Cream Abdul Babar
Encyclopedia
Cream Abdul Babar is one of the longest-standing bands in the Tallahassee
scene. The band formed in 1994, combining elements of punk
, metal
, industrial
, and noise
to create their brand of experimental rock
.
, David Sanderson on bass
and Jason Caldwell on drums
. In 1995 they released their first EP
titled Chlamydia Lunch. Shortly following their first release and tour, trombonist
Mike Hagerty joined the band and appeared on the 1996 Cream Abdul Babar/I Guard the Sheep 7" split.
In 1997, Cream Abdul Babar entered the studio with Tallahassee-based recording engineer, Tommy Hamilton
, and exited with their first full-length record, "The Backwater of Masculine Ethics." The band toured the entire US several times on this release, including 10–15 shows in Atlanta, GA alone.
In 1998, the band re-entered the studio, again with Tommy Hamilton, and also with new-found member Derek Mitchka on keyboards
. The result was the "Buried in Broken Glass" EP. The band hit the road again, establishing themselves a dedicated following in Baltimore, Savannah and San Francisco, the entire state of Florida, and their already-solidified fan base in Atlanta.
The next several years involved writing and various U.S. tours, including tours with Mastodon
, Dragbody, Meatjack, Damad, & Hawg Jaw. In 2002, CAB released their second full-length entitled "Catalyst To Ruins," which was released on Baltimore-based label At A Loss Recordings.
In 2003, Cream Abdul Babar released 2 split CDs, both recorded and engineered by Billy Anderson
. The first, again released on At A Loss Recordings, was a split full-length LP & CD with Kylesa
. The second was with Seattle-based art/noise/metal band Teen Cthulhu. This was released on Hyperrealist Records, based out of Savannah, GA. At this time, the band added their eighth member, Will Galloti, as second guitarist, moving Tradd Sanderson exclusively to noise / soundscapes.
In 2004, the Public Guilt label, also based out of Baltimore, released a double-disc remastered re-issue of all of Cream Abdul Babar's older self-released material and out of print splits, 7" releases, remixes and live material. This compilation is entitled "Excavation 1995-1998. It includes "Backwater of Masculine Ethics," "Buried in Broken Glass," the I Guard The Sheep split 7", and a slew of other material, all remastered.
Cream Abdul Babar continue to be an influential band in the avant-metal scene, and are known to play live on occasion, however their last to date was on October 31, 2007, 13 years after their inception.
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
scene. The band formed in 1994, combining elements of punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
, and noise
Noise music
Noise music is a term used to describe varieties of avant-garde music and sound art that may use elements such as cacophony, dissonance, atonality, noise, indeterminacy, and repetition in their realization. Noise music can feature distortion, various types of acoustically or electronically...
to create their brand of experimental rock
Experimental rock
Experimental rock or avant-garde rock is a type of music based on rock which experiments with the basic elements of the genre, or which pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique....
.
History
The band's original 5-piece lineup was [singer] Ian Powell, Tradd Sanderson and Dan Rozenblum playing guitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, David Sanderson on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and Jason Caldwell on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
. In 1995 they released their first EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
titled Chlamydia Lunch. Shortly following their first release and tour, trombonist
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
Mike Hagerty joined the band and appeared on the 1996 Cream Abdul Babar/I Guard the Sheep 7" split.
In 1997, Cream Abdul Babar entered the studio with Tallahassee-based recording engineer, Tommy Hamilton
Tommy Hamilton
Tommy Hamilton is a former Irish football player who played as a forward.His first club was Manchester United whom he joined in 1953 where he began playing as an inside forward for the third team and reserves. Hamilton was not prepared for being conscripted so he came home to sign for Shamrock...
, and exited with their first full-length record, "The Backwater of Masculine Ethics." The band toured the entire US several times on this release, including 10–15 shows in Atlanta, GA alone.
