor
's "A Principled Man" on the same Steve Taylor tribute album as DigHayZoose. One reviewer concisely described its diversity as "a hodgepoge of music and meanings". Bil's other efforts include the rockabilly band Silvermen, and most recently, leading worship and creative arts at Desperation Church in Liberty, MO. The Silvermen formed in 1998, signed to Ashland Records, and released one album with Bil on bass, Pioneers of the Intergalactic Frontier, in 2000. Pioneers was a science fiction based album with a variety of sounds, much like DigHayZoose.
Hot Pink Turtle also included Dion Tyler on bass, who formed a band called Dev Null with Dave Anderson in 1997. They released one album and disbanded in about 1999. Phil Schlotterer founded a band called The Sky Kings (later changed to The Day Birds) which was reported to have a strong local following in 2000. They released at least one album, turnstyle (1999) and an EP, you rock, in 2002. Phil left the band by 2004.
Florez, Andersen, Tyler, and Donovan White also formed a band called Sundowner. They had not recorded material as of 2000. Later 2010 White formed a band known as "Mavens" with Tyler in the band along with a few others they
won recording time from a band competitiopn and got 1st Place
Other Releases:
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
funk/Modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
band from Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music describes them as "One of the first Christian alternative rock bands of the 1990s". Their name, when spoken, is audibly similar to saying "Dig Jesus" in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
.
History
The band signed to Brainstorm Artists InternationalBrainstorm Artists International
Brainstorm Artists International formerly Broken Records , was an artist-run record label founded in 1987 by Gene Eugene, Ojo Taylor, and Barry Hill. The label was distributed globally by Sony/Epic Music, among others, and closed in 1997 due to distribution issues.Located in Fullerton, California,...
in 1991 and produced their first album, StruggleFish, with Terry Scott Taylor
Terry Scott Taylor
Terry Scott Taylor is an American songwriter, record producer, writer and founding member of the bands Daniel Amos and The Swirling Eddies . Taylor is also a member of the roots and alternative music group, Lost Dogs. He is currently based in San Jose, California, USA.Taylor is highly regarded for...
. The album was widely described as essentially a clone of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
or Janes Addiction. They subsequently toured nationally with bands such as Scaterd Few
Scaterd Few
Scaterd Few was a Christian punk band originating from Burbank, California. CCM magazine described their music as "pure punk for dread people," stating that it was a cross between Janes Addiction and Charlie Mingus.-Sin Disease era:...
and played festivals including the Cornerstone Festival
Cornerstone Festival
Cornerstone Festival is a Christian music festival put on by Jesus People USA and held annually around the 4th of July near Bushnell, Illinois. In a given year, many artists that play at Cornerstone also play at other events such as Creation Festival and mainstream festivals and tours such as the...
. The band found their own groove by their second album, MagentaMantaLoveTree
MagentaMantaLoveTree
MagentaMantaLoveTree was an album released in 1993 by Dighayzoose. This was their second album, clocking in at nearly 65 minutes long. All band members participated in the writing process with the exception of Jimmi Rodrigez. The album was a departure from their debut which had been, according to...
. Magenta was co-produced with Gene Eugene
Gene Eugene
Gene "Eugene" Andrusco was a Canadian born actor, record producer, engineer, composer and musician. Andrusco was best known as the leader of the funk/rock band Adam Again, a member of The Swirling Eddies and as a founding member of the roots music supergroup Lost Dogs.-Acting:Andrusco was a child...
and is considered more emotional than their first. The bands' sound fuses punk rock and freestyle jazz to create their own brand of neo-psychedelic rock
Neo-psychedelia
Neo-psychedelia is music that emulates or is heavily influenced by the psychedelic music of the 1960s. It began to be revived among British post-punk bands of the later 1970s and early 1980s and was taken up by groups including bands of the Paisley Underground and Madchester scenes, as well as...
, as in the songs "Black-Eyed Pea" and "Secret." They also covered Steve Taylor
Steve Taylor
Roland Stephen Taylor , is an American Christian singer, songwriter, record producer and film director.-Early life:Taylor, the eldest of three children, was born in Brawley, California. Taylor's father, Roland Taylor, was a Baptist minister. When Taylor was six years old, the family relocated to...
