Derek Griffin Almstead is an American musician/engineer closely tied to the Elephant 6

The Elephant Six Collective

The Elephant 6 Recording Company is a collective of American musicians who spawned many notable independent bands of the 1990s, including The Apples in Stereo, The Olivia Tremor Control, Neutral Milk Hotel, Beulah, Elf Power, Of Montreal, and Circulatory System.-Foundation:The collective was...

 Collective.

Background

Born in Lexington, Virginia

Lexington, Virginia

Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...

, he spent his childhood in Tishomingo, Oklahoma

Tishomingo, Oklahoma

Tishomingo is the largest city and the county seat of Johnston County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 3,162 at the 2000 census. It was the first capital of the Chickasaw Nation. Murray State College, a community college, with an annual enrollment of 1,600 students is located in...

, and later Manassas, Virginia

Manassas, Virginia

The City of Manassas is an independent city surrounded by Prince William County and the independent city of Manassas Park in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Its population was 37,821 as of 2010. Manassas also surrounds the county seat for Prince William County but that county...

. In 1995 he moved to Athens, Georgia

Athens, Georgia

Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...

, where he became involved with Elephant 6. A multi-instrumentalist, Almstead also writes, records, engineers, and masters music from his own Pixel Studio.

Portfolio

Almstead is perhaps best known as a bass player. He has played or currently plays with the following bands: Of Montreal

Of Montreal

Of Montreal is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. It was founded by frontman Kevin Barnes in 1996, named after a failed romance with a woman "of Montreal." The band is one of the bands of the Elephant 6 collective...

 (on drums), Destroyer

Destroyer

In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...

, Summer Hymns

Summer Hymns

Summer Hymns is a band based in Athens, Georgia.Summer Hymns was formed in 1997 by singer/guitarist Zachary Gresham and drummer Philip Brown, both formerly of mid-90's Athens favorites, Joe Christmas...

, Visitations

Fablefactory

Fablefactory is a band from Athens, GA.The band was officially formed on May Day 1996, consisting of Davey Wrathgaber , Hank Wren , and Freckles Le Chat with Dallas Longhorne joining the band prior to recording their first album...

, Great Lakes

Great Lakes (band)

Great Lakes is an American rock band originally from Athens, Georgia, loosely affiliated historically with the Elephant 6 Recording Company.The group is centered around the songwriting partnership of Dan Donahue and Ben Crum...

, The Sunshine Fix

The Sunshine Fix

The Sunshine Fix is an Indie rock group. It is the solo project of The Olivia Tremor Control's Bill Doss. The name predates the Olivia Tremor Control and is currently in use....

, Polaris

Polaris

Polaris |Alpha]] Ursae Minoris, commonly North Star or Pole Star, also Lodestar) is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor. It is very close to the north celestial pole, making it the current northern pole star....

, Mary Jane, The Genius Test, Marshmallow Coast

Marshmallow Coast

Marshmallow Coast is an indie pop band associated with the Elephant Six Collective.-Background:The band began as a solo recording project of singer/songwriter Andy Gonzales, who first recorded as Marshmallow Coast in 1996 with a self-released cassette, which featured contributions from Joel...

, Daisy, The Imperial Teeth, Major Organ and the Adding Machine

Major Organ and the Adding Machine

Major Organ and the Adding Machine is an Elephant 6 supergroup led by the elusive and possibly fictional Major Organ. The liner notes of Major Organ and the Adding Machine, the band's debut album, leave it a mystery as to who is officially featured, and when performing live on the Holiday Surprise...

, Pipes You See, Pipes You Don't

Pipes You See, Pipes You Don't

Pipes You See, Pipes You Don't is a project of The Olivia Tremor Control keyboardist Peter Erchick. Conceived in the early 1970's, their first album was not released until July 2001. The band's name may be from a chapter in a children's encyclopedia...

, Circulatory System

Circulatory System

Circulatory System is a psychedelic rock musical ensemble formed by musician/painter Will Cullen Hart, and featuring Derek Almstead, Suzanne Allison, Peter Erchick, John Fernandes, Charlie Johnston, and Heather McIntosh....

, The Instruments

The Instruments

The Instruments is the musical project of Heather McIntosh, cellist in a number of Athens, Georgia groups including Circulatory System, Elf Power, and Japancakes. Their first album, Billions of Phonographs, was released on Orange Twin Records in 2003, followed by 2006's Cast A Half Shadow and...

, M Coast

M Coast

M Coast is an indie pop band associated with the Elephant Six Collective.-Background:The band began as a solo recording project of singer/songwriter Andy Gonzales, who first recorded as Marshmallow Coast in 1996 with a self-released cassette, which featured contributions from Joel Richardson of...

, The 63 Crayons

The 63 Crayons

The 63 Crayons is a band of musicians. Formed in Roanoke, Virginia, band members Charlie Johnston , Suzanne Allison , and Ben Davis relocated to Athens, Georgia in 2003, where they were joined by Derek Almstead...

, and 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...

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