|
Artist Profile
ARTIST
Spindrift |
GENRE
Rock |
LOCATION
Los Angeles , CA.USA |
HOME SITE
www.myspindrift.com |
BAND MEMBERS
Kirpatrick Thomas, Z.Miles, Party Chango |
ORIGIN
Newark, DE |
FILE UNDER
Surf Rock, David Bowie, The Doors |
KEY PERFORMANCES
ROXY, Spaceland, The Derby, CBGB's |
OPENED FOR
The Seeds, The Lilys, Dead Meadow, Concrete Blonde, Gram Rabbit |
PAST TOURS
2002,2003,2004 East Coast, 2005 West Coast |
FUTURE PLANS
Fall tour 2005 |
CONTACT INFO
323-663-0269
spindrift@drophit.net |
DESCRIPTION
Western Old school Cross country smooth jam spaghetti rock. |
BIOGRAPHY
Latest
After the fall 2003 Release and East Coast tour for "Songs from the Ancient Age", LA based psychedelic western rock group Spindrift reissued the 2nd pressing of the Soundtrack to their self penned score and tribute to Spaghetti Western "The Legend of God's Gun". Shows in Joshua Tree and Production for the movie had begun in Oct. 2003. The Disc has been selling steadily at Amoeba Records (Hollywood) ever since. The band had a run in with a burglar when their studio was robbed in LA in Nov. Missing guitars and equipment, Vocalist Kirpatrick Thomas set out to revamp the studio and sound. Now,with new gear and instrumentation, Spindrift sets out to have a hands on DIY style approach to recording and may never work with a producer ever again. New songs have emerged meshing both styles of the last two releases, making it a more experimental yet focused sound. Recent shows for Spindrift have been in LA at the Bigfoot Lodge, the MBar, Spaceland, the ECHO, and the Scene (Glendale). Tour plans for fall 2005 are being set along with further production/release of the "Gods Gun" film.
Beginnings
Since 1991 Spindrift has delighted audiences with their unique brand of punk/pop/space rock. Born in Wilmington, DE in 1991, Spindrift immediately gained local support from the already thriving punk rock scene of Newark, DE. Kirpatrick Thomas, Pete Vankowenburg, Chris Andrews, & Paul Budd all shared the same musical influences and the same views on the music world. At that time such bands as Jake & the Stiffs, Rail Head, The Mistood, Walleye, & Jones Chapel where the staple of the Newark scene. Spindrift stood out as an alternative to the standard punk sound. Their mix of psychedelic space rock blended the hard edge of punk; with the swirling sound of the 80's progressive art rock. Compared at that time to Voivod meets The Doors the band was in its fledgling stages developing as a band.
During the early 90s' Spindrift released multiple cassettes and 7in. records on numerous East Coast independent record labels with limited sales. With a gloomy future and the decline of the Newark punk rock scene, the band suffered a major setback. In 1994 bassist Pete Vankowenberg left the band in pursuit of a career with the CIA. Now short a member, and no scene to entertain, Kirpatrick Thomas went into seclusion and began writing. During a weeklong drug binge, K.P. caught wind that local bassist Party Chango(aka Joe Baluta) was looking for a gig. Chango had shared the stage as a member of now Boy Sets Fire singer Nathan Grays' band Jones Chapel. Party Chango had a solid, big bass sound, which fit well into the Spindrift mix. With a renewed lineup and no local scene, Spindrift began playing the East Coast circuit with Philadelphia and New York being the first to experience the new Spindrift lineup.
