The Soviettes
Encyclopedia
The Soviettes are a punk rock
band from Minneapolis, Minnesota
, founded in 2001. The group was composed of Annie (guitar
), Sturgeon (guitar), Susy (bass guitar
), and Danny (drums
), all of whom switched off singing duties.
, North Dakota
, moved to Minneapolis around 2000 where they met Bill Morrisette of Dillinger Four
. He suggested that they start a band with his girlfriend, Sturgeon, and were practicing with Dillinger Four's Lane Pederson filling in on drums by 2001.
The name originates from when Annie was serving coffee at a previous job, a customer offered "your band should be called The Soviettes" instead of a tip.
The band recorded their first EP, T.C.C.P., the same year. Soon Annie found Danny Henry to play with them permanently.
In 2003, The Soviettes released the first LP entitled LP
on Adeline Records
of Oakland, California
.
In 2004, the band released their second LP entitled LP II
, again on Adeline Records. The band was then noticed by Fat Wreck Chords
in San Francisco, California
and was shortly after signed with the label. The band released the song "Paranoia! Cha-Cha-Cha" for the compilation album Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1
.
On June 28, 2005, the band's third LP entitled LP III
was released on Fat Wreck Chords.
The members of The Soviettes have maintained a friendship with rapper P.O.S.
, and are referenced in "Crispin Glover" from his 2005 single "P.O.S. Is Ruining My Life". They also gained an association with the Minnesota RollerGirls
with the single "Roller Girls" about the organization with backing vocals from some of the girls.
They toured the United States extensively at the end of 2005 with Fat Wreck label-mates Against Me!
, the Epoxies, and Smoke or Fire
.
, California
.
"I don't know why we broke up," said Danny Henry in 2007, "It was pretty natural. Bands are relationships, they're just more complicated because it's a four-way deal."
. Sturgeon now plays in The Gateway District with Carrie (who also played with Sturgeon in The Salteens), as well as Nate from Banner Pilot and Brad from Dear Landlord (both of whom also played in Rivethead). Annie also performs with the God Damn Doo Wop Band.
They also played at the Soda Bar in San Diego, CA on Sept 4th, 2010 as part of "Awesome Fest 4".
On October 29, 2010 the band played at The Atlantic in Gainesville, FL as part of "Fest 9".
The band played 2 more shows in 2010, one at the Triple Rock Social Club
, Minneapolis, MN on 11/12/2010 and another at Reggie's Rock Club, Chicago
, IL on 11/13/2010, the latter opening for The Methadones
on their final show.
The band was scheduled to participate in "Weasel Fest", supporting Screeching Weasel
at Reggie's Rock Club, Chicago
, IL on 05/29/2011 but dropped off the bill following Ben Weasel
's behavior at SXSW 2011. They are still scheduled to play at the Triple Rock Social Club
in Minneapolis on 05/27/2011.
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 Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, founded in 2001. The group was composed of Annie (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), Sturgeon (guitar), Susy (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), and Danny (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
), all of whom switched off singing duties.
History
Annie and Susy, both natives of FargoFargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, moved to Minneapolis around 2000 where they met Bill Morrisette of Dillinger Four
Dillinger Four
Dillinger Four is an American punk rock band formed in 1994 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They have released four full-length studio albums. The current band members are Patrick Costello on bass guitar and vocals, Erik Funk and Bill Morrisette on guitars and vocals, and Lane Pederson on drums.- Studio...
. He suggested that they start a band with his girlfriend, Sturgeon, and were practicing with Dillinger Four's Lane Pederson filling in on drums by 2001.
The name originates from when Annie was serving coffee at a previous job, a customer offered "your band should be called The Soviettes" instead of a tip.
The band recorded their first EP, T.C.C.P., the same year. Soon Annie found Danny Henry to play with them permanently.
In 2003, The Soviettes released the first LP entitled LP
LP (Soviettes album)
-Side one:#"Blue Stars" – 1:52#"Bottom's Up, Bottomed Out" – 1:37#"9th St." – 2:29#"1308" – 2:11#"Go Lambs Go!" – 2:03#"B Squad" – 1:56#"Tailwind" – 1:53-Side two:#"Matt's Song" – 2:48#"Clueless" – 1:27#"Thin Ice" – 1:17...
on Adeline Records
Adeline Records
Adeline Records is a record label which was formed in Oakland, California in late 1997. It is co-owned by Billie Joe Armstrong, lead singer of Green Day, his wife Adrienne Armstrong, and Jim Thiebaud, professional skateboarder...
of Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
.
In 2004, the band released their second LP entitled LP II
LP II
LP II is the second album by the Minneapolis punk band The Soviettes.-Side One:#"Ten" – 1:18#"#1 Is Number Two" – 1:50#"Pass the Flashlight" – 1:37#"Goes Down Easy" – 1:30#"Winning Is for Losers" – 1:38#"Angel A" – 1:42#"Tonight" – 2:23-Side Two:...
