Cheer-Accident
Encyclopedia
Cheer-Accident is an American
indie rock
ensemble headed by Thymme Jones
. Jones took the name of the band from a Hallmark Cards
shopping display, and first formed the group in 1981 with singer Jim Drummond and drummer Mike Greenlees.
Their 1990 EP, Dumb Ask, was produced by Steve Albini
, and following this the group signed to British label Neat Records
. However, the album was pressed poorly and the group severed its ties to the label, and went back to recording for Complacency Records with Bonnet, who by that time had joined the group on guitar. Block left the band in 1992 and was replaced by Dan Forden, after which the group returned to the studio.
In 1994, the group released The Why Album and helped start a local Chicago Public-access television
show called Cool Clown Ground
. Albini recorded the group's next release, Not a Food (recorded in July 1994 and eventually released in 1996). Shortly after these sessions, Forden left the band who was then replaced with Dylan Posa (formerly of The Flying Luttenbachers
). By this time, Cheer-Accident members were collaborating regularly with other Chicago indie artists such as U.S. Maple
, Bobby Conn
, Gastr del Sol
, and Smog
.
In January 1999, Phil Bonnet died of a brain aneurysm while the group recorded material for its eighth album, Salad Days. The group decided to continue with Jamie Fillmore filling Bonnet's role as guitarist. Also, a 1997 recording session, which yielded a 52-minute song called "Trading Balloons", was released as an EP. Salad Days was finally released on Skin Graft Records
in October 2000.
The group serves as an occasional live backup band for Harvey Sid Fisher
. In 2001, Fischer and the band collaborated on a cover of "52 Girls" for the B-52s tribute album, Wigs on Fire!, which was released on Nihilist Records
. In 2003, the group recorded another full-length for Skin Graft, Introducing Lemon, as well as a soundtrack CD to a comic book called Gumballhead the Cat. In 2006, Cheer-Accident performed at North East Sticks Together in Boston.
covered Cheer Accident's Transposition (from The Why Album) and was featured on their Live album, as sung by Moe! Staiano
(humorously titled Moe! Sings Cheer Accident (Same Mix). Both bands have toured together in the summer of 2007 and members of both bands had guested on each other's live sets.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
indie rock
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...
ensemble headed by Thymme Jones
Thymme Jones
Thymme ' Jones is the drummer for the Chicago, Illinois-based band Cheer-Accident. Jones frequently appears on the local Public-access television cable TV program Cool Clown Ground...
. Jones took the name of the band from a Hallmark Cards
Hallmark Cards
Hallmark Cards is a privately owned American company based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1910 by Joyce C. Hall, Hallmark is the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. In 1985, the company was awarded the National Medal of Arts....
shopping display, and first formed the group in 1981 with singer Jim Drummond and drummer Mike Greenlees.
Biography
Cheer Accident's first album, Life Isn't Like That, was released in 1986, after which Drummond and Greenlees left the group. They were replaced by bassist Chris Block and guitarist Jeff Libersher. The group's second release, 1988's Sever Roots, Tree Dies, which was produced and engineered by the Phil Bonnet.Their 1990 EP, Dumb Ask, was produced by Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
, and following this the group signed to British label Neat Records
Neat Records
Neat Records was a record label based near Newcastle, England. The label was established in 1979 by David Wood, who was the owner of Impulse Studios in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England. The establishment of Neat coincided with the arrival at Impulse of Songwriter/Producer Steve Thompson who guided...
. However, the album was pressed poorly and the group severed its ties to the label, and went back to recording for Complacency Records with Bonnet, who by that time had joined the group on guitar. Block left the band in 1992 and was replaced by Dan Forden, after which the group returned to the studio.
In 1994, the group released The Why Album and helped start a local Chicago Public-access television
Public-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
show called Cool Clown Ground
Cool Clown Ground
Cool Clown Ground is a public-access television cable TV show that airs on Chicago Access Network Television at 10 pm on Sunday nights in Chicago, starring Shelley Mobil and members of the band Cheer-Accident. The show has three main formats: the in-studio improvisation, the street interview and...
. Albini recorded the group's next release, Not a Food (recorded in July 1994 and eventually released in 1996). Shortly after these sessions, Forden left the band who was then replaced with Dylan Posa (formerly of The Flying Luttenbachers
The Flying Luttenbachers
The Flying Luttenbachers were an instrumental unit led by multi-instrumentalist / composer / producer Weasel Walter. The Luttenbachers have created a large body of work focusing on an agenda of musical extremity and dissonance...
). By this time, Cheer-Accident members were collaborating regularly with other Chicago indie artists such as 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...
, Bobby Conn
Bobby Conn
Bobby Conn is an American musician based in Chicago, Illinois, known for his pop-rock. He often collaborates with other artists such as musicians Colby Starck and Jim O'Rourke, and film-maker Usama Alshaibi. In 2003, Conn produced a session for UK punk band The Cribs, whom he met when they were a...
