Racebannon was an American

noise punk Noise rock (sometimes called noise punk) is a noise-oriented style of experimental rock that spun off from punk rock in the 1980s. Drawing on movements such as minimalism, industrial music, and New York hardcore, artists indulge in extreme ...

band from

Bloomington, Indiana Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the central region of the U.S. state of Indiana. It is the seventh-largest city in Indiana and the fourth-largest outside the Indianapolis metropolitan area. According to the Mo ...

. The band, formed in September 1996, have cited influence ranging from

Antioch Arrow Antioch Arrow was an American punk rock band from San Diego, California, that formed in 1992. Most of their discography was released through the San Diego independent label Gravity Records. The label was responsible raising San Diego's profile ...

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 have also stated that they're heavily influenced by

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 ...

, hip-hop, heavy metal,

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

, and

the blues Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the African- ...

. The band's sound is noted for being odd and experimental, and the group has been dubbed as "noise rock" or "noise metal" by critics. Since their formation, the band has released numerous albums, extended plays, and splits through a variety of labels, such as

Secretly Canadian Secretly Canadian is an American independent record label based in Bloomington, Indiana, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin, London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin. Secretly Canadian is a label included in Secretly Group, which ...

and

Level Plane Level Plane was an American independent record label based in New York City that was founded in early 1997 by Greg Drudy for the release of Saetia's first 7". Drudy ran the label until it ceased to exist in 2009. It released records in a variety ...

History

Racebannon was formed in Indianapolis in 1996 by Michael Anderson and James Bauman. The group cites

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 ...

Melt Banana Melt-Banana is a Japanese noise rock band that is known for playing extremely fast noise rock mixed with experimental, electronica and pop-based song structures. Since forming in 1992 the band has released ten albums and toured worldwide extensi ...

, and Ice Nine as early influences. They cobbled together a lineup from members of other Indianapolis

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier p ...

bands and released their first 7-inch record in 1998. Many other 7-inches, split 7-inches, and compilation appearances followed, as well as the band's debut album, ''First There Was The Emptiness''. The group's name comes from Dr. Quest's bodyguard in the ''

Jonny Quest ''Jonny Quest'' is a science fiction-adventure media franchise that revolves around the titular boy named Jonny Quest, who accompanies his scientist father on extraordinary adventures. The franchise started with a 1964–1965 television serie ...

'' franchise. Among the group's unusual sonic attributes is the use of DJ

scratching Scratching, sometimes referred to as scrubbing, is a DJ and turntablist technique of moving a vinyl record back and forth on a turntable to produce percussive or rhythmic sounds. A crossfader on a DJ mixer may be used to fade between two record ...

, but as a conduit for noise rather than a rhythmic accompaniment (as in hip hop).Kurt Morris, Racebannonat

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

After moving to

, they signed with

, who released their full-length ''In the Grips of the Light''. The album was recorded with

Mike Mogis Michael Riley Mogis (born May 16, 1974) is an American producer/engineer and multi-instrumentalist who, along with his brother A.J. Mogis, founded Presto! Recording Studios (previously known as Dead Space Recording and, earlier, Whoopass Recor ...

of Lullaby for the Working Class, and resulted in their winning praise from ''

Alternative Press Alternative press may refer to: Individual publications * ''Alternative Press'' (magazine), an American music magazine Alternative journalism * Alternative media ** Alternative media (U.S. political left) ** Alternative media (U.S. political ri ...

''. 2002's ''Satan's Kickin' Yr Dick In'', was a concept album revolving around a

Faustian bargain Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust ( 1480–1540). The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a pact with the Devil at a crossroad ...

and was also produced by Mogis. Over the course of the album (sometimes considered a

rock opera A rock opera is a collection of rock music songs with lyrics that relate to a common story. Rock operas are typically released as concept albums and are not scripted for acting, which distinguishes them from operas, although several have been ad ...

), the protagonist, Rodney, sells his

soul In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being". Etymology The Modern English noun '' soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest atte ...

to Satan in exchange for the chance to become a

drag queen A drag queen is a person, usually male, who uses drag clothing and makeup to imitate and often exaggerate female gender signifiers and gender roles for entertainment purposes. Historically, drag queens have usually been gay men, and part of ...

rock star. The group performed at SXSW in 2003. ''Acid or Blood'', appeared in 2008 on

Southern Records Founded 1992 by John Loder, Southern Records is an independent record label (Loder also ran the recording facility Southern Studios). It is based in London and until 2008 had offices in the United States, France and Berlin. The label is close ...

. Another album, entitled ''Six Sik Sisters'' was released through Tizona Records in 2011.

Members

;Members *Mike Anderson - vocals (1996-2012) *James Bauman - guitar (1996-2012) *Alex T. Mann - bass (2011-2012) *Karl Hoffstetter - drums (2011-2012) ;Previous members *Kaiton Slusher - bass (1996-1997) *Chris "Sal" Saligoe - bass (1997-2011) *Ian Pedersen - drums (1996-1997) *Brad Williams - drums (1997-2011) *Chris Williams - vocals (1998) *Nate Spainhower - tapes & tables(2000-2001) *Mike Bell (2001-2006) *Dave Britts - noise DJ (2003) *Michael Anderson - noise (2003)

Discography

;Studio albums *'' First There Was the Emptiness'' (2000,

) Review of ''First There Was the Emptiness''

*'' In the Grips of the Light'' (2002,

) *'' Satan's Kickin' Yr Dick In'' (2002, Secretly Canadian) *'' IV: Acid or Blood (2008, Tizona) *'' Six Sik Sisters (2011, Tizona) ;Extended plays *''Racebannon Is the Most Complete Volume of the Motion of the Planets'' (1998, Witching Hour) *''Master Control Program'' (1998, The Great Vitamin Mystery) *''Clubber Lang'' (2002, Alone) *''Merzbannon'' (2009, Tizona) *''Wrap the Body'' (2010, Joyful Noise) *''Unwanted Sounds'' (2012, Auris Apothecary) ;Splits *split 7-inch with To Dream of Autumn (1998, Witching Hour/Troufion) *split 7-inch with Knives and Greenwater (1998, Witching Hour) *split 7-inch with The Disease (2001, Monotonstudio) *split 7-inch with Zann and Anger Is Beautiful (2001, Modus Operandi/Adiago830) *split 6" with Mara'akate (2001, Electric Human Project) *''Near and Far Volume 2'' split CD/LP with Song of Zarathustra (2003, Level Plane/Backroad) *''Insound Tour Support Series No. 25'' split CD with Helen of Trpy (2003, Insound) *split 7-inch with Majhas (2005,

Happy Couples Never Last Happy Couples Never Last was an American independent record label founded in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1998 by Clark Giles. According to Giles, the label started when he saved up money to take his girlfriend on a trip, however they broke up and Gi ...

) ;Compilation albums *'' he InevitableSingles and Rarities 1997-2005'' (2005, Alone) ;Remix albums *''Remixed, Reinterpreted and Reconsidered'' (2013, self-released)

References

External links

Official website

Official Bandcamp page

Official Facebook page

Racebannon on Discogs
{{Authority control Punk rock groups from Indiana American noise rock music groups Secretly Canadian artists Level Plane Records artists Joyful Noise Recordings artists