Tim Sommer
Encyclopedia
Timothy Andrew Sommer is an American
musician
, record producer
, former Atlantic Records
A&R
Representative, WNYU
DJ, Trouser Press
journalist
, MTV News
correspondent, and VH1
VJ. Tim is perhaps best known as a bass player
in the slo-core, dreampop bellwether Hugo Largo
and the creator and host of Noise The Show, a pioneering NYC-based hardcore punk radio show. Hugo Largo was an American musical group known for their unique line-up of two bass guitars, a violin and singer/performance artist Mimi Goese
. They released two albums in the late 1980's on Brian Eno
's Opal/Land record label.
Sommer has participated in many other groups and collaborations before and after Hugo Largo (1984 - 1989), including the New Orleans-based space-cajun
group hifisky, the Glenn Branca
Ensemble, and he played alongside Thurston Moore
in the New York City punk rock band Even Worse
amongst others. Sommer wrote for the Village Voice between 1980 and 1984 and worked closely with music editor Robert Christgau
, and according to journalist Michael Azerrad
in his book Our Band Could Be Your Life
, Sommer was the inspiration for the lyrics of the Sonic Youth anthem "Kill Yr Idols
," in which Thurston Moore questioned his friend Sommer's respect for Christgau. Sommer was also an original member of the Swans, but never performed live with them.
In 1989, Sommer hosted MTV
's Post-Modern MTV, a five-nights a week late night show devoted to alternative music. He was also a senior producer and new correspondent for MTV News. From 1990 to 1992, Sommer ran vh1
's music news department, and was the exclusive host for their on-air news programming.
As an A&R representative, Sommer was integrally involved with the success of Hootie & The Blowfish
, and also worked with The Gits
, 7 Year Bitch
, Michael Crawford
, Duncan Sheik
, and Scott Weiland
. He was also involved in the very early careers of both the Beastie Boys
and Kara's Flowers, producing three tracks for Kara's Flowers in the summer of 2000, very shortly before the group changed their name to Maroon 5
. These tracks remain unreleased. More recently, Sommer has produced New York City-based rock band The Indecent
, and in collaboration with Stuart Chatwood
(formerly of the Tea Party
) is working on his own project titled Uncommon Folk, which features electric slocore interpretations of traditional American folk songs, and features guest vocals by Glen Campbell
, Mavis Staples
, Blind Boys of Alabama, Jakob Dylan
, and Robin Zander
.
In 2010, he produced the self-released debut album by New York City-based rock band, The Indecent
, titled Her Screwed Up Head. Subsequently, in the late summer of 2010, along with Julian Raymond he produced post-album demos for the Indecent which led to the group being signed to Warner Bros. Records
. The Indecent recorded their Warner Bros debut in the summer of 2011 with Rob Cavallo
producing; Sommer will be credited as executive producer, and remains involved in the day-to-day workings of the Indecent.
Hi Fi Sky
As Producer
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, former Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
Representative, WNYU
WNYU
WNYU-FM is a college radio station owned and operated by New York University. Until 2004, it served lower Manhattan and surrounding areas, but thanks to a new booster, it now broadcasts to the tri-state region. The station can be heard on 89.1 FM at 8,300 watts from 4pm until 1am on weekdays,...
DJ, Trouser Press
Trouser Press
Trouser Press was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow Who fan Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" ...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, MTV News
MTV News
MTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
correspondent, and VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
VJ. Tim is perhaps best known as a bass player
Bass Player
Bass player can refer to:*Bass Player , an album by Rhombus*Bass Player , a magazine for bassists*Bassist, or bass player, a musician who plays the bass guitar...
in the slo-core, dreampop bellwether Hugo Largo
Hugo Largo
Hugo Largo was an American musical group known for their unique line-up: two bass guitars, a violin and singer/performance artist Mimi Goese.The band formed in 1984, initially featuring Tim Sommer and Goese. Later they were joined by Hahn Rowe and Adam Peacock, releasing their Michael Stipe...
and the creator and host of Noise The Show, a pioneering NYC-based hardcore punk radio show. Hugo Largo was an American musical group known for their unique line-up of two bass guitars, a violin and singer/performance artist Mimi Goese
Mimi Goese
Mimi Goese is the former vocalist for college rock band Hugo Largo. Two collaborations with Moby, Into the Blue and When It's Cold I'd Like to Die appear on the latter's album Everything Is Wrong...
. They released two albums in the late 1980's on Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
's Opal/Land record label.
Sommer has participated in many other groups and collaborations before and after Hugo Largo (1984 - 1989), including the New Orleans-based space-cajun
Cajun
Cajuns are an ethnic group mainly living in the U.S. state of Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles...
group hifisky, the Glenn Branca
Glenn Branca
Glenn Branca is an American avant-garde composer and guitarist known for his use of volume, alternative guitar tunings, repetition, droning, and the harmonic series. In 2008 he was awarded an unrestricted grant from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts.-Beginnings: 1960s and early 1970s:Branca...
