The Detachment Kit
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Detachment Kit is an American indie rock band. Detachment Kit, hailing from Brooklyn, New York, was born of the bandmembers' desire to express their musical disassociation with everything around them. While they embrace and support the current independent sonic palette, they see themselves as an inherently conceptual band that is separate from the readymade confines of scenes, labels and genre-specific musical movements. As singer, Ian Menard says:
"I think we are relative to the current indie scene, but we're not card carrying members of any particular genre. Actually, my card is all maxed out. What we are looking for is debt relief."
Ian Menard (guitar and lead vocals) and Charlie Davis (guitar) are the constructors of Detachment Kit. On "Of This Blood" (Frenchkiss Records), the highly-anticipated follow-up full-length to their 2002 debut "They Raging Quiet Army", Ian handled guitars, drums, and vocals while Charlie pulled double-duty playing guitar and bass. Since moving to New York Bryan Mayer has joined the band on bass. Nick davis has been filling the drum role for over a year solidifying an already powerful lineup
"Of This Blood" was recorded in two weeks time at Steve Albini's studio, Electrical Audio in Chicago, IL, the same creative hotbed where the band spent all of one day recording their first album, They Raging Quiet Army. The thirteen additional days wear well on Detachment Kit. Of This Blood is more than the proverbial musical leap forward for the band. The album distills themes of isolation, anxiety, triumph, loss, hope and sentiment into its own unique poetics; it is concrete with soft skin. Of This Blood travels many musical paths, surprising and challenging the listener at each turn. Guided by anthemic, angular guitars, throaty deep bass lines, bombastic drums and layers of confessional, angst-ridden, yet playful and vulnerable vocals, the album captures the dichotomy between danger and delicacy.
According to Charlie, their songs are "short stories that Ian and I make up when we drink together and sometimes when we drink alone." Ian describes their music as "developmentally challenged." Charlie's description, "We play rock and roll. The awesome Kind." And the critics agree with Charlie, as Detachment Kit comes highly acclaimed.
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[edit] Member Biographies
Both Ian and Charlie were born on the 4th of July in Tennessee. The album title, "Of This Blood" is an allusion to Ian and Charlie's deep personal and creative connectivity, as Charlie says, "[Ian and I] share the same blood." Ian agrees stating, "We are two cut from the same cloth." The two met in Chicago while in art school, and both remain dedicated visual artists today. Visual art continues to occupy a vital space for the band, and they have brought visual artists along on the road as opening acts. Making the transition from Tennessee to NYC - via the, birthplace-of-the-band, Chicago, environment has continually proved a substantial component of their music making. Ian comments, "Being from the south is very helpful in understanding rock and roll." Charlie finishes his sentence, "Changing environments a lot helps to understand different approaches to making music."
[edit] Live Performances
Detachment Kit's live shows have attained a mythical stature. Detachment Kit employs all manner of sweat, volume, theatrics and their fair share of audience participation.
The diversity in pairings is testament to their broad-base appeal and depth of their musical dimension. The band will be on the road more than off this coming year of '06.
[edit] Shared Stage
- Sparta
- Thursday
- My Morning Jacket
- Burning Brides
- The Walkmen
- Hot Hot Heat
- Coheed and Cambria
- Cursive
[edit] Discography
- They Raging Quiet Army Self-Starter Records (April 9, 2002)
- Of This Blood Frenchkiss Records (May 18, 2004)
- Plus Self Released (October 13, 2006)