The Glasspack
Encyclopedia
The Glasspack is a psychedelic
punk rock
band from Louisville
, Kentucky
. The band was formed in 1999 by frontman and native Louisvillian "Dirty" Dave Johnson in hopes of giving a better alternative to the classic and hard rock played over-and-over on the radio. The Glasspack has since recorded 1 garage ep, 2 garage LPs, 2 studio LPs, and numerous cover songs as well as toured the U.S. relentlessly.
Three of the LPs were released on Detroit's Small Stone Records
, also known for such bands as Men of Porn, Honky
, and Five Horse Johnson
. The band takes its name from the loud obnoxious fiber-glass filled automobile muffler, a glasspack
.
The band's music from their 2004 release Bridgeburner[] has been featured in MTV shows Viva La Bam
(Season 3, Episodes 7&8)http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/157955/sleep-in-the-mall.jhtml#id=1562939 and Homewrecker (Season 1, Episodes 104&107)http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/homewrecker/series.jhtml. Also the band's music from their 2007 release Dirty Women[] was used in FX's motorcycle club television show Sons of Anarchy
(Season 2, Episode 209)http://fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/soa/episode.php. The band also has tracks from its 2002 Powderkeg[] release in video games MLB 2K5 (2K Sports Major League Baseball series
) and Amped 3
, both made by 2K Sports
. Amped 3
came with the package release of the Xbox 360.
The bands' latest full-length LP, Dirty Women[] from Small Stone Records
, landed them a sold-out headlining spot for their first trip to Europe at Holland's Roadburn Festival
on Sunday April 20, 2008. The festival is sponsored by Roadburn Magazine and Terrorizer Magazine
and takes place annually at the 013 Pop Centre in Tilburg, Holland.
The Glasspack was included in the internationally distributed book Rock Detector: A to Z of Doom, Gothic & Stoner Metal, published 2003 by Cherry Red Books.
, and Melt Banana. A few months later with only 4 songs, The Glasspack recorded a demo with Crain
's Jon Cook in the infamous Rocket House in Old Louisville. They immediately sent the demo to Man's Ruin Records
. Owned by well-known graphic artist Frank Kozik
and operated in San Francisco, CA, the label had a reputation of putting out unknown psychedelic rock bands of all sorts. Kozik responded warmly to the band and proposed to release their first record.
The band enthusiastically accepted the offer and began recording their first full-length recording, American Exhaust in late 1999. Unfortunately for the band, Man's Ruin Records
started to fold soon after, leaving the band with a hefty engineering bill. "Dirty" Dave decided to take out a high rate loan and start the record label Riverock Records with the only intentions being that of releasing The Glasspack record, in hopes of repaying the bills. American Exhaust was released Jan. 1, 2001 and received amazing international press reviews from such as Maximum RocknRoll
, Stonerrock.com, Aardschok, and Louisville's newspaper The Courier-Journal
. The record then received some global distribution despite the fact that it was on a new record label with only one record. All copies sold-out in less than a year. The record, a following U.S. tour, and hype gained the attention of the developing stoner rock community and Detroit's Small Stone Records
, which was soaking up some of the band residue left from the collapse of Man's Ruin Records
. The band recorded the Road Warriors E.P. during 2000 in waiting for Man's Ruin Records
to put out American Exhaust. The ep was released in 2000 by local Louisville record store/label Better Days Records. The band later yanked the ep from the market for poor sound quality.
In late 2001, The Glasspack signed on to Small Stone Records
claiming they were the Hunter S. Thompson
/Muhammad Ali
of rock and roll (both are natives of Louisville). Around the end of 2001, The Glasspack was invited to play the label's showcase at CBGB's in Manhattan for the CMJ Music Marathon
(College Music Journal). The showcase was featured on national television on ESPN 2. Right before the CMJ gig, the band had just finished a U.S. tour (some gigs with Nebula
) and recorded their second full-length release Powderkeg for Small Stone Records
. Powderkeg was released in spring of 2002, followed by more and more shows. The band was working extensively during this period and leaving a scar of hell-raising, drug-taking, and loud rock and roll all over the United States. Near the end of 2002, the band grew tired and took a long break (long break for them) until the spring of 2003.
In the spring of 2003 the band decided to record in an actual studio in another city. They chose Detroit's Rustbelt Studios upon suggestion from Small Stone Records
. The band spent a weekend and exactly 36 hours making a very confused record entitled Bridgeburner. In the studio, fellow song-writer and bassist/guitarist Marcus Moody fell ill with what would later become a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. This prevented the band member from finishing the recording, leaving drummer Brett Holsclaw and guitarist/singer "Dirty" Dave Johnson with no other choice but a fill-in bassist. The record was scheduled for release in fall of 2003 and the band booked another tour to promote the release of the record. Small Stone Records
at the time of scheduled release had changed distribution in the U.S. to Nail/Allegro. Distribution details and negotiation delayed the release to spring of 2004. However, the band went ahead and toured for the record before its release.
