The Rondelles
Encyclopedia
The Rondelles are an indiepop band originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico
. The band, which formed in the late 1990s, when the three members were still in high school, consisted of Juliet Swango on guitar and vocals, Yukiko Moynihan on bass, and Oakley Munson on drums and keyboard. At live shows Oakley was known to play a 3-piece drum set standing up while hitting the keyboard with his drum stick.
In Albuquerque, the Rondelles were part of a small cadre of indiepop bands that often played together. Among these other bands were The Shins
(and Shins precursor Flake Music), Scared of Chaka
, The Drags, The Alarm Clocks, The Young Adults
, and The Ponies.
The three members of the Rondelles were also three-quarters of the final lineup of the Albuquerque sci-fi-themed pop-punk act, LuxoChamp, behind singer-guitarist Brad Beshaw. Oakley played a full drum kit in LuxoChamp, and Juliet played a Moog and a Realistic keyboard.
The band later moved to Washington, D.C.
, where they continued to perform and record nationally until late summer of 2001, when they disbanded after a European tour. They recorded their second and final album, The Fox (Teen Beat), in 2000 with producer Trevor Kampmann (holnd) in an apartment recording studio the Logan Circle neighborhood of D.C. A 4-week summer tour with Estrus Records NYC garage rockers The Mooney Suzuki (supporting their People Get Ready album) followed the release of The Fox. The band's final tour in the summer of 2001 hit Holland, Germany, Austria, Italy, and France; final European tour lineup included guitarist Corey Shane and bassist Darian Zahedi, after Yukiko's departure in 2000.
Juliet Swango started rock and roll outfit The Foxx in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2002. In 2004, The Foxx released a self-titled album; in 2007, a second full-length, Lila, was released on Chicago's Vinyl Countdown Records. Lila was recorded by San Francisco's Birdman Records artist Greg Ashley, co-produced by Juliet and the Foxx. The Foxx is now based in Brooklyn, the current all-female lineup being Juliet on guitar and keyboard, drummer Jill McArthur, bassist Erin "Quick" Emslie, and guitarist Erica Koch. The Foxx will record their third full-length album in 2011, and are currently performing in the NYC area.
Oakley Munson relocated in New York, forming "The Witnesses" in 2001 (disbanded 2006) and has gone on to form L.A.-based Puddin' Tang with Kristen Munchheimer.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
. The band, which formed in the late 1990s, when the three members were still in high school, consisted of Juliet Swango on guitar and vocals, Yukiko Moynihan on bass, and Oakley Munson on drums and keyboard. At live shows Oakley was known to play a 3-piece drum set standing up while hitting the keyboard with his drum stick.
In Albuquerque, the Rondelles were part of a small cadre of indiepop bands that often played together. Among these other bands were The Shins
The Shins
The Shins are an American indie rock band comprising singer, songwriter, and guitarist James Mercer, guitarist/bassist Dave Hernandez, Eric Johnson of Fruit Bats, drummer Joe Plummer and bassist Ron Lewis. Their sound draws on several musical genres, including pop, alternative rock, indie rock,...
(and Shins precursor Flake Music), Scared of Chaka
Scared of Chaka
Scared Of Chaka is a punk rock band based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, which was formed in 1993 by guitarist/vocalist David Yanul Hernandez, bass guitarist Dameon Waggoner and drummer Jeff Jones. Jone was later replaced by Ron Skrasek. The band played a Dickies inspired mix of garage and...
, The Drags, The Alarm Clocks, The Young Adults
The Young Adults
The Young Adults were a rock quintet based in Providence, Rhode Island. They were formed by vocalist/saxophone player Bruce McCrae , vocalist/drummer David Hansen , piano player Jeff Shore, and guitarist in the early 1970s...
, and The Ponies.
The three members of the Rondelles were also three-quarters of the final lineup of the Albuquerque sci-fi-themed pop-punk act, LuxoChamp, behind singer-guitarist Brad Beshaw. Oakley played a full drum kit in LuxoChamp, and Juliet played a Moog and a Realistic keyboard.
The band later moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where they continued to perform and record nationally until late summer of 2001, when they disbanded after a European tour. They recorded their second and final album, The Fox (Teen Beat), in 2000 with producer Trevor Kampmann (holnd) in an apartment recording studio the Logan Circle neighborhood of D.C. A 4-week summer tour with Estrus Records NYC garage rockers The Mooney Suzuki (supporting their People Get Ready album) followed the release of The Fox. The band's final tour in the summer of 2001 hit Holland, Germany, Austria, Italy, and France; final European tour lineup included guitarist Corey Shane and bassist Darian Zahedi, after Yukiko's departure in 2000.
