Chomsky (band)
Encyclopedia
Chomsky is an American
band
similar to XTC
and The Police.
under the moniker "House on The Hill". Guitarists Sean Halleck and John Norris of Arlington
were in this initial group. By 1995, the band had changed its name to Chomsky, and included Halleck, Norris, bassist
James Driscoll, and drummers Rob Avsharian (of Bobgoblin) and Luke Adams. This lineup self-released an 8 track album in 1996 which was sold at shows in Denton. In 1997, Adams left the group and moved to Los Angeles
where he would later go on to drum for Pete Yorn. Matt Kellum of "The Doldrums" and "Blueface" replaced Adams, and the new lineup began recording with New Bohemian Wes Burt-Martin. However, Norris' side project, "Tommorowpeople", began to take up more of his time.
The Tomorrowpeople were then signed to DGC Records
and were often out in Los Angeles, working on their first major label effort. This created problems for Chomsky, who relied heavily on Norris' keyboard and guitar eccentricities in their recordings and live show. Because of this, Chomsky played infrequently in 1997 and early 1998. In April 1998 new drummer Matt Kellum befriended guitarist Glen Reynolds backstage at Fry Street Fair. Reynolds was there to hang out with his friend and former drummer Pete Young, who was playing with .357 Lover that day. Kellum was there with former Chomsky drummer Avsharian and, as the only non-drummer present, Reynolds stuck out to Kellum. The two became fast friends and Kellum invited Reynolds to practice with the band in the future.
Kellum placed a follow-up call to Reynolds later the next week and the next day Reynolds, Driscoll, Kellum, and Halleck played together for the first time. This final Chomsky line up would go on to play together for the next 10 years. At the bands first ever practice, Halleck showed Reynolds a new song, "Road". Reynolds debuted with Chomsky a week after that first practice, playing a show at Dan's Bar on the eve of Kellum's University of North Texas
graduation. Within three months, both Reynolds and Kellum moved from Denton to Dallas to work and take Chomsky more seriously.
Chomsky released its second full length record in the summer of 1999. The record, A Few Possible Selections for the Soundtrack of Your Life, went on to win the band several Dallas Observer
and Fort Worth Music awards in 2000.
, Houston, Lubbock
, and Fort Worth on a consistent basis. By 2001 Chomsky was playing shows around Texas often with Dallas label mates the Deathray Davies and DARYL. Chomsky also went on several "jaunts", or short national tours. The first of these was a late 2001 tour with Pennsylvania's The Juliana Theory. This tour spanned the states directly east of the Mississippi and included three Texas dates. 2002 was spent primarily doing short weekend tours of Texas with Idol records label mates DARYL and DRD. Also in 2002 was a summer tour of the midwest with saw Chomsky playing the Great Lakes area states. In 2003, Chomsky went on a tour of the Midwest and West Coasts twice as well as several shows in and around Texas, playing new cities in Texas such as San Marcos
, Odessa
, Wichita Falls, and Spring
. On a 2004 West Coast tour Chomsky made an appearance on CBS' The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
, during which the band played "Fine" from Let's Get To Second.
in 2000. Idol released the two most well-known Chomsky albums, A Few Possible Selections for the Soundtrack of Your Life and Onward Quirky Soldiers. In 2003, Chomsky signed with uber-fledgling label Aezra Records of Phoenix, Arizona. The band recorded 2004's "Let's Get To Second" for that label. Chomsky has also released songs on several compilations, including Summer Break Records' "Sunny Teriyaki Hamburger Breakfast". Chomsky's 1996 first album and the 5 songs recorded by Wes Burt Martin in 1996-97 are out of print and were self-released.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
similar to XTC
XTC
XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
and The Police.
Founding
Chomsky originated in the early 1990s in Denton, TexasDenton, Texas
The city of Denton is the county seat of Denton County, Texas in the United States. Its population was 119,454 according to the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the eleventh largest city in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex...
under the moniker "House on The Hill". Guitarists Sean Halleck and John Norris of Arlington
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
were in this initial group. By 1995, the band had changed its name to Chomsky, and included Halleck, Norris, bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
James Driscoll, and drummers Rob Avsharian (of Bobgoblin) and Luke Adams. This lineup self-released an 8 track album in 1996 which was sold at shows in Denton. In 1997, Adams left the group and moved 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...
where he would later go on to drum for Pete Yorn. Matt Kellum of "The Doldrums" and "Blueface" replaced Adams, and the new lineup began recording with New Bohemian Wes Burt-Martin. However, Norris' side project, "Tommorowpeople", began to take up more of his time.
