Beefeater (band)

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Beefeater
Origin	Washington D.C.
Genre(s)	Post-hardcore
Years active	1984-1986
Label(s)	Dischord Records
Associated acts	Strange Boutique Fidelity Jones Rhythm Pigs Embrace Rites of Spring
Former members
Tomas Squip Fred Smith Dug E. Bird Bruce Taylor Mark Shellhass Kenny Craun

Beefeater was a Washington D.C. post-hardcore band formed in Autumn 1984 by Tomas Squip, Fred Smith, Dug E. Bird and Bruce Taylor. They were pioneers of the Post-hardcore genre and the Revolution Summer which took place in Washington D.C. in the mid 80's with equally minded bands like Embrace, Rites of Spring and Nation of Ulysses among others. Their debut LP, Plays for Lovers was released in 1985 on the Dischord and their follow up House Burning Down was released in 1987, a year after the band's demise. Drummers Mark Shellhaas and Kenny Craun replaced Taylor on later albums. Squip and Bird went on to form Fidelity Jones, while Craun joined the Rhythm Pigs.

The first Beefeater album

While Beefeater's songs had all the angry energy of its hardcore labelmates the energy was channelled as much through funk and jazz as rock and roll. Dug E. Bird's fast-paced bass slap drives a rhythm section over which Fred "Not Sonic" Smith's guitar rides in a way reminiscent of the Minutemen. House burning down saw the incorporation of even more non-punk influences, most notably world music and included musical cameos many of the Dischord Records regulars (Ian MacKaye provides a priceless intro to the album, in addition to some saxophone). The EP on the Olive Tree label, was more straight-ahead, sounding a bit more like a Caribbean flavoured Gang of Four meets The Fall.

Squip's essay in Threat by example: a documentation of inspiration (Martin Sprouse, editor, 1991 Pressure Drop Press: San Francisco, ISBN 0-9627091-1-5) outlines his notably religious world view and motivation, unusual for a Dischord band.

[edit] Discography

Plays For Lovers 1985 Dischord Records (catalog #17) Bruce Atchley Taylor plays drums.
Need A Job 1986 Olive Tree Records (catalog #106) Mark Shellhaas plays drums.
House Burning Down 1987 Dischord Records (catalog #23) Kenny Craun plays drums.