Juliet Swango started rock and roll outfit The Foxx in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2002. In 2004, The Foxx released a self-titled album; in 2007, a second full-length, Lila, was released on Chicago's Vinyl Countdown Records. Lila was recorded by San Francisco's Birdman Records artist Greg Ashley, co-produced by Juliet and the Foxx. The Foxx is now based in Brooklyn, the current all-female lineup being Juliet on guitar and keyboard, drummer Jill McArthur, bassist Erin "Quick" Emslie, and guitarist Erica Koch. The Foxx will record their third full-length album in 2011, and are currently performing in the NYC area.
Albums
- Fiction Romance Fast Machines (Smells Like RecordsSmells Like RecordsSmells Like Records is an independent record label based in Hoboken, New Jersey formed by Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley in 1993. Groups that have recorded under the label include Sonic Youth, Blonde Redhead, Cat Power, The Raincoats, Fuck, and The Rondelles....
; CD/LP; 1998) - The Fox (TeenBeat RecordsTeenBeat RecordsTeen Beat is an independent record label, originally based in Arlington, VA, now based in Cambridge, MA. It was founded by Mark Robinson in 1984 at Wakefield High School along with Phil Krauth , Andrew Beaujon , Tim Moran , and Ian Zack .The label was originally set up like a lending library...
; CD/LP; 1999) made by Trevor Kampmann - Shined Nickels and Loose Change (K RecordsK RecordsK Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
; CD; 2001) - In Your Face (TeenBeat Records; CDR; 2008), a collection of early demos (1995-1996)
- Good Enough For Gravy (TeenBeat Records; CDR; 2008), the final recordings (2000-2001)
Eps and 7"s
- He's Out of Sight (Grist Milling Records; 7"; 1996)
- The Rondelles (TeenBeat RecordsTeenBeat RecordsTeen Beat is an independent record label, originally based in Arlington, VA, now based in Cambridge, MA. It was founded by Mark Robinson in 1984 at Wakefield High School along with Phil Krauth , Andrew Beaujon , Tim Moran , and Ian Zack .The label was originally set up like a lending library...
; 7"; 1997) - Battle of the Bands Comp (Super-8 Records; 7"; 1998)
- Revenge (K RecordsK RecordsK Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
; 7"; 1998) - TV Zombie (K RecordsK RecordsK Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...
; 7"; 1999)
Various Appearances
- In Their Eyes: 90's Teen Bands vs 80's Teen Movies (Rhino Records; CD; 1998) I'll Melt With You
- TeenBeat 1998 Sampler (TeenBeat RecordsTeenBeat RecordsTeen Beat is an independent record label, originally based in Arlington, VA, now based in Cambridge, MA. It was founded by Mark Robinson in 1984 at Wakefield High School along with Phil Krauth , Andrew Beaujon , Tim Moran , and Ian Zack .The label was originally set up like a lending library...
; CD; 1998) Revenge - New Wave Explosion (Super-8 Underground; CD; 1999) Cafeteria Rock
- TeenBeat 1999 Sampler (TeenBeat RecordsTeenBeat RecordsTeen Beat is an independent record label, originally based in Arlington, VA, now based in Cambridge, MA. It was founded by Mark Robinson in 1984 at Wakefield High School along with Phil Krauth , Andrew Beaujon , Tim Moran , and Ian Zack .The label was originally set up like a lending library...
; CD; 1999) Like A Prayer - TeenBeat 2000 Sampler (TeenBeat RecordsTeenBeat RecordsTeen Beat is an independent record label, originally based in Arlington, VA, now based in Cambridge, MA. It was founded by Mark Robinson in 1984 at Wakefield High School along with Phil Krauth , Andrew Beaujon , Tim Moran , and Ian Zack .The label was originally set up like a lending library...
; CD; 2000) The Fox - TeenBeat 2001 Sampler (TeenBeat RecordsTeenBeat RecordsTeen Beat is an independent record label, originally based in Arlington, VA, now based in Cambridge, MA. It was founded by Mark Robinson in 1984 at Wakefield High School along with Phil Krauth , Andrew Beaujon , Tim Moran , and Ian Zack .The label was originally set up like a lending library...
; CD; 2001) Pls Shut Up
The Rondelles Today
Juliet Swango started rock and roll outfit The Foxx in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2002. In 2004, The Foxx released a self-titled album; in 2007, a second full-length, Lila, was released on Chicago's Vinyl Countdown Records. Lila was recorded by San Francisco's Birdman Records artist Greg Ashley, co-produced by Juliet and the Foxx. The Foxx is now based in Brooklyn, the current all-female lineup being Juliet on guitar and keyboard, drummer Jill McArthur, bassist Erin "Quick" Emslie, and guitarist Erica Koch. The Foxx will record their third full-length album in 2011, and are currently performing in the NYC area.Oakley Munson relocated in New York, forming "The Witnesses" in 2001 (disbanded 2006) and has gone on to form L.A.-based Puddin' Tang with Kristen Munchheimer.