The Tomorrowpeople were then signed to DGC Records
DGC Records
DGC Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and currently operates as an auxiliary label of Interscope Records.-Company history:...
and were often out in Los Angeles, working on their first major label effort. This created problems for Chomsky, who relied heavily on Norris' keyboard and guitar eccentricities in their recordings and live show. Because of this, Chomsky played infrequently in 1997 and early 1998. In April 1998 new drummer Matt Kellum befriended guitarist Glen Reynolds backstage at Fry Street Fair. Reynolds was there to hang out with his friend and former drummer Pete Young, who was playing with .357 Lover that day. Kellum was there with former Chomsky drummer Avsharian and, as the only non-drummer present, Reynolds stuck out to Kellum. The two became fast friends and Kellum invited Reynolds to practice with the band in the future.
Kellum placed a follow-up call to Reynolds later the next week and the next day Reynolds, Driscoll, Kellum, and Halleck played together for the first time. This final Chomsky line up would go on to play together for the next 10 years. At the bands first ever practice, Halleck showed Reynolds a new song, "Road". Reynolds debuted with Chomsky a week after that first practice, playing a show at Dan's Bar on the eve of Kellum's University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
graduation. Within three months, both Reynolds and Kellum moved from Denton to Dallas to work and take Chomsky more seriously.
Chomsky released its second full length record in the summer of 1999. The record, A Few Possible Selections for the Soundtrack of Your Life, went on to win the band several Dallas Observer
Dallas Observer
The Dallas Observer is a free alternative weekly newspaper distributed around the Dallas, Texas . At its inception, it was conceived as a weekly local arts and cinema review publication, with the credo "Advocate for Excellence in the Arts" on the cover. For a time during the early years, the paper...
and Fort Worth Music awards in 2000.
Touring
Chomsky spent its early years from 1994-1999 playing strictly in Denton and Dallas. The group branched out further, hitting places like AustinAustin
Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas.Austin may also refer to:-In the United States:*Austin, Arkansas*Austin, Colorado*Austin, Chicago, Illinois*Austin, Indiana*Austin, Minnesota*Austin, Nevada*Austin, Oregon...
, Houston, Lubbock
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
, and Fort Worth on a consistent basis. By 2001 Chomsky was playing shows around Texas often with Dallas label mates the Deathray Davies and DARYL. Chomsky also went on several "jaunts", or short national tours. The first of these was a late 2001 tour with Pennsylvania's The Juliana Theory. This tour spanned the states directly east of the Mississippi and included three Texas dates. 2002 was spent primarily doing short weekend tours of Texas with Idol records label mates DARYL and DRD. Also in 2002 was a summer tour of the midwest with saw Chomsky playing the Great Lakes area states. In 2003, Chomsky went on a tour of the Midwest and West Coasts twice as well as several shows in and around Texas, playing new cities in Texas such as San Marcos
San Marcos, Texas
San Marcos is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, and is the seat of Hays County. Located within the metropolitan area, the city is located on the Interstate 35 corridor—between Austin and San Antonio....
, Odessa
Odessa, Texas
Odessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 99,940 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Odessa, Texas Metropolitan...
, Wichita Falls, and Spring
Spring, Texas
Spring, Texas is a census-designated place within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Houston in Harris County, Texas, United States, north of Downtown Houston. The population was 54,298 at the 2010 census...
. On a 2004 West Coast tour Chomsky made an appearance on CBS' The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson is a Peabody Award-winning American late-night talk show hosted by Scottish American comedian Craig Ferguson. Ferguson, the third regular host of the Late Late Show franchise, follows Late Show with David Letterman in the CBS late-night lineup...
, during which the band played "Fine" from Let's Get To Second.
Labels
Chomsky signed its first record deal with Dallas' Idol RecordsIdol Records
Idol Records is a Dallas, Texas-based record label and publishing company founded in 1993 by Erv Karwelis who serves as President of the label. Its roster currently consists of bands such as The O's, The Crash That Took Me, Here Holy Spain, Sponge, Watershed, Flickerstick, and PPT...
in 2000. Idol released the two most well-known Chomsky albums, A Few Possible Selections for the Soundtrack of Your Life and Onward Quirky Soldiers. In 2003, Chomsky signed with uber-fledgling label Aezra Records of Phoenix, Arizona. The band recorded 2004's "Let's Get To Second" for that label. Chomsky has also released songs on several compilations, including Summer Break Records' "Sunny Teriyaki Hamburger Breakfast". Chomsky's 1996 first album and the 5 songs recorded by Wes Burt Martin in 1996-97 are out of print and were self-released.