Dianogah
Encyclopedia
Dianogah is a Chicago
, Illinois
based indie rock
outfit formed in 1995, noted for their use of two bass guitar
s. Members include Kip McCabe, Jay Ryan
(ex- Hubcap) and Jason Harvey. Dianogah's first full-length album, As Seen From Above, was recorded by Steve Albini
, who also produced their second full-length album, Battle Champions, which was released on May 29, 2000. Dianogah named their band after the garbage compactor monster (the Dianoga) in the 1977 film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
.
The group was one of about half-dozen performers that contributed to the soundtrack for 1998's Reach the Rock
, a film
directed by William Ryan and whose script was written by acclaimed director John Hughes. Producer John McEntire
(of The Sea and Cake
and Tortoise
) was at the helm for the recording of the soundtrack, and would later on go on to work with the band on their third full-length album Millions of Brazilians. This record, released on April 16, 2002, also featured Rachel Grimes (of Rachel's
) and John Upchurch of Coctails
.
On January 15, 2000, the band joined M.O.T.O
to serve as opening acts for the final show at the Lounge Ax
, an event which had the Coctails
reunite briefly to perform as headliners.
Between 2000 and 2007, the band would tour Europe three times (in 2000, 2002, and 2004), and play around the midwest and east coast. In 2007, the band returned to the studio with producer John McEntire
to record their fourth full album, Qhnnnl
.
In 2008, the band would release Qhnnnl
and had Stephanie Morris sing on some of the recorded tracks. She'd play keyboard and guitar live with band as well on their 2008 east coast summer tour, as well as a fall 2008 trip to Europe, and a spring 2009 trip to England for the All Tomorrow's Parties Festival.
On June 1, 2009, Stephanie Morris died suddenly. In a statement on the band's web page, Morris had become an "integral part of our group, both musically and socially. Stephanie's passing took us all by surprise and has left a giant hole in the lives of many, especially her husband Nathan and her family." The band mentioned in the same note, they'd play a scheduled Pitchfork Music Fest set in July 2009 in her honor, but beyond that the band reported they were not sure what the future would hold for them.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
based 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...
outfit formed in 1995, noted for their use of two bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
s. Members include Kip McCabe, Jay Ryan
Jay Ryan (artist)
Jay Ryan is a poster maker and rock musician. He is noted for his squirrel posters as well as being a bassist in the band Dianogah....
(ex- Hubcap) and Jason Harvey. Dianogah's first full-length album, As Seen From Above, was recorded 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...
, who also produced their second full-length album, Battle Champions, which was released on May 29, 2000. Dianogah named their band after the garbage compactor monster (the Dianoga) in the 1977 film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
.
The group was one of about half-dozen performers that contributed to the soundtrack for 1998's Reach the Rock
Reach the Rock
Reach the Rock is a 1998 film directed by William Ryan.-Plot:A small town troublemaker , directionless and alienated, ends up spending a night in a jail cell, where he and the police chief engage in a battle of wills and wit.The soundtrack featured a compilation of Chicago-based Post-Rock artists,...
, a film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
directed by William Ryan and whose script was written by acclaimed director John Hughes. Producer John McEntire
John McEntire
John McEntire is an American recording engineer, drummer and multi-instrumentalist. He is best-known for being in Tortoise and The Sea and Cake, as well as being a highly in-demand producer and engineer....
(of The Sea and Cake
The Sea and Cake
The Sea and Cake is an indie rock band with a pronounced jazz influence, which formed in the mid-1990s in Chicago out of the ashes of local bands The Coctails and Shrimp Boat. The group's name came from a willful reinterpretation of "The C in Cake", a song by Gastr del Sol...
and Tortoise
Tortoise (band)
Tortoise is an American post-rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1990.-Music:Tortoise's almost entirely instrumental music defies easy categorization, and the group gained significant attention from their early career. The members have roots in Chicago's fertile music scene, playing in...
) was at the helm for the recording of the soundtrack, and would later on go on to work with the band on their third full-length album Millions of Brazilians. This record, released on April 16, 2002, also featured Rachel Grimes (of Rachel's
Rachel's
Rachel's is an American chamber music group that formed in Louisville, Kentucky in 1991. Former Rodan guitarist, Jason Noble, played music individually and referred to himself as Rachel's but then began collaborating with now core members, violist Christian Frederickson, and pianist Rachel Grimes...
) and John Upchurch of Coctails
Coctails
The Coctails were a Chicago music quartet, which formed while its members were attending the Kansas City Art Institute. The band was active from about 1988 to 1995 The Coctails were a Chicago music quartet, which formed while its members were attending the Kansas City Art Institute. The band was...
