Calico System was an American
metalcore
Metalcore (also known as metallic hardcore) is a fusion music genre that combines elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. As with other styles blending metal and hardcore, such as crust punk and grindcore, metalcore is noted for its use of ...
band from
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the Greater St. Louis, ...
. The group formed in 1998 and released several albums under the
Eulogy Recordings
Eulogy Recordings is an American independent record label established in early 1997 by hardcore guitarist John Wylie. The record company was founded in Cooper City, Florida but its headquarters moved around in various parts of Broward County, ...
label after successful LP releases and abundant touring. They announced their disbandment in 2007, stating each member decided to pursue their own career.
History
1998
Calico System was formed by group of friends in the fall of 1998. With the help of the apartment junkies they came up with their name. The quartet take a variety of different elements from
metal
A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...
and
hardcore
Hardcore, hard core or hard-core may refer to:
Arts and media Film
* ''Hardcore'' (1977 film), a British comedy film
* ''Hardcore'' (1979 film), an American crime drama film starring George C Scott
* ''Hardcore'' (2001 film), a British documen ...
and fuse them with
emo
Emo is a rock music genre characterized by emotional, often confessional lyrics. It emerged as a style of and hardcore punk from the Washington D.C. hardcore punk scene, where it was known as emotional hardcore or emocore and pioneered b ...
,
groove
Groove or Grooves may refer to:
Music
* Groove (music)
* Groove (drumming)
* The Groove (band), an Australian rock/pop band of the 1960s
* The Groove (Sirius XM), a US radio station
* Groove 101.7FM, a former Perth, Australia, radio station
* ...
,
punk
Punk or punks may refer to:
Genres, subculture, and related aspects
* Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres
* Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...
and various other genres.
After solidifying their line-up, they have gone on to independently release two EPs and complete several independent tours. They have also gained supporting spots for such bands as
Hatebreed
Hatebreed is an American hardcore band from Bridgeport, Connecticut, formed in 1994. The band released its debut album '' Satisfaction is the Death of Desire'' in 1997, which gave the band a cult following. The band signed to Universal Records ...
,
Poison the Well,
Open Hand
Open Hand is an American rock band, first formed in Hollywood, California in 1997.
History
Open Hand was formed in Hollywood, California in 1997 by guitarist/vocalist Justin Isham. With bassist Michael Anastasi and drummer Alex Rodriguez, they ...
,
Hopesfall
Hopesfall is an American post-hardcore band from Charlotte, North Carolina, formed in 1998. They are currently signed to Equal Vision Records. The band dissolved in 2008 after all members, with the exception of singer Jay Forrest, left the band ...
,
Finger Eleven
Finger Eleven is a Canadian rock band from Burlington, Ontario, formed in 1990. They have released seven studio albums (six as Finger Eleven and one as Rainbow Butt Monkeys), with their album '' The Greyest of Blue Skies'' bringing them into th ...
,
Candiria
Candiria are an American progressive metal band from Brooklyn, New York. Formed in 1992, the band was part of the second wave of New York hardcore, but subsequently expanded its performance to also play jazz, hip hop and progressive rock.
The ...
,
Sworn Enemy
Sworn Enemy is an American crossover thrash band from New York City.
Biography
The band formed as "Downfall" and later on as "Mindset", a product of the extremely expansive and influential New York hardcore scene. At its original inception th ...
,
Codeseven
Codeseven was formed in 1995 as a melodic hardcore band in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Their first "official" release (their actual first release was called ''Paper or Plastic'' 996 released through a small Winston-Salem-based label called Hu ...
,
dredg
Dredg (stylized as dredg) is an American rock band formed in 1993 in Los Gatos, California. The band's lineup consists of vocalist Gavin Hayes, guitarist Mark Engles, bassist Drew Roulette and drummer and pianist Dino Campanella.
Originally sta ...
,
Chiodos
Chiodos (, ) was an American post-hardcore band from Davison, Michigan. Formed in 2001, the group was originally known as “The Light-hearted Carpet Knights” before changing their name to "The Chiodos Bros," the band's name was a tribute to fi ...
