Drake Tungsten
Encyclopedia
Drake Tungsten was the pseudonym that singer/songwriter Britt Daniel
performed under from 1994 to 1996 as a solo artist.
is an indie rock
singer/songwriter that is responsible for founding numerous bands in the early 1990s. In college at the University of Texas, Daniel founded and played in the band Skellington
. After that disbanded in 1992, Daniel played in the rockabilly
trio group The Alien Beats
, where he met drummer Jim Eno
. When that disbanded in 1993, he decided to focus his music career on solo material that he had written over the previous years - songs that were more experimental and unfit for the styles of bands that he had previously played. Rather than releasing them under his proper name, Daniel decided to release them under the pseudonym
Drake Tungsten. His first album, Clocking Out Is For Suckers
, was released in 1994 on cassette, and was distributed around his home town of Austin, Texas
. Two years later, Tungsten released the five-song EP
Six Pence for the Sauces
on local label Peek-A-Boo Records
. Also in 1996, Daniel began working again with drummer Jim Eno
(previously from The Alien Beats) and began writing music under the moniker Spoon
. Five tracks that were released by Tungsten were later re-recorded and re-release by Spoon: "I Could Be Underground" on the 30 Gallon Tank
EP; "Chicago At Night" on the Girls Can Tell
LP; and "All the Negatives Have Been Destroyed", "Dismember", and "I Wanted To Be Your Friend" on Telephono
.
Britt Daniel stopped using this pseudonym in 1996, and has not recorded a solo album since self-releasing of Six Pence for the Sauces. However, he has begun setting aside songs for a possible solo album, including "New York Kiss" and "Telephone My Heart," which he has been performing at solo shows since at least early 2006 (see http://www.archive.org/details/brittdaniel.2006-03-29.matrix.flac16).
The pseudonym "Drake Tungsten" appears to be an homage to Episode 410 (first airing in 1992) of the comic television series Mystery Science Theater 3000
. "Drake Tungsten" was one of several "tough guy names" proposed by the characters to fit the model of a monosyllabic first name followed by a metal or hard surface as a last name. Others included "Nick Pigiron" and "Russ Tilefloor."
Britt Daniel
John Britt Daniel is the co-founder, lead singer and guitarist of the Austin, Texas, rock band Spoon.-Biography:Britt Daniel was born in Galveston, Texas, and grew up in Temple, Texas, in a household of five children...
performed under from 1994 to 1996 as a solo artist.
Overview
Britt DanielBritt Daniel
John Britt Daniel is the co-founder, lead singer and guitarist of the Austin, Texas, rock band Spoon.-Biography:Britt Daniel was born in Galveston, Texas, and grew up in Temple, Texas, in a household of five children...
is an indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
singer/songwriter that is responsible for founding numerous bands in the early 1990s. In college at the University of Texas, Daniel founded and played in the band Skellington
Skellington (Britt Daniel)
Skellington was singer/songwriter Britt Daniel's first band. Formed in 1990 in Austin, Texas, the band released three cassettes before disbanding in 1992. Later, Britt would go on to form Spoon....
. After that disbanded in 1992, Daniel played in the rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
trio group The Alien Beats
The Alien Beats
Before creating Spoon, Britt Daniel toyed around with a few musical acts in the Austin area. After his stint with Skellington, fellow KTSB DJ Brad Shenfeld asked Britt if he would be interested in starting a country / rockabilly band. Britt declined, but then called Brad back a week later and...
, where he met drummer Jim Eno
Jim Eno
Jim Eno is the drummer and one of the founding members of the Austin, Texas band Spoon. He is also a record producer and a semiconductor chip designer.-Overview:Eno was born in Rhode Island...
. When that disbanded in 1993, he decided to focus his music career on solo material that he had written over the previous years - songs that were more experimental and unfit for the styles of bands that he had previously played. Rather than releasing them under his proper name, Daniel decided to release them under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Drake Tungsten. His first album, Clocking Out Is For Suckers
Clocking Out Is For Suckers
Clocking Out Is For Suckers is Drake Tungsten's first album, released in 1994 on cassette only and distributed to the Austin, Texas area. Many of the tracks were re-recorded and re-released on later Spoon albums.-Tracklisting:...
, was released in 1994 on cassette, and was distributed around his home town of Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. Two years later, Tungsten released the five-song EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Six Pence for the Sauces
Six Pence for the Sauces
Six Pence for the Sauces was the second and last record released by Drake Tungsten. The five-song EP included two future Spoon tracks, as well as a Pixies cover...
on local label Peek-A-Boo Records
Peek-A-Boo Records
Peek-A-Boo Records is an Austin, Texas based independent record label, self-proclaimed as a small but enthusiastic record label dedicated to independent music in Texas.- Alumni :* The 1-4-5s* Black Lipstick* Drake Tungsten...
