Blame Game
Encyclopedia
Blame Game, an American
band from Atlanta, Georgia
, was formed in 1999 by drummer Alex Lambert (formerly of Heretical Response), guitarist Ian Deaton, and bass player Matt McCalvin.
genre, such as Rorschach, His Hero Is Gone
, Angel Hair, and Assfactor 4
. In 1999, shortly after their forming, Matt McCalvin decided to switch to second guitar, and Chris Ware was brought in on bass. The band played its first official show in 1999 under the name Blame Game (they had performed several times before this under different names) at the Prison Issues Fest, which was organized by Chris Ware at the Under the Couch
venue on the Georgia Tech
campus.
Blame Game then recorded their self-titled demo (recorded on ADAT
by Alex Lambert) and it was released on cassette in a limited run of 100 copies. The tape was packaged in a brown paper lunch bag, and it was covered with a sticker of a photograph by artist Kim Hoeckle. Throughout 2000, the band played many shows in and around the south. In 2001 the band went on a mini-tour with Countdown to Putsch in Florida
and Georgia
. Following the tour, Blame Game recorded 9 songs at the C-11 warehouse with Brooks Meeks (of the Atlanta band The Close). The 9 songs were put on a tour cd-r, and 4 of these tracks were released as a self-titled seven-inch by both Ex-Space Six and Stickfigure Records
. 500 of these were printed, and almost every cover was different due to the covers being divided 125 per member of the band and then hand made.
Following these initial recordings, Blame Game played small tours and local shows between 2001–2002. Between this time the band began to draw a larger influence from avant-garde
performers and bands, such as Captain Beefheart
and U.S. Maple
, as well as from free jazz
performers like Peter Brotzman, Ornette Coleman
and Albert Ayler
, shifting the band's sound from hardcore punk
, to a more wiry, spastic and “improv” oriented sound. In 2002, the band performed on the WREK
radio show Live at WREK, playing 12 songs (many of which displayed their newer style) and followed it with a second set which was entirely improvised. In January 2003, the band self released the Blame Game Trio cd-r, which was recorded by Alex Lambert, and contained entirely improvised material. Later that same year, the band recorded 8 songs at The Living Room Studio (formerly Red Lab Studios) in Atlanta, Ga with recording engineer Ed Rawls. These 8 songs where released on the b-side of a split LP (released by Adagio 830/660 Productions in Europe and Crab Apocalypse in the U.S.) with the German band Zann. Blame Game toured Europe for 3 weeks and the U.S. for 2½ weeks with Zann to support this release.
In late 2003 the band recorded 6 new songs, which would top off a 77-minute 27-track cd anthology released by Stickfigure Records
. Guitarist Matt McCalvin left the band in December 2003 over musical differences, turning his focus to his new band, Gongfodder. McCalvin would later join the band A-Fir-Ju-Well (now named Gringo Star). George Asimakos (formerly of Camaro Crotch) was brought in to play second guitar after Matt’s departure. Blame Game attempted to do a 6-week U.S. tour in the summer of 2004 after writing new material with Asimakos, but only played a handful of these shows due to vehicle malfunction.
In the winter of 2004, the band completed the writing of the Honey and Salt full length, and embarked on an East Coast tour. In January 2005 guitarist Ian Deaton left the band due to personal conflicts and went on to form the band God’s America (2005–2006). Reduced to a three-piece outfit, Blame Game then recorded their first official full length entitled “Honey and Salt” in February 2005 at Zero Return Studios, and it was released by Stickfigure Records
on cd and ABC Group Documentation on LP (which contained less tracks due to time constraints). They soon embarked on one US tour, during spring break of 2005, accompanied by their friend Andrew Wiggins. This found them playing shows with Des Ark and Del Cielo. Immediately afterwards, Wiggins was recruited as second guitarist, returning the lineup to include four members. With the full length out, the band embarked on several east coast and midwest tours including a stint opening for Do Make Say Think
In late 2005/early 2006 the band finished writing new material, which would be recorded at Zero Return Studios in February 2006. This album was released on LP July 2006 (it contained a CD-R of the album inside the packaging) by Stickfigure Records
and Ursa Minor Musik. The CD contained 3 songs by Blame Game, and one soundscape by Magicicada
(composed of sounds recorded by Blame Game during practice) totalling around 30 minutes of play. In the summer 2006 the band went on a large US tour with Finnish band Echo Is Your Love. Following this tour, drummer Alex Lambert decided to move to New York City, putting the band on an indefinite hiatus. Blame Game played their last known show on January 25, 2007 at the Drunken Unicorn in Atlanta, Ga.
