Ghosts and Vodka
Encyclopedia
Ghosts and Vodka was an instrumental math rock
band from Chicago
The band was made up of two guitarists, Victor Villareal and Sam Zurick, bassist Erik Bocek and drummer Scott Shellhamer.
The band formed after Bocek and Zurick met Villareal and Shellhamer at a Sky Corvair reunion show in 1998. Bocek and Zurick were both members of Joan of Arc
at the time, but quit when the four formed Ghosts and Vodka (Zurick would return to Joan of Arc several years later). Ghosts and Vodka continued to play until 2001 when Villareal and Zurick opted to concentrate on Owls
, which saw them reuniting with their ex-Cap'n Jazz
bandmates Mike
and Tim Kinsella
. In 2003, the Sixgunlover label compiled the group's full anthology onto one CD.
In March 2009, the band put a blog up on their myspace with news of their first practice in 8 years, but later that year announced that they were not continuing in the near future.
Math rock
Math rock is a rhythmically complex guitar-based style of experimental rock that emerged in the 1980s and that was very influenced by progressive rock like King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Henry Cow - and 20th century composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage...
band from Chicago
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...
The band was made up of two guitarists, Victor Villareal and Sam Zurick, bassist Erik Bocek and drummer Scott Shellhamer.
The band formed after Bocek and Zurick met Villareal and Shellhamer at a Sky Corvair reunion show in 1998. Bocek and Zurick were both members of 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....
at the time, but quit when the four formed Ghosts and Vodka (Zurick would return to Joan of Arc several years later). Ghosts and Vodka continued to play until 2001 when Villareal and Zurick opted to concentrate on 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...
, which saw them reuniting with their ex-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...
bandmates Mike
Mike Kinsella
Mike Kinsella is one of three musicians in his family involved in many Illinois-based bands . He was first recognized in the music scene in Cap'n Jazz formed by his brother Tim in 1989 while at the age of 12...
and Tim Kinsella
Tim Kinsella
Tim Kinsella is a musician from Chicago, Illinois. He has been a part of many bands including Cap'n Jazz, The Sky Corvair, Joan of Arc, Owls, Friend/Enemy, Everyoned, and Make Believe...
. In 2003, the Sixgunlover label compiled the group's full anthology onto one CD.
In March 2009, the band put a blog up on their myspace with news of their first practice in 8 years, but later that year announced that they were not continuing in the near future.
Members
- Victor Villareal (guitars) - Formerly of Cap'n JazzCap'n JazzCap'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...
, later in OwlsOwls (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...
. - Sam Zurick (guitars) - Formerly of Cap'n Jazz, later in OwlsOwls (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...
, currently in Joan of ArcJoan 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....
and Make BelieveMake Believe (band)Make Believe is an indie rock band, initially formed as a touring version of Joan of Arc. The band was initially composed of singer Tim Kinsella, guitarist Sam Zurick, bassist Bobby Burg, and drummer/keyboardist Nate Kinsella. After 3 months of touring as Joan Of Arc the quartet returned home and...
. - Erik Bocek (bass) - Formerly of both TetsuoTetsuoTetsuo may refer to:* Tetsuo: The Iron Man** Tetsuo II: Body Hammer** Tetsuo: The Bullet Man* Tetsuo, a Japanese given name for boys.** People*** Tetsuo Hara, manga artist*** Tetsuo Kagawa, astronomer...
and Joan of Arc. - Scott Shellhamer (drums) - Formerly of Tetsuo, currently in American Heritage.
Discography
- Memento Mori 7" EP (Hefty RecordsHefty RecordsHefty Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois . Founded in 1995 by John Hughes III , the label releases a range in genres that include post-rock, IDM, down-tempo, nu jazz, experimental music, and hip-hop.-History:...
, 1998) - Precious Blood CD (Sixgunlover Records, 2001)
- Addicts and Drunks CD (Sixgunlover Records, 2003)