American Music Club
Encyclopedia
American Music Club is a San Francisco-based alternative rock
band led by singer-songwriter
Mark Eitzel
.
(one single) he founded American Music Club in San Francisco in 1983 with guitarist Scott Alexander, drummer Greg Bonnell, bass player Brad Johnson. The band went through many personnel changes before arriving at a stable line up of guitarist Vudi
, bassist Danny Pearson, keyboardist Brad Johnson, and drummer Matt Norelli. This lineup would change over the next several years but Eitzel always remained the core of the band in terms of its vocals, lyrics and thematic focus with Vudi
and Danny Pearson accompanying him on guitar and bass.
Their 1985 debut, The Restless Stranger
, was followed by 1987's Engine which saw record producer
Tom Mallon as a full-time member.
American Music Club earned a solid cult following on the strength of 1988's California
. Their next LP, 1989's United Kingdom
, appeared only in the nation which lent the record its name and consisted of new material, some of which was recorded live at the Hotel Utah, San Francisco.
In 1991 American Music Club emerged with the record that is widely considered their masterpiece, Everclear
. Critical acclaim attracted the attention of several major labels. Rolling Stone
called it the Album of the Year and named Eitzel Songwriter of the year for 1991. Eventually AMC, now consisting of Eitzel, Vudi
, Pearson, multi-instrumentalist Bruce Kaphan, and drummer Tim Mooney, signed with Reprise
in the US and Virgin
throughout the rest of the world.
The band contributed the track "All Your Jeans Were Too Tight" to the 1993 AIDS-Benefit Album No Alternative
produced by the Red Hot Organization
. Mercury
followed in 1993 and, despite positive reviews, Mercury fared poorly on the charts and earned virtually no recognition from radio or MTV
. In 1994, AMC issued San Francisco
, which balanced confessional tunes like "Fearless" and "The Thorn in My Side Is Gone" alongside more accessible offerings such as "Wish the World Away," one of the band's biggest hits.
The band disbanded soon after San Francisco
was released and reunited in 2003 to record a new album, Love Songs for Patriots
, which is described by reviewer Mark Deming as "a stronger and more coherent effort than the group's last set, 1994's San Francisco, and while it's too early to tell if this is a new start or a last hurrah for AMC, it at least shows that their formula still yields potent results. Here's hoping Eitzel and Vudi have more where this came from."
On June 20, 2007, AMC announced a new lineup connected to the band's base of operations moving to Los Angeles
. Eitzel and Vudi remained, while Mooney and Pearson stayed behind in San Francisco. They are replaced by bassist Sean Hoffman and drummer Steve Didelot. AMC's next record, entitled The Golden Age
, was released in the UK on February 4, 2008 on Cooking Vinyl
and in the US on Merge Records
on February 19.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band led by singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Mark Eitzel
Mark Eitzel
Mark Eitzel is a musician, best known as a songwriter and lead singer of the San Francisco band American Music Club.-History:Eitzel spent his formative years in a military family living in Okinawa, Taiwan, Ohio and the United Kingdom. He moved to America in 1979.He started making music while he was...
.
History
Although born in California, Eitzel spent his formative years in Okinawa, Taiwan, Great Britain and Ohio before returning to the Bay Area in 1981. After a brief stint with the bands The Cowboys (one single: "Supermarket"/"Teenage Life") and The Naked SkinniesThe Naked Skinnies
The Naked Skinnies were a new wave band from Ohio that featured Mark Eitzel, guitar and vocals, Nancy Kangas, organ; John Hricko, bass and Greg Bonnell, drums....
(one single) he founded American Music Club in San Francisco in 1983 with guitarist Scott Alexander, drummer Greg Bonnell, bass player Brad Johnson. The band went through many personnel changes before arriving at a stable line up of guitarist Vudi
Vudi
Vudi is the nickname of Mark Pankler , guitarist with San Francisco based indie rock band American Music Club. He is also the vocalist and guitarist in San Francisco based indie rock band Clovis de Floret....