The Glasspack's third full-length release Bridgeburner was released in spring 2004. Shortly thereafter, the band accepted an invite to play WFPK
Public Radio Louisville's Live Lunch Series to promote the record. The live radio session was recorded as well (with bassist Todd Cook). The Bridgeburner fell short of The Glasspack releases before it in the U.S. press and market. However, at this time, the band was gaining ground with legendary live shows and starting to sell more records in Europe. The Bridgeburner record, a blur of guitars and psychedelic confusion, was actually well received in Europe. The record was also well received by music placement managers, gaining them a spot in MTV Jackass
spin-off shows Viva La Bam
and Homewrecker as well other television spots. They also were included in several video games around this time for the Xbox and the release of the Xbox 360. The Bridgeburner was mixed by Monster Magnet
's Bobby Pantella whom also filled a couple gaps in the bass area. The record also contained a blistering lead guitar solo guest appearance on the track "Peepshow" by Monster Magnet
's Ed Mundell
. Phil Durr of the Sub-Pop act Big Chief
graced the record as well with several guest guitar tracks. The band continued playing local gigs, weekend Midwest trips, and small tours for the remainder of 2004. The year is also noted for the re-release of The Glasspack's first full-length American Exhaust on red 12" vinyl from a small label in Chicago (4 Walls Records) and The Glasspack's endorsement with Fender Music (representative Alex Perez). By this time, "Dirty" was playing guitar behind his back, between his legs, and even with his teeth. One account of a 2004 SXSW Day Party performance in the Detroit Metro Times claims that the frontman did a backflip while playing guitar from the ground to the stage at the Austin, TX gig. With acts such as this and his loyalty to his red American Telecaster, he was a no-brainer for Fender.
In 2005, "Dirty" and The Glasspack slowed down a bit. The band members pursued side projects and college. Both "Dirty" Dave and drummer Brett Holsclaw began working more intensely towards graphic design degrees and settling for occasional side-project gigs instead of the intense work The Glasspack had become by then. "Dirty" eventually finished schooling as Brett remained in school. It was during this time "Dirty" began to right the tracks that would later become The Glasspack's brilliant third Small Stone Records
release, Dirty Women.
In 2006, Dirty rounded the band up again and the help of guests from such notable Kentucky acts as Coliseum (band)
and The Hookers. They finished their fourth full-length record in downtown Louisville at a multi-million dollar studio, Downtown Recording, completely analog with vintage equipment. In the Spring of 2007, The Glasspack's fourth full-length release, Dirty Women, was unleashed and the band headed to Austin, TX to officially play the South By Southwest
Music Festival as part of the 2007 Small Stone Records SXSW Showcase. The record was well received and a fresh come-back after the somewhat questionable Bridgeburner record. The band did an extensive set of U.S. tours for the release of Dirty Women in 2007. They also received their first paid invite to Europe in the form of the 13th Annual 2008 Roadburn Magazine Festival, also sponsored by Terrorizer Magazine
. In the Winter of 2007, the band was announced as the Sunday headliner of the festival for an exclusive first show in Europe. The show sold out in 1 week during pre-sales in December 2007.
Also in 2007, the band released a split 10" vinyl on a small Detroit label (Sleeping Village Records). The record was a split ep with one of "Dirty" Dave's side-projects, Muddy Nasty River. The Glasspack side was a public radio performance they had done on 91.9FM WFPK
Public Radio Louisville for the release of Bridgeburner in 2004, featuring bassist Todd Cook (Slint
, The For Carnation
, Crain
). Todd had taken on bass duties for some time after Marcus Moody was diagnosed with MS.
In 2008, the band focused on rehearsing an ear-bleeding 1 hour set exclusively for the people of the Roadburn Festival
. The festival was also recorded and placed into a Dutch public audio archive website for free listening. 2008 also saw the re-release of The Glasspack's Powderkeg record on vinyl from Sleeping Village Records. The Glasspack is still residing in Louisville, Kentucky and taking, yet again, another long break (long break for them). This band is undoubtably one of the hardest working bands in the current indie rock scene as well as the Louisville scene which is known for its unique, incestuous, and thriving music community.
In 2009, The Glasspack's music was featured in FX's television program Sons of Anarchy
. Also that year, a reissue of The Glasspack's first full-length American Exhaust was remastered by Jack Endino
for Los Angeles label Poison Tree Records (iTunes digital only). The release includes a special remastered bonus of the band's 1991 demo recordings, entitled "The Polaris Demos." The demos were previously released only on cassette with request from the band.
In 2010, The Glasspack played a ten-year anniversary show in Louisville, Kentucky at the Zanzabar supporting the release of an orange seven inch vinyl split (with Louisville band the Trophy Wives) on Louisville label Noise Pollution. Writer Michael Jones did a cover story on the band's history in support of the show and release in the LEO Weekly (Louisville Eccentric Observer). The release includes a free download card with a good portion of the Glasspack's 2008 performance at the Roadburn Festival
in Tilberg, Holland. Peter Searcy
of the influential Louisville act Squirrel Bait
joined the band on the seven inch vinyl title track, "If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say," and is credited as The Glasspack's current bass player.