Ensemble, and he played alongside Thurston Moore
Thurston Moore
Thurston Joseph Moore is an American musician best known as a singer, songwriter and guitarist of Sonic Youth. He has also participated in many solo and group collaborations outside of Sonic Youth, as well as running the Ecstatic Peace! record label...
in the New York City punk rock band Even Worse
Even Worse (band)
Even Worse was a band formed in 1980 in New York City that helped define the American punk/post-punk/no wave scene. Band members included Rebecca "R.B." Korbet , Robert Weeks , Eric Keil , Ken Temkin, and Jack Rabid . Other occasional members have included Thurston Moore and Tim Sommer...
amongst others. Sommer wrote for the Village Voice between 1980 and 1984 and worked closely with music editor Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
, and according to journalist Michael Azerrad
Michael Azerrad
Michael Azerrad is an American author, journalist and musician. He grew up in the New York City area and received his BA degree from Columbia College in 1983...
in his book Our Band Could Be Your Life
Our Band Could Be Your Life
Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991 is a book by Michael Azerrad. It chronicles the careers of several underground rock bands who, while finding little or no mainstream success, were hugely influential in establishing American alternative and indie...
, Sommer was the inspiration for the lyrics of the Sonic Youth anthem "Kill Yr Idols
Kill Yr Idols
Kill Yr Idols is a 1983 EP by the rock band Sonic Youth, originally released only in Germany.In 1995, the tracks on Kill Yr Idols not found on 1983's Confusion Is Sex were appended to the DGC reissue of that album.-Side one:...
," in which Thurston Moore questioned his friend Sommer's respect for Christgau. Sommer was also an original member of the Swans, but never performed live with them.
In 1989, Sommer hosted MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's Post-Modern MTV, a five-nights a week late night show devoted to alternative music. He was also a senior producer and new correspondent for MTV News. From 1990 to 1992, Sommer ran vh1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's music news department, and was the exclusive host for their on-air news programming.
As an A&R representative, Sommer was integrally involved with the success of Hootie & The Blowfish
Hootie & the Blowfish
Hootie & the Blowfish is an American rock band that enjoyed popularity in the second half of the 1990s. They were originally formed in 1986 at the University of South Carolina by Darius Rucker, Dean Felber, Jim Sonefeld, and Mark Bryan. The band has recorded five studio albums to date, and has...
, and also worked with The Gits
The Gits
The Gits were an American punk rock band, formed in Yellow Springs, Ohio in 1986. Known for their part in the burgeoning Seattle music scene of the early 1990s, their distinct punk rock sound gained a reputation for its bluesy street punk aesthetic...
, 7 Year Bitch
7 Year Bitch
7 Year Bitch was an American punk rock band from Seattle, Washington that was active for 7 years, between 1990 and 1997. Their career yielded three albums, and was impacted by the deaths of their guitarist Stefanie Sargent and close-friend Mia Zapata of fellow Seattle punks The Gits.-Career:7 Year...
, Michael Crawford
Michael Crawford
Michael Crawford OBE is an English actor and singer. He has garnered great critical acclaim and won numerous awards during his career, which covers radio, television, film, and stagework on both London's West End and on Broadway in New York City...
, Duncan Sheik
Duncan Sheik
Duncan Scott Sheik is an American singer-songwriter and composer. Sheik initially found success as a singer, most notably for his 1996 debut single "Barely Breathing". He later expanded his work to include compositions for motion pictures and the Broadway stage, leading him to involvement in the...
, and Scott Weiland
Scott Weiland
Scott Weiland is an American musician, lyricist, and vocalist, most notable for his work with Grammy Award-winning rock band Stone Temple Pilots. Weiland is also known for his five-year career with supergroup Velvet Revolver as well as his own solo career...
. He was also involved in the very early careers of both the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
and Kara's Flowers, producing three tracks for Kara's Flowers in the summer of 2000, very shortly before the group changed their name to Maroon 5
Maroon 5
Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. While they were in high school, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adam Levine, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, bass guitarist Mickey Madden, and drummer Ryan Dusick formed a garage band called Kara's Flowers and released one album...
. These tracks remain unreleased. More recently, Sommer has produced New York City-based rock band The Indecent
The Indecent
The Indecent are a New York City-based rock/grunge band featuring triplets Emily, Madeline, and Bo Brout, along with Windsor, Canada-based Nicholas Burrows. The Brout triplets were born on May 28, 1994, and have been performing together since the age of 8...
