Let’s continue our ongoing article series about ‘bird’ and ‘animal’ group names in rock and roll history, again picking up where we left off, exploring indie bands with the word ‘wolf’ in the title.
In the vein of Throbbing Gristles and Black Flag, the Michigan trio called Wolf Eyes creates hypnotic electronica mixed with early industrial noise and rock.
Initially a solo vehicle for Nate Young (formally of Nautical Almanac, Beast People and Minisystems) he recruited fellow musician Aaron Dilloway (of Galen, Couch and the Universal Indians) to join him in the rock-riffed electronica. In 2000 the duo added drummer John Olson (also from the Universal Indians) and they did a series of limited-edition collaborations as Wolf Eyes With Spykes, one of the many an aliases of Olson's. From then on they were known as the trio Wolf Eyes.
The group has released over 100 recordings in their relatively short lifespan, on labels such as Bulb Records, Troubleman Unlimited, Fusetron, and Sub Pop, as well as on Olson's American Tapes label, Dilloway's Hanson Records, Mike Connelly's Gods of Tundra label and Nate Young's AA Records.
Most Wolf Eyes recordings are released as lathe cuts, cassettes or CD-rs, with their first major release called "Dread," which was released in 2001. Mike Connelly replaced Dilloway in early 2005 and the band has continued to tour and self-release their unique brand of electronic and acid drenched industrial noise, firmly establishing themselves as the trailblazers of a genre.
The Montreal three-piece indie electro/shout punk band, We Are Wolves is comprised of Alex Ortiz (bass, guitar, vocals), Vincent Levesque (keyboards, beatbox, vocals) Antonin Marquis (drums and vocals). The trio released their electrifying debut, "Non-Stop Je Te Plie en Deux," on Fat Possum Records in September 2005. They describe their sound as “a post-punk landscape with analogue trees. Like rock after the postmodern explosion."
Nameless until 2002, the group got their name when Alexander showed up band practice wearing a home-made shirt with a skull spitting a synth displaying the inscription, 'We Are Wolves'. At that moment they decided to name the band We Are Wolves.
The band have toured extensively across their native land, Canada, the US and Europe and their second album, "Total Magique," was released September 4, 2007, with a new label Dare To Care Records. They have toured with groups such as Gossip, …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead and The (International) Noise Conspiracy.
The band have been busy lately recording their third album and wowing audiences with their undeniable sound, or as Pitchfork put it:
“You want sleek, un-perverted dance music, go to a disco. These guys only pump out the vilest of the male condition.”
Indie-pop band Wolfie is from Champaign-Urbana, Illinois and their origins date to the fall of 1991, when bassist/singer Joe Ziemba and singer/guitarist Mike Downey first met while attending high school together. After varied musical excursions for the pair, in late 1996 Ziemba's girlfriend, singer/keyboardist Amanda Lyons, joined the group, and upon her arrival the quartet rechristened themselves Wolfie. The band debuted a year later with the single "Don't Turn It Off," and in 1998 they released the effervescent full-length "Awful Mess Mystery." The LP "Where's Wolfie" followed in the spring of 1999, followed by “Tall Dark Hill” in 2001. The band was active from 1996 to 2001 and toured nationally over the years before dissolving.
Members went on to form The Like Young, Beaujolais, The National Splits, The New Constitution, and Mathlete, and Wolfie members Joe and Amenda Ziemba also had a side project, Busytoby. Mike Downey went on to pursue a solo career overseas.
Seasons of the Wolf was formed in October of 1988 by Wes Waddell (vocals), Barry "Skully" Waddell (guitarist/producer), and Dennis Ristow (Keyboards/studio-engineer). Throughout numerous personnel changes, there has been one constant- hell-driven heavy metal guitars and searing vocals.
In 1998, the band's 1st and 2nd albums were marketed to over 500 college radio stations in the US and in the fall of 1998 songs such as "Victim Of Darkness" and "October Moon" made it into top ten at 70 college radio stations. The main riff of "October Moon" was used in a MTV Dennis Rodman video. In the fall the next year the cuts "Lost In Hell," "Interstellar," and "Witchfinder" made it into heavy rotation on several more college stations and also into top ten charts.
Currently Seasons of the Wolf works with seven horror/sci-fi film companies and their songs and music appear in the soundtracks of nine films including: "The Seekers" - "Time Enough"/The Alien Conspiracy - "Betrayal" - "Goregoyles" - "Underbelly" - "The Van" - "Evil Ever After" - "BloodStained Bride" - and "Dead Things." Also, according to the band's MySpace page, they were in the studio recording the 5th release for early 2009.
Formed in 2002, Wolf & Cub are a four-piece band from Adelaide, Australia and their music is predominantly psychedelic with elements of funk. One aspect of the band's music that makes them unique is their use of two drummers which allows the percussive elements of their music to feature more prominently alongside the guitar.
The band released their debut self-titled EP through the Melbourne label Dot Dash in late 2004 and quickly built up a dedicated live following, expanded by show-stealing performances at the Big Day Out festival. In Australia, the band graced stages with TV on the Radio, The Killers, The Music, Wolfmother, Queens of the Stone Age and Death from Above 1979.
Work on their debut album, which had begun in April 2005, was completed in 2006. "Vessels" was released in Australia in September of 2006 and generated a positive response. After switching drummers,the band released the "One to the Other" EP, (produced by Chris Colonna from Bumblebeez) in June 2008. Their most recent album, "Science and Sorcery," was released in April of 2009.
In our next article, we will finish up the ‘wolf’ indie band name and move on to bands that fit our criteria- bands with bird and animal names.
Wolf Eyes Tidbits:
John Olson also performs in Dead Machines with his wife Tovah Olson.
Nate Young performs solo as Hatred and with Steve Kenney and Alivia Zivich in the visual music group Demons.
Wolf Eyes' first two major tours were with Sonic Youth and Andrew W.K.
We Are Wolves Tidbits:
In September 2008, We Are Wolves won a Gémeaux Award for the Best TV Musical Theme for Bazzo.tv theme.
The song "Psychic Kids" is featured on the video game Midnight Club: Los Angeles, and the song "Fight and Kiss" is featured on the video game Need for Speed: ProStreet.
Seasons of the Wolf Tidbits
Among the infuences Seasons of the Wolf list: Black Sabbath - Iron Maiden - Judas Priest - Thin Lizzy - Montrose - Deep Purple and according to htier MySpace page " Slayer - King Diamond - Mercyful Fate // and tons more from 3 decades of hardrock and heavy metal music. Also draws inpiration from Horror and Sci-Fi film soundtracks.
Wolf & Cub Tidbits
Wolf & Cub band members: Joel Byrne - vocals, electric guitar, percussion, Joel Carey - drums/percussion, Thomas Mayhew - bass guitar, Marvin Hammond - drums/percussion, saxophone
Their band name comes from a comic from Japan called "Lone Wolf and Cub"
Copyright 2009 Robert Benson
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