"Dedication From The Sullen Waters Of The Ohio" LP/CD (Fusion Records)
"Cheap Thrills: Volume I" LP/CD (Better Days Records)
"Cheap Thrills: Volume II" LP/CD (Better Days Records)
"Saturday March 24, 2001 Show Compilation" EP/CD (Noise Pollution)
"The Motherlodge Lodge: A Tribute To The Rudyard Kipling, Volume I" LP/CD (Mother Lodge Records)
"Sucking the 70's
" LP/CD (Small Stone Records)
"Sucking the 70's – Back in the Saddle Again" LP/CD (Small Stone Records)
"Hammer Down: Volume I" LP/CD (Motor Brand Clothing Promo CD)
Brett Holsclaw - Evil Twin Theory, Crab Nebula
, Ladybirds
Marcus Moody - Orange Telephone
Matt Tucker
- Evergreen
Ed Mundell
- Monster Magnet
, Atomic Bitchwax
Bob Pantella - Monster Magnet
, Riotgod, Raging Slab
Scott Hamilton - Small Stone Records
Phil Durr - Giant Brain, Big Chief
Adam Neal
- The Hookers
Matt Jaha - Lords, Coliseum
Todd Cook - Dead Child
, Slint
, The For Carnation
Mark Abromavage - Arch
, Kinghorse
Jason Hayden - Vrktm, Crain
, Sunspring
Eric McManus
- Lords
Peter Searcy
- Squirrel Bait
, Big Wheel
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band from Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. The band was formed in 1999 by frontman and native Louisvillian "Dirty" Dave Johnson in hopes of giving a better alternative to the classic and hard rock played over-and-over on the radio. The Glasspack has since recorded 1 garage ep, 2 garage LPs, 2 studio LPs, and numerous cover songs as well as toured the U.S. relentlessly.
Three of the LPs were released on Detroit's Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records is an American record label based in Detroit, MI. It was founded in 1995 by Scott Hamilton and is a self-dubbed "heavy rock" label...
, also known for such bands as Men of Porn, Honky
Honky
Honky is a racial slur for white people, predominantly heard in the United States...
, and Five Horse Johnson
Five Horse Johnson
Five Horse Johnson is an American blues-rock band, formed in 1995 from Toledo, Ohio. They have toured with such popular groups as Clutch and Halfway to Gone. The band combines hard rock, blues and other influences into a blend of stoner rock/blues music they call their own...
. The band takes its name from the loud obnoxious fiber-glass filled automobile muffler, a glasspack
Glasspack
A glasspack, sometimes called Cherrybomb is a type of automobile muffler in which the exhaust gas passes straight through the center of the muffler. Packed fibreglass surrounds the exhaust channel and absorbs some of the high-frequency sound.All mufflers impede the flow of exhaust gas and create...
.
The band's music from their 2004 release Bridgeburner[] has been featured in MTV shows Viva La Bam
Viva La Bam
Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. The show was a spin-off from MTV's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast had appeared...
(Season 3, Episodes 7&8)http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/157955/sleep-in-the-mall.jhtml#id=1562939 and Homewrecker (Season 1, Episodes 104&107)http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/homewrecker/series.jhtml. Also the band's music from their 2007 release Dirty Women[] was used in FX's motorcycle club television show Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy is an American television drama series created by Kurt Sutter about the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in Charming, a fictional town in Northern California...
(Season 2, Episode 209)http://fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/soa/episode.php. The band also has tracks from its 2002 Powderkeg[] release in video games MLB 2K5 (2K Sports Major League Baseball series
2K Sports Major League Baseball series
2K Sports Major League Baseball series is a series of Major League Baseball video games, developed by Visual Concepts and Kush Games, and published by 2K Games. There have been nine games in the series: 2K4, 2K5, World Series 2K5, 2K6, 2K7, 2K8, 2K9, 2K10 and 2K11. All games were created for...
) and Amped 3
Amped 3
The game received moderate to good reviews, with critics citing the game's highly original art style as making up for the occasionally repetitive gameplay. One such reviewer was GameSpot, giving the game a score of 7.6, which they classed as "Good". The Review collation site GameRankings gave the...
, both made by 2K Sports
2K Sports
2K Sports is a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. It comprises a single development studio, Visual Concepts, which was purchased from Sega in the year 2005. 2K Sports mainly develops and publishes American sports video games such as NBA 2K series...
. Amped 3
Amped 3
The game received moderate to good reviews, with critics citing the game's highly original art style as making up for the occasionally repetitive gameplay. One such reviewer was GameSpot, giving the game a score of 7.6, which they classed as "Good". The Review collation site GameRankings gave the...
came with the package release of the Xbox 360.
