Whysall Lane
Encyclopedia
Whysall Lane was an American
indie rock
band based in San Francisco whose music combines elements of 1990s indie rock and classic rock
with lyrics inspired by romantic obsession. The band's members were Richard Baluyut
, Mikel Delgado and Adam Pfahler.
singer/guitarist Richard Baluyut to perform Versus songs, original material, the occasional Depeche Mode
cover version, and Filipino folk songs
. Whysall Lane became Richard's main musical outlet in 2001 after Versus temporarily disbanded.
That year Richard Baluyut relocated to San Francisco from New York City
, and Whysall Lane played some live shows with Sooyoung Park playing bass and Richard's brother James Baluyut
playing keyboards. Eventually a permanent lineup solidified later that year around Richard Baluyut on vocals and guitar, Mikel Delgado (formerly of The Little Deaths
) on bass and vocals, Adam Pfahler (formerly of Jawbreaker
) on drums, and Lorna Lithgow on keyboards. The focus of the group changed to electric instrumentation and original material. Lithgow left the band in 2002, and Jerry diRienzo (who also recorded the band's debut album
) briefly joined the group as a lead guitarist in 2003.
The band released a version of "During the Mutiny" recorded by Richard and Mikel on a limited edition split single with James' band +/-
in early 2002. Recording of the group's debut album started in 2002 but was prolonged owing to band members' family commitments. Apart from work-in-progress versions of some songs streamed on the internet in 2003, the band's only release during the next 3 years was a track on a 2004 TeenBeat compilation. The band's self-titled debut album was finally released on Adam Pfahler's Blackball Records
on February 14, 2006. Richard Baluyut's love of classic rock
such as Pink Floyd
was more in evidence than it had ever been in Versus
, leading to the marketing slogan for the debut album of "Indie Rock for people who hate indie rock".
The band's live performances since 2001 had been relatively infrequent and mainly limited to Southern California
. Many of their live shows were linked to local Asian-American community events or as a support band to Richard's old friends Yo La Tengo
and Mission of Burma
.
In March 2007 it was announced on the band's MySpace
page and the Blackball Records site that Mikel Delgado had left the band in late 2006, and "the band as you knew it no longer exists".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band based in San Francisco whose music combines elements of 1990s indie rock and classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
with lyrics inspired by romantic obsession. The band's members were Richard Baluyut
Richard Baluyut
Richard Baluyut is a US singer and guitarist. He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist for Versus from 1990 onwards, but he was also a singer/guitarist for Flower between 1986 and 1990 and the lead singer and guitarist for Whysall Lane. He composed the soundtrack for the film Midas' Son...
, Mikel Delgado and Adam Pfahler.
History
Whysall Lane was originally conceived as an acoustic solo side project for VersusVersus (band)
Versus is an American indie rock band formed in 1990 by Richard Baluyut, Fontaine Toups and Edward Baluyut in New York City. Richard and Fontaine were to remain the two core members throughout the band's history. The band was noted for their marriage of indie pop songwriting and vocal harmonies to...
singer/guitarist Richard Baluyut to perform Versus songs, original material, the occasional Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
cover version, and Filipino folk songs
Filipino folk music
Traditional Music in the Philippines, like the traditional music of other countries, reflects the life of common folk, mainly living in rural areas rather than urban ones. Like its counterparts in Asia, a lot of traditional songs from the Philippines have a strong connection with nature...
. Whysall Lane became Richard's main musical outlet in 2001 after Versus temporarily disbanded.
That year Richard Baluyut relocated to San Francisco from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and Whysall Lane played some live shows with Sooyoung Park playing bass and Richard's brother James Baluyut
James Baluyut
James Baluyut is a US singer, guitarist and record producer. He is best known as the lead guitarist for Versus from 1995 onwards and the primary singer, guitarist and producer for +/-, a band he formed with Versus bandmate Patrick Ramos in 2001...
playing keyboards. Eventually a permanent lineup solidified later that year around Richard Baluyut on vocals and guitar, Mikel Delgado (formerly of The Little Deaths
The Little Deaths
The Little Deaths was an American rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1997. The band was associated with the 1990s Queercore movement and became part of the San Francisco Bay-Area's late-90's musical renaissance which spawned bands like Subtonix, The Phantom Limbs, Erase Errata, The...
