Grails (band)
Encyclopedia
Grails is an American
instrumental rock
band from Portland, Oregon
.
musicians Timothy Horner (violin
) and Bill Slater (piano/bass) later joined the group to record their first EP
.
The band then released two self-financed EPs in 2000 and 2001. Paul Spitz left the US to travel in Turkey
and Zak Riles joined as guitarist, often playing more of an acoustic role. In 2002 Hall sent a promotion CD to Neurot Recordings
who were convinced of the band's potential.
In 2003,just before the release of their first full-length album, the band changed its name to Grails. They adopted a louder, more aggressive style, often switching instruments with each member writing songs that saw them branching out to increasingly disparate styles.
By the time the Black Tar Prophecies series was released Timothy Horner left and the band carried on with only 4 players. The group often picks up an extra musician for tours, allowing Amos to switch between guitar and drums and expanding the live instrumentation. Recently, Randall Dunn and Dave Abramson have joined the group live.
In their early years, Grails only toured Europe
but have switched to focusing on the East Coast of the United States
in the last few years. Despite living in Portland, the band rarely plays live shows in their hometown.
The various members stay busy with several different projects. Hall has played guitar with Steve Von Till of Neurosis
in Von Till's project Harvestman , Amos has played drums with Jandek
, produced for Yellow Swans
and releases solo records under the name 'Holy Sons', and Riles has toured as 2nd guitarist for M. Ward
.
In 2007 Grails released Burning off Impurities with Temporary Residence.
In March 2008 it was announced that Emil Amos joined OM
and a new Grails record called Take Refuge in Clean Living was released May 13 on Important Records. Their latest full-length album, Doomsdayer's Holiday was released on October 7, 2008, on Temporary Residence Limited
. The album was met with critical acclaim, and the band were featured on the cover of UK magazine Rock-A-Rolla.
A comprehensive DVD was released on April 7,'09 called "Acid Rain" summing up their most productive period. In 2010, the band has re-issued three releases, including versions of their first two albums remastered by Carl Saff, as well as a vinyl issue of Black Tar Prophecies Vols. 1, 2, & 3 on Important Records. Also released on Important as a vinyl-only EP was Black Tar Prophecies Vol. 4.
Their next planned release is another full-length album called Deep Politics, being released by Temporary Residence Limited on March 8, 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
instrumental rock
Instrumental rock
Instrumental rock is a type of rock music which emphasizes musical instruments, and which features very little or no singing.Examples of instrumental rock can be found in practically every subgenre of rock, often from musicians who specialize in the style, most notably Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Link...
band from Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
Biography
Initially going by the name "Laurel Canyon", guitarist Alex Hall, drummer Emil Amos (also of 'Holy Sons') and second guitarist Paul Spitz garnered positive reactions following their first show, played on a whim. PortlandPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
musicians Timothy Horner (violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
) and Bill Slater (piano/bass) later joined the group to record their first 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...
.
The band then released two self-financed EPs in 2000 and 2001. Paul Spitz left the US to travel in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Zak Riles joined as guitarist, often playing more of an acoustic role. In 2002 Hall sent a promotion CD to Neurot Recordings
Neurot Recordings
Neurot Recordings is an independent American record label founded by members of Neurosis and Tribes of Neurot. The label was founded to release the side projects of Neurosis and its members. It has since expanded to a fully functioning label, releasing music from artists...
who were convinced of the band's potential.
In 2003,just before the release of their first full-length album, the band changed its name to Grails. They adopted a louder, more aggressive style, often switching instruments with each member writing songs that saw them branching out to increasingly disparate styles.
By the time the Black Tar Prophecies series was released Timothy Horner left and the band carried on with only 4 players. The group often picks up an extra musician for tours, allowing Amos to switch between guitar and drums and expanding the live instrumentation. Recently, Randall Dunn and Dave Abramson have joined the group live.
In their early years, Grails only toured Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
but have switched to focusing on the East Coast of the United States
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
in the last few years. Despite living in Portland, the band rarely plays live shows in their hometown.
The various members stay busy with several different projects. Hall has played guitar with Steve Von Till of Neurosis
Neurosis (band)
Neurosis is a post-metal band, based in Oakland, California. They formed in 1985 as a hardcore punk band, and their sound progressed towards a doom metal style that also included influences from dark ambient and industrial music as well as incorporating elements of folk music...
in Von Till's project Harvestman , Amos has played drums with Jandek
Jandek
Jandek is the musical project of an anonymous outsider musician who operates out of Houston, Texas. Since 1978, Jandek has self-released over 60 albums of unusual, often emotionally dissolute folk and blues songs without ever granting more than the occasional interview or providing any biographical...
, produced for Yellow Swans
Yellow Swans
Yellow Swans were an American experimental electronic noise band from Portland, Oregon. The duo are renowned for their improvisional approach to music, creating a unique experience for each live performance. They describe their music as "a constantly evolving mass of psychedelic noise that is both...
and releases solo records under the name 'Holy Sons', and Riles has toured as 2nd guitarist for M. Ward
M. Ward
Matthew Stephen Ward, known by his stage name M. Ward, is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who rose to prominence in the Portland, Oregon music scene. In addition to his solo work he is known as a member of She & Him and Monsters of Folk.-Career:...