The bands' latest full-length LP, Dirty Women[] from Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records is an American record label based in Detroit, MI. It was founded in 1995 by Scott Hamilton and is a self-dubbed "heavy rock" label...
, landed them a sold-out headlining spot for their first trip to Europe at Holland's Roadburn Festival
Roadburn Festival
Roadburn Festival is an annual international rock festival in Tilburg in the Netherlands held since 1995.-2012 edition:The event will take place in Tilburg from April 12 to 15 at 013 and Midi Theatre.It was sold out in 7 minutes.Thursday, April 12...
on Sunday April 20, 2008. The festival is sponsored by Roadburn Magazine and Terrorizer Magazine
Terrorizer Magazine
Terrorizer is an extreme music magazine published by Dark Arts Ltd. in the United Kingdom. It is released every four weeks with thirteen issues a year and features a 'Fear Candy' covermount CD, a twice yearly 'Fear Candy Unsigned' CD, and a double-sided poster.-1993:Terrorizer published its first...
and takes place annually at the 013 Pop Centre in Tilburg, Holland.
The Glasspack was included in the internationally distributed book Rock Detector: A to Z of Doom, Gothic & Stoner Metal, published 2003 by Cherry Red Books.
History
In 1999, The Glasspack started playing in their hometown of Louisville, Kentucky opening for such known bands as My Own Victim, The FrogsThe Frogs
The Frogs is a comedy written by the Ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes. It was performed at the Lenaia, one of the Festivals of Dionysus, in 405 BC, and received first place.-Plot:...
, and Melt Banana. A few months later with only 4 songs, The Glasspack recorded a demo with Crain
Crain (band)
Crain was an indie band spawned from the same fertile early 1990s Louisville, Kentucky math rock scene that also gave birth to Slint and Rodan. Combining complex meter and composition with a hard-edged attack, the band was a fixture of the scene but failed to attain the same acclaim as their more...
's Jon Cook in the infamous Rocket House in Old Louisville. They immediately sent the demo to Man's Ruin Records
Man's Ruin Records
Man's Ruin Records was an independent record label, owned and founded by Bay Area artist Frank Kozik. After the 1994 release of Man's Ruin's first record, entitled Experimental Audio Research : Delta 6, Kozik worked with artists who he wanted to release; he also designed all of the sleeve art for...
. Owned by well-known graphic artist Frank Kozik
Frank Kozik
Frank Kozik is an American graphic artist who has worked with Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Melvins, The Offspring and Butthole Surfers. Kozik runs Man's Ruin Records, a media outlet and record label, and has published several books including Man's Ruin:...
and operated in San Francisco, CA, the label had a reputation of putting out unknown psychedelic rock bands of all sorts. Kozik responded warmly to the band and proposed to release their first record.
The band enthusiastically accepted the offer and began recording their first full-length recording, American Exhaust in late 1999. Unfortunately for the band, Man's Ruin Records
Man's Ruin Records
Man's Ruin Records was an independent record label, owned and founded by Bay Area artist Frank Kozik. After the 1994 release of Man's Ruin's first record, entitled Experimental Audio Research : Delta 6, Kozik worked with artists who he wanted to release; he also designed all of the sleeve art for...
started to fold soon after, leaving the band with a hefty engineering bill. "Dirty" Dave decided to take out a high rate loan and start the record label Riverock Records with the only intentions being that of releasing The Glasspack record, in hopes of repaying the bills. American Exhaust was released Jan. 1, 2001 and received amazing international press reviews from such as Maximum RocknRoll
Maximum RocknRoll
Maximum rocknroll is a widely distributed, monthly not-for-profit fanzine based in San Francisco, USA. It features interviews, columns, and reviews from international contributors...
, Stonerrock.com, Aardschok, and Louisville's newspaper The Courier-Journal
The Courier-Journal
The Courier-Journal, locally called "The C-J", is the main newspaper for the city of Louisville, Kentucky, USA. According to the 1999 Editor & Publisher International Yearbook, the paper is the 48th largest daily paper in the United States and the single largest in Kentucky.- Origins :The...
. The record then received some global distribution despite the fact that it was on a new record label with only one record. All copies sold-out in less than a year. The record, a following U.S. tour, and hype gained the attention of the developing stoner rock community and Detroit's Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records is an American record label based in Detroit, MI. It was founded in 1995 by Scott Hamilton and is a self-dubbed "heavy rock" label...
, which was soaking up some of the band residue left from the collapse of Man's Ruin Records
Man's Ruin Records
Man's Ruin Records was an independent record label, owned and founded by Bay Area artist Frank Kozik. After the 1994 release of Man's Ruin's first record, entitled Experimental Audio Research : Delta 6, Kozik worked with artists who he wanted to release; he also designed all of the sleeve art for...
. The band recorded the Road Warriors E.P. during 2000 in waiting for Man's Ruin Records
Man's Ruin Records
Man's Ruin Records was an independent record label, owned and founded by Bay Area artist Frank Kozik. After the 1994 release of Man's Ruin's first record, entitled Experimental Audio Research : Delta 6, Kozik worked with artists who he wanted to release; he also designed all of the sleeve art for...
to put out American Exhaust. The ep was released in 2000 by local Louisville record store/label Better Days Records. The band later yanked the ep from the market for poor sound quality.
