godheadSilo is an American
noise rock
Noise rock (sometimes called noise punk) is a noise music, noise-oriented style of experimental rock that spun off from punk rock in the 1980s. Drawing on movements such as minimal music, minimalism, industrial music, and New York hardcore, a ...
duo formed in
Moorhead, Minnesota
Moorhead () is a city in and county seat of Clay County, Minnesota, United States, on the banks of the Red River of the North. Located in the Red River Valley, an extremely fertile and active agricultural region, Moorhead is also home to several ...
, that later moved to
Olympia
The name Olympia may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film
* ''Olympia'' (1938 film), by Leni Riefenstahl, documenting the Berlin-hosted Olympic Games
* ''Olympia'' (1998 film), about a Mexican soap opera star who pursues a career as an athlet ...
,
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
, before disbanding and moving to different parts of the country. The duo is composed of bassist
Mike Kunka
Mike Kunka is an American bass guitarist best known as a member of the drone metal group godheadSilo. He has also been a member of the groups Dead Low Tide and Enemymine, both based out of Washington state.
Biography
Michael Andrew Kunka fou ...
and drummer
Dan Haugh, who had grown up together in Moorhead, Minnesota.
They were known for their loud "wall of sound" live performances, which were full of raging drums, screaming and a gigantic heavy bass sound.
Mike employed many effects pedals and a large wall of amps to create his thunderous sound.
The group's sound is considered to be damaging, for both members of the band experience discomfort from the low bass tone of their music.
History
godheadSilo originally started in 1991 as a three-piece, with Phil Leitch playing guitar.
Leitch left the band after their first show at Fargo's Moose Lodge. From then on, the band recorded and performed as a two-piece. Their debut was their contribution to the
Moo Bob Records compilation album ''Nodak: Distorted Hallucinations'' with the track "Pull" from 1992.
The group relocated to
Olympia
The name Olympia may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film
* ''Olympia'' (1938 film), by Leni Riefenstahl, documenting the Berlin-hosted Olympic Games
* ''Olympia'' (1998 film), about a Mexican soap opera star who pursues a career as an athlet ...
,
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
and were signed to local
indie label
An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...
Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and Tinuviel Sampson, and based in both Olympia, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, but was originally known ...
. They recorded and released their debut ''
The Scientific Supercake L.P.
''The Scientific Supercake L.P.'' is the debut album of godheadSilo. It was released in 1994 by Kill Rock Stars.
Critical reception
Andrew Earles, in ''Gimme Indie Rock: 500 Essential American Underground Rock Albums 1981-1996'', wrote that the ...
'' in 1994 for Kill Rock Stars. The album is notable for its production; When played with the bass settings set to maximum, the album can cause damage to speakers and stereo systems.
After going through with a five-week long tour with
Sebadoh
Sebadoh () is an American indie rock band formed in 1986 in Northampton, Massachusetts, by Eric Gaffney and Lou Barlow, with multi-instrumentalist Jason Loewenstein completing the line-up in 1989. Barlow co-created Sebadoh as an outlet for his ...
, the group were signed to
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman. Sub Pop achieved fame in the early 1990s for signing Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney, central players in the grunge movement. They are often ...
,
who subsequently released their next two full-lengths ''
Skyward in Triumph
''Skyward in Triumph'' is the second studio album by godheadSilo, released on April 9, 1996 by Sub Pop.
Track listing
Personnel
Adapted from the ''Skyward in Triumph'' liner notes.
;godheadSilo
* Dan Haugh – drums
* Mike Kunka ...
'' in 1996 and ''
Share the Fantasy
''Share the Fantasy'' is the third album by godheadSilo, released on January 20, 1998 by Sub Pop.
Track listing
Personnel
;godheadSilo
* Dan Haugh – drums, photography
* Mike Kunka – bass guitar, photography
;Technical p ...
'' in 1998. Although the band has been on hiatus since the release of Share the Fantasy in 1998, Mike and Dan joined forces with
Murder City Devils
The Murder City Devils is an American garage rock band formed in 1996.