, bassist Danny Pearson, keyboardist Brad Johnson, and drummer Matt Norelli. This lineup would change over the next several years but Eitzel always remained the core of the band in terms of its vocals, lyrics and thematic focus with Vudi
Vudi
Vudi is the nickname of Mark Pankler , guitarist with San Francisco based indie rock band American Music Club. He is also the vocalist and guitarist in San Francisco based indie rock band Clovis de Floret....
and Danny Pearson accompanying him on guitar and bass.
Their 1985 debut, The Restless Stranger
The Restless Stranger
-Track listing:All songs written by Mark Eitzel. Tracks 13-15 are bonus tracks on the CD reissue.#"Room Above the Club" - 3:50#"$1,000,000 Song" - 3:56#"Away Down the Street" - 4:21#"Yvonne Gets Dumped" - 3:16#"Mr...
, was followed by 1987's Engine which saw 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...
Tom Mallon as a full-time member.
American Music Club earned a solid cult following on the strength of 1988's California
California (American Music Club album)
California is the third album by American Music Club, released in 1988.-Track listing:All songs written by Mark Eitzel.#"Firefly" #"Somewhere" #"Laughingstock" #"Lonely"...
. Their next LP, 1989's United Kingdom
United Kingdom (album)
United Kingdom is the fourth album by American Music Club. It was recorded primarily for the UK, where the band had a larger following than in their native USA, and consists of a mixture of studio and live tracks.- Track listing :...
, appeared only in the nation which lent the record its name and consisted of new material, some of which was recorded live at the Hotel Utah, San Francisco.
In 1991 American Music Club emerged with the record that is widely considered their masterpiece, Everclear
Everclear (album)
Everclear is the fifth album by San Francisco band American Music Club. Overall, the album received widespread praise, but was criticized for being overproduced, despite having been released on an independent label....
. Critical acclaim attracted the attention of several major labels. Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
called it the Album of the Year and named Eitzel Songwriter of the year for 1991. Eventually AMC, now consisting of Eitzel, Vudi
Vudi
Vudi is the nickname of Mark Pankler , guitarist with San Francisco based indie rock band American Music Club. He is also the vocalist and guitarist in San Francisco based indie rock band Clovis de Floret....
, Pearson, multi-instrumentalist Bruce Kaphan, and drummer Tim Mooney, signed with Reprise
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
in the US and Virgin
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
throughout the rest of the world.
The band contributed the track "All Your Jeans Were Too Tight" to the 1993 AIDS-Benefit Album No Alternative
No Alternative
-Home video track listing:# Matthew Sweet "Superdeformed"#*directed by Kevin Kerslake# Neneh Cherry "Athens, Georgia 1993"#*directed by Jim McKay & Michael Stipe# Urge Overkill "Take a Walk"#*directed by Matt Mahurin...
produced by the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
. Mercury
Mercury (American Music Club album)
Mercury is the sixth album by San Francisco indie rock group American Music Club, released in early 1993. It was their major-label debut."Over and Done" and "Johnny Mathis' Feet" were released as singles on the 7", CD single and cassingle formats...
followed in 1993 and, despite positive reviews, Mercury fared poorly on the charts and earned virtually no recognition from radio or 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....
. In 1994, AMC issued San Francisco
San Francisco (American Music Club album)
San Francisco was the seventh album by American Music Club and their last before a nine year hiatus.-Track listing:#"Fearless" - 4:34#"It's Your Birthday" - 4:33#"Can You Help Me" - 3:11#"Love Doesn't Belong" - 4:22#"Wish the World Away" - 3:09...
, which balanced confessional tunes like "Fearless" and "The Thorn in My Side Is Gone" alongside more accessible offerings such as "Wish the World Away," one of the band's biggest hits.
