Charlene (band)
Encyclopedia
Charlene is an indie rock
band that originated in Allston, Massachusetts in the latter half of the 1990s. The group has released three seven inch singles, an eponymous debut album and, most recently, a digital-only single. The band's esthetic sense has been likened to the shoegazing
scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s with favorably drawn comparisons to Slowdive
, Spiritualized
, and Ride
as well as post-punk
touchstones like New Order
and the Jesus and Mary Chain
.
in Brainwashed
. By 2002 Charlene (now expanded to a four piece with the addition of Ian Lawrence [drums] and Kelly Ferguson [bass]) released their eponymous debut album, again under the SharkAttack! label. East Coast tours with Bloodthirsty Lovers and Mark Gardener
(ex-Ride
) were undertaken to promote the debut, while Boston
area support slots for touring acts such as Bedhead, Low
, Elf Power
, Fridge
, Her Space Holiday
and American Analog Set provided additional exposure.
Since 2005 a fluctuating lineup (Rex and Mirande remain the only permanent members) has made live shows sporadic, although a tour was undertaken with the band Sons (Chapel Hill
) in July 2007. In 2008 recordings were completed on a second full length album (with a release expected later in 2010) entitled, Our Friends Electric. A digital-only single, "Oh Hey" was released as a teaser in November 2008.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band that originated in Allston, Massachusetts in the latter half of the 1990s. The group has released three seven inch singles, an eponymous debut album and, most recently, a digital-only single. The band's esthetic sense has been likened to the shoegazing
Shoegazing
Shoegazing is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged from the United Kingdom in the late 1980s. It lasted there until the mid 1990s, with a critical zenith reached in 1990 and 1991...
scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s with favorably drawn comparisons to Slowdive
Slowdive
Slowdive were an English shoegaze band that formed in 1989. The band formed in Reading, Berkshire and primarily consisted of Nick Chaplin , Rachel Goswell , Neil Halstead , and Christian Savill...
, Spiritualized
Spiritualized
Spiritualized are an English space rock band formed in 1990 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Jason Pierce after the demise of his previous outfit, space-rockers Spacemen 3...
, and Ride
Ride (band)
Ride were a British alternative rock band that formed in 1988 in Oxford, England, consisting of Andy Bell, Mark Gardener, Laurence "Loz" Colbert, and Steve Queralt. The band were initially part of the "shoegazing" scene. Following the break-up of the band in 1996, members moved on to various other...
as well as post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
touchstones like New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
and the Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride, Glasgow in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid...
.
History
The band began as a four-track recording project between friends, Matt Mirande and John (Randy) Rex in 1996. early recording activity produced a trio of 7" singles self released under their own SharkAttack! imprint (also responsible for 7" and CD releases by the bands, Lockgroove and Compass), the first of which was enthusiastically compared to Spacemen 3Spacemen 3
Spacemen 3 were an English alternative rock band, formed in 1982 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Peter Kember and Jason Pierce. Their music was "colorfully mind-altering, but not in the sense of the acid rock of the '60s; instead, the band developed its own minimalistic psychedelia"...
in Brainwashed
Brainwashed (website)
Brainwashed is a not-for-profit online music publication offering news and reviews of eclectic music. Over fifty people contribute to the archives of Brainwashed. Brainwashed hosts websites for many bands, artists and record labels...
. By 2002 Charlene (now expanded to a four piece with the addition of Ian Lawrence [drums] and Kelly Ferguson [bass]) released their eponymous debut album, again under the SharkAttack! label. East Coast tours with Bloodthirsty Lovers and Mark Gardener
Mark Gardener
Mark Stephen Gardener is an English rock musician, and former singer and guitarist with the shoegazing band, Ride.-Ride:...
(ex-Ride
Ride (band)
Ride were a British alternative rock band that formed in 1988 in Oxford, England, consisting of Andy Bell, Mark Gardener, Laurence "Loz" Colbert, and Steve Queralt. The band were initially part of the "shoegazing" scene. Following the break-up of the band in 1996, members moved on to various other...
) were undertaken to promote the debut, while Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
area support slots for touring acts such as Bedhead, Low
Low (band)
Low is an American indie rock group from Duluth, Minnesota, formed in 1993. As of 2010, the group is composed of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker , both founding members, and Steve Garrington ....
, Elf Power
Elf Power
Elf Power is an indie rock band that originated in Athens, Georgia. Currently, the line-up consists of guitarist/vocalist Andrew Rieger, keyboardist Laura Carter, guitarist Jimmy Hughes, bassist Derek Almstead, and drummer Eric Harris...
, Fridge
Fridge (band)
Fridge are an English post-rock band, comprising school friends Kieran Hebden, Adem Ilhan, and Sam Jeffers. Initially Hebden played guitar, Ilhan bass, and Jeffers drums, but Hebden and Ilhan soon adopted a variety of other instruments, and by 1999's Eph the sampler was playing an increasingly...
, Her Space Holiday
Her Space Holiday
Her Space Holiday is the recording moniker of indietronic and indie rock artist Marc Bianchi.-History:Marc Bianchi began as a musician in the California hardcore scene. He was a part of Indian Summer and Mohinder before assuming the moniker "Her Space Holiday" in 1996...
and American Analog Set provided additional exposure.
Since 2005 a fluctuating lineup (Rex and Mirande remain the only permanent members) has made live shows sporadic, although a tour was undertaken with the band Sons (Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
) in July 2007. In 2008 recordings were completed on a second full length album (with a release expected later in 2010) entitled, Our Friends Electric. A digital-only single, "Oh Hey" was released as a teaser in November 2008.
Singles
- Taking a Dive b/w Blackout - 7" SharkAttack! (1999)
- No Fly b/w Basement Songs - 7" SharkAttack! (2000)
- Summertimer b/w Talk Me Down - 7" SharkAttack! (2001)
- Oh Hey b/w Before the Comet Hits & Big Winds - Digital Single SharkAttack! (2008)
Compilation appearances
- "Look for the Line" + "Low Down" + "Radio Son" + "Slow Broadcast Dozer" on 3.5 E.P.s SharkAttack! (2001)