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Gauge (band)
Encyclopedia
Gauge was a post hardcore band from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois
.
, Friction, and Braid
. Gauge released their first full-length, Soothe, by the end of 1992. After releasing their second album in 1994, entitled Fire Tongue Burning Stomach, they announced their break up. A posthumous 10" was released in 1995, making the band's final recordings available.
During their career, Gauge played 150 shows. Their final show was on October 6, 1994 at The Moose Lodge in Mount Prospect, IL with Cap'n Jazz
and Tetsuo.
Members of Gauge went on to perform in the bands Sky Corvair, Euphone, 5ive Style
, Sweater Weather, Haymarket Riot, Traluma, Radio Flyer, Heroic Doses, Ambulette and Rollo Tomasi, as well as working with Joan Of Arc
, Owls
and Noyes.
Kevin J. Frank contributed vocals to the songs, "Geheim" and "Sergio Valente", which are tracks 12 and 13 on disc 2 of the Cap'n Jazz
anthology album, Analphabetapolothology
. These songs also appear on the Cap'n Jazz
7", Boys 16 to 18 Years... Age of Action (Further Beyond Records, 1993).
On December 8, 2009 it was announced Gauge will play live for the first time since 1994 on March 6, 2010 at the Bottom Lounge in Chicago, IL.
Following the 2010 reunion shows, a documentary/tribute/concert film entitled "GAUGE:153" was shot and edited by filmmaker Matt Golin. The film features 9 live songs from their 2010 reunion shows intercut with historical footage of the band and interviews with members of Cap'n Jazz, Braid, and Sidekick Kato among others.
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,...
.
Band history
From the ashes of the bands Ivy League and Target, Gauge formed at the beginning of 1991. Highly regarded in Chicago's northwest suburban punk scene, they inspired and performed with other bands from the same area such as Cap'n JazzCap'n Jazz
Cap'n Jazz was an emo band formed in Chicago in 1989 by brothers Tim and Mike Kinsella, who were joined by Sam Zurick and Victor Villareal. After a number of name changes and the addition of guitarist Davey von Bohlen the band began to earn a cult following in the Chicago area and the...
, Friction, and Braid
Braid (band)
Braid is an influential emo/post-hardcore band from Illinois that formed in 1993. After forming, the band went through several line-up changes but eventually settled on: Bob Nanna on guitar/vocals, Todd Bell on bass, Chris Broach on guitar/vocals and, Roy Ewing on drums. Roy was replaced in 1997 by...
. Gauge released their first full-length, Soothe, by the end of 1992. After releasing their second album in 1994, entitled Fire Tongue Burning Stomach, they announced their break up. A posthumous 10" was released in 1995, making the band's final recordings available.
During their career, Gauge played 150 shows. Their final show was on October 6, 1994 at The Moose Lodge in Mount Prospect, IL with Cap'n Jazz
Cap'n Jazz
Cap'n Jazz was an emo band formed in Chicago in 1989 by brothers Tim and Mike Kinsella, who were joined by Sam Zurick and Victor Villareal. After a number of name changes and the addition of guitarist Davey von Bohlen the band began to earn a cult following in the Chicago area and the...
and Tetsuo.
Members of Gauge went on to perform in the bands Sky Corvair, Euphone, 5ive Style
5ive Style
Five Style , also known as 5ive Style, is a Chicago-based funk/jam quartet. Their albums were released on the Subpop label in the 1990's...
, Sweater Weather, Haymarket Riot, Traluma, Radio Flyer, Heroic Doses, Ambulette and Rollo Tomasi, as well as working with Joan Of Arc
Joan of Arc (band)
Joan of Arc are an American indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois. They formed in 1995, following the breakup of Cap'n Jazz.Singer Tim Kinsella has been the only permanent member of the group; he has also recorded as a solo artist....
, Owls
Owls (band)
Owls was an emo indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois, from 2001-2002. The band was formed by the original lineup of seminal experimental emo indie band Cap'n Jazz soon after its second breakup ; Cap'n Jazz guitarist Davey von Bohlen, who played in the band's second incarnation, had gone on to...
and Noyes.
Kevin J. Frank contributed vocals to the songs, "Geheim" and "Sergio Valente", which are tracks 12 and 13 on disc 2 of the Cap'n Jazz
Cap'n Jazz
Cap'n Jazz was an emo band formed in Chicago in 1989 by brothers Tim and Mike Kinsella, who were joined by Sam Zurick and Victor Villareal. After a number of name changes and the addition of guitarist Davey von Bohlen the band began to earn a cult following in the Chicago area and the...
anthology album, Analphabetapolothology
Analphabetapolothology
Analphabetapolothology is an anthology album by Cap'n Jazz released in 1998 on Jade Tree Records. It catalogues almost every song recorded and released by the band during their time together. Notable absences include the early single "Naive."...
. These songs also appear on the Cap'n Jazz
Cap'n Jazz
Cap'n Jazz was an emo band formed in Chicago in 1989 by brothers Tim and Mike Kinsella, who were joined by Sam Zurick and Victor Villareal. After a number of name changes and the addition of guitarist Davey von Bohlen the band began to earn a cult following in the Chicago area and the...
7", Boys 16 to 18 Years... Age of Action (Further Beyond Records, 1993).
On December 8, 2009 it was announced Gauge will play live for the first time since 1994 on March 6, 2010 at the Bottom Lounge in Chicago, IL.
Following the 2010 reunion shows, a documentary/tribute/concert film entitled "GAUGE:153" was shot and edited by filmmaker Matt Golin. The film features 9 live songs from their 2010 reunion shows intercut with historical footage of the band and interviews with members of Cap'n Jazz, Braid, and Sidekick Kato among others.
Gauge Releases
| Title | Year | Label | Details |
| Demo | 1991 | Self Released | 6 song tape (300 made) |
| Gauge (self titled free record) | 1991 | A Ray Kolenko Release | 2 song 7" (100 pressed), given away free by Ray Kolenko at a show at Sir Donald's in Downer's Grove, IL. |
| Blank | 1992 | Shakefork Records | 4 song 7" (700 pressed) |
| Soothe | 1992 | THD/Radius | 11 song LP/CD (1100 LP & 1500 CD made) |
| Swing | 1993 | Underdog Records | 2 song 7" (1500 pressed) |
| Fire Tongue Burning Stomach | 1994 | Underdog Records | 10/12 song LP/CD (1000 LP & 1000 CD made) |
| 43 | 1995 | Actionboy | 6 song 10" |
| I | 2000 | Tree Records | 23 song CD (First half of Gauge discography) |
| Mints | 2010 | Shakefork Records | 2 song 7" includes a download code for 2 additional tracks. Given away with entry to Gauge's March 6, 2010 reunion show at the Bottom Lounge in Chicago. |
| II | 2010 | Shakefork Records | 21 song digital download (Second half of Gauge discography) |
Compilations
- Split 7" w/ Grout Villa (Permanent Satan, 1992)
- Achtung Chicago! Zwei! (Underdog Records, 1993)
- It's A Punk Thing, You Wouldn't Understand (Shakefork Records, 1993)
- A Very Punk Christmas (The Rocco Empire & Further Beyond Records, 1993)