Tar (band)
Encyclopedia
Tar was an American
post-hardcore
band, formed in 1988 in Chicago, Illinois.
where singer/guitarist John Mohr and drummer Mike Greenlees were attending Northern Illinois University
. Joining Mohr and Greenlees in Tar were original bassist Tim Mescher (only until 1991 and who also played for Shorty
), bassist Tom Zaluckyj and guitarist Mark Zablocki. Zaluckyj and Mohr played unique guitars, crafted of aluminum, designed by Ian Schneller of Specimen Products
.
The band released albums on the Amphetamine Reptile
and Touch and Go Records
labels before disbanding in 1995. During its career, the band released a total of four singles, four albums, two mini albums, and contributed songs to six compilations and split singles. The band toured nationally and internationally with bands such as Jawbox
, Arcwelder
, and the Jesus Lizard
. In 1994 the band made the decision to call it quits after releasing one final album. Over and Out was written and recorded over a period of a year and a half, produced by the band and engineered by Steve Albini
and Bob Weston
, and released in 1995.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
band, formed in 1988 in Chicago, Illinois.
History
The precursor to Tar was a hardcore punk outfit called Blatant Dissent, which formed in DeKalb, IllinoisDeKalb, Illinois
DeKalb is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 43,862 at the 2010 census, up from 39,018 at the 2000 census. The city is named after decorated German war hero Johann De Kalb, who died during the American Revolutionary War....
where singer/guitarist John Mohr and drummer Mike Greenlees were attending Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
. Joining Mohr and Greenlees in Tar were original bassist Tim Mescher (only until 1991 and who also played for Shorty
Shorty (band)
Shorty was an American rock band formed in Illinois in 1991. The band consisted of vocalist Al Johnson, guitarist Mark Shippy, drummer Todd Lamparelli, and bassist Luke Frantom. After the group's breakup, Al Johnson and Mark Shippy would go on to form the underground art rock band U.S...
), bassist Tom Zaluckyj and guitarist Mark Zablocki. Zaluckyj and Mohr played unique guitars, crafted of aluminum, designed by Ian Schneller of Specimen Products
Specimen Products
Specimen Products is a Chicago-based manufacturer of custom guitars and amplifiers, led by luthier Ian Schneller. Specimen's instrument and audio equipment production consists of commissioned pieces, one-off experimental designs referred to as "Singletons", and limited production run items...
.
The band released albums on the Amphetamine Reptile
Amphetamine Reptile Records
Amphetamine Reptile Records is a nationally renowned record label which was founded in 1986 by then-US Marine Tom Hazelmyer in Washington State, US The label is best-known for its roster of noise rock artists, and its Dope, Guns 'n' Fucking In The Streets series of compilations.-History:Hazelmyer...
and Touch and Go Records
Touch and Go Records
Touch and Go Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, USA.After its genesis as a hand-made fanzine in 1979, it grew into one of the key record labels in the American 1980s alternative and underground rock scenes, Touch & Go carved out a reputation for releasing adventurous...
labels before disbanding in 1995. During its career, the band released a total of four singles, four albums, two mini albums, and contributed songs to six compilations and split singles. The band toured nationally and internationally with bands such as Jawbox
Jawbox
Jawbox was an alternative rock band from Washington, D.C., U.S.. Its original members were J. Robbins , Kim Coletta and Adam Wade...
, Arcwelder
Arcwelder
Arcwelder is an American indie rock band which formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1988. Originally named Tilt-A-Whirl, the group changed its name to Arcwelder after being informed by Sellner Manufacturing Co. of copyright infringement....
, and the Jesus Lizard
The Jesus Lizard
The Jesus Lizard was an American alternative rock and noise rock band formed in 1987 in Austin, Texas. They were "a leading noise rock band in the American independent underground…[who] turned out a series of independent records filled with scathing, disembowelling, guitar-driven pseudo-industrial...
. In 1994 the band made the decision to call it quits after releasing one final album. Over and Out was written and recorded over a period of a year and a half, produced by the band and engineered by Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
and Bob Weston
Bob Weston
Bob Weston is an American musician, producer, recording engineer, and record mastering engineer. Critic Jason Ankeny declares that "Weston's name and fingerprints are all over the American underground rock of the post-punk era, producing and engineering dates for a seemingly endless number of...
, and released in 1995.
Singles
- "Play to Win" b/w "Mel's" (No Blow Records, 1988, NBLW01)
- "Flow Plow" b/w "Hand" (Amphetamine Reptile RecordsAmphetamine Reptile RecordsAmphetamine Reptile Records is a nationally renowned record label which was founded in 1986 by then-US Marine Tom Hazelmyer in Washington State, US The label is best-known for its roster of noise rock artists, and its Dope, Guns 'n' Fucking In The Streets series of compilations.-History:Hazelmyer...
, 1989, SCALE25) - "Solution 8" b/w "Non-Alignment Pact" (Amphetamine Reptile RecordsAmphetamine Reptile RecordsAmphetamine Reptile Records is a nationally renowned record label which was founded in 1986 by then-US Marine Tom Hazelmyer in Washington State, US The label is best-known for its roster of noise rock artists, and its Dope, Guns 'n' Fucking In The Streets series of compilations.-History:Hazelmyer...
, 1991, ARR153) - "Static" split 7" with JawboxJawboxJawbox was an alternative rock band from Washington, D.C., U.S.. Its original members were J. Robbins , Kim Coletta and Adam Wade...
(Touch and Go RecordsTouch and Go RecordsTouch and Go Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, USA.After its genesis as a hand-made fanzine in 1979, it grew into one of the key record labels in the American 1980s alternative and underground rock scenes, Touch & Go carved out a reputation for releasing adventurous...
/ Dischord RecordsDischord RecordsDischord Records is a Washington, D.C.-based independent record label specializing in the independent punk music of the D.C.-area music scene. The label is co-owned by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, who founded Dischord in 1980 to release Minor Disturbance by The Teen Idles...
, 1992, DIS 77.7/TG113.3) - "Teetering" b/w "The In Crowd" (Touch and Go Records, 1992, TG104)
Albums
- Handsome EP/12" (Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1989, ARR60)
- Roundhouse LP/CD (Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1990, ARR11)
- Jackson LP/CD (Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1991, ARR22)
- Clincher EP/CDEP (Touch and Go Records, 1993, TG109)
- Toast LP/CD/Picture Disc (Touch and Go Records, 1993, TG106)
- Over and Out LP/CD (Touch and Go Records, 1995, TG145)
External links
- [ AMG profile page]
- Touch and Go Records page
- Southern Records page
- Trouser Press page