Old Canes
Encyclopedia
Old Canes is a rock
band from Lawrence, Kansas
currently composed of front man Christopher Crisci (of The Appleseed Cast
) on vocals and guitar, and a rotating cast of musicians. Because most band members - including Crisci - participate more notably in other bands, when on tour Old Canes is joined by other available musicians known to the band, including John Momberg (of The Appleseed Cast
), Taylor Holenbeck, Sam Goodell, Rusty Scott, Kelly Hangauer (of Fourth Of July), Lucas Oswald
(Minus Story
) and Jeff Stolz, in what they call a "musical collective." Past members include Nathan Richardson (Casket Lottery), Jordan Geiger (Minus Story
), Eric Verhar, Tyler French (Minus Story
), Gabriel Booth, Kelsey Richardson, and Jon Anderson (Boys Life
).
Playing an in-store show as part of a European tour with Crisci's primary band, the Appleseed Cast, promoters wanted the band to play acoustic. Having acoustic material written that was never previously pursued, Crisci performed three eventual Old Canes songs. After encouragement from supporters who appreciated the contrasting folk sound to the Appleseed Cast, he formally pursued the Old Canes a year and half later.
After releasing a demo in 2003, Old Canes released Early Morning Hymns
in 2004, recorded in Crisci's home studio on half-inch 8-track tape. Although the band's label, Second Nature, encouraged Crisci to have an established producer to mix the album, he worked the album himself. Crisci envisioned a lo-fi sound, citing Led Zeppelin
, Bob Dylan
and Jimi Hendrix
as artists whose albums were not recorded with the pristine clarity of albums today, but sounded great.
Chris recorded the bulk of the album, singing and playing guitar, and recording most of the harmonica, banjo, percussion, and toy piano parts. Nathan Jr. played all of the drum parts, and Jordan Gieger played all of the trumpet parts, along with contributing some of the toy piano, bells, percussion, harmonica, and banjo. Kelsey Richardson doubled a saxophone over Jordan's trumpt on Blue Eleanor, and Eric Verhar played a cello line on Both Falling Bright.
In 2005 Crisci started recording the second record, Feral Harmonic. The first drum tracks were laid down by John Anderson Boy's Life
Kelly Hangauer played the trumpet parts. A few more drum tracks were played by John Momberg. Lucas Oswald played a couple cello parts, and a dulcimer on Next flood. Several friends added some vocal harmonies. Everything else was recorded by Crisci. All guitar, banjo, mandolin, bells, toy piano, harmonica, percussion, some cello, and the drums on Under.
The record was finished in early 2009.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band from Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
currently composed of front man Christopher Crisci (of The Appleseed Cast
The Appleseed Cast
The Appleseed Cast is an American emo/post-rock band based in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, composed of singer/guitarist Christopher Crisci , guitarist Aaron Pillar, bassist Nathan Whitman and drummer John Momberg...
) on vocals and guitar, and a rotating cast of musicians. Because most band members - including Crisci - participate more notably in other bands, when on tour Old Canes is joined by other available musicians known to the band, including John Momberg (of The Appleseed Cast
The Appleseed Cast
The Appleseed Cast is an American emo/post-rock band based in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, composed of singer/guitarist Christopher Crisci , guitarist Aaron Pillar, bassist Nathan Whitman and drummer John Momberg...
), Taylor Holenbeck, Sam Goodell, Rusty Scott, Kelly Hangauer (of Fourth Of July), Lucas Oswald
Lucas Oswald
Lucas Harrison Oswald is an American musician, known as a multi-instrumental and vocal contributor to the bands The Appleseed Cast, Minus Story, Hospital Ships, and Old Canes...
(Minus Story
Minus Story
Minus Story is an indie rock based in Lawrence, Kansas. The core members of the band met growing up in Boonville, Missouri and are known for their off-kilter, sunny melodies and quirky instrumentation that forms the "wall of crap" sound....
) and Jeff Stolz, in what they call a "musical collective." Past members include Nathan Richardson (Casket Lottery), Jordan Geiger (Minus Story
Minus Story
Minus Story is an indie rock based in Lawrence, Kansas. The core members of the band met growing up in Boonville, Missouri and are known for their off-kilter, sunny melodies and quirky instrumentation that forms the "wall of crap" sound....
), Eric Verhar, Tyler French (Minus Story
Minus Story
Minus Story is an indie rock based in Lawrence, Kansas. The core members of the band met growing up in Boonville, Missouri and are known for their off-kilter, sunny melodies and quirky instrumentation that forms the "wall of crap" sound....
), Gabriel Booth, Kelsey Richardson, and Jon Anderson (Boys Life
Boys Life
Boys Life is a compilation of three 30-minute short subject films about being gay in America.A high school student in "Pool Days" finds excitement in his health club job. In "A Friend of Dorothy," a college freshman hopes his handsome roommate is also gay...
).
History
Officially formed in 2002, Old Canes bore its roots around October 2001, when Chris Crisci initially played a handful of solo acoustic shows.Playing an in-store show as part of a European tour with Crisci's primary band, the Appleseed Cast, promoters wanted the band to play acoustic. Having acoustic material written that was never previously pursued, Crisci performed three eventual Old Canes songs. After encouragement from supporters who appreciated the contrasting folk sound to the Appleseed Cast, he formally pursued the Old Canes a year and half later.
After releasing a demo in 2003, Old Canes released Early Morning Hymns
Early Morning Hymns
Early Morning Hymns is the first album released by indie folk-rock band Old Canes, released in 2004. They have drawn comparisons from many fans to now-defunct indie rock group Neutral Milk Hotel.- Track listing :#Intro – 0:16#Blue Eleanor – 3:17...
in 2004, recorded in Crisci's home studio on half-inch 8-track tape. Although the band's label, Second Nature, encouraged Crisci to have an established producer to mix the album, he worked the album himself. Crisci envisioned a lo-fi sound, citing Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
and Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
as artists whose albums were not recorded with the pristine clarity of albums today, but sounded great.
Chris recorded the bulk of the album, singing and playing guitar, and recording most of the harmonica, banjo, percussion, and toy piano parts. Nathan Jr. played all of the drum parts, and Jordan Gieger played all of the trumpet parts, along with contributing some of the toy piano, bells, percussion, harmonica, and banjo. Kelsey Richardson doubled a saxophone over Jordan's trumpt on Blue Eleanor, and Eric Verhar played a cello line on Both Falling Bright.
In 2005 Crisci started recording the second record, Feral Harmonic. The first drum tracks were laid down by John Anderson Boy's Life
Boy's Life
Boy's Life is a 1991 novel by New York Times bestselling author Robert R. McCammon. It received the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1992....
Kelly Hangauer played the trumpet parts. A few more drum tracks were played by John Momberg. Lucas Oswald played a couple cello parts, and a dulcimer on Next flood. Several friends added some vocal harmonies. Everything else was recorded by Crisci. All guitar, banjo, mandolin, bells, toy piano, harmonica, percussion, some cello, and the drums on Under.
The record was finished in early 2009.