.
In 2007 Grails released Burning off Impurities with Temporary Residence.
In March 2008 it was announced that Emil Amos joined OM
Om (band)
Om is a duo formed in 2003 by the rhythm section of the disbanded Stoner doom metal band Sleep. The band's first three albums feature Al Cisneros on vocals and bass and Chris Hakius on drums. Their music is similar in structure to Tibetan chanting....
and a new Grails record called Take Refuge in Clean Living was released May 13 on Important Records. Their latest full-length album, Doomsdayer's Holiday was released on October 7, 2008, on Temporary Residence Limited
Temporary Residence Limited
Temporary Residence Limited is a Brooklyn, New York-based record label. TRL was started in Baltimore, Maryland in late 1995. The label's first release was The Concord Anthology Process/Nero split 7", released April 1, 1996. After moving the operation to Portland, Oregon, owner/operator Jeremy...
. The album was met with critical acclaim, and the band were featured on the cover of UK magazine Rock-A-Rolla.
A comprehensive DVD was released on April 7,'09 called "Acid Rain" summing up their most productive period. In 2010, the band has re-issued three releases, including versions of their first two albums remastered by Carl Saff, as well as a vinyl issue of Black Tar Prophecies Vols. 1, 2, & 3 on Important Records. Also released on Important as a vinyl-only EP was Black Tar Prophecies Vol. 4.
Their next planned release is another full-length album called Deep Politics, being released by Temporary Residence Limited on March 8, 2011.
Discography
- The Burden of Hope (CD/LP, Neurot Recordings/Robotic Empire, 2003/2006... LP remaster on Pamlico Sound Mailorder 2010)
- Redlight (CD/LP, Neurot Recordings/Robotic Empire, 2004/2006... LP remaster on Pamlico Sound Mailorder 2010)
- Interpretations of Three Psychedelic Rock Songs from Around the World (CD-EP, Southern Records, 2005... LP re-release in 2008)
- Black Tar Prophecies Vol. I (Split 12" with Red SparowesRed SparowesRed Sparowes is a Los Angeles post-rock band comprising current and former members of Isis, Halifax Pier, Angel Hair and Pleasure Forever. Their sound is characteristic of soundscape-influenced experimental rock, with an otherwise uncommon extensive use of a pedal steel guitar.-History:Red Sparowes...
, Robotic Empire, 2006) - Black Tar Prophecies Vol. II (12", Aurora Borealis, 2006)
- Black Tar Prophecies Vols. 1, 2 and 3 (CD, Important Records, 08/2006... LP re-release in 2010)
- Burning Off Impurities (CD/LP, Temporary Residence LimitedTemporary Residence LimitedTemporary Residence Limited is a Brooklyn, New York-based record label. TRL was started in Baltimore, Maryland in late 1995. The label's first release was The Concord Anthology Process/Nero split 7", released April 1, 1996. After moving the operation to Portland, Oregon, owner/operator Jeremy...
, 2007) - Take Refuge in Clean Living (CD/LP, Important Records, 2008)
- Destroy Independent Music!Destroy Independent Music!Destroy Independent Music! is a free music sampler, featuring various artists from record label Temporary Residence Limited that was released in the spring of 2007.-Track listing:# "Easy Magic" by Prints - 4:58# "I Hate You Rob Crow" by Rob Crow - 2:10...
(2006–2007, Temporary Residence LimitedTemporary Residence LimitedTemporary Residence Limited is a Brooklyn, New York-based record label. TRL was started in Baltimore, Maryland in late 1995. The label's first release was The Concord Anthology Process/Nero split 7", released April 1, 1996. After moving the operation to Portland, Oregon, owner/operator Jeremy...
) sampler - Doomsdayer's HolidayDoomsdayer's HolidayDoomsdayer's Holiday is Grails' sixth album, released in 2008 through Temporary Residence.-Track listing:# "Doomsdayer's Holiday" – 3:32# "Reincarnation Blues" – 4:33# "The Natural Man" – 4:49# "Immediate Mate" – 5:50...
(CD/LP, Temporary Residence LimitedTemporary Residence LimitedTemporary Residence Limited is a Brooklyn, New York-based record label. TRL was started in Baltimore, Maryland in late 1995. The label's first release was The Concord Anthology Process/Nero split 7", released April 1, 1996. After moving the operation to Portland, Oregon, owner/operator Jeremy...
, 2008) - Black Tar Prophecies Vol. IV (Picture LP, Important Records, May 2010)
- Deep PoliticsDeep politicsDeep politics is a phrase coined by researcher and academic Peter Dale Scott, which he describes thus;Scott has extensively researched political processes that fly under the radar of conscious political activity, are omitted from discourse on the right and the left, and are many times intertwined...
(CD/LP, Temporary Residence Limited, March 2011) - Black Tar Prophecies Vol. V (Early 2011)