's "I Want To Be A Clone" for the 1994 tribute I Predict A Clone. In later concerts, Taylor's version came to resemble DigHayZoose's more than his own. (1) (2)
DigHayZoose was released from their contract in 1994 and announced their breakup at the Cornerstone festival that year. At the same time Ascension 7: Rocketship to Heaven
Ascension 7: Rocketship to Heaven
Ascension 7: Rocketship to Heaven is a live album by Dighayzoose. It captures their performance at Cornerstone 1994 show as presented.-Track listing:# "Intro / Dancing In Concert With The Infinite" – 5:07# "Strugglefish" – 5:00# "Slow Serious" – 4:35...
, their final release, was recorded. Ascension 7 includes guests Dan Michaels of The Choir and Allan Aguirre of Scaterd Few
Scaterd Few
Scaterd Few was a Christian punk band originating from Burbank, California. CCM magazine described their music as "pure punk for dread people," stating that it was a cross between Janes Addiction and Charlie Mingus.-Sin Disease era:...
. They began to search for a new record label, and in 1995 added David Coonce (known as "Zoop") as a fifth member. An underproduced demo, which consisted of five songs of modern praise, received what the band later characterized as a "lukewarm reception." When David Andersen left the band in 1996 they reformed under the name Infrared and recorded a demo before disbanding in 1997.
In 2005 the band reunited to rerecord their Infrared era material.
Related projects
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
Kansas City group Hot Pink Turtle. Hot Pink Turtle released one album, Ticklewigglejigglepickle, in 1993 on R.E.X. Music, and covered Steve Taylor
Steve Taylor
Roland Stephen Taylor , is an American Christian singer, songwriter, record producer and film director.-Early life:Taylor, the eldest of three children, was born in Brawley, California. Taylor's father, Roland Taylor, was a Baptist minister. When Taylor was six years old, the family relocated to...
's "A Principled Man" on the same Steve Taylor tribute album as DigHayZoose. One reviewer concisely described its diversity as "a hodgepoge of music and meanings". Bil's other efforts include the rockabilly band Silvermen, and most recently, leading worship and creative arts at Desperation Church in Liberty, MO. The Silvermen formed in 1998, signed to Ashland Records, and released one album with Bil on bass, Pioneers of the Intergalactic Frontier, in 2000. Pioneers was a science fiction based album with a variety of sounds, much like DigHayZoose.
Hot Pink Turtle also included Dion Tyler on bass, who formed a band called Dev Null with Dave Anderson in 1997. They released one album and disbanded in about 1999. Phil Schlotterer founded a band called The Sky Kings (later changed to The Day Birds) which was reported to have a strong local following in 2000. They released at least one album, turnstyle (1999) and an EP, you rock, in 2002. Phil left the band by 2004.
Florez, Andersen, Tyler, and Donovan White also formed a band called Sundowner. They had not recorded material as of 2000. Later 2010 White formed a band known as "Mavens" with Tyler in the band along with a few others they
won recording time from a band competitiopn and got 1st Place
Members
- Phil Schlotterer - vocals
- David G. Andersen - Guitar, vocals
- Jim Florez - Drums, vocals
- Bil Brown - Bass, vocals
- David Coonce - guitars (Ascension 7, known as "Zoop")
Discography
- StruggleFish (1991, Brainstorm)
- MagentaMantaLoveTreeMagentaMantaLoveTreeMagentaMantaLoveTree was an album released in 1993 by Dighayzoose. This was their second album, clocking in at nearly 65 minutes long. All band members participated in the writing process with the exception of Jimmi Rodrigez. The album was a departure from their debut which had been, according to...
(1993, Brainstorm) - Ascension 7: Rocketship to HeavenAscension 7: Rocketship to HeavenAscension 7: Rocketship to Heaven is a live album by Dighayzoose. It captures their performance at Cornerstone 1994 show as presented.-Track listing:# "Intro / Dancing In Concert With The Infinite" – 5:07# "Strugglefish" – 5:00# "Slow Serious" – 4:35...
(1995, Brainstorm)
Other Releases:
- Brow Beat - Unplugged Alternative (1993, Alarma Records)
- I Predict A Clone (1994, R.E.X. Records)