No Torso
Encyclopedia
No Torso was an eight piece, DIY ska
band from Oslo
, Norway
. The band began in 2001 as a three-piece with just Eivind, Chris, and Martin as members. Between then and 2006, the band would add members and drop only one until the currently lineup was formed.
, the band is involved and celebrated in the United States
' ska and DIY scene. This is due in large part to their relations with seminal and long-standing independent label Asian Man Records
. Asian Man had released the band's debut full-length effort, Several Brains, in 2006 to warm critical and popular reception.
Since the release of Several Brains, No Torso has recorded a second release, entitled "Ready Already", which was also released during the West Coast leg of the band's first United States
tour. The tour itself took place during the summer of 2008 and in some instances, was shared with other Asian Man bands such as Lemuria
and Bomb The Music Industry!
.
No Torso is distinguished by a sound clearly backed by a solid knowledge of traditional ska
music, mixed with heavy DIY-punk influences, with Hot Water Music
often being cited in this regard - the end result is a sound similar to that of an experimental Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Furthermore, the band's poetic
lyrics and positive attitude have garnered them respect within the international ska scene as well as others.
On May 19, 2009 guitarist Martin Brostigen announced that the band had decided to call it a day. The decision was made after failing to replace Lars, Chris and Kristian, who all left the band after the US tour of 2008. All of the members went on to form new bands. They have all played together as a ska cover band that was originally named Bekkestua All-Stars, and later renamed Yoga Grossist, a word play on the Norwegian band Jaga Jazzist. Nerland and Hamang started a punk band called Hamstern and the Pepsikids, Brostigen joined the Norwegian ska band The Phantoms. The horn section, Brænne, Solheim and Friis, have toured with numerous bands including Orbo & The Longshots
, Noora Noor
and Los Plantronics
. Lars Oskarsen took a break from music to focus on his family, but has appeared as guest musician for several Oslo based bands. Dypvik joined Amerikanerne, a reggae band from Oslo.
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
band from Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The band began in 2001 as a three-piece with just Eivind, Chris, and Martin as members. Between then and 2006, the band would add members and drop only one until the currently lineup was formed.
History
Despite being from ScandinaviaScandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, the band is involved and celebrated in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' ska and DIY scene. This is due in large part to their relations with seminal and long-standing independent label Asian Man Records
Asian Man Records
Asian Man Records is a small, DIY record label run by Mike Park in Monte Sereno, California. Park started a record label and began releasing music in 1989 under the name Dill Records, with the Asian Man label established May 1996.-Artists:...
. Asian Man had released the band's debut full-length effort, Several Brains, in 2006 to warm critical and popular reception.
Since the release of Several Brains, No Torso has recorded a second release, entitled "Ready Already", which was also released during the West Coast leg of the band's first United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
tour. The tour itself took place during the summer of 2008 and in some instances, was shared with other Asian Man bands such as Lemuria
Lemuria
Lemuria may refer to:*Lemuria , in Roman religion, a feast during which the unwholesome and malevolent spectres of the restless dead were propitiated...
and Bomb The Music Industry!
Bomb The Music Industry!
Bomb the Music Industry! is band from Baldwin, Nassau County, New York. They write, produce, record, and distribute all of their music under the leadership of songwriter and producer Jeff Rosenstock....
.
No Torso is distinguished by a sound clearly backed by a solid knowledge of traditional ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
music, mixed with heavy DIY-punk influences, with Hot Water Music
Hot Water Music
Hot Water Music is a punk rock band from Gainesville, Florida. The members of the band are Chuck Ragan, Chris Wollard, Jason Black, and George Rebelo. HWM first formed in 1993...
often being cited in this regard - the end result is a sound similar to that of an experimental Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Furthermore, the band's poetic
Poetic
Poetic may refer to:* Poetry, or a relation thereof.* Too Poetic, a deceased rapper and hip hop producer....
lyrics and positive attitude have garnered them respect within the international ska scene as well as others.
On May 19, 2009 guitarist Martin Brostigen announced that the band had decided to call it a day. The decision was made after failing to replace Lars, Chris and Kristian, who all left the band after the US tour of 2008. All of the members went on to form new bands. They have all played together as a ska cover band that was originally named Bekkestua All-Stars, and later renamed Yoga Grossist, a word play on the Norwegian band Jaga Jazzist. Nerland and Hamang started a punk band called Hamstern and the Pepsikids, Brostigen joined the Norwegian ska band The Phantoms. The horn section, Brænne, Solheim and Friis, have toured with numerous bands including Orbo & The Longshots
ORBO & The Longshots
ORBO & The Longshots is a rock & roll band from Bergen, Norway. The band was established in the year 2000 by singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Ole Reinert Berg-Olsen aka ORBO....
, Noora Noor
Noora Noor
Noora Noor aka Noora is a Norwegian neo soul singer. She is often noted as Norway's Queen of Soul.Noor started early on her musical journey, performing locally from the age of 8. She got a recording contract with Warner Music at only 15. She then began working with Stargate to make her first album...
and Los Plantronics
Los Plantronics
Los Plantronics is a cinematic rock-and-roll group from Oslo, Norway/Noruega, formed by Signor Havn and Greek guitarist Thanasis Therianos in 1994....
. Lars Oskarsen took a break from music to focus on his family, but has appeared as guest musician for several Oslo based bands. Dypvik joined Amerikanerne, a reggae band from Oslo.
Album
- Fatal Fraud EP (2004)
- Several Brains (2005)
- Ready Already EP (2008)
Compilations
- Plea for Peace Vol. 2" – «Fight the blue horizon»
- Himmelblå – «Fight the blue horizon»
- The Best Fucking Ska in the World, Vol. 2 – «Fatal Fraud»
- The Best Fucking Ska in the World, Vol. 3
- Punk in disguise , Vol. 2 – «Fatal Fraud, I`m glad I`m alive»
- Mowhawks and whiskey shots"
- Bergen Rock City, Vol. 2"
Former members
- Martin Brostigen – guitar
(2001 - 2009) - Eivind Dypvik – drums
(2001 - 2009) - Bendik Brænne – tenorsax
(2001 - 2009) - Hans Friis – trombone
(2004 - 2009) - Eivind Solheim – trumpet
(2005 - 2009) - Johannes SæbøeJohannes SæbøeJohannes Sæbøe is a Norwegian musician, notable for his act in the progrock band White Willow. Sæbøe was recruited on electric guitar in 2000 and featured on the album Sacrament and Storm Season. He left the group shortly after Storm Season....
– bass(2009 - 2009) - Lars Oskarsen – vocals
(2003 - 2008) - Chris Nerland – bass
(2001 - 2008) - Kristian Hamang – guitar
(2002 - 2009) - Anders Kjaer – tenorsax
(2001 - 2005)