The following was left on their website immediately following their last show:
January 26, 2007 - We played our last show for quite some time last night. Thanks to all who were a part of it. We are officially on indefinite hiatus. We haven't ruled out playing again but logistically it's not easy anymore with members living in different cities. Still if you have a show or tour opportunity, let us know. We'll consider everything.
(Recorded 1999 by Alex Lambert, 100 copies made, self released, out of print. Cover art by Kim Hoeckle, inserts and booklets by Blame Game)
(Recorded 2001 by Brooks Meeks, 500 copies made on clear vinyl, released by Stickfigure Records
and Ex-Space Six Records, out of print, Cover Art and inserts by Blame Game)
(Recorded 2003 by Ed Rawls at The Living Room, released July 2003 by Adagio 830 in Europe and Crab Apocalypse in the U.S. Cover Art and US label art by Matt McCalvin, inserts by Ian Deaton and Zann, Europe label art by Zann)
(Tracks 1-14 recorded by Ed Rawls at the living room, tracks 15-23 recorded by Brooks Meeks, tracks 24-27 recorded by Alex Lambert) released by Stickfigure Records in 2004. Art by Hope Hilton)
(recorded February 2005 at Zero Return with Jim Marrer, released by Stickfigure on CD and ABC Group Documentation on LP (LP version is shorter due to vinyl constraints) Art by Hope Hilton)
(recorded February 2006 at Zero Return with Jim Marrer, released by Stickfigure and Ursa Minor Musik on LP, Art By Hope Hilton)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
band from Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, was formed in 1999 by drummer Alex Lambert (formerly of Heretical Response), guitarist Ian Deaton, and bass player Matt McCalvin.
History
Blame Game's initial work is comparable to other bands of the hardcore punkHardcore 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...
genre, such as Rorschach, His Hero Is Gone
His Hero is Gone
His Hero Is Gone was an influential crust punk and sludge metal band from Memphis, Tennessee. Formed in 1995 from members of Copout, Man With Gun Lives Here, and FaceDown, they disbanded in 1999, playing their last show in Memphis. They toured the U.S. extensively several times, as well as Europe...
, Angel Hair, and Assfactor 4
Assfactor 4
Assfactor 4 was a hardcore punk band from Columbia, South Carolina formed by two members of Tonka and two members of Unherd . They formed in the fall of 1992 and broke up in late 1997...
. In 1999, shortly after their forming, Matt McCalvin decided to switch to second guitar, and Chris Ware was brought in on bass. The band played its first official show in 1999 under the name Blame Game (they had performed several times before this under different names) at the Prison Issues Fest, which was organized by Chris Ware at the Under the Couch
Under the Couch
]Under the Couch is a live music venue located at Georgia Tech, USA, in the Student Center; however, it was previously located underneath the Couch building on West Campus. It is run by the Musician's Network , a Georgia Tech student organization. UTC was established by the Musician's Network in...
venue on the Georgia Tech
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
campus.
Blame Game then recorded their self-titled demo (recorded on ADAT
ADAT
Alesis Digital Audio Tape or ADAT is a magnetic tape format used for the simultaneous digital recording of eight analog audio or digital audio tracks at once, onto a Super VHS tape that is used by consumer VCRs.- History :...
by Alex Lambert) and it was released on cassette in a limited run of 100 copies. The tape was packaged in a brown paper lunch bag, and it was covered with a sticker of a photograph by artist Kim Hoeckle. Throughout 2000, the band played many shows in and around the south. In 2001 the band went on a mini-tour with Countdown to Putsch in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. Following the tour, Blame Game recorded 9 songs at the C-11 warehouse with Brooks Meeks (of the Atlanta band The Close). The 9 songs were put on a tour cd-r, and 4 of these tracks were released as a self-titled seven-inch by both Ex-Space Six and Stickfigure Records
Stickfigure Records
Stickfigure Records is an American record label based in Atlanta, Georgia.It was created in the winter of 1992 to cater to the underground scene of independent music. Its roots were in the new sub-culture rising in the 90s. Many of musical genres, such as hardcore punk, math rock, and emo, were...
