Paw (band)

Paw was an American alternative rock band from Lawrence, Kansas, that was formed in 1990. The band's original lineup consisted of vocalist Mark Hennessy, guitarist Grant Fitch, bassist Charles Bryan, and drummer Peter Fitch. They released three studio albums – Dragline, Death to Traitors and Home Is a Strange Place – and the B-side and outtake collection Keep the Last Bullet for Yourself before disbanding in 2000. Hennessy, Grant Fitch, and later bassist Jason Magierowski reformed in 2008 for several performances.

History

Paw was formed in 1990 in Lawrence alongside Kill Creek and Stick. Their work from this era can best be characterized as aggressive rock with melodic undertones, or 'Southern rock' as Hennessy explained in an MTV interview. They were hailed by many record companies as "the next Nirvana" and a bidding war erupted to sign them. The band signed a three-album deal with A&M Records during the height of the grunge wave, and released their first album, Dragline, in 1993. Their most well-known songs from this period included the singles "Lolita", "Jessie", "Couldn't Know", "The Bridge" and "Sleeping Bag", all of which received moderate rotation on the radio and on Headbanger's Ball, MTV's hard rock/heavy metal showcase. Paw toured the UK in 1993 supporting Tool with Headswim (months after Tool's UK support slot with Rage Against The Machine), introducing the band to an audience outside of America. The band recorded a session for BBC Radio 1's rock show in 1994 (during which they played the Reading Festival). Their songs "Jessie", "Pansy" and "The Bridge" were used in the 3DO, PC, Sega Saturn and PlayStation versions of the video game Road Rash.

In 1995, the band released its second album, Death to Traitors, on A&M Records. During this period, the band evolved by adding more instrumental and country elements to soften their hard rock edge. The band toured Europe and the UK in early 1995. While the album received favorable reviews from the press, sales soon fell due to a lack of promotional support from the band's label.^{[citation needed]} Paw was dropped by A&M in 1996, before their contract was fulfilled.

In 1998, Grant Fitch and Peter Fitch formed the band Palomar and released the album World Without Horses. Paw still played together during this period, and released a full-length compilation of B-sides and rarities entitled Keep the Last Bullet for Yourself on their own label, Outlaw Records.

In 2000, founding members Hennessy and Fitch signed Paw with Koch Records and released the mini-album Home Is a Strange Place the same year. The new album incorporated a more pronounced "stripped-down" blues element.

In 2008, after being scheduled on the same bill between their post-Paw bands, Hennessy and Fitch returned and played together on June 6, 2008, at the Revival Tent at the Wakarusa Festival in Clinton Lake, Kansas. The performance included the songs "Couldn't Know", "Home Is a Strange Place", "Death to Traitors", "Sunflower", "Hope I Die Tonight" and "Dragline".^[1] The band played its first headlining reunion show in Lawrence on Saturday, October 4, 2008, at The Bottleneck.^[2]

Post-Paw activities

Hennessy's book of poetry, Cue the Bedlam (More Desperate with Longing Than Want of Air), was published in December 2005 by Unholy Day Press.^[3] He shared vocals with Mike (bass guitar, vocals and guitar), Justin Parr (drums), Brody Buster (guitar, harmonica and keys), Heather Lofflin (vocals and guitar), James Garvic (bass guitar and guitar) and Kurt Nesbitt (bass guitar) in The Diamond Heart Club in Lawrence, from 2006-2007.^{[citation needed]}

Grant Fitch is currently playing and performing with drummer Jason Jones in The New Franklin Panthers, in Lawrence. The duo released its first instrumental album Hot Dogs Are Cool: In III Movements, on February 1, 2008.^{[citation needed]}

Peter Fitch is currently playing and performing with the vocalist and guitarist Brian Conway in Las Vegas.^{[citation needed]}

In 1997, Charles Bryan became "the fastest human in suborbital freefall reaching a mindblowing speed of 327 mph".^{[citation needed]} He is married and has two children, Emma and Rocket.^{[citation needed]}

Members

• Mark Hennessy – vocals (1990–2000, 2008)
• Grant Fitch – guitar (1990–2000, 2008)
• Peter Fitch – drums (1990–1998)
• Charles Bryan – bass guitar (1990–1994)
• Jason Magierowski – bass guitar (1995–1996, 2000, 2008)
• Dan Hines – bass (1996–1998)

Discography

Studio albums

• Dragline (1993)
• Death to Traitors (1995)
• Home Is a Strange Place (2000)

Compilations

• Keep the Last Bullet for Yourself (1998)

Singles

• "Lolita" (vinyl Single) 1992
• "Sleeping Bag" (vinyl single) 1992
• "Sleeping Bag" (CD single) 1993
• "Jessie" (CD single) 1993
• "Couldn't Know" (CD single) 1993
• "Surrender" (CD promo) 1994
• "Hope I Die Tonight" (CD single, UK and US versions) 1995
• "Traitors and Covers" (promo 5 track EP) 1995
• "Seasoned Glove" (tour promo CD) 1995
• "Max the Silent" (CD promo) 1995

References

External links

• Paw's official website