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| Gregor Samsa | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Richmond, Virginia, United States |
| Genres | Post-rock, shoegaze |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | Iodine Recordings (Past) The Kora Records (United States) Own Records (Europe) |
Gregor Samsa is an American band from Virginia, United States, formed in 2000 and fronted by Champ Bennett. It takes its name from the main character of Franz Kafka's novella The Metamorphosis.
The band's sound, although rooted in the post-rock genre, differs from that of other bands in the genre in that it employs dual vocals by Bennett and Nikki King, a feature which relates them to the shoegazing and slowcore genres. Gregor Samsa has stated on its website that "the early history of the group has been lost in a wash of noise, strange beeps, and outright lies”.
Reviews of their album compared it to acts such as Brian Eno, Múm, Sigur Rós, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Low.
In support of its latest release, the band played twenty-one eastern US venues in March before then venturing a 23-date tour of the United Kingdom, France, Luxembourg, and Germany during April. Historically, the band has chosen to tour and perform alongside a wide array bands and genres including Spokane, Kayo Dot, Barzin, Part Chimp, Calla, Engine Down, Isis, Pelican, Explosions in the Sky, Interpol, and many others.
The band completed their most recent album, Rest, in late 2007 and released it in April 2008.
Current members
- Champ Bennett - guitar, vocals, piano
- Billy Bennett - drums, video, samples
- Nikki King - Rhodes piano, keyboard, vocals
- Jeremiah Klinger - guitar, baritone guitar, clarinet, theremin
- Cory Bise - bass guitar
- Bobby Donne - Synth
- Mike Ashley - drums
- Mia Matsumiya - violin
Past members and contributors
- Brandon Evans - guitar, keyboard, lap steel guitar
- Jason LaFerrera - bass guitar
- Earl Yevak - drums
- Bobby Donne - bass guitar
- Rick Alverson - guitar
- Jason Wood - bass guitar
- Eric Yevak - guitar
- Amber Blankenship - cello, violin
- Jon Sullivan - double bass
- Nick Wurz - bass guitar (sometimes played with a bow)
- Nathan Altice - guitar, keyboard
- Tony Thaxton - drums
- Toby Driver - clarinet and vibraphone
Discography
Albums
EPs
- Gregor Samsa (CDEP 2002)
- 27:36 (CDEP 2003)
- 27:36+2dot (LP 2004)
Splits
- Split with The Silent Type (2001)
- Split with Red Sparowes (2005)
References
- "Stylus Magazine". Stylusmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- "55:12 - Gregor Samsa | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". Allmusic. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- "Popmatters.com". Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- "Stylus Magazine". Stylusmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 18 Sep 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- "Splendid are detective. Splendid are select". 1map.com. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
External links
- MySpace Profile
- Press Highlights for 55:12
- Last.FM Profile
- Discography @ Discogs.com
- Kennedy Center Performance