Xiu Xiu

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Xiu Xiu
Jamie Stewart, Caralee McElroy, and Ches Smith
Jamie Stewart, Caralee McElroy, and Ches Smith
Background information
Origin San Jose, California
Genre(s) Art Rock
Experimental music
Post-Punk
Indie
Years active 2000–present
Label(s) 5 Rue Christine
Absolutely Kosher
States Rights Records
Collective Jyrk
Website Official Site
Members
Jamie Stewart
Caralee McElroy
Ches Smith
Former members
Cory McCulloch
Lauren Andrews
Yvonne Chen
Sam Mickens
Jherek Bischoff
This article concerns Xiu Xiu, the California-based rock band. For information on the film, see Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl.

Xiu Xiu (pronounced shoe-shoe) is an experimental indie band originally from and currently based in San Francisco, California, with time often spent in Seattle, Washington. The band is the sonic brainchild of singer-songwriter Jamie Stewart, who has also been its only constant member since its inception. His current bandmates are his cousin, Caralee McElroy, and experimental percussionist Ches Smith (7 Year Rabbit Cycle, Good for Cows, Mr. Bungle). Xiu Xiu are also, on occasion, joined by Cory McCulloch, who has also produced several of their albums. Past members include Lauren Andrews, Yvonne Chen, Sam Mickens and Jherek Bischoff. Some, including McCulloch, have played in previous bands with Stewart such as Ten in the Swear Jar and IBOPA. The band's name is taken from the 1998 Chinese film, Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl.

Xiu Xiu's music draws heavily from several disparate genres including punk, noise rock, ambient noise, modern classical, and folk. The majority of lyrics deal with morose topics such as suicide, AIDS, war, and taboo experiences. Musically, Xiu Xiu will often blend cacophonous percussion with lush hooks and diverging lyrical styles. Xiu Xiu's music is also influenced by bands of the UK post-punk scene such as The Cure and Joy Division.

Contents

[edit] History

Having performed together in previous groups IBOPA (the Indestructible Beat of Palo Alto) and Ten in the Swear Jar, Jamie Stewart and Cory McColloch in 2000 formed their third collaborative effort, Xiu Xiu. An amalgamation of various independent artists and friends, Xiu Xiu began its first tour in 2000, aided by Lauren Andrews and Yvonne Chen, who had both contributed to the recordings of their first long-player, Knife Play and its successor EP, Chapel of the Chimes. Xiu Xiu took to performing their melodic/noise-oriented songs, which intially relied on strong percussive instrumentation and brass instrumentation.

Nearing the end of 2002, two losses occurred for the group. The group diminished in its size as Yvonne Chen left Xiu Xiu, so as to focus on both her vegan boutique Otsu and self-published magazine Zum. Cory McColloch too decided to refrain from touring, concerning himself primarily with the production of future Xiu Xiu recordings. The second loss was a personal one, as Jamie Stewart's father, musician and record producer Michael Stewart, committed suicide. While coping with these losses, Stewart created the follow-up to Knife Play, 2003's A Promise.

Continuing to focus on the subject matter touched on by their first LP, A Promise formed an almost conceptualized record of internal despair, social torment and emotional longing. Consisting of ten tracks, A Promise was oriented towards a more or less acoustic presentation, rather than relying on the booming brass and percussion which had worked to make Knife Play. However, the record did not veer from the formulated programming of which Stewart and McColloch would be praised for by fans and critics alike.

Xiu Xiu's live ensemble in support of A Promise consisted of Stewart and Absolutely Kosher Records comrades Sam Mickens and Jherek Bischoff of the Dead Science. In March of 2003, Xiu Xiu met yet another arduous dilemma. While performing in the state of Montana, all of the group's instruments; keyboards, drum machines, gongs, bells, drums, guitars, bass, harmonia, etc., were stolen. It is speculated that this loss would be the determining factor in the groups shift in terms of their sound in the following years. Nonetheless, Xiu Xiu continued to tour throughout the remainer of the year, with Stewart performing solo.

During this time, Stewart recorded the group's second EP, Fag Patrol, a collection of previous recorded material as well as covers of songs by the Smiths and his previous group with McColloch, Ten in the Swear Jar. Released as a handmade CD by Rob Fisk and Kelly Goodefisk's Absolutely Kosher Records, Fag Patrol was limited to only a few copies. In the spring of 2004, Stewart and McColloch released what is to date the group's most successful effort, Fabulous Muscles. More accessible and pop-friendly in its sound than previous releases, Fabulous Muscles boosted Xiu Xiu to new heights in terms of popularity, with its capstone, "I Luv the Valley OH!".

With the departure of Lauren Andrews, who wished to focus on her academic studies, Stewart was joined onstage by his cousin, Caralee McElroy. The two toured relentlessly throughout 2004, releasing not only the groups third LP, but also split recordings with musicians such as This Song Is a Mess But So Am I (Oedipus Records)and Bunkbed, along with the "Fleshettes" single. "Fleshettes" included a rendition of the Ten in the Swear Jar track, 'Helsabot', featuring vocals by McElroy. By the end of 2004, Xiu Xiu had already recorded the bulk of what would become their fourth record, 2005's La Forêt.

Seen as a return to Stewart's more dark and irate musical demeanor, La Forêt, through songs such as 'Pox', 'Saturn' and 'Rose of Sharon (the Grey Ghost Version)', alluded to a frustration which Stewart had felt throughout the process of recording. Focusing on subject matter such as self-hatred, apathy, and his frustration with U.S. President George W. Bush, La Forêt shifted towards a new format of instrumentation with the introduction of the autoharp, as well as 'Croatian' bells. Along with La Forêt, Xiu Xiu in 2005 joined Italian experimental group Larsen to form XXL, which released in 2005 their first LP, Ciautistico!. Stewart, McCollouch and McElroy issued formative splits throughout 2005, working with artists such as The Paper Chase, Kill Me Tomorrow, and Devendra Banhart.

Xiu Xiu broke from tradition in 2006 when their fifth LP, The Air Force, was produced not by Cory McColloch, but instead by Deerhoof drummer Greg Saunier. Saunier, who had previously worked with Stewart on Knife Play is noted for creating a more minimalist sound, a stark contrast from that of McColloch's wall-of-sound. The Air Force would be supported throughout 2006 by a three piece, as Stewart and McElroy were joined by Cong for Brums drummer/percussionist Ches Smith, who had previously worked alongside the group in its recordings. The Air Force is also the first full album with vocals by Caralee McElroy, on the track "Hello From Eau Claire".

A third EP, Tu Mi Piaci (which in Italian means "I like you"), a five-track cover record, with songs by artists Bauhaus, Nedelle, This Mortail Coil, The Pussycat Dolls, and Nina Simone was released, along with a collaboration with ambient artist Liz Harris, a.k.a. Grouper, entitled Creepshow. Plans are set for further collaboration with groups Larsen and the Parenthetical Girls, as well as for a DVD collection of the bands entire video history. The band continue to sell to their fans photographs, through its polaroid project, maintained by tour manager/friend David Horvitz.

Their newest record, entitled "Remixed & Covered," will be released 10th April 2007. It will consist of 2 CDs, featuring cover versions of Xiu Xiu songs by artists such as This Song Is A Mess But So Am I, Sunset Rubdown, Devendra Banhart and Her Space Holiday, amongst others. It will also include a cover of the New Order song 'Ceremony', performed by Xiu Xiu themselves.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Singles/EPs

[edit] Collaborations

[edit] External links

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