Tarnation (band)

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Tarnation are an alt-country band, formed by Paula Frazer in late 1992, primarily recording on the 4ad label.

Tarnation originally comprised just Frazer on vocals and guitar, but she was joined in 1993 by Brandan Kearny on lap steel guitar and Brent Johnson on guitar and vocals.

Musicians Michelle Cernuto, Lincoln Allen and Matt Sullivan soon joined the band. With this line-up, Tarnation released the album I’ll Give You Something To Cry About on Nuf Sed Records in 1993.

Cernuto, Allen and Sullivan left the band in May 1995, after recording the album Gentle Creatures. It was released on 4ad later that year, featuring seven re-worked songs from I’ll Give You Something To Cry About^[1].

Frazer quickly reformed Tarnation, with a line-up including Alex Oropeza on guitar, Bill Cuevas on bass and lap steel guitar and Joe Byrnes on drums.

Jamie Meagan joined on bass in 1997, in time to take part in the recording sessions for the band's final album, Mirador.

The band split up after the release of Mirador in 1997. Frazer continues touring and recording under her own name, while Oropeza and Byrnes play in their own band, Broken Horse.