, again on Adeline Records. The band was then noticed 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....
in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and was shortly after signed with the label. The band released the song "Paranoia! Cha-Cha-Cha" for the compilation album Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1
Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1
Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1 is a Rock Against Bush compilation album released on the Fat Wreck Chords record label. It contains a collection of songs, both released and unreleased, by various punk rock artists and includes a bonus DVD with political facts, commentary regarding the U.S...
.
On June 28, 2005, the band's third LP entitled LP III
LP III
LP III is the third album by the Minneapolis punk rock band The Soviettes. It was released on CD and LP on 25 June, 2005 to mixed critical reviews.-Release:...
was released on Fat Wreck Chords.
The members of The Soviettes have maintained a friendship with rapper P.O.S.
P.O.S.
Stefon Alexander, better known by his stage name P.O.S, is an American rapper, singer and multi-instrumentalist from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is currently signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment and is a founding member of the label/collective Doomtree...
, and are referenced in "Crispin Glover" from his 2005 single "P.O.S. Is Ruining My Life". They also gained an association with the Minnesota RollerGirls
Minnesota RollerGirls
Minnesota RollerGirls is an all-women amateur flat-track roller derby league based in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area of the U.S. state of Minnesota...
with the single "Roller Girls" about the organization with backing vocals from some of the girls.
They toured the United States extensively at the end of 2005 with Fat Wreck label-mates Against Me!
Against Me!
Against Me! is an American punk rock band formed in 1997 in Naples, Florida and relocated to Gainesville, Florida in 1999. Their first full-length album, released on No Idea Records in 2002, was Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose. They have released music on Misanthrope Records, Crasshole Records,...
, the Epoxies, and Smoke or Fire
Smoke or Fire
Smoke or Fire is an American punk rock band from Boston, Massachusetts.The band originally formed in 1998, when western Massachusetts native Joe McMahon got together with Chris Brand , Bill Ironfield , and Nick Maggiore , hailing from New Hampshire...
.
Breakup
After April 2006 the band went on hiatus indefinitely and, at the time, the members doubted the band would reform at all. Susy has since moved to Los AngelesLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
"I don't know why we broke up," said Danny Henry in 2007, "It was pretty natural. Bands are relationships, they're just more complicated because it's a four-way deal."
Post Soviettes
Since The Soviettes' hiatus, Annie and Danny have continued playing music together as the punk rock duo The Awesome SnakesThe Awesome Snakes
Awesome Snakes was a two-person punk rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, founded as a side project by Annie Holoien and Danny Henry of The Soviettes...
. Sturgeon now plays in The Gateway District with Carrie (who also played with Sturgeon in The Salteens), as well as Nate from Banner Pilot and Brad from Dear Landlord (both of whom also played in Rivethead). Annie also performs with the God Damn Doo Wop Band.
Re-Unions
The band reunited in 2010 for some shows. The first was on March 18, 2010 at Eclipse Records in St. Paul, MN. Next was March 19, 2010 at the Turf Club in St. Paul, MN. Both shows were record release shows for their Rarities album, released for free on Red Sound Records.They also played at the Soda Bar in San Diego, CA on Sept 4th, 2010 as part of "Awesome Fest 4".
On October 29, 2010 the band played at The Atlantic in Gainesville, FL as part of "Fest 9".
The band played 2 more shows in 2010, one at the Triple Rock Social Club
Triple Rock Social Club
The Triple Rock Social Club is a bar, music venue, and restaurant in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, co-owned by Gretchen Funk and Erik Funk of the punk band Dillinger Four...
, Minneapolis, MN on 11/12/2010 and another at Reggie's Rock Club, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, IL on 11/13/2010, the latter opening for The Methadones
The Methadones
The Methadones were a band formed in 1993 by guitarist/vocalist Dan Vapid. The Methadones initially lasted only a few shows before Dan put them to the side to focus on his main band Screeching Weasel. By 1999 Dan was no longer a member of Screeching Weasel or his other band The Riverdales, and...
on their final show.
The band was scheduled to participate in "Weasel Fest", supporting Screeching Weasel
Screeching Weasel
Screeching Weasel is an American punk rock band originally from Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1986 by Ben Weasel and John Jughead.Since their formation, Screeching Weasel have broken up and reformed numerous times with numerous line-up changes. Ben Weasel has been the only constant...
at Reggie's Rock Club, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, IL on 05/29/2011 but dropped off the bill following Ben Weasel
Ben Weasel
Ben Weasel is a punk rock musician, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of bands Screeching Weasel and The Riverdales...
's behavior at SXSW 2011. They are still scheduled to play at the Triple Rock Social Club
Triple Rock Social Club
The Triple Rock Social Club is a bar, music venue, and restaurant in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, co-owned by Gretchen Funk and Erik Funk of the punk band Dillinger Four...
in Minneapolis on 05/27/2011.