,
Love Hate Hero
LoveHateHero was a rock band formed in Burbank, California in 2004 by vocalist Pierrick Berube, guitarists Josh Newman and Mark Johnston, bassist Paris Bosserman, and drummer Bryan Ross. They were signed to Ferret Music and released three album ...
, Mutter, and many others.
The continuous touring seemed to pay off, gaining them a spot on Eulogy Records where they would release their first LP, 'The Duplicated Memory". The album consisted of all of the songs on their local label EP, ''Love Will Kill All'' plus two brand new songs and one song that was re-recorded from their very first EP, ''
Question The Answer
Calico System was an American metalcore band from St. Louis, Missouri. The group formed in 1998 and released several albums under the Eulogy Recordings label after successful LP releases and abundant touring. They announced their disbandment i ...
''.
2005
Calico System's album, ''They Live'' was released in November 2005. A video for the single "They Live" aired on
MTV's Headbangers Ball
''Headbangers Ball'' is a music television program that consisted of heavy metal music videos airing on MTV and its global affiliates. The show began on MTV on April 18, 1987, playing heavy metal music videos from both well-known and more obs ...
. A video for the track "Running with Scissors" was also released.
2007
The band recorded their last album, ''Outside are the Vultures'', in January 2007. It was announced during recording that Erik Ramsier would leave the band to pursue a life with his family. Shortly thereafter, Shawn Keith announced he was leaving the band to work at a record label in West Hollywood, CA. Drummer Brad Sexton and guitarist Josh Travis, both from the St. Louis band When Knives Go Skyward were brought in as replacements.
Later in 2007 Calico System had to be changed to The Calico System because of a company of the same name.
On Wednesday, July 18, 2007, Calico System posted a blog to announce the breakup of the band.
2009
On December 26, 2009 the band played a one-off reunion show at Fubar in St. Louis.
Rick and Erik currently play in The Lion's Daughter along with former Rusted Skin bassist, Jon Milles.
Justin Haltmar currently plays/tours with the punk/hardcore outfit The Disappeared.
Band members
Last-known lineup
* Mark Owens - vocals
* Justin Haltmar - bass
* Rick Giordano - guitar
* Joshua Travis - guitar (
Emmure
Emmure () is an American metalcore band formed in 2003. Originally based in New Fairfield, Connecticut, before moving to Queens, New York, the group has released eight albums, with their first public release being a 2006 EP entitled ''The Compl ...
, ex-
The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza
The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza was an American mathcore band from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The band was founded (sans a vocalist) in Monroe, Louisiana by members Layne Meylain, Mason Crooks, Brad Thompson, and Mike Butler. They relocated ...
, ex-
Glass Cloud
Glass Cloud was an American metalcore band from Hampton, Virginia formed by Jerry Roush, Joshua Travis, Travis Sykes, and Chad Hasty in late 2011. The band released their debut album, ''The Royal Thousand'' on July 10, 2012 via Equal Vision Reco ...
, ex-When Knives Go Skyward, ex-The Goddamn Rodeo)
(2011–2015)
* Erik Ramsier - drums
Former members
* Nick Schaflein - bass
* Shawn Keith - guitar
* Brad Sexton- drums
* Geoff Cardin - guitar
* Ryan Woolsey - drums
* Andy Brandemeyer - guitar
* Ramon Woody - vocals
Discography
* ''Question the Answer'' (EP) (SGM Records, 2001)
* ''Love Will Kill All'' (EP) (SGM Records, 2003)
* ''The Duplicated Memory'' (Eulogy Recordings, 2003)
* ''They Live'' (Eulogy Recordings, 2005)
* ''Outside Are the Vultures'' (Eulogy Recordings, June 5, 2007)
Videography
* ''They Live''
* ''Running with Scissors''
References
External links
Official MySpace profileEulogy Recordings
{{Authority control
Musical groups established in 1998
Musical groups disestablished in 2007
Metalcore musical groups from Missouri
Musical groups from St. Louis
1998 establishments in Missouri
Eulogy Recordings artists