In late 2001, The Glasspack signed on to Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records is an American record label based in Detroit, MI. It was founded in 1995 by Scott Hamilton and is a self-dubbed "heavy rock" label...
claiming they were the Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter Stockton Thompson was an American journalist and author who wrote The Rum Diary , Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 .He is credited as the creator of Gonzo journalism, a style of reporting where reporters involve themselves in the action to...
/Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
of rock and roll (both are natives of Louisville). Around the end of 2001, The Glasspack was invited to play the label's showcase at CBGB's in Manhattan for the CMJ Music Marathon
CMJ Music Marathon
CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival is put on by CMJ Network. CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival 2010 is scheduled for October 19–23 and will be headquartered at New York University and other downtown NYC venues.- History :...
(College Music Journal). The showcase was featured on national television on ESPN 2. Right before the CMJ gig, the band had just finished a U.S. tour (some gigs with Nebula
Nebula (band)
Nebula was a psychedelic stoner rock band, formed by guitarist Eddie Glass and drummer Ruben Romano after departing from Fu Manchu in 1997. Rob Oswald later replaced Ruben Romano on drums in 2007....
) and recorded their second full-length release Powderkeg for Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records is an American record label based in Detroit, MI. It was founded in 1995 by Scott Hamilton and is a self-dubbed "heavy rock" label...
. Powderkeg was released in spring of 2002, followed by more and more shows. The band was working extensively during this period and leaving a scar of hell-raising, drug-taking, and loud rock and roll all over the United States. Near the end of 2002, the band grew tired and took a long break (long break for them) until the spring of 2003.
In the spring of 2003 the band decided to record in an actual studio in another city. They chose Detroit's Rustbelt Studios upon suggestion from Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records is an American record label based in Detroit, MI. It was founded in 1995 by Scott Hamilton and is a self-dubbed "heavy rock" label...
. The band spent a weekend and exactly 36 hours making a very confused record entitled Bridgeburner. In the studio, fellow song-writer and bassist/guitarist Marcus Moody fell ill with what would later become a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. This prevented the band member from finishing the recording, leaving drummer Brett Holsclaw and guitarist/singer "Dirty" Dave Johnson with no other choice but a fill-in bassist. The record was scheduled for release in fall of 2003 and the band booked another tour to promote the release of the record. Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records is an American record label based in Detroit, MI. It was founded in 1995 by Scott Hamilton and is a self-dubbed "heavy rock" label...
at the time of scheduled release had changed distribution in the U.S. to Nail/Allegro. Distribution details and negotiation delayed the release to spring of 2004. However, the band went ahead and toured for the record before its release.
The Glasspack's third full-length release Bridgeburner was released in spring 2004. Shortly thereafter, the band accepted an invite to play WFPK
WFPK
WFPK is a 24-hour listener-supported, noncommercial radio station in Louisville, Kentucky, broadcasting at 91.9 MHz FM featuring an adult album alternative format. The station plays national and local alternative music as well as jazz all day on Sunday....
Public Radio Louisville's Live Lunch Series to promote the record. The live radio session was recorded as well (with bassist Todd Cook). The Bridgeburner fell short of The Glasspack releases before it in the U.S. press and market. However, at this time, the band was gaining ground with legendary live shows and starting to sell more records in Europe. The Bridgeburner record, a blur of guitars and psychedelic confusion, was actually well received in Europe. The record was also well received by music placement managers, gaining them a spot in MTV Jackass
Jackass (TV series)
jackass is an American reality series, originally shown on MTV from 2000 to 2002, featuring people performing various dangerous, crude, ridiculous, self-injuring stunts and pranks...
spin-off shows Viva La Bam
Viva La Bam
Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. The show was a spin-off from MTV's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast had appeared...
and Homewrecker as well other television spots. They also were included in several video games around this time for the Xbox and the release of the Xbox 360. The Bridgeburner was mixed by Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet is an American stoner rock band. Hailing from Red Bank, New Jersey, the group was founded by Dave Wyndorf , John McBain and Tim Cronin...
's Bobby Pantella whom also filled a couple gaps in the bass area. The record also contained a blistering lead guitar solo guest appearance on the track "Peepshow" by Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet is an American stoner rock band. Hailing from Red Bank, New Jersey, the group was founded by Dave Wyndorf , John McBain and Tim Cronin...
's Ed Mundell
Ed Mundell
Ed Mundell is a rock guitarist most notable for his work with stoner rock group Monster Magnet from 1992 to 2010. In 2011, it was announced that Mundell had formed a new project, 9 Chambers, with Greg Hampton , Jorgen Carlsson , and drummer Vinny Appice .-Bio:Mundell grew up in New Jersey and is a...
