Self Defense Family
- "End of a Year redirects here."
Self Defense Family | |
|---|---|
| In Fargo, North Dakota, July 2006 In Fargo, North Dakota, July 2006 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Barf Spectrum, The Actuaries, World Shut Your Mouth, Comforter, Weird Field, Pewter Wizards, |
| Origin | Cohoes, New York |
| Genres | Post-hardcore Post-Punk Punk rock Indie Rock |
| Years active | 2003 - Present |
| Labels | Deathwish Inc., Revelation, Oneohfive, Losingface, Slave Union, CobraxRecords, Blacktop Records, Closed Casket Activities, Alliance Trax, Hex Records, Runner Up Records, Disposable Culture, Cumhard420 |
| Members | Sean Doody Andrew Duggan Patrick Kindlon Chris Tenerowicz Nick Warchol Mark O'Brien Benjamin Tate Seth Sauca Alan Huck Kaila Stone Adam McIIwee Caroline Corrigan Andy Rice E. Tobin Mary Brulatour |
| Past members | David Zeidman Mike Brandenburg Steve Hegner John Van Urgent Eric Busta Hans Leibold |
| Website | http://selfdefensemusic.com |
Self Defense Family (formally ""End of a Year"" and ""End of a Year Self Defense Family"") are a post-hardcore/punk outfit based in Cohoes, New York. The band has released three full length albums and numerous EPs.
History
End of a Year started as a side project for a Albany musicians already involved in full-time bands. Having spent time in heavier bands, the initial End of a Year line-up was interested in trying something more overtly melodic. Taking their name from an Embrace song, the band's original sound was highly influenced by the Revolution Summer-era DC bands.
The band recorded a boombox demo to give out at their first show, which took place at SUNY Albany. Shortly thereafter, a more formal demo entitled "Warm" was recorded. A full-length, Disappear Here, appeared on local labels Oneohfive and Losingface Records. The band later released a split 7" with western Massachusetts band Three Fifteen on another local label, Slave Union. It was this record that caught the attention of Revelation Records, and the band made the jump in 2006, recording their first full-length for the California label in the spring of that year.
Sincerely was recorded with Don Zientara at Inner Ear Studio, adding to the perception that the band was striving for a DC-centered sound; the actual music, however, strayed further from that model than on previous releases.
In the spring of 2009 the band released an EP for Deathwish Inc. and announced plans for a full-length release for the label. The subsequent LP, "You Are Beneath Me" saw the band straining the boundaries of post-hardcore and shedding many of the influences found on earlier material.
In late 2010, the band announced that they would be "reformatting" the group to officially include all touring and session musicians they had worked with up to that point. That brings the number of active musicians in the band to over fifteen. Writing credits are shared equally among those who play on each release.
In early 2011, the band debuted the first of its "Island Series". "Volume One: Jamaica" was recorded at Tuff Gong Studio in Kingston, Jamaica. Released through Deathwish Inc, the single pushed a noisier and more plodding side of the band.
Band name
The group formed in 2003 under the name "End of a Year" derived from an Embrace song of the same name. After the release of their 2010 album You Are Beneath Me, the group wanted to change their name to "Self Defense". As an interim name to ease the transition between names, Self Defense went by the name "End Of A Year Self Defense Family," and occasionally "Self Defense Music." Vocalist Patrick Kindlon likened the transition to Will Oldham's name changes. According to Kindlon, Oldham's band name went from "Palace Brothers to Palace Songs to Palace Music to Bonnie Prince Billy to Will Oldham."[1] On various vinyl releases, Self Defense used several "also known as" monikers including: Barf Spectrum, Comforter, Pewter Wizards, and Weird Field.[1]
Discography
The band is known for its prodigious output and has likened splits and EPs to "one night stands."
| End of a Year Self Defense Family discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 3 |
| EPs | 7 |
| Demo albums | 2 |
| Splits | 7 |
| Digital Only | 1 |
| Demo | 2 |
Albums
- Disappear Here - Oneohfive Records/Losingface Records 2004
- Sincerely - Revelation Records; LP licensed to Slave Union Records 2006
- You Are Beneath Me - Deathwish, Inc. 2010
Singles and EPs
- We Understand Europeans Are a Sexual People (as End of a Year AKA Barf Spectrum) - Blacktop Records 2007
- S/T or Descend, Bold Traveler - Deathwish Inc 2009
- More Songs about Transportation and Intercourse - Hex Records 2010
- The Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Emanuela Orlandi - Disposable Culture Records 2011
- Bacha Bazi - Cumhard420 Records 2011
- "I Heard Crime Gets You Off" / "To Your Scattered Bodies Go" - Run for Cover Records 2011
- Island Series Vol.1: Jamaica - Deathwish Inc 2011
Splits
- We Mate For Life (split with Three Fifteen) - Slave Union Records 2005
- God, There's a Lot of Pawn Shops and Check Cashing Places in This Town (split with Fire Team Charlie) - Sticky Translucent Goo Records 2006
- That Owl Is Staring at Me (split with Kids Explode) - Narshardaa Records 2007
- Most Attractive Band We've Done a Split With (as "End of a Year AKA Comforter, split with Adorno) - Existencia Records/Pine Records 2008
- Cat Eating Hotdog (split with Red Tape Parade) - Cobra X Records 2008
- But at Least Your Town Has the Lusty Lady (split with Shook Ones) - Runner Up Records 2008
- Everything I Know About Japan I Learned From Empire of the Sun and Astro Boy (split with Segwei) - Alliance Trax Records / Closed Casket Activities 2010
Demos
- Boombox Demo - demo tape 2003
- "Warm" - demo tape 2004
Compilation Appearances
References
- ^ a b Kindlon, Patrick (August 5, 2011). "The Name Game: Why Choosing a Band Name Is Important". Alternative Press. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
External links
- End of a Year Self Defense Family Twitter Account
- End of a Year Self Defense Family Youtube Channel
- End of a Year Self Defense Family page at Deathwish Inc Records
- End of a Year Self Defense Family Formspring Page
- Review of "You Are Beneath Me"
- End of a Year page at Revelation Records
- Review of Sincerely
- Interview with Patrick Kindlon "That's an awesome idea, to have so much material you can't keep track of it anymore."
- Interview with Patrick Kindlon "Guitar 1: Heresy, Guitar 2: Gang of Four, Bass & Drums: Rush"