Dreadnaught USA

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Dreadnaught is a New Hampshire, USA-based experimental rock group that has internationally released 5 full-length albums since its formation in 1996. The band's sound is distinguished by acrobatic, intricate compositional and instrumental interplay coupled with a down-to-earth, wry approach to performance. Dreadnaught has been noted by critics in the U.S. and Europe for its eclectic, adventurous output in both studio and live settings.

Contents

[edit] History

Formed in 1996 at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, Dreadnaught regularly toured the Northeast United States through the recording of its first two albums, Dreadnaught (1998) and Una Vez Mas (2000). Both releases featured vocal-oriented roots-rock interspersed with progressive, art rock, and jazz elements; during this period, the band's live shows were marked by aggressive, energetic instrumental improvisation and increasingly sophisticated musical structures.

By the recording of 2001's The American Standard (Red Fez Records), the band (now a trio consisting of bassist Bob Lord, guitarist Justin Walton, and drummer Rick Habib) was touring nationally and had become more radical in composition and performance; The American Standard presented classical and jazz influenced multi-movement suites, quirky pop songs, and avant-garde metal instrumentals with augmented orchestration, including strings, brass, and winds. Critical response to the album was widespread and enthusiastic, exposing European, Eurasian, and South American audiences to the band for the first time and landing the group on numerous 'best of' listings.

After three years of steady touring and performance in support of The American Standard, Dreadnaught released the highly experimental Musica En Flagrante (Big Balloon Music/Red Fez) in 2004. Reflecting Lord's ongoing active work in film scoring, Flagrante was an entirely instrumental set of pieces featuring widely expanded instrumentation and recording techniques in addition to the debut of drummer Tim Haney.

The double-disc album Live At Mojo arrived in 2005 from the Italian label Comet Records and received a 4-star review from the All Music Guide upon release; the album was recorded live in the studio in late 2003 at the end of a national tour by Lord, Walton, and Haney, and features cuts not heard on any other Dreadnaught recordings. In 2005, Habib returned to the fold, and Lord released his first solo set, a collection of work for visual media called Audio For Film TV & Games (Red Fez).

In 2006, Dreadnaught returned to the studio to record new material with longtime engineer Shaun Frenchie Michaud, this time blending the musical extremity of prior sessions with a return to a more vocal-based style. HIGH HEAT & CHIN MUSIC: 10 YEARS OF DREADNAUGHT, a double-disc retrospective with new studio tracks and rarities, is scheduled for a fall 2006 release on the Big Balloon imprint.

[edit] Performances

Dreadnaught has received attention for energetic, humorous, and virtuostic performances that are musically divere and, at times, highly unorthodox. In addition to its solo tours, the band has served as opening act for John Entwistle (The Who), Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, King Crimson), NRBQ, Jim Weider (The Band), California Guitar Trio, and the Young Dubliners.

In 2005, the group began a prominent stint as house band for the New Hampshire Public Radio series Writers On A New England Stage at the Music Hall in Portsmouth NH, where it has performed with Dan Brown (THE DA VINCI CODE), Alan Alda, Doris Kearns Goodwin, John Updike, and in September 2006, Mitch Albom. The series has attracted international coverage and has been featured in press outlets such as The Today Show and Good Morning America.

[edit] Full-Length Releases

  • High Heat & Chin Music: 10 Years Of Dreadnaught (to be released 2006, 2CD, Big Balloon Music/Red Fez Records)
  • Live At Mojo (2005, 2CD, Comet Records/Horizons)
  • Musica En Flagrante (2004, Big Balloon Music/Red Fez Records)
  • The American Standard (2001, Red Fez Records)
  • Una Vez Mas (2000)
  • Dreadnaught (1998)

[edit] EPs

  • Pucka Pucka With Dreadnaught (2006, Red Fez Records, internet-only)
  • Dreadnaught Live (2000, Red Fez Records)
  • Dreadnaught EP (1996)

[edit] Reissues

  • Musica En Flagrante (2004, Big Balloon Music/Red Fez Records, 2006 re-issue in Baltic states by MALS label)
  • The American Standard (2001, Red Fez Records, 2006 re-issue in Baltic states by MALS label)

[edit] Select Additional Appearances

  • Store 118 (2006, animated mobile content series, Hatchling Studios)
  • Wander (Bob Lord, 2006, short film, Wander Films)
  • Flying Downhill (2005, feature documentary on Bode Miller, Coruway Film Institute)
  • Marilyn's Man (Bob Lord, 2005, feature documentary on Marilyn Monroe, Universal/Valhalla)
  • Apples & Oranges Compilation (2004, Various Artists, Red Fez Records)

[edit] Current Members

  • Bob Lord (1996-present)
  • Justin Walton (2000-present)
  • Rick Habib (1996-2002, 2005-present)

[edit] Former Members

  • Tim Haney (2002-2005)
  • Ethan Bessey (1996-2001)
  • Nick Trippi (1996-2001)
  • Ed Jurdi (1996-1997)
  • Ryan Thomas (1996-1997)

[edit] Affiliated Musicians

  • Shaun Frenchie Michaud (engineer)
  • Andy Happel (violin, engineer)
  • Duncan Watt (keys, engineer)
  • Tom Yoder (violin)

[edit] External links

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