. Also in 1996, Daniel began working again with drummer Jim Eno
Jim Eno
Jim Eno is the drummer and one of the founding members of the Austin, Texas band Spoon. He is also a record producer and a semiconductor chip designer.-Overview:Eno was born in Rhode Island...
(previously from The Alien Beats) and began writing music under the moniker Spoon
Spoon (band)
Spoon is an American rock band formed in Austin, Texas. The band is composed of Britt Daniel ; Jim Eno ; Rob Pope and Eric Harvey .-History:...
. Five tracks that were released by Tungsten were later re-recorded and re-release by Spoon: "I Could Be Underground" on the 30 Gallon Tank
30 Gallon Tank
30 Gallon Tank is an EP from Austin, Texas, indie rock band Spoon. The 7" record was released on May 5, 1998, as a promotional EP showcasing the newly signed Elektra Records band. Released on the same day was Spoon's second LP A Series of Sneaks...
EP; "Chicago At Night" on the Girls Can Tell
Girls Can Tell
Girls Can Tell is the third studio album by Austin, Texas indie rock band Spoon. It was released on February 20, 2001.The track "Me and the Bean" is a cover of a mid-90's Austin, Texas band called The Sidehackers...
LP; and "All the Negatives Have Been Destroyed", "Dismember", and "I Wanted To Be Your Friend" on Telephono
Telephono
Telephono is the first album from Austin, Texas indie rock band Spoon. It was released on April 23, 1996 by Matador, then re-released in a two-disc package with the Soft Effects EP in 2006 by Merge Records....
.
Britt Daniel stopped using this pseudonym in 1996, and has not recorded a solo album since self-releasing of Six Pence for the Sauces. However, he has begun setting aside songs for a possible solo album, including "New York Kiss" and "Telephone My Heart," which he has been performing at solo shows since at least early 2006 (see http://www.archive.org/details/brittdaniel.2006-03-29.matrix.flac16).
The pseudonym "Drake Tungsten" appears to be an homage to Episode 410 (first airing in 1992) of the comic television series Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
. "Drake Tungsten" was one of several "tough guy names" proposed by the characters to fit the model of a monosyllabic first name followed by a metal or hard surface as a last name. Others included "Nick Pigiron" and "Russ Tilefloor."
Discography
- Clocking Out Is For SuckersClocking Out Is For SuckersClocking Out Is For Suckers is Drake Tungsten's first album, released in 1994 on cassette only and distributed to the Austin, Texas area. Many of the tracks were re-recorded and re-released on later Spoon albums.-Tracklisting:...
LP (1994, self released) - Six Pence for the SaucesSix Pence for the SaucesSix Pence for the Sauces was the second and last record released by Drake Tungsten. The five-song EP included two future Spoon tracks, as well as a Pixies cover...
EP (1996, Peek-A-Boo RecordsPeek-A-Boo RecordsPeek-A-Boo Records is an Austin, Texas based independent record label, self-proclaimed as a small but enthusiastic record label dedicated to independent music in Texas.- Alumni :* The 1-4-5s* Black Lipstick* Drake Tungsten...
) - Dozy Vs. Drake - Upon Further ConsiderationDozy Vs. Drake - Upon Further Consideration"Dozy Vs. Drake - Upon Further Consideration" is a limited edition remix album released on CD5 through Revival Records. Dozy collaborated with Drake Tungsten to create a 33:55 minute long electronica-based track...
Single (1998, Revival RecordsRevival RecordsRevival Records is a British record label founded in 1971 by Andrew Cameron Miller and Ian Brown to issue the works of blues musicians of the Mississippi valley such as Fred McDowell and Johnny Woods, George Henry Bussey and Jim Bunkley, Charlie Burse and Will Shade, Mississippi Joe Callicott,...
)
Notable appearances
- Bicycle Rodeo Compilation (1995, Peek-A-Boo RecordsPeek-A-Boo RecordsPeek-A-Boo Records is an Austin, Texas based independent record label, self-proclaimed as a small but enthusiastic record label dedicated to independent music in Texas.- Alumni :* The 1-4-5s* Black Lipstick* Drake Tungsten...
)
- A song entitled "This is a Whipping" appeared on the Peek-A-Boo RecordsPeek-A-Boo RecordsPeek-A-Boo Records is an Austin, Texas based independent record label, self-proclaimed as a small but enthusiastic record label dedicated to independent music in Texas.- Alumni :* The 1-4-5s* Black Lipstick* Drake Tungsten...
1995 Compilation Rodeo.
External links
- Peek-A-Boo Records: Drake Tungsten page
- Spoon Official Website