The Go
Encyclopedia
The Go is an American
rock & roll band from Detroit, Michigan
. Their sound has evolved from garage punk
to a blend of 1960s and 1970s influences, most notably The Beatles
.
The Go is composed primarily of Robert "Bobby" Harlow (vocals), John Krautner (guitar, bass), Marc Fellis (drums), James McConnell
(lead guitar), and a rotating cast of other band members, including Jack White
(later of The White Stripes
, The Dead Weather
and The Raconteurs
), who was with the band from mid '98 to early '99.
In 2003, the U.K. based Lizard King Records
label released the group's second official full-length release, self-titled The Go
. Two cuts from their second album, namely, "Blue Eyes Woman" and "Summer's Gonna Be My Girl" are featured on the soundrack to the 2006 remake of Wes Craven's classic horror-thriller film The Hills Have Eyes
. Additional tracks from their second album have been heard on the Emmy Award winning television sitcom My Name Is Earl
.
Their third album, Howl On The Haunted Beat You Ride was released in the late-summer of 2007 by Ben Blackwell
's Cass
label to overwhelmingly positive initial reviews. The album's content marks a distinct contrast to their first two releases, adding a psychedelic vibe, lush vocal harmonies, intriguing lyrical imagery, great attention to instrumentation, and a decidedly mid- to late-1960s production sound. The album was produced and recorded by the group's main singer Bobby Harlow, who continues to share songwriting duties with bassist and co-vocalist John Krautner. The LP was also released on Compact Cassette
in 2010 by Burger Records
.
The band has given some flashes of new material on Don Was
' and Harry Shearer
's MyDamnChannel.com with the video of "It's Only In Your Mind," and in live performances in early 2008 with the songs "Puzzle People" and "Tower of Diamonds." As with their previous works, the next album is expected to be an eclectic mix of individual, stand-alone tracks, rather than being centered on a general theme or conveying a contiguous story.
In June 2008, The Go released a 7" vinyl single, "Knock Knock Banana!," on Bellyache Records. This limited-edition, yellow-vinyl record consists of three children's songs, "Knock Knock Banana!," "Pin the Tail on the Donkey," and "Grow a Moustache." In November of the same year, the band released Tracking the Trail of the Haunted Beat, a double-LP collection of demos and alternate versions of songs from Howl on the Haunted Beat You Ride.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock & roll band from Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Their sound has evolved from garage punk
Garage punk
Garage punk is a fusion of garage rock and punk rock. It is fast-paced lo-fi music characterized by a dirty, choppy guitar sound—usually played by bands who are on independent record labels or who are unsigned...
to a blend of 1960s and 1970s influences, most notably The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
.
The Go is composed primarily of Robert "Bobby" Harlow (vocals), John Krautner (guitar, bass), Marc Fellis (drums), James McConnell
James McConnell
James Edward McConnell was one of the first locomotive engineers of the London and North Western Railway . He was Locomotive Superintendent of the LNWR's Southern Division at Wolverton railway works from 1847 to 1862 and oversaw the design of the "Bloomer" and "Patent" locomotives...
(lead guitar), and a rotating cast of other band members, including Jack White
Jack White (musician)
Jack White , often credited as Jack White III, is an American musician, songwriter, record producer and occasional actor...
(later of The White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
, The Dead Weather
The Dead Weather
The Dead Weather is an American alternative rock supergroup, formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2009. Composed of Alison Mosshart , Jack White , Dean Fertita and Jack Lawrence , The Dead Weather debuted at the opening of Third Man Records' Nashville...
and The Raconteurs
The Raconteurs
The Raconteurs is an American rock band that was formed in Detroit, Michigan, featuring four members known for other musical projects: Jack White , Brendan Benson , Jack Lawrence , and Patrick Keeler .-Formation:The...
), who was with the band from mid '98 to early '99.
In 2003, the U.K. based Lizard King Records
Lizard King Records
Lizard King Records is a New York and London-based independent label. Lizard King's distribution goes through ADA in America and Pinnacle in the UK.-Artists:Current*Surefire*Greater Good*Me*OxzanaFormer*Clear Static*Drive-by Argument*Santogold...
label released the group's second official full-length release, self-titled The Go
The Go (album)
The Go is the second official studio album by the garage rock band The Go. Both "Blue Eyes Woman" and "Summer's Gonna Be My Girl" are featured in the 2006 remake of The Hills Have Eyes...
. Two cuts from their second album, namely, "Blue Eyes Woman" and "Summer's Gonna Be My Girl" are featured on the soundrack to the 2006 remake of Wes Craven's classic horror-thriller film The Hills Have Eyes
The Hills Have Eyes
The Hills Have Eyes may refer to:*The Hills Have Eyes *The Hills Have Eyes , a 1977 film by Wes Craven*The Hills Have Eyes Part II, the 1985 sequel...
