Rockets Red Glare
Encyclopedia
Rockets Red Glare was a band from Toronto
, Canada
.
Rockets Red Glare formed in the winter of 1999 following the demise of hardcore band Blake and instrumental trio Blue Light Blockade. Based in Canada
this three piece band toured Canada extensively and also played in North America, gaining critical praise for their powerful and atmospheric live performances. Releasing two full length albums and a two track 7-inch they specialised in playing a dense, meandering and sometimes explosive brand of post punk, taking influences from dirgecore bands such as Cerberus Shoal
and Neurosis
. Many Canadian and American bands today cite Rockets Red Glare as an influence on their music.
Describing their writing process bassist
Jeremy Strachan notes that "we really take a clinical, non-spontaneous approach to creating music" and the band's songs are typically spacious and dark compositions built around arpeggiated
guitar chords, stop-start dynamics, slow build ups and the half-sung, half-spoken lyrics of vocalist/guitarist Evan Clarke.
Disbanding in 2003, members went on to join Sea Snakes (Strachan), Burn Rome in a Dream (Clarke), Jim Guthrie (Clarke), and Picastro
(Clarke). In late 2004 Strachan and drummer David "Gus" Weinkauf formed Feuermusik, a free jazz
duo with Strachan on saxophone
and Weinkauf playing percussion on buckets.
In 2009 the band reunited to play a series of shows.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Rockets Red Glare formed in the winter of 1999 following the demise of hardcore band Blake and instrumental trio Blue Light Blockade. Based in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
this three piece band toured Canada extensively and also played in North America, gaining critical praise for their powerful and atmospheric live performances. Releasing two full length albums and a two track 7-inch they specialised in playing a dense, meandering and sometimes explosive brand of post punk, taking influences from dirgecore bands such as Cerberus Shoal
Cerberus Shoal
Cerberus Shoal was a United States rock band formed in 1994 in Boston but largely based in Portland, Maine. They split up in the mid-2000s with some members going on to form Fire on Fire.-History:...
and Neurosis
Neurosis (band)
Neurosis is a post-metal band, based in Oakland, California. They formed in 1985 as a hardcore punk band, and their sound progressed towards a doom metal style that also included influences from dark ambient and industrial music as well as incorporating elements of folk music...
. Many Canadian and American bands today cite Rockets Red Glare as an influence on their music.
Describing their writing process bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Jeremy Strachan notes that "we really take a clinical, non-spontaneous approach to creating music" and the band's songs are typically spacious and dark compositions built around arpeggiated
Arpeggio
An arpeggio is a musical technique where notes in a chord are played or sung in sequence, one after the other, rather than ringing out simultaneously...
guitar chords, stop-start dynamics, slow build ups and the half-sung, half-spoken lyrics of vocalist/guitarist Evan Clarke.
Disbanding in 2003, members went on to join Sea Snakes (Strachan), Burn Rome in a Dream (Clarke), Jim Guthrie (Clarke), and Picastro
Picastro
Picastro is a sleep rock band from Toronto.Currently members include guitarist/vocalist Liz Hysen, cellist Nick Storring and drummer Brandon Valdivia...
(Clarke). In late 2004 Strachan and drummer David "Gus" Weinkauf formed Feuermusik, a free jazz
Free jazz
Free jazz is an approach to jazz music that was first developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the music produced by free jazz pioneers varied widely, the common feature was a dissatisfaction with the limitations of bebop, hard bop, and modal jazz, which had developed in the 1940s and 1950s...
duo with Strachan on saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
and Weinkauf playing percussion on buckets.
In 2009 the band reunited to play a series of shows.
Discography
- "Redshift" / "Halifax" (2001, single) on Die Venom Records
- Rockets Red Glare (2002) on Sickroom Records
- Moonlight Desires (2003) on Blue Skies Turn Black Records