History
The band's original lineup, consisting of Spencer Moody, Dann Gallucci, Derek Fudesco, Coady Willis, and Nate Manny, formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1996. Gabe Ker ...
vocalist
Spencer Moody
Spencer Moody is the American vocalist for Seattle-based noise rock group Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive to Death. He was the lead vocalist for the Murder City Devils until their breakup in 2001, and returned to the band when they reformed in ...
in a band called Smoke and Smoke, releasing the album Love Suffers Long in 2004.
"Godheadsilo never really broke up," says Haugh, who lives in
. "I had a horrible accident, lost my ability to play drums for several years, and it was just kind of like a fade-away kind of thing." "I had an accident where my hand was almost cut off completely," Haugh says. "The doctors were like, 'You'll never play drums again.' A few years of intense physical and occupational therapy got it working again. It's still pretty wonky, but it can hold a drumstick just fine."
In 2015, godheadSilo reunited to play a concert in commemoration of Ralph's Corner, a Moorhead, MN music venue that closed in 2005.
On April 1, 2016, ''
Three Men and a Baby
''Three Men and a Baby'' is a 1987 American comedy film directed by Leonard Nimoy. It stars Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, and Ted Danson as three bachelors as they attempt to adapt their lives to de facto fatherhood with the arrival of the love ...
'', a collaborative album between
the Melvins
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
and Mike Kunka, was released by Sub Pop. The album, which the Melvins recorded their parts back in 1998, was shelved and uncompleted until recently when Kunka and the Melvins finished it.
The band did a short US Tour in January 2017. Only 10 shows were planned. When asked about the future of the band, both members gave mixed responses. Haugh showed interest in recording while Kunka did not.
Discography
;Studio albums
*''
The Scientific Supercake L.P.
''The Scientific Supercake L.P.'' is the debut album of godheadSilo. It was released in 1994 by Kill Rock Stars.
Critical reception
Andrew Earles, in ''Gimme Indie Rock: 500 Essential American Underground Rock Albums 1981-1996'', wrote that the ...
'' (
Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and Tinuviel Sampson, and based in both Olympia, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, but was originally known ...
, 1994)
*''
Skyward in Triumph
''Skyward in Triumph'' is the second studio album by godheadSilo, released on April 9, 1996 by Sub Pop.
Track listing
Personnel
Adapted from the ''Skyward in Triumph'' liner notes.
;godheadSilo
* Dan Haugh – drums
* Mike Kunka ...
'' (
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman. Sub Pop achieved fame in the early 1990s for signing Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney, central players in the grunge movement. They are often ...
, 1996)
*''
Share the Fantasy
''Share the Fantasy'' is the third album by godheadSilo, released on January 20, 1998 by Sub Pop.
Track listing
Personnel
;godheadSilo
* Dan Haugh – drums, photography
* Mike Kunka – bass guitar, photography
;Technical p ...
'' (Sub Pop, 1998)
;EPs
*''
Thee Friendship Village E.P.'' (Kill Rock Stars, 1993)
*''
godheadSilo
godheadSilo is an American noise rock duo formed in Moorhead, Minnesota, that later moved to Olympia, Washington, before disbanding and moving to different parts of the country. The duo is composed of bassist Mike Kunka and drummer Dan Haug ...
'' (Sub Pop, 1996)
;Compilation albums
*''
Elephantitus of the Night
''Elephantitus of the Night'' is a compilation album by godheadSilo, released on February 10, 1995 by Kill Rock Stars.
Track listing
Personnel
;godheadSilo
* Dan Haugh – drums
* Mike Kunka – bass guitar
;Technical personn ...
'' (Kill Rock Stars, 1994)
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:godheadSilo
American noise rock music groups
Musical groups established in 1991
Musical groups disestablished in 1998
Musical groups from Minnesota
Musical groups from Olympia, Washington
American stoner rock musical groups
Sub Pop artists
Rock music duos
1991 establishments in North Dakota