The band disbanded soon after San Francisco
San Francisco (American Music Club album)
San Francisco was the seventh album by American Music Club and their last before a nine year hiatus.-Track listing:#"Fearless" - 4:34#"It's Your Birthday" - 4:33#"Can You Help Me" - 3:11#"Love Doesn't Belong" - 4:22#"Wish the World Away" - 3:09...
was released and reunited in 2003 to record a new album, Love Songs for Patriots
Love Songs for Patriots
American Music Club reformed in 2003 to considerable critical acclaim, and recorded Love Songs for Patriots in San Francisco in spare time between day jobs and other commitments...
, which is described by reviewer Mark Deming as "a stronger and more coherent effort than the group's last set, 1994's San Francisco, and while it's too early to tell if this is a new start or a last hurrah for AMC, it at least shows that their formula still yields potent results. Here's hoping Eitzel and Vudi have more where this came from."
On June 20, 2007, AMC announced a new lineup connected to the band's base of operations moving to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Eitzel and Vudi remained, while Mooney and Pearson stayed behind in San Francisco. They are replaced by bassist Sean Hoffman and drummer Steve Didelot. AMC's next record, entitled The Golden Age
The Golden Age (American Music Club album)
The Golden Age is the 9th studio album released by San Francisco-based sadcore and slowcore band American Music Club. The album is the band's second after a 10 year hiatus that ended in 2004. The album is an effort by the band to experiment more in their music...
, was released in the UK on February 4, 2008 on Cooking Vinyl
Cooking Vinyl
Cooking Vinyl is a UK-based independent record company, founded in 1986. Its original orientation was toward contemporary folk music—notably Billy Bragg, and Michelle Shocked's Texas Campfire Tapes, recorded on a Sony Walkman, one of its first releases...
and in the US on Merge Records
Merge Records
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
on February 19.
Discography
- The Restless StrangerThe Restless Stranger-Track listing:All songs written by Mark Eitzel. Tracks 13-15 are bonus tracks on the CD reissue.#"Room Above the Club" - 3:50#"$1,000,000 Song" - 3:56#"Away Down the Street" - 4:21#"Yvonne Gets Dumped" - 3:16#"Mr...
(January 1985) - Engine (October 1987)
- CaliforniaCalifornia (American Music Club album)California is the third album by American Music Club, released in 1988.-Track listing:All songs written by Mark Eitzel.#"Firefly" #"Somewhere" #"Laughingstock" #"Lonely"...
(October 1988) - United KingdomUnited Kingdom (album)United Kingdom is the fourth album by American Music Club. It was recorded primarily for the UK, where the band had a larger following than in their native USA, and consists of a mixture of studio and live tracks.- Track listing :...
(October 1989) - EverclearEverclear (album)Everclear is the fifth album by San Francisco band American Music Club. Overall, the album received widespread praise, but was criticized for being overproduced, despite having been released on an independent label....
(October 1991) - MercuryMercury (American Music Club album)Mercury is the sixth album by San Francisco indie rock group American Music Club, released in early 1993. It was their major-label debut."Over and Done" and "Johnny Mathis' Feet" were released as singles on the 7", CD single and cassingle formats...
(March 1993) - San FranciscoSan Francisco (American Music Club album)San Francisco was the seventh album by American Music Club and their last before a nine year hiatus.-Track listing:#"Fearless" - 4:34#"It's Your Birthday" - 4:33#"Can You Help Me" - 3:11#"Love Doesn't Belong" - 4:22#"Wish the World Away" - 3:09...
(September 1994) - Love Songs for PatriotsLove Songs for PatriotsAmerican Music Club reformed in 2003 to considerable critical acclaim, and recorded Love Songs for Patriots in San Francisco in spare time between day jobs and other commitments...
(September 2004) - The Golden AgeThe Golden Age (American Music Club album)The Golden Age is the 9th studio album released by San Francisco-based sadcore and slowcore band American Music Club. The album is the band's second after a 10 year hiatus that ended in 2004. The album is an effort by the band to experiment more in their music...
(February 2008)
External links
- Official website
- Mark Eitzel's official website
- [ Allmusic entry]
- American Music Club collection at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive