Star Fucking Hipsters
Encyclopedia
Star Fucking Hipsters is a punk rock
band from New York City
who have released albums on Fat Wreck Chords
and Alternative Tentacles
records. They have been called a "punk supergroup
" and feature members from numerous notable bands including Leftöver Crack
, Ensign
, and The Ergs!
vocalist/guitarist Stza
, and drummer Brandon Chevalier-Kolling. However, they were derailed shortly afterward due to the death of Brandon. Stza decided to continue the band with a line-up consisting of vocalist Kisston (from Help Me Help Me I Can't Breathe), guitarist Jamie Toulan (from Old Skull
), and drummer GiGi (from Another Dying Democracy). This line-up played two shows in the summer of 2005 before disbanding.
, while the remaining four became the basis for the first Star Fucking Hipsters record. The band continued with an entirely new group of musicians, consisting of Stza, Babajian, Piegaro, vocalist Nico de Gaillo (from Casa De Chihuahua) and bassist Yula Beeri (from The World Inferno Friendship Society and Nanuchka
). Their debut album was released by Fat Wreck Chords
on September 30, 2008, entitled "Until We're Dead", though it was originally to be titled "Allergic To People".
On December 23, 2008, the band released a music video for "Two Cups of Tea". Babajian and Beeri left the band shortly afterwards and were replaced by drummer Brian ”Pnut” Kozuch and bassist Chris Pothier.
. A music video for the song "3000 Miles Away" was recorded in November 2009 and was premiered by Punknews.org
in January 2010. The video also features actor Ethan Suplee
. During this time the band was featured in Tao Lin
's 2009 novella, Shoplifting from American Apparel
, in which they performed a midnight set at "The Kickstand" at The Fest
7 in Gainesville
.
, formerly of The Ergs!
, joined the band, replacing P.Nut as drummer. It was revealed that folk punk
/anarcho-punk
band Blackbird Raum
and Boots Riley
of political hip hop
group The Coup
will be contributing to the new album, amongst others.
On March 27, 2011 the band announced via facebook that Nico was leaving the band, saying: "We're sad to announce the departure of Nico de Gallo from our line-up after over three years of happy fun tymes! She will be missed by all. Starting on Tuesday, Kelsy from the Oakland super-group Chump-Change will be assuming co-lead vocals with myself, your humble newscaster, Sturgil Crizil." Though she had departed and was quickly replaced, Nico had already recorded all of her vocals for the band's third album From the Dumpster to the Grave
.
It was also announced on April 5, 2011 via facebook that the band are releasing a split 7" with hardcore punk
/thrash
band Jesus Fucking Christ through Inimical Records. SFH will be contributing three songs to the split, one of which will be a cover of Rudimentary Peni
's "Media Person". The 7" should be ready for release in late 2011.
"From the Dumpster to the Grave" was released on October 11th 2011 on Fat Wreck Chords. The subsequent record release party was the band's last show of the year, and included support from Skelptarsis, (A) Truth and Little Victory.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
who have released albums on Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords is a San Francisco, California based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by Fat Mike and his ex-wife, Erin, in 1990....
and Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
records. They have been called a "punk supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
" and feature members from numerous notable bands including Leftöver Crack
Leftöver Crack
Leftöver Crack is an American punk rock band formed in 1998, following the breakup of the ska punk band Choking Victim. Primarily playing an amalgam of ska and hardcore punk, they classify themselves as "crack-rocksteady". The band is currently signed to Fat Wreck Chords for CD releases, and...
, Ensign
Ensign (band)
Ensign is a hardcore punk band from New Jersey, USA. It was formed in 1995 and signed to Indecision Records in 1996. They signed to the larger label "next door", Dexter Holland's Nitro Records in 1998 and finally came to rest at Blackout Records in 2003 after a brief sortie back to Indecision in...
, and The Ergs!
The Ergs!
The Ergs! were an American punk rock band formed in 2000 in South Amboy, New Jersey, by three high school friends: drummer/lead vocalist Mikey Erg , guitarist/vocalist Jeff Erg , and bassist Joey Erg...
Initial formation (2005)
The band was started in 2005 by Leftöver CrackLeftöver Crack
Leftöver Crack is an American punk rock band formed in 1998, following the breakup of the ska punk band Choking Victim. Primarily playing an amalgam of ska and hardcore punk, they classify themselves as "crack-rocksteady". The band is currently signed to Fat Wreck Chords for CD releases, and...
vocalist/guitarist Stza
Stza
Scott Sturgeon, also known as Stza Crack , is a musician who has fronted several ska-punk bands in the New York City area, the best known being Choking Victim and Leftöver Crack...
, and drummer Brandon Chevalier-Kolling. However, they were derailed shortly afterward due to the death of Brandon. Stza decided to continue the band with a line-up consisting of vocalist Kisston (from Help Me Help Me I Can't Breathe), guitarist Jamie Toulan (from Old Skull
Old Skull
Old Skull were an American punk rock novelty band formed in the late 1980s in Madison, Wisconsin. The band was started by ten-year-old J.P. Toulon and his nine-year-old brother, Jamie Toulon, with encouragement from their father Vern Toulon, a longtime member of the Madison punk scene who had...
), and drummer GiGi (from Another Dying Democracy). This line-up played two shows in the summer of 2005 before disbanding.
Until We're Dead (2006-2009)
The following year, Stza wrote and rehearsed seven new songs with Leftöver Crack drummer Ara Babajian and Ensign guitarist Frank Piegaro. Three of these songs were chosen for inclusion on "Deadline", Leftöver Crack's split album with Citizen FishCitizen Fish
Citizen Fish is a ska punk band that has been together since 1990. The band often makes strong social and political statements, dealing with themes such as anti-consumerism, vegetarianism, questioning the status quo, and encouraging people to get along with one another...
, while the remaining four became the basis for the first Star Fucking Hipsters record. The band continued with an entirely new group of musicians, consisting of Stza, Babajian, Piegaro, vocalist Nico de Gaillo (from Casa De Chihuahua) and bassist Yula Beeri (from The World Inferno Friendship Society and Nanuchka
Nanuchka
`Nanuchka is a New York City based group composed of bassist Yula Be’eri , guitarist Roy Gurel, and drummer Shlomi Lavie. Their ever-changing sound is greatly eclectic. Yula’s voice, compared to that of an “angry Kate Bush,” soars over both surf-rock guitars and soothing mandola melodies alike...
). Their debut album was released by Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords is a San Francisco, California based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by Fat Mike and his ex-wife, Erin, in 1990....
on September 30, 2008, entitled "Until We're Dead", though it was originally to be titled "Allergic To People".
On December 23, 2008, the band released a music video for "Two Cups of Tea". Babajian and Beeri left the band shortly afterwards and were replaced by drummer Brian ”Pnut” Kozuch and bassist Chris Pothier.
Never Rest in Peace (2009-2011)
The band's second album, "Never Rest In Peace", was released on October 20, 2009 by Alternative TentaclesAlternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
. A music video for the song "3000 Miles Away" was recorded in November 2009 and was premiered by Punknews.org
Punknews.org
Punknews.org is a website founded by Aubin Paul which launched in 1999. The website publishes music news and album reviews relating to punk rock, hardcore punk, ska, indie rock and heavy metal...
in January 2010. The video also features actor Ethan Suplee
Ethan Suplee
Ethan Suplee is an American film and television actor best known for his roles as Seth Ryan in American History X, Louie Lastik in Remember the Titans, Frankie in Boy Meets World, Randy Hickey in My Name Is Earl, Thumper in The Butterfly Effect, Dewey in Unstoppable, and his roles in Kevin Smith...
. During this time the band was featured in Tao Lin
Tao Lin
Tao Lin is an American writer. He was born of Taiwanese parents and grew up on the East Coast of the USA.He is the author of two novels, Eeeee Eee Eeee and Richard Yates ; a novella, Shoplifting from American Apparel ; a short story collection, Bed ; and two poetry collections, you are a little...
's 2009 novella, Shoplifting from American Apparel
Shoplifting from American Apparel
Shoplifting from American Apparel is Tao Lin's first novella, fifth book, and first published fiction since the May 15, 2007 simultaneous publication of his debut novel, Eeeee Eee Eeee, and debut story-collection, Bed...
, in which they performed a midnight set at "The Kickstand" at The Fest
The Fest
The Fest is an annual music festival in Gainesville, Florida, organized by No Idea Records. It is a predominantly punk rock festival, though there are also a good number of indie rock, country, and metal acts. The Fest first took place in 2002 and has since attracted a large number of punk bands...
7 in Gainesville
Gainesville
Gainesville is the name of several places in the United States of America:*Gainesville, Alabama*Gainesville, Florida, largest municipality with this name*Gainesville, Georgia*Gainesville, Missouri*Gainesville , New York...
.
From the Dumpster to the Grave (2011-present)
Their third album was originally to be titled "Ska Fucking Hipsters", but has now been retitled "From the Dumpster to the Grave". For the recording of the album Mikey ErgMikey Erg
Mikey Erg is a punk rock drummer, guitarist, and vocalist, from New Jersey. He has played in numerous bands, most famously The Ergs!, but also Star Fucking Hipsters, The Dopamines, The Unlovables, Dirtbike Annie, and Parasites, and is also a solo artist on Paper + Plastick Records.-Discography:*...
, formerly of The Ergs!
The Ergs!
The Ergs! were an American punk rock band formed in 2000 in South Amboy, New Jersey, by three high school friends: drummer/lead vocalist Mikey Erg , guitarist/vocalist Jeff Erg , and bassist Joey Erg...
, joined the band, replacing P.Nut as drummer. It was revealed that folk punk
Folk punk
Folk punk , is a fusion of folk music and punk rock. It was pioneered in the late 1970s and early 1980s by The Pogues in Britain and Violent Femmes in America. Folk punk achieved some mainstream success in that decade...
/anarcho-punk
Anarcho-punk
Anarcho-punk is punk rock that promotes anarchism. The term anarcho-punk is sometimes applied exclusively to bands that were part of the original anarcho-punk movement in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
band Blackbird Raum
Blackbird Raum
Blackbird Raum is a band from Santa Cruz, California, where they have become a prominent part of the downtown street life. They are well known for their influence on Gypsy Punk but are generally considered to be the founders of a new genre...
and Boots Riley
Boots Riley
Boots Riley is an American musician, vocalist, writer, and public speaker most known for being the front man and producer of The Coup as well as the front man for Street Sweeper Social Club.-Biography:...
of political hip hop
Political hip hop
Political hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music that developed in the 1980s. Inspired by 1970s political preachers such as The Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron, Public Enemy were the first political hip hop group...
group The Coup
The Coup
The Coup is a political hip hop group based in Oakland, California. It formed as a three-member group in 1992 with emcees Raymond "Boots" Riley and E-Roc along with DJ Pam the Funkstress. E-Roc left on amicable terms after the group's second album but appears on the track "Breathing Apparatus" on...
will be contributing to the new album, amongst others.
On March 27, 2011 the band announced via facebook that Nico was leaving the band, saying: "We're sad to announce the departure of Nico de Gallo from our line-up after over three years of happy fun tymes! She will be missed by all. Starting on Tuesday, Kelsy from the Oakland super-group Chump-Change will be assuming co-lead vocals with myself, your humble newscaster, Sturgil Crizil." Though she had departed and was quickly replaced, Nico had already recorded all of her vocals for the band's third album From the Dumpster to the Grave
From the Dumpster to the Grave
From the Dumpster to the Grave is the third studio album by ska-punk/anarcho-punk band Star Fucking Hipsters. It was released in 2011 on Fat Wreck Chords.-Background:...
.
It was also announced on April 5, 2011 via facebook that the band are releasing a split 7" with hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
/thrash
Thrash
Thrash may refer to:*Thrashing , where increasing resources are used to do a decreasing amount of work*Thrash , mascot of the Atlanta Thrashers-Music:*Thrash metal, a subgenre of heavy metal music...
band Jesus Fucking Christ through Inimical Records. SFH will be contributing three songs to the split, one of which will be a cover of Rudimentary Peni
Rudimentary Peni
Rudimentary Peni are a British anarcho-punk/deathrock band formed in 1980.-Line-up:*Nick Blinko - guitar, vocals, artwork, lyrics*Grant Matthews - bass guitar, lyrics*Jon Greville - drums-History:...
's "Media Person". The 7" should be ready for release in late 2011.
"From the Dumpster to the Grave" was released on October 11th 2011 on Fat Wreck Chords. The subsequent record release party was the band's last show of the year, and included support from Skelptarsis, (A) Truth and Little Victory.
Current members
- StzaStzaScott Sturgeon, also known as Stza Crack , is a musician who has fronted several ska-punk bands in the New York City area, the best known being Choking Victim and Leftöver Crack...
- vocals, guitar (2005-present) - Frank Piegaro - guitar (2006-present)
- Chris Pothier - bass (2009-present)
- Mikey ErgMikey ErgMikey Erg is a punk rock drummer, guitarist, and vocalist, from New Jersey. He has played in numerous bands, most famously The Ergs!, but also Star Fucking Hipsters, The Dopamines, The Unlovables, Dirtbike Annie, and Parasites, and is also a solo artist on Paper + Plastick Records.-Discography:*...
- drums (2011-present) - Kelsey - vocals (2011-present
Former members
- Brandon Chevalier-Kolling - drums (2005)
- Kisston - vocals (2005)
- Jamie Toulan - drums (2005)
- GiGi - drums (2005)
- Ara BabajianAra BabajianAra Babajian is an American drummer who has been a member of such bands as Leftöver Crack and The Slackers. Ara is of Armenian descent, and is named after Ara, an Armenian king....
- drums (2006-2008) - Nico de Gaillo - vocals (2006-2011)
- Yula BeeriYula BeeriYula Beeri, born Yuli Yael Be'eri, is an Israeli composer, musician, and performer. She has been performing music in New York City for the past ten years....
- bass (2006-2009) - Alex Charpentier - drums (2008-2009)
- Brian "Pnut" Kozuch - drums (2009-2011)
Discography
- Until We're DeadUntil We're DeadUntil We're Dead is the first studio album by ska-punk/anarcho-punk band Star Fucking Hipsters. It was released in 2008 on Fat Wreck Chords.-Background:...
- (2008) - Never Rest in PeaceNever Rest in PeaceNever Rest In Peace is the second studio album by ska-punk/anarcho-punk band Star Fucking Hipsters. It officially released on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 on Alternative Tentacles, although those who purchased the album on the Alternative Tentacles website received the album before the official...
- (2009) - From the Dumpster to the GraveFrom the Dumpster to the GraveFrom the Dumpster to the Grave is the third studio album by ska-punk/anarcho-punk band Star Fucking Hipsters. It was released in 2011 on Fat Wreck Chords.-Background:...
- (2011) - Split with Jesus Fucking Christ - (2011)