Albums
| Title | Release date | Notes | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| LP LP (Soviettes album) -Side one:#"Blue Stars" – 1:52#"Bottom's Up, Bottomed Out" – 1:37#"9th St." – 2:29#"1308" – 2:11#"Go Lambs Go!" – 2:03#"B Squad" – 1:56#"Tailwind" – 1:53-Side two:#"Matt's Song" – 2:48#"Clueless" – 1:27#"Thin Ice" – 1:17... |
17 June 2003 | Rereleased on vinyl in 2005 by Crustacean Records Crustacean Records Crustacean Records is a record company from Wisconsin, United States, founded in 1994.-History:The label was founded by current majority owner Chris Langkamp. The debut release was Fetus by Crab Shack, the band Chris Langkamp played bass with, and was cassette only... . |
Adeline Adeline Records Adeline Records is a record label which was formed in Oakland, California in late 1997. It is co-owned by Billie Joe Armstrong, lead singer of Green Day, his wife Adrienne Armstrong, and Jim Thiebaud, professional skateboarder... |
| LP II LP II LP II is the second album by the Minneapolis punk band The Soviettes.-Side One:#"Ten" – 1:18#"#1 Is Number Two" – 1:50#"Pass the Flashlight" – 1:37#"Goes Down Easy" – 1:30#"Winning Is for Losers" – 1:38#"Angel A" – 1:42#"Tonight" – 2:23-Side Two:... |
13 April 2004 | Vinyl released by Learning Curve Records later that year. | Adeline |
| LP III LP III LP III is the third album by the Minneapolis punk rock band The Soviettes. It was released on CD and LP on 25 June, 2005 to mixed critical reviews.-Release:... |
28 June 2005 | 220 albums released on pink vinyl. | 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.... |
| Rarities Rarities (Soviettes album) Rarities is the fourth album, and first compilation, by the Minneapolis punk rock band The Soviettes. It is a selection of the group's lesser-known material, including their early EPs. It was released free on the internet and also in vinyl LP format... |
16 March 2010 | A collection of b-sides and rarities | Red Sound Records |
EPs and singles
| Title | Release date | Notes | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| T.C.C.P. T.C.C.P. T.C.C.P is the debut release by the Minneapolis punk band The Soviettes. It's the only release by the Soviettes featuring Lane Pederson, of the Dillinger Four, on drums instead of Danny Henry.-Personnel:*Annie Holoien – guitar, vocals... |
11 May 2002 | Released as a 7" vinyl Gramophone record A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove... only. |
Pop Riot |
| "Alright" | 12 October 2004 | B-side: "Plus One" | Dirtnap Dirtnap Records -External links:*... |
| "Roller Girls" | 23 August 2005 | B-side: "Say So" | Fat Wreck Chords |
Splits
| Title | Release date | Notes | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Soviettes/Valentines EP | 5 November 2002 | Pop Riot | |
| The Havenot's/The Soviettes | 2003 | As both a four track vinyl distributed in the US and a six track CD released only in Japan on Star Jets Records |
Nice & Neat |
Compilations
| Title | Release date | Soviettes Tracks | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1 Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1 Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1 is a Rock Against Bush compilation album released on the Fat Wreck Chords record label. It contains a collection of songs, both released and unreleased, by various punk rock artists and includes a bonus DVD with political facts, commentary regarding the U.S... |
04/20/2004 | ¡Paranoia! Cha-Cha-Cha | 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.... |
| Protect: A Benefit for ... PROTECT: A Benefit for the National Association to Protect Children Protect: A Benefit for the National Association to Protect Children is a charity record for the child protection organization, Protect.It was released by Fat Wreck Chords record label in 2005... |
10/18/2005 | Middle of the Night | 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.... |
| 21st Century Power Pop Riot 21st Century Power Pop Riot 21st Century Power Pop Riot is an album by The Methadones that consists entirely of power pop covers.-Track list:... |
06/06/2006 | Goodbye to You (vocal by Annie) | Red Scare Industries Red Scare Industries Red Scare Industries is a punk rock record label. The label was started in San Francisco by former Fat Wreck Chords employee Toby Jeg.... |
Reception
- "The Minneapolis quartet make songs that are loud, raw and clock in at under 2 minutes. They punch you in the gut and make you feel happy for the pain." (Rod Harmon, Sarasota Herald-TribuneSarasota Herald-TribuneThe Sarasota Herald-Tribune is a daily newspaper located in Sarasota, Florida.It is owned by The New York Times Company, who purchased it in 1982, and part of its regional news group. Along with Comcast, the newspaper operates a local 24-hour...
)
External links
- Lyrics at Wikia
- Biography at Fat Wreck Chords
- Jessica Grose (July 5, 2005). Band of the Day: The Soviettes. SPIN