Gauge is an American
post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a punk rock music genre that maintains the aggression and intensity of hardcore punk but emphasizes a greater degree of creative expression. It was initially inspired by post-punk and noise rock. Like post-punk, the term has been ...
band from the northwest suburbs of
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
.
History
From the ashes of the bands Ivy League and Target, Gauge formed at the beginning of 1991. Highly regarded in Chicago's northwest suburban punk scene, they inspired and performed with other bands from the same area such as
Cap'n Jazz
Cap'n Jazz (sometimes stylised as caP'n Jazz) was an American emo band formed in Chicago in 1989 by brothers Tim and Mike Kinsella, who were joined by Sam Zurick and Victor Villarreal. After a number of name changes and the addition of guitaris ...
, Friction, and
Braid
A braid (also referred to as a plait) is a complex structure or pattern formed by interlacing two or more strands of flexible material such as textile yarns, wire, or hair.
The simplest and most common version is a flat, solid, three-strande ...
.
Gauge released their first full-length, Soothe, by the end of 1992. After releasing their second album in 1994, entitled Fire Tongue Burning Stomach, they announced their break up. A posthumous 10" was released in 1995, making the band's final recordings available.
During their career, Gauge played 150 shows. Their final show was on October 6, 1994, at The Moose Lodge in Mount Prospect, IL with
Cap'n Jazz
Cap'n Jazz (sometimes stylised as caP'n Jazz) was an American emo band formed in Chicago in 1989 by brothers Tim and Mike Kinsella, who were joined by Sam Zurick and Victor Villarreal. After a number of name changes and the addition of guitaris ...
and Tetsuo.
Members of Gauge went on to perform in the bands Sky Corvair, Euphone,
5ive Style, Sweater Weather, Haymarket Riot, Traluma, Radio Flyer, Heroic Doses, Ambulette and Rollo Tomasi, as well as working with
Joan Of Arc
Joan of Arc (french: link=yes, Jeanne d'Arc, translit= an daÊk} ; 1412 â 30 May 1431) is a patron saint of France, honored as a defender of the French nation for her role in the siege of OrlĂ©ans and her insistence on the coronati ...
,
Owls
Owls are birds from the Order (biology), order Strigiformes (), which includes over 200 species of mostly Solitary animal, solitary and Nocturnal animal, nocturnal birds of prey typified by an upright stance, a large, broad head, binocular vi ...
and Noyes.
Kevin J. Frank contributed vocals to the songs, "Geheim" and "Sergio Valente", which are tracks 12 and 13 on disc 2 of the
Cap'n Jazz
Cap'n Jazz (sometimes stylised as caP'n Jazz) was an American emo band formed in Chicago in 1989 by brothers Tim and Mike Kinsella, who were joined by Sam Zurick and Victor Villarreal. After a number of name changes and the addition of guitaris ...
anthology album,
Analphabetapolothology
''Analphabetapolothology'' is an anthology album by Cap'n Jazz
Cap'n Jazz (sometimes stylised as caP'n Jazz) was an American emo band formed in Chicago in 1989 by brothers Tim and Mike Kinsella, who were joined by Sam Zurick and Victor Villar ...
. These songs also appear on the
Cap'n Jazz
Cap'n Jazz (sometimes stylised as caP'n Jazz) was an American emo band formed in Chicago in 1989 by brothers Tim and Mike Kinsella, who were joined by Sam Zurick and Victor Villarreal. After a number of name changes and the addition of guitaris ...
7", ''Boys 16 to 18 Years... Age of Action'' (Further Beyond Records, 1993).
On December 8, 2009, it was announced Gauge will play live for the first time since 1994 on March 6, 2010, at the
Bottom Lounge
Bottom Lounge is a concert hall at 1375 W. Lake St. in Chicago, Illinois. Originally located in Chicago's Lake View neighborhood at 3206 N. Wilton, Bottom Lounge was acquired by the CTA in eminent domain in 2001 and seized for demolition in 2005 ...
in Chicago, Illinois.
Following the 2010 reunion shows, a documentary/tribute/concert film entitled "GAUGE:153" was shot and edited by filmmaker Matt Golin. The film features 9 live songs from their 2010 reunion shows intercut with historical footage of the band and interviews with members of
Cap'n Jazz
Cap'n Jazz (sometimes stylised as caP'n Jazz) was an American emo band formed in Chicago in 1989 by brothers Tim and Mike Kinsella, who were joined by Sam Zurick and Victor Villarreal. After a number of name changes and the addition of guitaris ...
,
Braid
A braid (also referred to as a plait) is a complex structure or pattern formed by interlacing two or more strands of flexible material such as textile yarns, wire, or hair.
The simplest and most common version is a flat, solid, three-strande ...
, and Sidekick Kato among others.
Discography
Gauge Releases
Compilations
*''Split 7" w/ Grout Villa'' (Permanent Satan, 1992)
*''Achtung Chicago! Zwei!'' (Underdog Records, 1993)
*''It's A Punk Thing, You Wouldn't Understand'' (Shakefork Records, 1993)
*''A Very Punk Christmas'' (The Rocco Empire & Further Beyond Records, 1993)
References
External links
Official WebsiteMyspace
American post-hardcore musical groups
{{US-punk-band-stub