Mico is a Canadian former punk band from

Banff, Alberta Banff is a town within Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is located in Alberta's Rockies along the Trans-Canada Highway, approximately west of Calgary and east of Lake Louise. At above Banff is the community with the second highest e ...

, Canada

History

Formed in the late 1990s by John Stewart (of Red Fisher and Black Halos fame), Mico originally existed as a 3-piece consisting of Todd Lapp (bass, and body), Troy "BDF" Fleischhaker (drums) and John Stewart (guitar, vocals). All three founding members were at the time living in

, Canada and formed the band as a way to get free beer at the local establishments around the small resort town. In 1999 the band relocated to Calgary, Alberta and in early 2000 added a second guitar player, Patrick May, formerly of the band Nine Miles to Morgan, and top guitarist of all time. This lineup recorded the 4 song ep "A Timpani of Failure of Defeat", a self-released CD which is now long out of print. In the summer of 2000 Fleischhaker left the band temporarily and was replaced by Todd Harkness (formerly of

Porter Hall Clifford Porter Hall (September 19, 1888 – October 6, 1953) was an American character actor known for appearing in a number of films in the 1930s and 1940s. Hall typically played villains or comedic incompetent characters. Early years Hall wa ...

and

The Browns The Browns were an United States, American country music, country and folk music vocal trio best known for their 1959 Grammy-nominated hit, "The Three Bells". The group, composed of Jim Ed Brown and his sisters Maxine Brown (country singer), Ma ...

) on drums. This version of the band spent the better part of the year touring Western Canada. Fleischhaker returned to the band in March 2001 and Harkness moved over to third guitar and keyboard duties. This version of the band recorded and released the album ''Standing Inside a Shadow'' in the summer of 2001, which was released by Does Everyone Stare Records in North America and Boss Tuneage Records in the UK and Japan. Outtakes from this record made their way onto a split 8.5" vinyl record with fellow Calgary band First In Last Out. Only 300 copies were released and are hard to find as distribution was nonexistent on this release. In 2002 the band toured behind ''Standing Inside a Shadow'' and also released a split 7-inch with The Milwaukees. This 7-inch was released on Does Everyone Stare, and features two previously unreleased songs, including a cover of "

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" is a song by the English Rock music, rock band the Smiths, written by guitarist Johnny Marr and singer Morrissey. Featured on the band's third studio album ''The Queen Is Dead'', it was not released as a ...

" by

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. During these sessions the band also record a cover of

Shudder to Think Shudder to Think was an American alternative rock band. Formed in 1986, they released three albums on the Washington, D.C.-based label Dischord Records, and two on Epic Records. Their early work was largely influenced by post-hardcore although ...

's "White Page" for a Shudder to Think tribute album released by Engineer Records. In 2003 Lapp left the band and was replaced by Cameron Brass, also of the band Nine Miles to Morgan. The band signed to

G7 Welcoming Committee G7 Welcoming Committee Records was a Canadian independent record label based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The label mostly released material by artists and speakers with a radical left-wing point of view. History G7 Welcoming Committee Records was f ...

and the album ''Outside the Unbearable Grows'' was released in the summer of 2003. A limited edition picture disc LP version was released in the fall of 2003 by Does Everyone Stare & Boss Tuneage. 2004 saw the band experience a period of inactivity as various members moved away or left the band. Stewart started working on the band's third full-length ''Our Living Language'', playing the majority of the instruments himself, while most of the drums were handled by Troy's brother Mark Fleischhaker. Harkness and May played guitar on three songs each, and Troy Fleischhaker played drums on one track. The album was released digitally by G7 Welcoming Committee in 2006 and a short run of CDs was made for the band's tour in support of the album. The band has since played a handful of show around their former home base of Calgary. In January 2010 the band reformed with almost all original members (Stewart, Fleishhaker, May and Harkness along with bassist Jahmeel Russel) as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of University of Calgary radio station CJSW. The same lineup also performed at the 2010 edition of Sled Island, playing a show with Ted Leo and Why? There are plans for more shows but no word on any new recordings.

Discography

* ''A Timpany of Failure and Defeat'' EP (2000) * ''Standing Inside a Shadow'' (2001) * split 8.5" with First In Last Out (2001) * split 7-inch with The Milwaukees (2002) * ''Outside the Unbearable Grows'' (2003) * ''Our Living Language'' (2006)

External links

Artist page at G7 Welcoming Committee Records
{{Authority control Banff, Alberta Canadian punk rock groups Musical groups from Alberta Musical groups established in 1998 Musical groups disestablished in 2007 G7 Welcoming Committee Records artists 1998 establishments in Alberta 2007 disestablishments in Alberta