In 1998, the band re-entered the studio, again with Tommy Hamilton, and also with new-found member Derek Mitchka on keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
. The result was the "Buried in Broken Glass" EP. The band hit the road again, establishing themselves a dedicated following in Baltimore, Savannah and San Francisco, the entire state of Florida, and their already-solidified fan base in Atlanta.
The next several years involved writing and various U.S. tours, including tours with Mastodon
Mastodon (band)
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band is composed of bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor...
, Dragbody, Meatjack, Damad, & Hawg Jaw. In 2002, CAB released their second full-length entitled "Catalyst To Ruins," which was released on Baltimore-based label At A Loss Recordings.
In 2003, Cream Abdul Babar released 2 split CDs, both recorded and engineered by Billy Anderson
Billy Anderson
Billy Anderson may refer to:*Billy Anderson , American college and professional football player*Billy Anderson , American bass guitarist and record producer -See also:*William Anderson...
. The first, again released on At A Loss Recordings, was a split full-length LP & CD with Kylesa
Kylesa
Kylesa is a metal band that was formed in Savannah, Georgia. Their music incorporates experimentalism with sludgy riffs, drop-tuned guitars and elements of psychedelic rock. The group was established in 2001 by the former members of Damad, with the addition of guitar player Laura Pleasants who is...
. The second was with Seattle-based art/noise/metal band Teen Cthulhu. This was released on Hyperrealist Records, based out of Savannah, GA. At this time, the band added their eighth member, Will Galloti, as second guitarist, moving Tradd Sanderson exclusively to noise / soundscapes.
In 2004, the Public Guilt label, also based out of Baltimore, released a double-disc remastered re-issue of all of Cream Abdul Babar's older self-released material and out of print splits, 7" releases, remixes and live material. This compilation is entitled "Excavation 1995-1998. It includes "Backwater of Masculine Ethics," "Buried in Broken Glass," the I Guard The Sheep split 7", and a slew of other material, all remastered.
Cream Abdul Babar continue to be an influential band in the avant-metal scene, and are known to play live on occasion, however their last to date was on October 31, 2007, 13 years after their inception.
Members
- Jason Caldwell - Drums
- Danny Rozenblum - Guitar
- Ian Powell - Vocals
- Tradd Sanderson - Guitar, Noise
- David Sanderson - Bass
- Michael Hagerty - Trombone
- Derek Mitchka - Keyboard
- Will Galotti - Guitar
Full-length albums
- The Backwater of Masculine Ethics (1997)
- The Catalyst to Ruins (2002)
- Excavation: 1995 - 1998 (2004)
EPs
- Chlamydia Lunch (1994)
- Buried in Broken Glass (1998)
- Covering the Track MarksCovering the Track MarksCovering the Track Marks is a 2006 Cream Abdul Babar EP released by Underadar Records including five songs plus a hidden track.-Track listing:# "Burning Inside" – 3:45# "Rid of Me" - 3:38# "Gladiator" - 4:04# "Space" - 6:08...
(2006)
Splits
- Cream Abdul Babar / I Guard the Sheep (1996)
- Cream Abdul Babar / MiraMira (band)Mira are a five-piece dream pop/shoegaze band from Tallahassee, Florida. One of their earliest gigs was opening for Low at Florida State University. After releasing several EPs , the band signed to Projekt Records, on which they have released three full-length albums and toured nationally in the...
- The SpaceThe SpaceThe Space is an all-ages multicultural music and arts venue in Hamden, Connecticut, a suburb of New Haven. It mostly features local and regional music, mostly of the folk and rock genres, but also hosts poetry nights, open-mics and other types of performances. It is staffed completely by volunteers...
(2002) - Cream Abdul Babar / KylesaKylesaKylesa is a metal band that was formed in Savannah, Georgia. Their music incorporates experimentalism with sludgy riffs, drop-tuned guitars and elements of psychedelic rock. The group was established in 2001 by the former members of Damad, with the addition of guitar player Laura Pleasants who is...
(2003) - Cream Abdul Babar / Teen Cthulhu (2003)
Compilations
- The Nervous System - AAJ Records Compilation (1998)
- Empower: Exercising the Human Spirit