Cap'n Jazz
Encyclopedia
Cap'n Jazz was an emo
band formed in Chicago in 1989 by brothers Tim
and Mike Kinsella
, who were joined by Sam Zurick and Victor Villareal. After a number of name changes and the addition of guitarist Davey von Bohlen
the band began to earn a cult following in the Chicago area and the Midwest.
The band broke up in July 1995, shortly after Shmap'n Shmazz's release, on the night of a show at Little Rock's Das Yutes a Go-Go. In 1998, the Jade Tree
label assembled a double-disc Cap'n Jazz retrospective titled Analphabetapolothology
which compiles the band's complete recorded works: Shmap'n Shmazz, early singles, material from split releases, compilation tracks, unreleased demos and outtakes and several tracks from their farewell performance in Chicago.
The line up of the band included Tim Kinsella
(vocals); Samuel Zurick (bass guitar); Mike Kinsella
(drums, vocals); Victor Villareal (guitar, vocals); and Davey von Bohlen
(guitar, vocals from 1994–95).
Although their talent and influence stands on its own, they are also notable for the significant careers that former members of the band have charted since the demise of Cap'n Jazz in 1995, most notably Make Believe
, The Promise Ring
, American Football
, Owls
, Ghosts and Vodka
, Joan of Arc
and Owen
.
Cap'n Jazz reunited at The Empty Bottle on Friday, January 22, 2010, as part of Joan of Arc
's Don't Mind Control Variety Show. They also played two sold out dates at The Bottom Lounge in Chicago on July 17 & 18, and have numerous other tour dates listed for the summer and fall of 2010.
in Louisville
on July 10, 2010, and a hometown reunion show a week later at the Bottom Lounge, supporting the vinyl re-release of Analphabetapolothology on Jade Tree Records, where they gained success. Due to the show selling out in about 48 hours, a second show was added the next night. Later, it was announced that they would also be playing reunion shows across the United States.
Emo
Emo is a style of rock music and its associated subcultureEmo may also refer to:- Businesses :* Emo , an Irish oil company and filling station chain* Emo Speedway, a racetrack in Emo, Ontario...
band formed in Chicago in 1989 by brothers Tim
Tim Kinsella
Tim Kinsella is a musician from Chicago, Illinois. He has been a part of many bands including Cap'n Jazz, The Sky Corvair, Joan of Arc, Owls, Friend/Enemy, Everyoned, and Make Believe...
and Mike Kinsella
Mike Kinsella
Mike Kinsella is one of three musicians in his family involved in many Illinois-based bands . He was first recognized in the music scene in Cap'n Jazz formed by his brother Tim in 1989 while at the age of 12...
, who were joined by Sam Zurick and Victor Villareal. After a number of name changes and the addition of guitarist Davey von Bohlen
Davey von Bohlen
Davey von Bohlen is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his roles as guitarist and vocalist in Cap'n Jazz, The Promise Ring, Vermont, and currently, Maritime...
the band began to earn a cult following in the Chicago area and the Midwest.
History
The band recorded several singles for independent labels in the early 90's as well as contributing to several compilations. In 1995, they released their only full-length album, Burritos, Inspiration Point, Fork Balloon Sports, Cards in the Spokes, Automatic Biographies, Kites, Kung Fu, Trophies, Banana Peels We've Slipped on and Egg Shells We've Tippy Toed Over—better known as Shmap'n Shmazz—on the tiny Man with Gun label.The band broke up in July 1995, shortly after Shmap'n Shmazz's release, on the night of a show at Little Rock's Das Yutes a Go-Go. In 1998, the Jade Tree
Jade Tree Records
Jade Tree International, Inc. was an independent record label formed by Darren Walters and Tim Owen in August 1991, out of Wilmington, Delaware....
label assembled a double-disc Cap'n Jazz retrospective titled Analphabetapolothology
Analphabetapolothology
Analphabetapolothology is an anthology album by Cap'n Jazz released in 1998 on Jade Tree Records. It catalogues almost every song recorded and released by the band during their time together. Notable absences include the early single "Naive."...
which compiles the band's complete recorded works: Shmap'n Shmazz, early singles, material from split releases, compilation tracks, unreleased demos and outtakes and several tracks from their farewell performance in Chicago.
The line up of the band included Tim Kinsella
Tim Kinsella
Tim Kinsella is a musician from Chicago, Illinois. He has been a part of many bands including Cap'n Jazz, The Sky Corvair, Joan of Arc, Owls, Friend/Enemy, Everyoned, and Make Believe...
(vocals); Samuel Zurick (bass guitar); Mike Kinsella
Mike Kinsella
Mike Kinsella is one of three musicians in his family involved in many Illinois-based bands . He was first recognized in the music scene in Cap'n Jazz formed by his brother Tim in 1989 while at the age of 12...
(drums, vocals); Victor Villareal (guitar, vocals); and Davey von Bohlen
Davey von Bohlen
Davey von Bohlen is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his roles as guitarist and vocalist in Cap'n Jazz, The Promise Ring, Vermont, and currently, Maritime...
(guitar, vocals from 1994–95).
Although their talent and influence stands on its own, they are also notable for the significant careers that former members of the band have charted since the demise of Cap'n Jazz in 1995, most notably Make Believe
Make Believe (band)
Make Believe is an indie rock band, initially formed as a touring version of Joan of Arc. The band was initially composed of singer Tim Kinsella, guitarist Sam Zurick, bassist Bobby Burg, and drummer/keyboardist Nate Kinsella. After 3 months of touring as Joan Of Arc the quartet returned home and...
