Slapstick (band)
Encyclopedia
Slapstick was a punk-ska fusion band formed in Chicago by a group of friends from the Elgin area. The group took some cues from the seminal ska/punk outfit Operation Ivy
and the guttural punk vocals of Crimpshrine
, but developed their own unique style. The group was active from 1993 to 1996 on Asian Man Records
. They are known for being the root of the "Slapstick Family Tree", a group of musical projects which spawned from members of Slapstick, including Alkaline Trio
, The Lawrence Arms
, and The Falcon
.
's now-defunct Dill Records, and later on his next and still-active label Asian Man Records
; and a self-titled compilation (also referred to as 25 Songshttp://asianmanrecords.com/basket/cds6.html or Discographyhttp://www.punknews.org/review/536) was released on Asian Man, featuring the songs from Lookit!, a few unreleased songs, and 6 new songs that were intended to be released on a 10" record had the band not split.
Prior to the release of these albums, the band had released two 7" vinyl EPs: Superhero, which came in various colours of vinyl and with two different covers; and Crooked, which featured 4 songs later released on Lookit! (and by extension the eponymous compilation). Superhero was originally self released, and later repressed and released alongside Crooked on Dyslexic Records. A few songs were released exclusively on now out-of-print compilations, and thus remain unavailable. The band also released a split with Tommyrot, and a few demo tapes containing otherwise unreleased songs. Thus, the self-titled 'discography' is not technically a complete collection.
On November 23, 1997, Slapstick reunited for two final shows at the Fireside Bowl in Chicago. The shows were a benefit for a family in need, and they ended up raising over $7,000, both selling out. In 2006 Asian Man Records released a DVD of the second show, filmed by bassist Dan Andriano's dad. It also features optional video commentary by Brendan Kelly and Rob Kellenberger.
The members of Slapstick went on to form a number of notable groups. Andriano, Stamps and Kellenberger formed Tuesday
. Likewise, Kelly and Hanaway formed The Broadways
with Rob DePaola and Tricky Dick guitarist Chris McCaughan
. Tuesday eventually broke up in 1998, when Andriano joined Matt Skiba
in Alkaline Trio
. The Broadways also broke up in 1998, after which Kelly and McCaughan started the still-active The Lawrence Arms
, and a little later Hanaway and DePaola formed The Honor System
. In 2004, Kelly and Andriano collaborated once again in the Chicago supergroup
The Falcon
.
After years of refusing, and occasionally mocking, fans' requests to play songs from their old bands, The Lawrence Arms performed Slapstick's "Broken Down" and songs by The Broadways at the Asian Man Records 11th anniversary show. They also performed these songs on their 2007 tour, in which their own side-projects, Sundowner
and The Falcon, served as support acts; this was probably to somewhat round out the 'family tree' aspect of these shows.
On June 15, 2011, all the original members of Slapstick reunited at Slim's in San Francisco, for the Asian Man Records 15th anniversary shows (festival). With two other reunited Asian Man Records bands The Chinkees and Mu330 opening, Slapstick played an hour long set, constantly poking fun at how old they were, how little they like to play ska, and how they were "uh, Slapstick, I guess". Many fans requested Lawrence Arms songs from Kelly, who said this was like his wife asking him to put his pants back on. Late in the set, a drunken Matt Skiba
joined Slapstick on stage, slurring, gushing and giving hugs to all the band members.
Operation Ivy (band)
Operation Ivy was an American ska punk band that formed in Berkeley, California, and was often credited with spurring the 1990s punk revival in California. It is well-known as one of the first bands to "mix" hardcore punk with elements of ska, known as ska-core...
and the guttural punk vocals of Crimpshrine
Crimpshrine
Crimpshrine was an American punk rock band from Berkeley, California. The group was formed in 1982 by Aaron Cometbus, founder of the seminal punk rock zine Cometbus, and a friend, Jeff Ott. Within D.I.Y...
, but developed their own unique style. The group was active from 1993 to 1996 on 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:...
. They are known for being the root of the "Slapstick Family Tree", a group of musical projects which spawned from members of Slapstick, including Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band that formed in McHenry, Illinois, in 1996. The band's line-up consists of Matt Skiba , Dan Andriano , and Derek Grant...
, The Lawrence Arms
The Lawrence Arms
The Lawrence Arms are an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. They have released five full-length albums and toured extensively.-Pre-history:...
, and The Falcon
The Falcon (band)
The Falcon is a Chicago-based punk rock supergroup. The band features The Lawrence Arms members Brendan Kelly and Neil Hennessy on drums, as well as Alkaline Trio's Dan Andriano...
.
Members
- Brendan KellyBrendan Kelly (musician)Brendan Kelly is the bassist/vocalist of Chicago-based punk band The Lawrence Arms, as well as guitarist/lead vocalist in The Falcon. Kelly's former bands include Slapstick and The Broadways...
: vocals - Dan AndrianoDan AndrianoDaniel Michael Andriano is the bassist and co-vocalist of the punk rock band Alkaline Trio.-Education and early bands:...
: bass, backing vocals - Dan Hanaway: trumpet, backing vocals
- Matt Stamps: guitar
- Rob Kellenberger: drums
- Peter Anna: trombone
- Karl Henkelmann: trumpet
Releases
Slapstick played typically fast-paced ska with gruff vocals, which set them apart from most other bands of the time. The band was active until 1996. They have 2 full-length releases: the album Lookit! was released on Mike ParkMike Park
Mike Park is a Korean American musician and progressive activist. His musical ventures include Skankin' Pickle for whom he both played the saxophone and sang, The Chinkees, The Bruce Lee Band, and most recently an acoustic solo project under his own name...
