KASMs are a Dalston based post-punk quartet. The band consists of Rachel Mary Callaghan (vocals), Scott Walker (guitar/drums), Rory Brattwell

Rory Attwell

Rory Attwell is a musician best known for his part in UK punk trio, Test Icicles, who formed in 2004 and played a handful of concerts before disbanding on 22 April 2006, after their sold out final show at the Astoria in London. During their time together they released the album, For Screening...

 - born Attwell - (drums/guitar) and Gemma Fleet (bass guitar). The group formed in late 2007 and signed to Trouble Records in early 2008. Brattwell left the band in April 2010.

Inception

KASMs have cited several origin stories for the band, the two most popular involving an argument between all four members by a Dalston cashpoint and meeting after being thrown off a dancefloor in a club for aggressive dancing.
KASMs first show was played at Ryan's Bar in Stoke Newington with bands Pheremoans and The Crisps. Notably, the band were booked by a friend without having written any songs; in an interview with Leeds Music Scene, Rachel Callaghan said of the show: "We had to quickly make some songs up on the spot just so we would have something to show ... It's good to write things quickly."

Causing a stir

By February 2008 KASMs had been booked to play in New York, their wild live shows having caused a buzz across London's underground scene. Callaghan is usually the sole instigator of the mayhem, admitting to once pouring a cup of boiling coffee on one audience member's head, as well as participating in many other destructive onstage antics which often cause damage to the band members and their equipment.

Trouble Records

KASMs signed to independent label Trouble Records in April 2008. Label mates include Crystal Castles

Crystal Castles (band)

Crystal Castles are an experimental electronic band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of producer Ethan Kath and lyricist and vocalist Alice Glass. Crystal Castles are known for their chaotic live shows and their lo-fi home productions. The duo released many limited EPs between 2006 and...

 and An Experiment On A Bird In The Air Pump; the latter were friends with KASMs before either band was signed.

Brattwell's departure

In April 2010, Rory Brattwell left KASMs, citing a changing dynamic in the group as the main reason for his departure. Via the band's blog and MySpace page, he released the following statement:

"Bands are complicated, dynamics and relationships change over the years you spend together in a band, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. I've had a lot of good times in KASMs ... I may start making more music at some point but have no idea in what capacity at the moment. Lots of love to the rest of the band, I hope KASMs continue to make great music and play great shows. Also, without being too corny, thanks to anyone who came to see us play and bought our records; it was a nice surprise when it turned out people liked the music we were making!"

Commercial success

In July 2008, KASMs released their debut single, "Taxidermy", which charted in the UK at no. 12 in the independent music chart.

The band have featured in several major UK music magazines, including Artrocker

ArtRocker

Artrocker is a UK-based collective involved in music promotion and publishing. It was started by Paul Cox and Tom Fawcett who had been co-promoters of a London night called The Sausage Factory...

 and the NME

NME

The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...

.

KASMs debut LP, Spayed, was rated 8/10 by the NME, along with a generally positive review.

The band appeared on the BBC Introducing Stage at the Reading & Leeds festivals in August 2009.

Releases

• KASMs - CD EP (March 2008)
• "Taxidermy" - 7" vinyl single (July 2008)
• "Bone You" - 7" vinyl single (February 2009)
• "Male Bonding" - 7" vinyl single (May 2009)
• Spayed - CD and 12" vinyl album (May 2009)
• Tape EP - cassette tape (July 2009)
• "Absent Without Leave" - single (August 2009)

External links

• Official KASMs website
• KASMs at MySpace
  MySpace
  Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....