. Additional tracks from their second album have been heard on the Emmy Award winning television sitcom My Name Is Earl
My Name Is Earl
My Name Is Earl is an American television comedy series created by Greg Garcia that was originally broadcast on the NBC television network from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009, in the United States...
.
Their third album, Howl On The Haunted Beat You Ride was released in the late-summer of 2007 by Ben Blackwell
Ben Blackwell
Ben Blackwell is the creator and director of , one of two drummers in the Detroit-based rock band the Dirtbombs, an accomplished writer and a nephew of Jack White of the White Stripes.-The Dirtbombs:...
's Cass
Cass
-Surnames:* Brian Cass* David Cass , American economist* Elizabeth Cass* Frederick Cass* George Washington Cass* Godfrey Cass* Harriet Cass* John Cass , English politician and philanthropist...
label to overwhelmingly positive initial reviews. The album's content marks a distinct contrast to their first two releases, adding a psychedelic vibe, lush vocal harmonies, intriguing lyrical imagery, great attention to instrumentation, and a decidedly mid- to late-1960s production sound. The album was produced and recorded by the group's main singer Bobby Harlow, who continues to share songwriting duties with bassist and co-vocalist John Krautner. The LP was also released on Compact Cassette
Compact Cassette
The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
in 2010 by Burger Records
Burger Records
Burger Records is an independent record label and store based out of Fullerton, California. The label was founded in 2007 by Sean Bohrman and Lee Noise, members of the southern California band Thee Makeout Party...
.
The band has given some flashes of new material on Don Was
Don Was
Don Was is an American musician, bassist and record producer.-Life and career:Was was born in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Oak Park High School in the Detroit suburb of Oak Park, then attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor but dropped out after the first year...
' and Harry Shearer
Harry Shearer
Harry Julius Shearer is an American actor, comedian, writer, voice artist, musician, author, radio host and director. He is known for his long-running role on The Simpsons, his work on Saturday Night Live, the comedy band Spinal Tap and his radio program Le Show...
's MyDamnChannel.com with the video of "It's Only In Your Mind," and in live performances in early 2008 with the songs "Puzzle People" and "Tower of Diamonds." As with their previous works, the next album is expected to be an eclectic mix of individual, stand-alone tracks, rather than being centered on a general theme or conveying a contiguous story.
In June 2008, The Go released a 7" vinyl single, "Knock Knock Banana!," on Bellyache Records. This limited-edition, yellow-vinyl record consists of three children's songs, "Knock Knock Banana!," "Pin the Tail on the Donkey," and "Grow a Moustache." In November of the same year, the band released Tracking the Trail of the Haunted Beat, a double-LP collection of demos and alternate versions of songs from Howl on the Haunted Beat You Ride.
Discography
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Whatcha Doin' Whatcha Doin' Whatcha Doin' is the debut album by Detroit garage punk band The Go, released in 1999. It showcases their earlier sound, which could be characterized as more aggressive and lo-fi than later directions, and is notable for featuring lead guitarist Jack White... |
Sub Pop |
| 2001 | Free Electricity | Unreleased |
| 2003 | The Go The Go (album) The Go is the second official studio album by the garage rock band The Go. Both "Blue Eyes Woman" and "Summer's Gonna Be My Girl" are featured in the 2006 remake of The Hills Have Eyes... |
Lizard King Lizard King Records Lizard King Records is a New York and London-based independent label. Lizard King's distribution goes through ADA in America and Pinnacle in the UK.-Artists:Current*Surefire*Greater Good*Me*OxzanaFormer*Clear Static*Drive-by Argument*Santogold... |
| 2003 | Supercuts | Self-Released |
| 2007 | Howl On The Haunted Beat You Ride | Cass [Burger Records] |
| 2008 | Tracking The Trail Of The Haunted Beat | Bellyache/Italy |
| Year | Single | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | "Capricorn" | Lizard King |
| 2003 | "American Pig" | Lizard King |
| 2006 | "You Go Banging On" | Italy |
| 2007 | "Invisible Friends" | Cass |
| 2007 | "Christmas On The Moon" | Italy |
| 2008 | "Knock Knock Banana" | Bellyache |
| 2009 | "Howl On The Haunted Beat You Ride" | April 1977 |
External links
- Band Website
- Sub Pop page
- We want SubPop to release The GO's Free Electricity on heavy vinyl
- Bellyache Records page featuring The Go
- Spin's review of Howl On The Haunted Beat You Ride
- BBC's review of Howl On The Haunted Beat You Ride
- Any Given Tuesday's review of Howl On The Haunted Beat You Ride
- Metro Times
- Interview with Bobby Harlow
- Podcast featuring The Go
- The Go on motorcityrocks.com