Adam Nathanson
Encyclopedia
Adam Nathanson is an American musician
currently based in Richmond, Virginia
. He is best known as the guitarist in the New York-based hardcore punk
band Born Against
, and the singer and guitarist in the proto-folk punk
band (Young) Pioneers
.
played a politicized form of New York hardcore
. The group was extant from 1987–1989, and upon its demise, Nathanson and bassist Neil Burke
formed Born Against with singer Sam McPheeters
. Born Against toured extensively and released several records before breaking up in 1993.
After Born Against, Nathanson formed and fronted the (Young) Pioneers, a group that would later influence the folk punk movement. Early in their career, the (Young) Pioneers moved from McPheeters' Vermiform Records
to the larger Lookout! Records
label, where they released several records before disbanding in 1999. During this era, Nathanson also briefly played in the post-Born Against group Men's Recovery Project
.
Nathanson most recently formed Teargas Rock, a sporadically active group continuing in the direction of (Young) Pioneers.
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....
currently based in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. He is best known as the guitarist in the New York-based hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band Born Against
Born Against
Born Against was an American hardcore punk band from New York active between 1989–1993. In addition to their radical leftist politics, the group espoused a DIY punk message and challenged what they perceived as problematic within the punk subculture of their time.-History:The group was founded in...
, and the singer and guitarist in the proto-folk punk
Folk punk
Folk punk , is a fusion of folk music and punk rock. It was pioneered in the late 1970s and early 1980s by The Pogues in Britain and Violent Femmes in America. Folk punk achieved some mainstream success in that decade...
band (Young) Pioneers
(Young) Pioneers
Pioneers was an influential American folk punk band from Richmond, Virginia, active from 1993–1999.-History:...
.
Musical career
Nathanson's early band Life's BloodLife's Blood
Life's Blood was a hardcore punk band formed by four first year college students in New York City in 1987. It consisted of Adam Nathanson on guitars, Neil Burke on bass, John Kriksciun on drums, and on vocals, Combined Effort promoter and fanzine editor Jason O'Toole...
played a politicized form of New York hardcore
New York hardcore
New York hardcore refers to hardcore punk and metalcore music created in New York City and to the subculture associated with that music. New York hardcore grew out of the hardcore scene established in Washington, D.C., by bands such as Bad Brains and Minor Threat. Hardcore '81 is an album by the...
. The group was extant from 1987–1989, and upon its demise, Nathanson and bassist Neil Burke
Neil Burke
Neil Burke is an American musician and artist. He is known as a former member of several hardcore punk and noise rock bands, most notably Born Against and Men's Recovery Project...
formed Born Against with singer Sam McPheeters
Sam McPheeters
Sam McPheeters is an American musician, artist and journalist. Raised in Albany, New York and later relocated to New York City, McPheeters was a key member of the early 1990s hardcore punk scene, writing a number of zines and singing in the hardcore band Born Against...
. Born Against toured extensively and released several records before breaking up in 1993.
After Born Against, Nathanson formed and fronted the (Young) Pioneers, a group that would later influence the folk punk movement. Early in their career, the (Young) Pioneers moved from McPheeters' Vermiform Records
Vermiform Records
Vermiform Records was an American independent record label that specialized in releasing punk rock music from 1990 until 2002. Over the course of those twelve years Vermiform released 57 albums and relocated many times, being headquartered in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Rhode Island and...
to the larger Lookout! Records
Lookout! Records
-History:Larry Livermore and David Hayes formed the label in 1987. From the start, Lookout released punk rock records, but over time expanded its scope to include various types of pop rock, reggae fusion, acoustic rock, pop punk, and indie rock...
label, where they released several records before disbanding in 1999. During this era, Nathanson also briefly played in the post-Born Against group Men's Recovery Project
Men's Recovery Project
Men's Recovery Project was an American experimental noise rock band formed by Sam McPheeters and Neil Burke in Richmond, Virginia, active from 1993–2002...
.
Nathanson most recently formed Teargas Rock, a sporadically active group continuing in the direction of (Young) Pioneers.