. Phil Durr of the Sub-Pop act Big Chief
Big Chief
"Big Chief" is a song composed by Earl King in the early 1960s. It became a hit in New Orleans for Professor Longhair in 1964, featuring a whistled first chorus in a rollicking blues piano style and subsequent lyrics written in a Creole patois . The tune became popular in New Orleans, frequently...
graced the record as well with several guest guitar tracks. The band continued playing local gigs, weekend Midwest trips, and small tours for the remainder of 2004. The year is also noted for the re-release of The Glasspack's first full-length American Exhaust on red 12" vinyl from a small label in Chicago (4 Walls Records) and The Glasspack's endorsement with Fender Music (representative Alex Perez). By this time, "Dirty" was playing guitar behind his back, between his legs, and even with his teeth. One account of a 2004 SXSW Day Party performance in the Detroit Metro Times claims that the frontman did a backflip while playing guitar from the ground to the stage at the Austin, TX gig. With acts such as this and his loyalty to his red American Telecaster, he was a no-brainer for Fender.
In 2005, "Dirty" and The Glasspack slowed down a bit. The band members pursued side projects and college. Both "Dirty" Dave and drummer Brett Holsclaw began working more intensely towards graphic design degrees and settling for occasional side-project gigs instead of the intense work The Glasspack had become by then. "Dirty" eventually finished schooling as Brett remained in school. It was during this time "Dirty" began to right the tracks that would later become The Glasspack's brilliant third Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records is an American record label based in Detroit, MI. It was founded in 1995 by Scott Hamilton and is a self-dubbed "heavy rock" label...
release, Dirty Women.
In 2006, Dirty rounded the band up again and the help of guests from such notable Kentucky acts as Coliseum (band)
Coliseum (band)
Coliseum is a punk rock band that formed in 2003. They released their latest album, House with a Curse, through Temporary Residence in June 2010.Exclaim! named "House with a Curse", as the No. 6 Punk Album of 2010.-History:...
and The Hookers. They finished their fourth full-length record in downtown Louisville at a multi-million dollar studio, Downtown Recording, completely analog with vintage equipment. In the Spring of 2007, The Glasspack's fourth full-length release, Dirty Women, was unleashed and the band headed to Austin, TX to officially play the South By Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
Music Festival as part of the 2007 Small Stone Records SXSW Showcase. The record was well received and a fresh come-back after the somewhat questionable Bridgeburner record. The band did an extensive set of U.S. tours for the release of Dirty Women in 2007. They also received their first paid invite to Europe in the form of the 13th Annual 2008 Roadburn Magazine Festival, also sponsored by Terrorizer Magazine
Terrorizer Magazine
Terrorizer is an extreme music magazine published by Dark Arts Ltd. in the United Kingdom. It is released every four weeks with thirteen issues a year and features a 'Fear Candy' covermount CD, a twice yearly 'Fear Candy Unsigned' CD, and a double-sided poster.-1993:Terrorizer published its first...
. In the Winter of 2007, the band was announced as the Sunday headliner of the festival for an exclusive first show in Europe. The show sold out in 1 week during pre-sales in December 2007.
Also in 2007, the band released a split 10" vinyl on a small Detroit label (Sleeping Village Records). The record was a split ep with one of "Dirty" Dave's side-projects, Muddy Nasty River. The Glasspack side was a public radio performance they had done on 91.9FM WFPK
WFPK
WFPK is a 24-hour listener-supported, noncommercial radio station in Louisville, Kentucky, broadcasting at 91.9 MHz FM featuring an adult album alternative format. The station plays national and local alternative music as well as jazz all day on Sunday....
Public Radio Louisville for the release of Bridgeburner in 2004, featuring bassist Todd Cook (Slint
Slint
Slint was an American rock band consisting of Brian McMahan , David Pajo , Britt Walford , Todd Brashear and Ethan Buckler...
, The For Carnation
The For Carnation
The For Carnation are a post-rock band from Louisville, Kentucky who formed in 1994. The band was formed by Brian McMahan, who is the only constant group member. McMahan's previous band Slint hinted at the distinctive sound and sombre aesthetic he would create in The For Carnation...
, Crain
Crain (band)
Crain was an indie band spawned from the same fertile early 1990s Louisville, Kentucky math rock scene that also gave birth to Slint and Rodan. Combining complex meter and composition with a hard-edged attack, the band was a fixture of the scene but failed to attain the same acclaim as their more...
). Todd had taken on bass duties for some time after Marcus Moody was diagnosed with MS.
In 2008, the band focused on rehearsing an ear-bleeding 1 hour set exclusively for the people of the Roadburn Festival
Roadburn Festival
Roadburn Festival is an annual international rock festival in Tilburg in the Netherlands held since 1995.-2012 edition:The event will take place in Tilburg from April 12 to 15 at 013 and Midi Theatre.It was sold out in 7 minutes.Thursday, April 12...