. 500 of these were printed, and almost every cover was different due to the covers being divided 125 per member of the band and then hand made.
Following these initial recordings, Blame Game played small tours and local shows between 2001–2002. Between this time the band began to draw a larger influence from avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
performers and bands, such as Captain Beefheart
Captain Beefheart
Don Van Vliet January 15, 1941 December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work was conducted with a rotating ensemble of musicians called The Magic Band, active between 1965 and 1982, with whom he recorded 12...
and U.S. Maple
U.S. Maple
U.S. Maple was an American noise rock band. The group formed in Chicago in 1995. The band consists of Al Johnson , Mark Shippy , Pat Samson , and Todd Rittmann — who banded together with the intent of becoming the deconstructionists of rock and roll.-Formation and first single:U.S...
, as well as from free jazz
Free jazz
Free jazz is an approach to jazz music that was first developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the music produced by free jazz pioneers varied widely, the common feature was a dissatisfaction with the limitations of bebop, hard bop, and modal jazz, which had developed in the 1940s and 1950s...
performers like Peter Brotzman, Ornette Coleman
Ornette Coleman
Ornette Coleman is an American saxophonist, violinist, trumpeter and composer. He was one of the major innovators of the free jazz movement of the 1960s....
and Albert Ayler
Albert Ayler
Albert Ayler was an American avant-garde jazz saxophonist, singer and composer.Ayler was among the most primal of the free jazz musicians of the 1960s; critic John Litweiler wrote that "never before or since has there been such naked aggression in jazz" He possessed a deep blistering tone—achieved...
, shifting the band's sound from 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...
, to a more wiry, spastic and “improv” oriented sound. In 2002, the band performed on the WREK
WREK
WREK is the radio station staffed by the students of the Georgia Institute of Technology. It is located at 91.1 MHz and on channel 17 on the Georgia Tech cable TV network, GTCN...
radio show Live at WREK, playing 12 songs (many of which displayed their newer style) and followed it with a second set which was entirely improvised. In January 2003, the band self released the Blame Game Trio cd-r, which was recorded by Alex Lambert, and contained entirely improvised material. Later that same year, the band recorded 8 songs at The Living Room Studio (formerly Red Lab Studios) in Atlanta, Ga with recording engineer Ed Rawls. These 8 songs where released on the b-side of a split LP (released by Adagio 830/660 Productions in Europe and Crab Apocalypse in the U.S.) with the German band Zann. Blame Game toured Europe for 3 weeks and the U.S. for 2½ weeks with Zann to support this release.
In late 2003 the band recorded 6 new songs, which would top off a 77-minute 27-track cd anthology released by Stickfigure Records
Stickfigure Records
Stickfigure Records is an American record label based in Atlanta, Georgia.It was created in the winter of 1992 to cater to the underground scene of independent music. Its roots were in the new sub-culture rising in the 90s. Many of musical genres, such as hardcore punk, math rock, and emo, were...
. Guitarist Matt McCalvin left the band in December 2003 over musical differences, turning his focus to his new band, Gongfodder. McCalvin would later join the band A-Fir-Ju-Well (now named Gringo Star). George Asimakos (formerly of Camaro Crotch) was brought in to play second guitar after Matt’s departure. Blame Game attempted to do a 6-week U.S. tour in the summer of 2004 after writing new material with Asimakos, but only played a handful of these shows due to vehicle malfunction.
