Absinthe Blind
Encyclopedia
Absinthe Blind was an American Shoegaze and Dream pop
group from Urbana, Illinois
. The first group was formed by Seth Fein, Tristan Wraight and Adam Fein in 1996, by merging Adam Fein's group (coincidentally also called Absinthe Blind) and Tristan Wraight and Seth Fein's The Dr. Johanson Band. Dr. Johanson Band bassist Mike Zolfo was then asked to join the group. As the Champaign-Urbana music scene gained national attention, due to groups such as Hum
and Poster Children
, Absinthe Blind, along with three other groups, formed a collective entitled Toast Music Erin Fein, after suffering a back injury pursuing a figure skating career, joined the band during the recording of Music for Security. In support of Music For Security, the band embarked on a national tour, performing at The CMJ Music Marathon along the way. For their fourth album, The Everyday Separation, the band signed to Mud Records, distributed by Parasol
. Zolfo left the group in 2002 to attend music school, and was replaced by Brett Sanderson. The group released one more album, Rings, in 2003, before Adam Fein announced that he was leaving the band. A farewell tour followed, culminating with a hometown show at the Canopy Club in Urbana, Illinois
on September 13, 2003.
The four remaining members of the band originally planned to continue recording and touring as Absinthe Blind, but instead formed Orphans, who would later change their name to Headlights
.
Singles & EPs
Compilations
Dream pop
Dream pop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid-1980s, when bands like The Passions, Dif Juz, Lowlife and A.R. Kane began fusing post-punk and ethereal experiments with bittersweet pop melodies into dreamy, sensual soundscapes. The term was almost...
group from Urbana, Illinois
Urbana, Illinois
Urbana is the county seat of Champaign County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,250. Urbana is the tenth-most populous city in Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area....
. The first group was formed by Seth Fein, Tristan Wraight and Adam Fein in 1996, by merging Adam Fein's group (coincidentally also called Absinthe Blind) and Tristan Wraight and Seth Fein's The Dr. Johanson Band. Dr. Johanson Band bassist Mike Zolfo was then asked to join the group. As the Champaign-Urbana music scene gained national attention, due to groups such as Hum
Hum (band)
Hum is a post-hardcore band from Champaign, Illinois. They are best known for their 1995 radio hit "Stars." Hum has not been consistently active as a recording or touring group since 2000.-Founding and early recordings:...
and Poster Children
Poster Children
Poster Children are an indie rock band formed at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1987. They have issued eleven studio albums. Known for their strong DIY ethic, the band members continue to drive their own tour bus, create their own artwork and T-shirt designs, and operate their...
, Absinthe Blind, along with three other groups, formed a collective entitled Toast Music Erin Fein, after suffering a back injury pursuing a figure skating career, joined the band during the recording of Music for Security. In support of Music For Security, the band embarked on a national tour, performing at The CMJ Music Marathon along the way. For their fourth album, The Everyday Separation, the band signed to Mud Records, distributed by Parasol
Parasol Records
Parasol Records is an American independent record label based out of Urbana, Illinois. The label was founded by Geoff Merritt as an outgrowth of the catalogue Parasol Mail Order ....
. Zolfo left the group in 2002 to attend music school, and was replaced by Brett Sanderson. The group released one more album, Rings, in 2003, before Adam Fein announced that he was leaving the band. A farewell tour followed, culminating with a hometown show at the Canopy Club in Urbana, Illinois
Urbana, Illinois
Urbana is the county seat of Champaign County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,250. Urbana is the tenth-most populous city in Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area....
on September 13, 2003.
The four remaining members of the band originally planned to continue recording and touring as Absinthe Blind, but instead formed Orphans, who would later change their name to Headlights
Headlights (band)
Headlights is an American indie rock band from Champaign, Illinois on Polyvinyl Records. The band was formed following the dissolution of Absinthe Blind, when members Erin Fein, Seth Fein and Brett Sanderson formed a band named Orphans...
.
Discography
Albums- When Our Flashes Sway (Hammerhead, 1997)
- Solarshift (Hammerhead, 1998)
- Music For Security (Hammerhead, 2000)
- The Everyday Separation (Mud, 2001)
- Rings (Mud, 2003)
- Winning Is Our Business and Business Is Good (rarities collection) (2004)
Singles & EPs
- Image (1999)
- Live to Forget (self-released, 2000)
- 6.28.01 live (self-released, 2001)
- The Separation B-Sides (self-released, 2002)
- 9.13.03 live (self-released, 2006)
Compilations
- Stuck in the Chimney (More Christmas Singles) (contributed "Silent Night") (ParasolParasol RecordsParasol Records is an American independent record label based out of Urbana, Illinois. The label was founded by Geoff Merritt as an outgrowth of the catalogue Parasol Mail Order ....
, 2000) - Parasol's Sweet Sixteen, Volume 4 (contributed "Antarctica") (ParasolParasol RecordsParasol Records is an American independent record label based out of Urbana, Illinois. The label was founded by Geoff Merritt as an outgrowth of the catalogue Parasol Mail Order ....
, 2001) - Small, My Table: Innocent Words (contributed "The Night You Came Home") (Innocent Words, 2002)
- Parasol's Sweet Sixteen, Volume 6 (contributed "Shields") (ParasolParasol RecordsParasol Records is an American independent record label based out of Urbana, Illinois. The label was founded by Geoff Merritt as an outgrowth of the catalogue Parasol Mail Order ....
, 2003) - Parasol's Sweet Sixteen, Volume 7 (contributed "The Break (It's Been There All This Time)") (ParasolParasol RecordsParasol Records is an American independent record label based out of Urbana, Illinois. The label was founded by Geoff Merritt as an outgrowth of the catalogue Parasol Mail Order ....
, 2003) - Soak Your Shoes In Red Wine & Strike The Angels Dumb (contributed "The Truth That Paints Your Eyes") (Grand Theft Autumn, 2003)
- openingbands.comp (A Snapshot of Champaign-Urbana: 2003) (contributed "The Break (It's Been There All This Time)") (OpeningBands, 2003)