.
On January 15, 2000, the band joined M.O.T.O
Masters Of The Obvious
Masters of the Obvious , is a New Orleans-based garage punk band. Formed in 1981 by Paul Caporino, the lineup of the band has seen many changes over the years, with Caporino being the only consistent member...
to serve as opening acts for the final show at the Lounge Ax
Lounge Ax
The Lounge Ax was a music venue in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. It was an important venue for live rock music -- especially indie rock. The club was opened in 1987 by Jennifer Fischer and Julia Adams, who were joined around September 1989 by Sue Miller, previously the booker at...
, an event which had the Coctails
Coctails
The Coctails were a Chicago music quartet, which formed while its members were attending the Kansas City Art Institute. The band was active from about 1988 to 1995 The Coctails were a Chicago music quartet, which formed while its members were attending the Kansas City Art Institute. The band was...
reunite briefly to perform as headliners.
Between 2000 and 2007, the band would tour Europe three times (in 2000, 2002, and 2004), and play around the midwest and east coast. In 2007, the band returned to the studio with producer John McEntire
John McEntire
John McEntire is an American recording engineer, drummer and multi-instrumentalist. He is best-known for being in Tortoise and The Sea and Cake, as well as being a highly in-demand producer and engineer....
to record their fourth full album, Qhnnnl
Qhnnnl
Qhnnnl is the fourth album from Dianogah and was released on June 10, 2008.-Track listing:# Oneone# A Breaks B# Qhnnnl# Andrew Jackson# Sprinter# I Like Juice In a Shark Suit# Es Posible Fuego?# You Might Go Off...
.
In 2008, the band would release Qhnnnl
Qhnnnl
Qhnnnl is the fourth album from Dianogah and was released on June 10, 2008.-Track listing:# Oneone# A Breaks B# Qhnnnl# Andrew Jackson# Sprinter# I Like Juice In a Shark Suit# Es Posible Fuego?# You Might Go Off...
and had Stephanie Morris sing on some of the recorded tracks. She'd play keyboard and guitar live with band as well on their 2008 east coast summer tour, as well as a fall 2008 trip to Europe, and a spring 2009 trip to England for the All Tomorrow's Parties Festival.
On June 1, 2009, Stephanie Morris died suddenly. In a statement on the band's web page, Morris had become an "integral part of our group, both musically and socially. Stephanie's passing took us all by surprise and has left a giant hole in the lives of many, especially her husband Nathan and her family." The band mentioned in the same note, they'd play a scheduled Pitchfork Music Fest set in July 2009 in her honor, but beyond that the band reported they were not sure what the future would hold for them.
Albums
- As Seen from AboveAs Seen from AboveAs Seen from Above is an album by Dianogah, released in 1997.-Track listing:#"Plankton and Krill" – 3:02#"What Is Your Landmass?" – 2:54#"Seeing Stars" – 3:47#"Broken Magnet Halves" – 3:49#"Colby" – 3:39#"Between the Ship and the Land" – 5:29...
(vinyl on Actionboy Records w/bonus 7", CD on OhioGold) - Battle Champions CD/LP (Southern Records / 2000)
- Millions of Brazilians CD/LP (Southern Records / 2002)
- QhnnnlQhnnnlQhnnnl is the fourth album from Dianogah and was released on June 10, 2008.-Track listing:# Oneone# A Breaks B# Qhnnnl# Andrew Jackson# Sprinter# I Like Juice In a Shark Suit# Es Posible Fuego?# You Might Go Off...
CD/LP (Southern Records / 2008)
Singles
- "100% Tree" (Actionboy / 1995)
- "Garden Airplane Trap" (Actionboy / 1995)
- "Old Material New Format" CD/EP (originally released on Actionboy, reissued on My Pal God / 1996)
- "Dianogah"/"Log Letters" Split 7 (Hi-Ball / 1998)
- "Team Dianogah 2 Swedish" (Red Blue Yellow / 1998)
- "Hannibal"/"A Bear Explains" (Southern Records / 2001)
Compilations & soundtracks
- What Is Your Landmass? Ground Rule Double compilation CD,2xLP (Actionboy /Divot / 1995)
- Strongdar V/A Zum No. 2 comp (Zum / 1998)
- Bad Houses/Lone Tree Point V/A My Ohio Action Pal, Boy Gold God 300 (My Pal God, Actionboy, OhioGold / 1998)
- Dreams of Being King V/A Reach The Rock soundtrack (Hefty / 1999)
- Good One Buck V/A When the cat returns, the mice are fucked (Southern / 2005)