, and in collaboration with Stuart Chatwood
Stuart Chatwood
Stuart Chatwood, is a Canadian musician, best known as the bass guitar and keyboard player for the rock band The Tea Party. The Tea Party are known for fusing together musical styles of both the Eastern and Western worlds, in what they call "Moroccan roll"...
(formerly of the Tea Party
The Tea Party
The Tea Party is a Canadian rock band with blues, progressive rock, Indian and Middle Eastern influences, dubbed "Moroccan roll" by the media. Active throughout the 1990s up until 2005 when the band broke up, The Tea Party released eight albums on EMI Music Canada, selling 1.6 million records...
) is working on his own project titled Uncommon Folk, which features electric slocore interpretations of traditional American folk songs, and features guest vocals by Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell
Glen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
, Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer, actress and civil rights activist who recorded with The Staple Singers, her family's band.-Biography:...
, Blind Boys of Alabama, Jakob Dylan
Jakob Dylan
Jakob Luke Dylan is the lead singer and songwriter of the rock band The Wallflowers and is a son of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and Sara Dylan. He has also recorded two solo albums.-Personal life:...
, and Robin Zander
Robin Zander
Robin Wayne Zander is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the rock band Cheap Trick.-Early life:Zander was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, the fourth of five children; he has two older brothers, and older and younger sisters....
.
In 2010, he produced the self-released debut album by New York City-based rock band, The Indecent
The Indecent
The Indecent are a New York City-based rock/grunge band featuring triplets Emily, Madeline, and Bo Brout, along with Windsor, Canada-based Nicholas Burrows. The Brout triplets were born on May 28, 1994, and have been performing together since the age of 8...
, titled Her Screwed Up Head. Subsequently, in the late summer of 2010, along with Julian Raymond he produced post-album demos for the Indecent which led to the group being signed to Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. The Indecent recorded their Warner Bros debut in the summer of 2011 with Rob Cavallo
Rob Cavallo
Rob Cavallo is a record producer and A&R, most famous for signing and producing Green Day. He is currently Chairman of Warner Bros. Records.- History :...
producing; Sommer will be credited as executive producer, and remains involved in the day-to-day workings of the Indecent.
Discography
Hugo Largo- DrumDrum (album)Drum is the first release from art rock band Hugo Largo. It was produced by Michael Stipe and released by Brian Eno's record label, Opal, on January 1, 1988. While originally released as an EP, it was later re-released as an album. The Guardian included it in a list of "1000 Albums to Hear...
(1988) - MettleMettleMettle is the second and final release from art rock band Hugo Largo. It was released by Brian Eno's record label, Opal, on January 1, 1989 and was supported by a European tour following its release...
(1989)
Hi Fi Sky
- MUSIC FOR SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING IN SPACE
As Producer
- The IndecentThe IndecentThe Indecent are a New York City-based rock/grunge band featuring triplets Emily, Madeline, and Bo Brout, along with Windsor, Canada-based Nicholas Burrows. The Brout triplets were born on May 28, 1994, and have been performing together since the age of 8...
Her Screwed Up Head (2010) - Hetch HetchyHetch HetchyHetch Hetchy can refer to:* Hetch Hetchy Valley* Hetch Hetchy Reservoir* Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct* Hetch Hetchy, an American rock band formed by Lynda Stipe...
Swollen (1990) - Drunken Boat See Ruby Falls (1990)
- Cowboy MouthCowboy MouthCowboy Mouth is a rock band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Their name usually means "One with a loud and raucous voice". The nucleus of the band formed in the 1990s, and they have become a powerhouse live act whose performances have been likened to "a religious experience."Some of their most...
Hurricane Party (2000) Unreleased - Kara's Flowers MCA demos (2000) Unreleased
- Todd Kearns MCA demos (2000) Unreleased
- Paul SanchezPaul SanchezPaul Sanchez is a New Orleans-born and based American guitarist and a singer-songwriter. Sanchez is best known as one of New Orleans' finest song writers and was also founding member of the New Orleans band Cowboy Mouth. Sanchez was a guitarist and one of the primary singers and songwriters for the...
Hurricane Party (2001) - Alexandra Scott Spyglass (2003)
- Alexandra Scott Spring (2005)
- The Indecent Warner Bros debut (Executive Producer) 2012
Other links
- Indy Week http://listings.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A164710
- Beastie Mania http://www.beastiemania.com/whois/sommer_tim/
- Johnny Rotten Interview for MTV http://www.johnlydon.com/MTV1.HTM
- Even Worse Myspace page http://www.myspace.com/evenworsemusic
- An eventful night dedicated to Tim http://www.evenworse.com/birthday.html
- http://nymag.com/arts/popmusic/features/beastie-boys-2011-5/
- Michael Stipe interview on Post Modern MTV http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VHg3myQ_2k