Houston Noise Bands
Encyclopedia
Since the 1970s
, Houston, TX has become one of the world's leading centers for a particular brand of dark experimental music, ranging from psych-rock to industrial to distorted, stripped-down folk songs, to dance party mayhem, but all sharing a similar aesthetic sensibility rooted in dissonance and a flippant attitude towards sonic clarity and technical virtuosity. Together these groups fall under the heading of Houston Noise.
An article about the local scene gives one reference to this Houston sound. "I don't know if it's a Houston curse or a Houston blessing, but [like a lot of local bands] they're not enough of one thing, they're a little bit different, they're a little bit off," says Sound Exchange owner-manager Kurt Brennan, who has released some of their material in the past on his Fleece label.
An April 12, 2007 article in the Houston Press praised the egalitarian spirit of Noise Music in Houston. Unlike stodgier Noise epicenters such as Tokyo and Brooklyn, it stated "Houston Noise is an equal opportunity genre. Men, women, men who want to be women, women who love men who want to be women -- everybody has a shot at being a noiser."
1970s
File:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
, Houston, TX has become one of the world's leading centers for a particular brand of dark experimental music, ranging from psych-rock to industrial to distorted, stripped-down folk songs, to dance party mayhem, but all sharing a similar aesthetic sensibility rooted in dissonance and a flippant attitude towards sonic clarity and technical virtuosity. Together these groups fall under the heading of Houston Noise.
Band Listing (by decade of founding)
This list is for notable bands identified as part of the Houston Noise genre.1980s
- CulturcideCulturcideCulturcide was a Houston-based experimental punk band, active from 1980 to 1990 and from 1993 to the present day. They were notorious for their 1986 album Tacky Souvenirs of Pre-Revolutionary America, which earned the band a cult following, but also several legal threats.-Members:Perry Webb ; Jim...
- The Pain TeensThe Pain TeensPain Teens was an experimental noise rock band formed in Houston, Texas in 1985 by Scott Ayers and Bliss Blood. The band used tape manipulation, digital delays, sampling, tape cut-ups and other effects in their music...
- Richard Ramirez (musician)Richard Ramirez (musician)Richard Ramirez is an American noise music artist from Houston, Texas, recording and performing both as a solo artist and as part of several groups and Houston Noise Bands, including Black Leather Jesus, Priest in Shit, An Innocent Young Throat-Cutter, Oasis of Fear and the "static noise" solo...
- Rusted Shut
1990s
- CharalambidesCharalambidesCharalambides is an avant garde musical group originally from Houston, Texas, USA and lately of Austin, Texas. Formed in 1991 by Tom Carter, Christina Carter and Kyle Silfer, they have followed in the footsteps of other Texas psychedelic music artists such as the 13th Floor Elevators, Red Crayola,...
- Concrete Violin
- DJ ScrewDJ ScrewRobert Earl "DJ Screw" Davis, Jr. was a Houston, Texas-based DJ. He was known as a central figure in the Houston hip-hop community and was the creator of the now-famous Chopped and Screwed DJ technique...
- Infant Mortality Rate
- Rotten Piece
- MOZMOZMOZ is the dark ambient, power electronics project of American musician/composer JC Brand .-Origins:Founded in Houston Texas in 1997, transplanted to Anchorage, Alaska in 2000, and dubbed Post Power Electronics by Gary of Bed Molt/a sonic deterrent...
2000s
- Swarm of AngelsSwarm of AngelsSwarm of Angels is a noise-rock band from Houston, Texas. One of several celebrated Houston Noise Bands of the late 1990s and early 2000s, they were known for their dynamic live shows, and unique blending of melodic tunes, dance party rhythms with blistering noise.The original lineup was forged as...
- Indian JewelryIndian jewelryIndian Jewelry is a band from Houston, Texas that is known for its droning vision music and seizure-inducing stage show. Since forming in 2002 the band has gone through several touring incarnations as Hong Kong, the Turquoise Diamonds, BENZENE LOTION RASH, the Corpses of Waco, Electric Fuck All,...
- A Pink Cloud
- ATCAT
- Jana HunterJana HunterJana Hunter is a Baltimore-based songwriter and musician. She was born in Texas and is currently a member of Lower Dens.She is signed to Gnomonsong, a new record label run by Devendra Banhart and Vetiver's Andy Cabic...
- The Wiggins
- Rua Minx
- Dead Roses
- the Krinkles
- Kai/ros
- A Thousand Cranes
- together.We are Instruments
- Eyestek
- the Sugarbeats
- Wicked Poseur
- The They
- Slord
- Inoculist
- the Entertainment System
- Muzak
- Maria Chavez
- Astrogenic Hallucinauting
- The Defenestration Unit
- the Last Bastions
- EtherResearchTherapy
- Tinfoil
- Discordian Popes
- Chiasma
- the Briokids
- Black Magic Marker
- Larry Lorrac
- Female Demand
- LIMB
Sociological Considerations
One contributing factor to the formation of noise bands in the Houston area has been Rice Radio, founded and operated by Rice University students whose "eclectic and progressive programming" has historically included psych and noise from around the world with a special focus on the Houston scene. Additionally, geography plays a role in explaining the creation of the Houston sound, which mixes psych with a broad range musical genres.An article about the local scene gives one reference to this Houston sound. "I don't know if it's a Houston curse or a Houston blessing, but [like a lot of local bands] they're not enough of one thing, they're a little bit different, they're a little bit off," says Sound Exchange owner-manager Kurt Brennan, who has released some of their material in the past on his Fleece label.
An April 12, 2007 article in the Houston Press praised the egalitarian spirit of Noise Music in Houston. Unlike stodgier Noise epicenters such as Tokyo and Brooklyn, it stated "Houston Noise is an equal opportunity genre. Men, women, men who want to be women, women who love men who want to be women -- everybody has a shot at being a noiser."