So Many Dynamos
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| So Many Dynamos | ||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Origin | Edwardsville, Illinois, US | |
| Genre(s) | indie rock | |
| Years active | 2002 - present | |
| Label(s) | Skrocki Records | |
| Website | http://www.somanydynamos.org | |
| Members | ||
| Aaron Stovall Ryan Wasoba Clayton Kunstel Griffin Kay |
||
| Former members | ||
| Ryan Ballew | ||
So Many Dynamos is a rock band from Edwardsville, Illinois, a city in the metro-east St. Louis area. Their music is generally classified as indie rock, combining aspects of pop, dance-punk, and math rock.
Contents |
[edit] History
So Many Dynamos was formed in 2002 when two St. Louis area groups broke up; bassist/vocalist Aaron Stovall and guitarist Ryan Ballew were members of Children's Audio, while guitarist Ryan Wasoba and drummer Clayton "Norm" Kunstel were members of Saving Boy Wonder. The four had known each other since 2000, when the two bands began playing shows together. Saving Boy Wonder disbanded in August 2002, and a few months prior, Wasoba joined Children's Audio. On September 22, 2002, Children's Audio broke up. The same evening, Stovall, Ballew, and Wasoba decided to start a new band.
Shortly afterwards, the group began practicing and writing, initially with drummer Corey Smale. Smale was soon replaced by Norm. The band's first performance was at Sally T's in St. Peters, MO on January 2, 2003.
The band's first recording, a five-song EP entitled Are We Not Drawn Onward to New Era?, was released by now-defunct St. Louis label Ambivalent Records. The album was recorded by John John on ProTools at Red Light Studios in St. Louis.
Shortly after recording, So Many Dynamos bought a 1993 Chevy G-Van 20 and went on their first self-booked tour on the west coast in June 2003. Griffin Kay, who would later replace Ballew in the band, came along on the tour as merch-jockey.. In Seattle, WA, the group met Robbie Skrocki, owner of Skrocki Records, who would later release the band's first album. In July 2003, the group toured again, a week-long midwest trek with Columbia, MO's The Texas Chainsaw Mass Choir. Around this time, Stovall began using a second keyboard to play melodies in addition to basslines.
So Many Dynamos recorded their first full-length, entitled When I Explode, in February 2004 at Chicago's Semaphore Studios. The record was mixed by former Dismemberment Plan member Jason Caddell at Inner Ear Studios in Arlington, VA.
When I Explode was released by Skrocki Records in June 2004, and the band toured the U.S. for six weeks, playing most shows with Houston's Bring Back the Guns. In August, before a tour with HORSE the Band, guitarist Ryan Ballew quit the group. Greg Stinson filled in for Ballew on the tour, and former merch-jockey Griffin Kay became a permanent guitarist in the group on September 11.
In the summer of 2004, Norm, Griffin, and Ryan started a record label, Aim and Fire Records. They released music by Target Market, The Happening, and Dancing Feet March to War. Around the same time, Norm and Ryan began playing as an instrumental two-piece entitled Chunnel.
During a short tour with HORSE the Band in October 2004, Griffin Kay injured his knee in Columbus, Ohio. This developed into a near-fatal staph infection, and Nathan Bernaix of St. Louis band Target Market filled in for 2 shows in November.
In February 2005, the band recorded the song "It's Gonna Rain" for a split 7" single with Bring Back the Guns. The song was recorded and mixed by Chris Deckard at Radio Penny Studio in St. Louis. The record was planned for immediate release on Aim and Fire Records, but the release was delayed due to insufficient funds. The band spent most of 2005 touring, attempting to play all 48 continental states within the year, but ultimately only playing 35.
In October 2005, the band went on tour as backing band for Emperor X, solo project of Chad Matheny. This tour also included dates with Bring Back the Guns, and Matheny released the So Many Dynamos/Bring Back the Guns split 7" on his Discos Mariscos label in December 2005.