, The Promise Ring
The Promise Ring
The Promise Ring is an American emo band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In their early years, their music was usually classified as emo, but their later albums could be described more accurately as indie pop. They split up in 2002 and temporarily reunited in 2005...
, American Football
American Football (band)
American Football was an indie rock band from Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, active from 1997 to 2000. The band was formed by guitarist/bassist and singer Mike Kinsella and drummer Steve Lamos American Football was an indie rock band from Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, active from 1997 to 2000. The band...
, Owls
Owls (band)
Owls was an emo indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois, from 2001-2002. The band was formed by the original lineup of seminal experimental emo indie band Cap'n Jazz soon after its second breakup ; Cap'n Jazz guitarist Davey von Bohlen, who played in the band's second incarnation, had gone on to...
, Ghosts and Vodka
Ghosts and Vodka
Ghosts and Vodka was an instrumental math rock band from Chicago The band was made up of two guitarists, Victor Villareal and Sam Zurick, bassist Erik Bocek and drummer Scott Shellhamer....
, Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc (band)
Joan of Arc are an American indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois. They formed in 1995, following the breakup of Cap'n Jazz.Singer Tim Kinsella has been the only permanent member of the group; he has also recorded as a solo artist....
and Owen
Owen (band)
Owen is a solo project of Mike Kinsella, and part of the Chicago indie scene.Kinsella is one of the dominant and influential figures in the Chicago indie scene, having also led the band American Football, and played in the bands Cap'n Jazz, Joan of Arc and Owls .Owen is known for its soft melodies,...
.
Cap'n Jazz reunited at The Empty Bottle on Friday, January 22, 2010, as part of Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc (band)
Joan of Arc are an American indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois. They formed in 1995, following the breakup of Cap'n Jazz.Singer Tim Kinsella has been the only permanent member of the group; he has also recorded as a solo artist....
's Don't Mind Control Variety Show. They also played two sold out dates at The Bottom Lounge in Chicago on July 17 & 18, and have numerous other tour dates listed for the summer and fall of 2010.
Reunion
After playing a short, impromptu set in Chicago in January 2010, the band played their first official reunited show at the annual Forecastle FestivalForecastle Festival
The Forecastle Festival is a three-day music, art, and environmental activism festival held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, since 2002. The festival originated as a small gathering of local musicians in Louisville's Tyler Park, and steadily grew into a national attraction that now includes major...
in Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
on July 10, 2010, and a hometown reunion show a week later at the Bottom Lounge, supporting the vinyl re-release of Analphabetapolothology on Jade Tree Records, where they gained success. Due to the show selling out in about 48 hours, a second show was added the next night. Later, it was announced that they would also be playing reunion shows across the United States.
Compilations
- Achtung Chicago! Zwei! – compilation LP (Underdog Records, 1993).
- Nothing Dies with Blue Skies – 7” split w/ Friction (Shakefork Records, 1993).
- How the Midwest Was Won – compilation 2x7” (Subfusc Records, 1993) (Playing Field RecordingsPlaying Field RecordingsPlaying Field Recordings is a record label that operates out of Urbana, Illinois. It is known for early releases in the midwestern emo scene ....
, 1993). - Picking More Daisies – compilation 2x7” (Further Beyond Records, 1993).
- It’s a Punk Thing, You Wouldn't Understand – compilation LP (Shakefork Records, 1993).
- Ghost Dance – compilation 2x7” (Slave Cut Records, 1993).
- A Very Punk Christmas – compilation 2x7” (The Rocco Empire & Further Beyond Records, 1993).
- Punk TV – compilation LP (Red Dawg Records, 1995).
- We’ve Lost Beauty – compilation LP (File 13, 1995).
- Ooh Do I Love You – compilation 2xCD (Core For Care, 1995).
7”
- Sometimes if you stand further away from something, it does not seem as big. Sometimes you can stand so close to something you can not tell what you are looking at. – 7” (Underdog Records, 1993).
- Boys 16 to 18 Years... Age of Action – (Further Beyond Records, 1993).
Albums
- Burritos, Inspiration Point, Fork Balloon Sports, Cards In The Spokes, Automatic Biographies, Kites, Kung Fu, Trophies, Banana Peels We've Slipped On and Egg Shells We've Tippy Toed Over (Also known as Schmap’n Schmazz) – LP/CD (Man With Gun Records, 1994).
Anthology
- AnalphabetapolothologyAnalphabetapolothologyAnalphabetapolothology is an anthology album by Cap'n Jazz released in 1998 on Jade Tree Records. It catalogues almost every song recorded and released by the band during their time together. Notable absences include the early single "Naive."...
– 2xCD (Jade Tree Records, 1998), 2xLP (Jade Tree Records 2010).
External links
- Cap’n Jazz official site
- Jade Tree Records’ band page
- Pitchfork MediaPitchfork MediaPitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
review of AnalphabetapolothologyAnalphabetapolothologyAnalphabetapolothology is an anthology album by Cap'n Jazz released in 1998 on Jade Tree Records. It catalogues almost every song recorded and released by the band during their time together. Notable absences include the early single "Naive."...
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