. The festival was also recorded and placed into a Dutch public audio archive website for free listening. 2008 also saw the re-release of The Glasspack's Powderkeg record on vinyl from Sleeping Village Records. The Glasspack is still residing in Louisville, Kentucky and taking, yet again, another long break (long break for them). This band is undoubtably one of the hardest working bands in the current indie rock scene as well as the Louisville scene which is known for its unique, incestuous, and thriving music community.
In 2009, The Glasspack's music was featured in FX's television program Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy is an American television drama series created by Kurt Sutter about the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in Charming, a fictional town in Northern California...
. Also that year, a reissue of The Glasspack's first full-length American Exhaust was remastered by Jack Endino
Jack Endino
Jack Endino is a producer and musician based in Seattle. Long associated with Seattle label Sub Pop and the grunge movement, Endino worked on seminal albums from bands such as Mudhoney, Soundgarden, and Nirvana...
for Los Angeles label Poison Tree Records (iTunes digital only). The release includes a special remastered bonus of the band's 1991 demo recordings, entitled "The Polaris Demos." The demos were previously released only on cassette with request from the band.
In 2010, The Glasspack played a ten-year anniversary show in Louisville, Kentucky at the Zanzabar supporting the release of an orange seven inch vinyl split (with Louisville band the Trophy Wives) on Louisville label Noise Pollution. Writer Michael Jones did a cover story on the band's history in support of the show and release in the LEO Weekly (Louisville Eccentric Observer). The release includes a free download card with a good portion of the Glasspack's 2008 performance at the Roadburn Festival
Roadburn Festival
Roadburn Festival is an annual international rock festival in Tilburg in the Netherlands held since 1995.-2012 edition:The event will take place in Tilburg from April 12 to 15 at 013 and Midi Theatre.It was sold out in 7 minutes.Thursday, April 12...
in Tilberg, Holland. Peter Searcy
Peter Searcy
Peter Searcy is a musician from Louisville, Kentucky.Searcy was the frontman of the Louisville punk group Squirrel Bait in the 1980s. After Squirrel Bait disbanded, Searcy formed a funk-rock group called Fanci Pantz. Fanci Pantz garnered a lot of praise and major label attention, but they broke...
of the influential Louisville act Squirrel Bait
Squirrel Bait
Squirrel Bait was an American punk band from Louisville, Kentucky. They were in existence from 1983 to 1988. Squirrel Bait's dense, moody, melodic hardcore sound, featuring pronounced tempo shifts, foreshadowed the grunge sound of the late 1980s as well as math rock...
joined the band on the seven inch vinyl title track, "If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say," and is credited as The Glasspack's current bass player.
Albums
- Road Warriors' E.P. CD (2000, Better Days Records)
- American Exhaust LPCD (2001, Riverock Records)
- Powderkeg LPCD (2002, Small Stone Records)
- Bridgeburner LPCD (2004, Small Stone Records)
- American Exhaust LP Vinyl Reissue (2004, 4 Walls Records)
- Dirty Women LPCD (2007, Small Stone Records)
- The Glasspack/Muddy Nasty River E.P. Vinyl (2007, Sleeping Village Records)
- Powderkeg LP Vinyl Reissue (2008, Sleeping Village Records)
- American Exhaust + Polaris Demos LP Digital Reissue (2009, Poison Tree Records)
- Split with Trophy Wives Split 7" Vinyl (2010, Noise Pollution Records)
Compilations
"Underground Invasion: Volume 4" LP/CD (Beer City Records)"Dedication From The Sullen Waters Of The Ohio" LP/CD (Fusion Records)
"Cheap Thrills: Volume I" LP/CD (Better Days Records)
"Cheap Thrills: Volume II" LP/CD (Better Days Records)
"Saturday March 24, 2001 Show Compilation" EP/CD (Noise Pollution)
"The Motherlodge Lodge: A Tribute To The Rudyard Kipling, Volume I" LP/CD (Mother Lodge Records)
"Sucking the 70's
Sucking The 70's
Sucking the 70s is a two disk collection of 1970s songs covered by modern stoner rock bands. It was put out by Small Stone Records in 2002. A second album, Sucking the 70's – Back in the Saddle Again, was released in 2006....
" LP/CD (Small Stone Records)
"Sucking the 70's – Back in the Saddle Again" LP/CD (Small Stone Records)
"Hammer Down: Volume I" LP/CD (Motor Brand Clothing Promo CD)
Members
- "Dirty" Dave Johnson- Vocals/guitar
- Nick Hall - Guitar
- Peter Searcy - Bass
- Tony Rymniak - Drums
Guests/Former members
Brian Foor - The Phantom Family HaloThe Phantom Family Halo
The Phantom Family Halo is an American indie rock band from Louisville in Kentucky notable for music described as having a "post-metal state of ungodly loudness" while managing to achieve a "neat creepy B-movie horror feel." The six-member band, currently based in Brooklyn, has performed with bands...
Brett Holsclaw - Evil Twin Theory, Crab Nebula
Crab Nebula
The Crab Nebula is a supernova remnant and pulsar wind nebula in the constellation of Taurus...
