Beatnik Termites
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The Beatnik Termites are a Cleveland, Ohio power pop band with a heavy surf rock influence.
The band's original lineup of Reggie Silvestri on drums, Pat Kim (AKA Pat Termite) on guitar and lead vocals and Brian McCafferty on bass formed in 1987. Their sound and vocals are similar in style to the Beach Boys and early 1960s girl groups. While often lumped under the category pop punk, what sets them apart from other bands in this genre is their more complicated melodies, vocal arrangements, and mid-tempo beats. They are seen as the progenitors of subgenre of punk dubbed oldies-core, which is characterized by sugary doo-wop/oldies-influenced harmonies coupled with aggressive buzzsaw guitars and surf punk drumbeats.
After releasing several EPs and compilation tracks, the Beatnik Termites released their first full-length album, Taste the Sand, in 1995, which established them as the torchbearers of the oldies-core genre.
After Brian McCafferty left the band in 1995 and joined another Cleveland area pop-punk band, The Unknown, the band lacked a bass player for several years. Soon after, Josh Yakunich, formerly with The Proms, joined the band to record the live album "Live at the Orifice" in 1996 which was later released in 1997. Also in 1997, they recorded Bubblecore with Pat Kim playing Bass. This release was a foray into harder-edged sounds, and after discussions to release the album with pop-punk giant Lookout! Records, they eventually released it with Recess Records in 2002.
In 1997, the band covered the entire Ramones 1981 album Pleasant Dreams released jointly by Coldfront Records and Clearview Records. In 2003, they returned to their classic oldies-influenced sound with Girl Crazy. The Beatnik Termites' catalog is currently available on Insubordination Records.
Examples of other bands derivative of this style (some of whom cite the Beatnik Termites as a direct influence) include the Spazzys, The Proms, The Travoltas and The Unlovables. The Beatnik Termites are also cited as a major influence by numerous straightforward pop punk acts including the Teen Idols, Mach Pelican, and The Steinways. The Queers are rumored to have named their Bubblegum Dreams EP after two Beanik Termites releases, Bubblecore and Schoolboy's Dream, respectively; even co-opting the artwork theme from Bubblecore. Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain is documented to have cited the Beatnik Termites as a favorite band in the Cobain Diaries.
[edit] Discography
- Self-Titled [LP] (1989)
Charlie Brown Gets A Valentine
Strawberry Girl
When She's Nearby
Circles
Veronica
Faces
Sand Castles
- Ode to Susie and Joey [7"] (1991)
Ode to Susie and Joey
Termite Hop
- Schoolboy's Dream [7"] (1993)
Charlie Brown Gets A Valentine
Denise,Denise
9:15
Veronica
Angel Saw Reggie's D*ck
- Taste the Sand [LP/CD] (1995)
Ode To Susie and Joey
9:15
Denise, Denise
Angel Saw Reggie's D*ck
Halfpipe
Surf Dancin'
Mary Lou
Voice On The Radio
Termite Hop
Undesirable
My Sweet Valentine
- Strawberry Girl [7"] (1995)
Strawberry Girl
When She's Nearby
- Live at the Orifice [LP/CD] (1997)
Charlie Brown Gets A Valentine
9:15
How Many Times
Strawberry Girl
Angel Saw Reggie's D*ck
Mary Lou
When She's Nearby
Granola Head
Veronica
Surf Dancin'
Ode To Susie and Joey
Termite Hop
I Don't Wanna Be Bad
Shit, Fuck
- Bubblecore [LP/CD] (1996)
I Don't Wanna Hang Around
You're All Talk
A Girl I Know
Sh*t, F*ck
I Don't Wanna Be Bad
Skateboard
You're the Only One
You Make Me Sick
Circles
Eddie's Got a New Zit
Can't Pretend
Jailbreak
Beach Girl
Don't Tell Me
- Pleasant Dreams [LP/CD] (1997)
We Want the Airwaves
All's Quiet on the Eastern Front
The KKK Took My Baby Away
Don't Go
You Sound Like You're Sick
She's a Sensation
7-11
You Didn't Mean Anything to Me
Come on Now
This Business is Killing Me
Sitting in My Room
- Girl Crazy [CD] (2003)
Red Haired Girl
Somebody Else's Baby
Amanda Tells Me
Rock All Night
Reanna
Dream Girl
Angel
Sorry
All Messed Up