's now-defunct Dill Records, and later on his next and still-active 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:...
; and a self-titled compilation (also referred to as 25 Songshttp://asianmanrecords.com/basket/cds6.html or Discographyhttp://www.punknews.org/review/536) was released on Asian Man, featuring the songs from Lookit!, a few unreleased songs, and 6 new songs that were intended to be released on a 10" record had the band not split.
Prior to the release of these albums, the band had released two 7" vinyl EPs: Superhero, which came in various colours of vinyl and with two different covers; and Crooked, which featured 4 songs later released on Lookit! (and by extension the eponymous compilation). Superhero was originally self released, and later repressed and released alongside Crooked on Dyslexic Records. A few songs were released exclusively on now out-of-print compilations, and thus remain unavailable. The band also released a split with Tommyrot, and a few demo tapes containing otherwise unreleased songs. Thus, the self-titled 'discography' is not technically a complete collection.
On November 23, 1997, Slapstick reunited for two final shows at the Fireside Bowl in Chicago. The shows were a benefit for a family in need, and they ended up raising over $7,000, both selling out. In 2006 Asian Man Records released a DVD of the second show, filmed by bassist Dan Andriano's dad. It also features optional video commentary by Brendan Kelly and Rob Kellenberger.
Breakup and legacy
- Brendan Kelly http://members.tripod.com/~scenezine/broadway.htm
Slapstick broke up because we couldn't write songs together anymore.
Dan or I would bring a song in and Matt, Danny and Rob wouldn't like it.
Conversely, those three would bring in songs and Dan and I wouldn't like
them. The creative process stagnated. it has a lot to do with the fact
that none of us really ever liked ska a lot. It was a phase for all of
us and once we got through the phase, writing ska became hard to do (not
to mention silly). We had different ideas about what direction Slapstick
should go, and there was no other resolution. We are all still great
friends though.
The members of Slapstick went on to form a number of notable groups. Andriano, Stamps and Kellenberger formed Tuesday
Tuesday (band)
Tuesday was a pop punk/emo band formed by three ex-members of influential Chicago ska punk band Slapstick after the latter's 1996 breakup. Dan Andriano , Matt Stamps , and Rob Kellenberger released their first EP Early Summer on Asian Man Records in 1997...
. Likewise, Kelly and Hanaway formed The Broadways
The Broadways
The Broadways were a short-lived punk band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1996 after the dissolution of the influential ska-punk band Slapstick. The latter's vocalist Brendan Kelly and trumpet player Dan Hanaway assumed the roles of bassist and guitarist, joined by Rob DePaola on drums and Chris...
with Rob DePaola and Tricky Dick guitarist Chris McCaughan
Chris McCaughan
Chris McCaughan is the guitarist and vocalist in the band The Lawrence Arms. McCaughan was formerly the guitarist for the bands Tricky Dick and The Broadways ....
. Tuesday eventually broke up in 1998, when Andriano joined Matt Skiba
Matt Skiba
Matthew Thomas Skiba is the lead singer and guitarist of Alkaline Trio.-Early life and family:...
in Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band that formed in McHenry, Illinois, in 1996. The band's line-up consists of Matt Skiba , Dan Andriano , and Derek Grant...
. The Broadways also broke up in 1998, after which Kelly and McCaughan started the still-active The Lawrence Arms
The Lawrence Arms
The Lawrence Arms are an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. They have released five full-length albums and toured extensively.-Pre-history:...
, and a little later Hanaway and DePaola formed The Honor System
The Honor System
The Honor System is a punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois that formed after the breakup of The Broadways.- History :The band initially consisted of former Broadways members Dan Hanaway and Rob DePaola , along with Nolan McGuire , and Tim McIlrath...
. In 2004, Kelly and Andriano collaborated once again in the Chicago supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
The Falcon
The Falcon (band)
The Falcon is a Chicago-based punk rock supergroup. The band features The Lawrence Arms members Brendan Kelly and Neil Hennessy on drums, as well as Alkaline Trio's Dan Andriano...
.
After years of refusing, and occasionally mocking, fans' requests to play songs from their old bands, The Lawrence Arms performed Slapstick's "Broken Down" and songs by The Broadways at the Asian Man Records 11th anniversary show. They also performed these songs on their 2007 tour, in which their own side-projects, Sundowner
Sundowner
Sundowner may refer to:* Sundowner , a model of Mazda truck* Sundowner , the solo acoustic project of Chris McCaughan* Sundowner , an alcoholic cocktail* Sundowner , a model of Beechcraft airplane...
and The Falcon, served as support acts; this was probably to somewhat round out the 'family tree' aspect of these shows.
On June 15, 2011, all the original members of Slapstick reunited at Slim's in San Francisco, for the Asian Man Records 15th anniversary shows (festival). With two other reunited Asian Man Records bands The Chinkees and Mu330 opening, Slapstick played an hour long set, constantly poking fun at how old they were, how little they like to play ska, and how they were "uh, Slapstick, I guess". Many fans requested Lawrence Arms songs from Kelly, who said this was like his wife asking him to put his pants back on. Late in the set, a drunken Matt Skiba
Matt Skiba
Matthew Thomas Skiba is the lead singer and guitarist of Alkaline Trio.-Early life and family:...
joined Slapstick on stage, slurring, gushing and giving hugs to all the band members.