In the winter of 2004, the band completed the writing of the Honey and Salt full length, and embarked on an East Coast tour. In January 2005 guitarist Ian Deaton left the band due to personal conflicts and went on to form the band God’s America (2005–2006). Reduced to a three-piece outfit, Blame Game then recorded their first official full length entitled “Honey and Salt” in February 2005 at Zero Return Studios, and it was released by Stickfigure Records
Stickfigure Records
Stickfigure Records is an American record label based in Atlanta, Georgia.It was created in the winter of 1992 to cater to the underground scene of independent music. Its roots were in the new sub-culture rising in the 90s. Many of musical genres, such as hardcore punk, math rock, and emo, were...
on cd and ABC Group Documentation on LP (which contained less tracks due to time constraints). They soon embarked on one US tour, during spring break of 2005, accompanied by their friend Andrew Wiggins. This found them playing shows with Des Ark and Del Cielo. Immediately afterwards, Wiggins was recruited as second guitarist, returning the lineup to include four members. With the full length out, the band embarked on several east coast and midwest tours including a stint opening for Do Make Say Think
Do Make Say Think
Do Make Say Think is a Canadian instrumental post-rock band from Toronto, Ontario. Their music combines jazz style drums, distorted guitars and wind instruments, as well as a prominent use of the bass guitar.-Biography:...
In late 2005/early 2006 the band finished writing new material, which would be recorded at Zero Return Studios in February 2006. This album was released on LP July 2006 (it contained a CD-R of the album inside the packaging) by Stickfigure Records
Stickfigure Records
Stickfigure Records is an American record label based in Atlanta, Georgia.It was created in the winter of 1992 to cater to the underground scene of independent music. Its roots were in the new sub-culture rising in the 90s. Many of musical genres, such as hardcore punk, math rock, and emo, were...
and Ursa Minor Musik. The CD contained 3 songs by Blame Game, and one soundscape by Magicicada
Magicicada
Magicicada is the genus of the 13- and 17-year periodical cicadas of eastern North America. They are sometimes called "17-year locusts", although cicadas belong to order Hemiptera, while locusts are Orthoptera....
(composed of sounds recorded by Blame Game during practice) totalling around 30 minutes of play. In the summer 2006 the band went on a large US tour with Finnish band Echo Is Your Love. Following this tour, drummer Alex Lambert decided to move to New York City, putting the band on an indefinite hiatus. Blame Game played their last known show on January 25, 2007 at the Drunken Unicorn in Atlanta, Ga.
The following was left on their website immediately following their last show:
January 26, 2007 - We played our last show for quite some time last night. Thanks to all who were a part of it. We are officially on indefinite hiatus. We haven't ruled out playing again but logistically it's not easy anymore with members living in different cities. Still if you have a show or tour opportunity, let us know. We'll consider everything.
Discography
- S/T Demo
(Recorded 1999 by Alex Lambert, 100 copies made, self released, out of print. Cover art by Kim Hoeckle, inserts and booklets by Blame Game)
- S/T 7 Inch
(Recorded 2001 by Brooks Meeks, 500 copies made on clear vinyl, released by Stickfigure Records
Stickfigure Records
Stickfigure Records is an American record label based in Atlanta, Georgia.It was created in the winter of 1992 to cater to the underground scene of independent music. Its roots were in the new sub-culture rising in the 90s. Many of musical genres, such as hardcore punk, math rock, and emo, were...
and Ex-Space Six Records, out of print, Cover Art and inserts by Blame Game)
- Split 12” w/ Zann
(Recorded 2003 by Ed Rawls at The Living Room, released July 2003 by Adagio 830 in Europe and Crab Apocalypse in the U.S. Cover Art and US label art by Matt McCalvin, inserts by Ian Deaton and Zann, Europe label art by Zann)
- Blame Game Anthology Vol 1.
(Tracks 1-14 recorded by Ed Rawls at the living room, tracks 15-23 recorded by Brooks Meeks, tracks 24-27 recorded by Alex Lambert) released by Stickfigure Records in 2004. Art by Hope Hilton)
- Honey and Salt
(recorded February 2005 at Zero Return with Jim Marrer, released by Stickfigure on CD and ABC Group Documentation on LP (LP version is shorter due to vinyl constraints) Art by Hope Hilton)
- Ask Someone LP
(recorded February 2006 at Zero Return with Jim Marrer, released by Stickfigure and Ursa Minor Musik on LP, Art By Hope Hilton)
Current projects
- Matt McCalvin: The Mermaids
- Alex Lambert: Multitudes, Shadow Maps
- Chris Ware: Thy Mighty Contract
- George Asimakos: King Congregation
- Andrew Wiggins: Hawks, Wymyns Prysyn
- Ian Deaton: Transvestite, Jewish Supremacy