The new sound had taken on a harder, more developed edge. After months of writing, and the addition of keyboardist Jay Caddle, Spindrift began the recording of their first full length Spindrift CD 'Strange Range'. Recorded at Manic Music Studios and produced by former Jake & the Stiffs drummer Z.Miles Masterson, the record was completed in August of 1996. With a huge live sound Spindrift continued playing the East Coast in support of 'Strange Range'. The record received mixed reviews, and sales suffered. Billed as The Cult with a Gary Newman flare, Spindrift had trouble drawing more than the avid local fan. Disappointed and discouraged, the band took a break. After a long boring year, Jay Caddle retired to continue the world-renowned super group MoJunk and K.P. went into hiding again. Spindrift maintained a low-key profile playing sporadically in local venues throughout the next year. Z.Miles continued promoting the band via national music conferences when the BIG BREAK came. Well, it appeared to be the big break, in 1999 Spindrift was approached by a former Bon Jovi producer Bill Grabowski. Grabowski offered the band a production contract to record a full-length record at Grabowskis' new studio in Brownstown, PA. K.P., Changeo, and Miles were ecstatic, Bud and Andrews were not. The contract contained a recoupe clause that left the band owing over $12,000 for the recording.
After 5 months of discussion with no agreement in site, the band broke up. Andrews and Budd formed Newark Chic Rock band Sunfly. K.P. and Changeo, determined to record with Grabowski, asked Z.Miles to drum and recruited local rock legend Lief Carney to play guitar. 8 months later and $17,000 over budget "We Come From The United States" was released. With gritty guitars, booming bass, pounding drums and K.P. vocals, the album gained critical acclaim. Touted as the launch of the New Hawkwind sound, and mixing house beats with random space sounds Spindrift still lacked the popular support needed to sell records. WCFTUS topped out at just under 5,000 units late in late 2000. Lief Carney left to continue forming The Electric Subconscious and the band added punk rock sensation Blairio Valente. This was the real deal. The band began playing monthly in New York, Boston, and the Philadelphia area. In 2001, Spindrift recorded 4 punk rock songs, a live show at the East End Cafe and released it as a limited edition CD called "10 Million Asians Can't Be Wrong". A week and a half tour of the south followed. Late in 2001, Chango followed his heart left for Boston ,and Valente left the band. K.P. and Miles reassembled for one last recording, adding Bill Degnan(Space Vipers) and Dan Kerigan(The Creeping Unknown) to record the most compelling Spindrift songs to date.
After a 6-month break, Kirpatrick relocated to Los Angeles to launch the West Coast version of Spindrift, a spaghetti western soundtrack band. K.P. began writing his first film, 'The Legend of God's Gun' and recorded the soundtrack with the new Spindrift lineup. K.P. found work playing guitar with The Brian Jonestown Massacre on their 2002/2002 US tours. Late in 2002, Z.Miles relocated to Las Vegas and Party Chango joined K.P. in Los Angeles to rejoin the band and begin yet another phase of the Spindrift legacy. West Coast shows with The Lillys, Dead Meadow, Gram Rabbit along with other touring acts ensued.
After 1 year in LA the band has began a new chapter in the legacy, adding guitarist Bobby Bones (Psychic TV, Morlocks) to the line-up the boys have recorded and released a new album "Songs from the Ancient Age", possibly the BEST effort the band has ever produced. Kicking off an East Coast mini-tour with open slots for Dead Meadow, the band began again to make a run for the top. Spindrift released "Space is Between the Years Vol.1" a recollection at the past 10 years of various recordings. Then they embarked on a reunion tour of the east coast in Winter 2005. In April, Kirpatrick got ahold of ultra-talented director/bass player Mike Bruce(Low Flying Owls). Together the two began reviving the treatment, script for the western K.P. created "The Legend od God's Gun". Production and filming began April 2005 in Yucca Valley, CA. It is a story of a wayward preacher subjected to the evil western lands of 1879. Release of the movie as a short film to gain interest for a feature is expected in Fall 2005.
Currently, A West coast tour/ Residency every Monday at the ECHO(LA) in June is happening spring 2005, an east coast tour in the fall and a trip to the UK early next year are being planned.
The Spindrift legacy continues to warp the concious mind of the onlookers who saw it as a baby way back in the days of Newark, DE in 1991. Kirpatricks sense of shifting and creativity will always keep listeners on their feet. As Spindrift continues to grow and grow what to expect in the far future we can only guess...............
|
MORE PICTURES
|
|
|