So Many Dynamos began recording their second full length record, Flashlights with Chris Deckard at Radio Penny in March 2006. The band spent more time in the studio than with When I Explode, and consequently were able to experiment wildly with instrumentation; the record utilizes a horn section and a choir, and incorporates instruments such as thumb pianos and toy accordions. This resulted in a more intricate and "live" sounding record, expanding on the band's existing sound and showcasing new influences (Broken Social Scene, Steve Reich, Talking Heads).
In April and May 2006, the band (excluding Aaron Stovall) went on a second tour as backing band for Emperor X. The tour including a few dates with singer/songwriter John Vanderslice; Unfortunately, due to contractual obligations to Vanderslice's booking agent, Emperor X was only allowed to perform solo.
Around the same time, the band was picked up by booking agent Skinny Touring, and as a result So Many Dynamos began an extensive tour schedule that would put the band on the road for over 100 shows between June and November. This included a midwest and east coast tour in September with Harvey Danger. On October 21, outside of the Paradox, a Seattle venue, the band fell victim to a robbery; all of the group's guitars were stolen, along with a cell phone and a wallet.[1] Fortunately, the band had become friends with Death Cab for Cutie member Christopher Walla, who lent them guitars to finish the tour.
They are currently on tour with HORSE the Band, The Number 12 Looks Like You, and Light This City
[edit] Notable Bands Played With
[edit] 2003
The Postal Service, Cex, Target Market, Minus the Bear, Maritime, HORSE the Band
[edit] 2004
Junior Senior, Blue Velvet, Emperor X, Troubled Hubble, Norma Jean, Decibully, Fear Before the March of Flames, The Octopus Project
[edit] 2005
The City on Film, Thunderbirds are Now!, Murder by Death, DMBQ, Oxford Collapse, Piglet, Headphones, Secret Machines, Foundry Field Recordings, The Robot Ate Me, The Show is the Rainbow
[edit] 2006
Harvey Danger, Cinemechanica, The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower, Travis Morrison, Appleseed Cast, MC Chris, Supersystem, Chin Up Chin Up, Irving, The Cassettes, Now It's Overhead
[edit] 2007
HORSE the Band, Heavy Heavy Low Low, The Number 12 Looks Like You
[edit] Equipment
Aaron Stovall: Realistic MG-1 synth, Korg MicroKorg, Ampeg SVT bass head, Ampeg 8x10 cabinet
past equipment: Moog Opus 3, Crate PA Head, Ampeg Sub-Blaster Octave Pedal, DOD Bass Overdrive Pedal, Fender P-Bass, SansAmp pedal
Ryan Wasoba: Gibson SG-Z, Marshall JCM 800, Boss Octave Pedal, Electro Harmonix Big Muff (Russian), Digitech Bass Synth Wah, Boss TU-2 tuner, Fender 4x12 Cabinet
past equipment: Squier Supersonic, Electro Harmonix Stereo Memory Man, Fender Ultimate Chorus, Marshall Mosfet Lead 100
Clayton Kunstel: 1960's Slingerland Drum Set, Zildjian Sweet Ride, 24" Paiste Giant Beat, Roto-Toms
past equipment: Tama drum set, lots of cracked-ass cymbals
Griffin Kay: Rickenbacker 330, Sovtek Cudano, Boss DD-6 delay, Behringer TO800 overdrive, Boss TU-2 tuner, Marshall 2x12
past equipment: Gibson SG, G&L Tribute ASAT Hollowbody, Danelectro French Toast octave distortion, Marshall 4x12
[edit] Members
Aaron Stovall - vocals, keyboards
Ryan Wasoba - guitar
Clayton Kunstel (commonly referred to as "Norm") - drums
Griffin Kay - guitar (September 2004-present)
Ryan Ballew - guitar (September 2002-August 2004)
[edit] Discography
| Name | Year | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Are We Not Drawn Onward to New Era? | 2003 | CD-EP | Ambivalent Records |
| When I Explode | 2004 | CD | Skrocki Records |
| So Many Dynamos/Bring Back the Guns split | 2005 | 7" | Discos Mariscos |
| Flashlights | 2006 | CD | Skrocki Records |
[edit] Notes
- ^ So Many Dynamos' Gear Nabbed - Pitchfork Media; accessed 14th February 2007