, Gastr del Sol
Gastr del Sol
Gastr del Sol was a Chicago band consisting, for most of their career, of David Grubbs and Jim O'Rourke. Between 1993 and 1998 they put out seven albums ranging in genre from post-rock to musique concrète....
, and Smog
Smog (band)
Bill Callahan , is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, who has also recorded and performed under the band name Smog. Callahan began working in the lo-fi genre of underground rock, with home-made tape-albums recorded on four track tape recorders...
.
In January 1999, Phil Bonnet died of a brain aneurysm while the group recorded material for its eighth album, Salad Days. The group decided to continue with Jamie Fillmore filling Bonnet's role as guitarist. Also, a 1997 recording session, which yielded a 52-minute song called "Trading Balloons", was released as an EP. Salad Days was finally released on Skin Graft Records
Skin Graft Records
Skin Graft Records is an independent record label specializing in No Wave and noise rock music, originally based in Chicago, Illinois...
in October 2000.
The group serves as an occasional live backup band for Harvey Sid Fisher
Harvey Sid Fisher
Harvey Sid Fisher is a singer/songwriter/musician, actor, model, and screenwriter. He is best-known for writing and performing mostly humorous songs about Astrology, golf, the battle of the sexes, quitting smoking, the F-word, and wanting his mommy...
. In 2001, Fischer and the band collaborated on a cover of "52 Girls" for the B-52s tribute album, Wigs on Fire!, which was released on Nihilist Records
Nihilist Records
Nihilist Records is a record label that releases noise music albums, and is similar to labels like Load Records and Hanson Records, though it tends to release bands that are more controversial or offensive in a sensational manner...
. In 2003, the group recorded another full-length for Skin Graft, Introducing Lemon, as well as a soundtrack CD to a comic book called Gumballhead the Cat. In 2006, Cheer-Accident performed at North East Sticks Together in Boston.
Influence
Sleepytime Gorilla MuseumSleepytime Gorilla Museum
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum is an American experimental rock band, formed in 1999 in Oakland, California. The band fuses classical, industrial, and art-rock themes throughout their music...
covered Cheer Accident's Transposition (from The Why Album) and was featured on their Live album, as sung by Moe! Staiano
Moe! Staiano
Moe Staiano is an American experimental drummer/percussionist and composer who works in a variety of found sounds and prepared trap set as well as massive orchestra conductions of his own scored compositions.-His style:Mainly an improviser in a solo performance setting, Moe! Staiano Moe Staiano...
(humorously titled Moe! Sings Cheer Accident (Same Mix). Both bands have toured together in the summer of 2007 and members of both bands had guested on each other's live sets.
Discography
- Life Isn't Like That (Complacency Records, Cassette, 1986)
- Sever Roots, Tree Dies (Complacency Records, LP, 1988, CD Reisssue on Freakshow, 2007)
- Vasectomy (Complacency Records, Cassette, 1989)
- Dumb Ask (Complacency Records, 1990. Reissued on Neat Metal and Pravda Records)
- Babies Shouldn't Smoke (Complacency Records, CD, 1991)
- The Why Album (Complacency Records, CD, 1994)
- Not a Food (Pravda Records, CD, 1996)
- Enduring the American Dream (Pravda Records, CD, 1997)
- Trading Balloons (self-released CD-R, 1999)
- Salad Days (Skin Graft RecordsSkin Graft RecordsSkin Graft Records is an independent record label specializing in No Wave and noise rock music, originally based in Chicago, Illinois...
, CD, 2000) - Variations On A Goddamn Old Man (Vol. 1, Pravda Records, CD, 2002)
- Introducing Lemon (Skin Graft Records, CD/LP, 2003)
- Gumballhead the Cat (Skin Graft Records, CD and comic book, 2003)
- Younger Than You Are Now: 1981-1984 (Pravda Records, CD, 2004)
- Variations On A Goddamn Old Man (Vol. 2, Pravda Records, CD, 2005)
- What Sequel? (Pravda Records, 2006)
- Variations On A Goddamn Old Man (Vol. 2.1, Pro Janitor Records, CD-R, 2007)
- Variations On A Goddamn Old Man (Vol. 3, Complacency Records, CD, 2008)
- Fear Draws Misfortune (Cuneiform RecordsCuneiform RecordsCuneiform Records is an independent record label based in Silver Spring, Maryland.The label releases a mixture of musical styles, including progressive jazz, modern fusion music, progressive rock, the Canterbury Scene and electronic music...
, 2009) - Barely Breathing b/w Cynical Girl (7" Single, Rampage Recordings, 2010)
- No Ifs Ands Or Dogs (Cuneiform Records, May 2011)
External links
- Cheer-Accident Official website at Cheer-Accident.com
- [ Cheer-Accident] at Allmusic.com
- Skin Graft Records Artist page