, Ladybirds
Marcus Moody - Orange Telephone
Matt Tucker
Matt Tucker
Matthew Berton Castillo Tucker is an American filmmaker, primarily an actor and screenwriter, as well as a director and producer...
- Evergreen
Ed Mundell
Ed Mundell
Ed Mundell is a rock guitarist most notable for his work with stoner rock group Monster Magnet from 1992 to 2010. In 2011, it was announced that Mundell had formed a new project, 9 Chambers, with Greg Hampton , Jorgen Carlsson , and drummer Vinny Appice .-Bio:Mundell grew up in New Jersey and is a...
- Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet is an American stoner rock band. Hailing from Red Bank, New Jersey, the group was founded by Dave Wyndorf , John McBain and Tim Cronin...
, Atomic Bitchwax
Bob Pantella - Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet is an American stoner rock band. Hailing from Red Bank, New Jersey, the group was founded by Dave Wyndorf , John McBain and Tim Cronin...
, Riotgod, Raging Slab
Raging Slab
- History :The group formed in 1983 when Greg Strzempka and Elyse Steinman, both guitarists, met in New York City. The two had a shared interest in the heavy rock sounds of 1970's style "boogie" rock and such contemporary punk rock groups as the Ramones and Black Flag...
Scott Hamilton - Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records
Small Stone Records is an American record label based in Detroit, MI. It was founded in 1995 by Scott Hamilton and is a self-dubbed "heavy rock" label...
Phil Durr - Giant Brain, Big Chief
Big Chief
"Big Chief" is a song composed by Earl King in the early 1960s. It became a hit in New Orleans for Professor Longhair in 1964, featuring a whistled first chorus in a rollicking blues piano style and subsequent lyrics written in a Creole patois . The tune became popular in New Orleans, frequently...
Adam Neal
Adam Neal
Adam Neal born 21 May 1990 in Irlam, in the City of Salford, Greater Manchester, England is a rugby league player for the Warrington Wolves in the European Super League.Adam Neal's position of choice is as a ....
- The Hookers
Matt Jaha - Lords, Coliseum
Coliseum (band)
Coliseum is a punk rock band that formed in 2003. They released their latest album, House with a Curse, through Temporary Residence in June 2010.Exclaim! named "House with a Curse", as the No. 6 Punk Album of 2010.-History:...
Todd Cook - Dead Child
Dead Child
Dead Child is a heavy metal band from Louisville, Kentucky. The band played its first show at Lisa's Oak Street Lounge on August 19, 2006 with Pusher, Lords, and Blade of the Ripper....
, Slint
Slint
Slint was an American rock band consisting of Brian McMahan , David Pajo , Britt Walford , Todd Brashear and Ethan Buckler...
, The For Carnation
The For Carnation
The For Carnation are a post-rock band from Louisville, Kentucky who formed in 1994. The band was formed by Brian McMahan, who is the only constant group member. McMahan's previous band Slint hinted at the distinctive sound and sombre aesthetic he would create in The For Carnation...
Mark Abromavage - Arch
Arch
An arch is a structure that spans a space and supports a load. Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture and their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.-Technical aspects:The...
, Kinghorse
Kinghorse (band)
Kinghorse was an American rock band from Louisville, Kentucky formed by Mike Bucayu and Sean Garrison in 1988, after the split up of their first band Maurice...
Jason Hayden - Vrktm, Crain
Crain (band)
Crain was an indie band spawned from the same fertile early 1990s Louisville, Kentucky math rock scene that also gave birth to Slint and Rodan. Combining complex meter and composition with a hard-edged attack, the band was a fixture of the scene but failed to attain the same acclaim as their more...
, Sunspring
Eric McManus
Eric McManus
Eric McManus is a retired Northern Irish footballer who played for Coleraine, Coventry City, Notts County, Stoke City, Lincoln City, Bradford City, Middlesbrough, Peterborough United, Tranmere Rovers and Boston United....
- Lords
Peter Searcy
Peter Searcy
Peter Searcy is a musician from Louisville, Kentucky.Searcy was the frontman of the Louisville punk group Squirrel Bait in the 1980s. After Squirrel Bait disbanded, Searcy formed a funk-rock group called Fanci Pantz. Fanci Pantz garnered a lot of praise and major label attention, but they broke...
- Squirrel Bait
Squirrel Bait
Squirrel Bait was an American punk band from Louisville, Kentucky. They were in existence from 1983 to 1988. Squirrel Bait's dense, moody, melodic hardcore sound, featuring pronounced tempo shifts, foreshadowed the grunge sound of the late 1980s as well as math rock...
, Big Wheel
Sources/External links
- The Glasspack Official Website
- The Glasspack at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Small Stone Records Official Website
- Roadburn Magazine Official Website
- Cherry Red Books Official Website
- [ The Glasspack] at Allmusic
- The Glasspack at ASCAP ACE TITLE SEARCH