) on bass and vocals, Adam Pfahler (formerly of Jawbreaker
Jawbreaker (band)
Jawbreaker was an American punk rock band active from 1986 to 1996 and considered one of the most influential acts of the early-1990s emo movement...
) on drums, and Lorna Lithgow on keyboards. The focus of the group changed to electric instrumentation and original material. Lithgow left the band in 2002, and Jerry diRienzo (who also recorded the band's debut album
Whysall Lane (album)
Whysall Lane is the eponymous debut album by Whysall Lane. The album was recorded by Jerry diRienzo at Hot Pie studios in California between 2002 and 2005....
) briefly joined the group as a lead guitarist in 2003.
The band released a version of "During the Mutiny" recorded by Richard and Mikel on a limited edition split single with James' band +/-
+/- (band)
+/-, or Plus/Minus, is an American indietronic band formed in 2001. The band makes use of both electronic and traditional instruments, and has sought to use electronics to recreate traditional indie rock song forms and instrumental structures...
in early 2002. Recording of the group's debut album started in 2002 but was prolonged owing to band members' family commitments. Apart from work-in-progress versions of some songs streamed on the internet in 2003, the band's only release during the next 3 years was a track on a 2004 TeenBeat compilation. The band's self-titled debut album was finally released on Adam Pfahler's Blackball Records
Blackball Records
Blackball Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco. It was founded in 1989 by Adam Pfahler, who was the drummer for Jawbreaker at the time...
on February 14, 2006. Richard Baluyut's love of classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
such as Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
was more in evidence than it had ever been in Versus
Versus (band)
Versus is an American indie rock band formed in 1990 by Richard Baluyut, Fontaine Toups and Edward Baluyut in New York City. Richard and Fontaine were to remain the two core members throughout the band's history. The band was noted for their marriage of indie pop songwriting and vocal harmonies to...
, leading to the marketing slogan for the debut album of "Indie Rock for people who hate indie rock".
The band's live performances since 2001 had been relatively infrequent and mainly limited to Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. Many of their live shows were linked to local Asian-American community events or as a support band to Richard's old friends Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo, sometimes abbreviated as YLT, is an American alternative rock band formed in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1984. Since 1992, the lineup has consisted of Ira Kaplan , Georgia Hubley , and James McNew .Despite achieving limited mainstream success, Yo La Tengo has been called "the quintessential...
and Mission of Burma
Mission of Burma
Mission of Burma is an American post-punk band formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1979. The band was formed by Roger Miller , Clint Conley , Peter Prescott and Martin Swope...
.
In March 2007 it was announced on the band's MySpace
MySpace
Myspace 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....
page and the Blackball Records site that Mikel Delgado had left the band in late 2006, and "the band as you knew it no longer exists".
Discography
- "During the Mutiny" on [7"] split single with +/-+/- (band)+/-, or Plus/Minus, is an American indietronic band formed in 2001. The band makes use of both electronic and traditional instruments, and has sought to use electronics to recreate traditional indie rock song forms and instrumental structures...
(20022002 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI...
) Devil in the Woods - "Everything Slows Down" on 2004 TeenBeat Sampler (20042004 in musicSee also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
) TeenBeatTeenBeat RecordsTeen Beat is an independent record label, originally based in Arlington, VA, now based in Cambridge, MA. It was founded by Mark Robinson in 1984 at Wakefield High School along with Phil Krauth , Andrew Beaujon , Tim Moran , and Ian Zack .The label was originally set up like a lending library... - Whysall LaneWhysall Lane (album)Whysall Lane is the eponymous debut album by Whysall Lane. The album was recorded by Jerry diRienzo at Hot Pie studios in California between 2002 and 2005....
(20062006 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
) BlackballBlackball RecordsBlackball Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco. It was founded in 1989 by Adam Pfahler, who was the drummer for Jawbreaker at the time...