Spongehead were an American
noise rock
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 extre ...
band formed in Brooklyn, New York, formed in 1985.
The band was formed by brothers David and
Doug Henderson and drummer Mark Kirby. Their fusion of
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 ...
,
blues and
funk music was compared to
Pere Ubu
Pere Ubu is an American rock group formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975. The band had a variety of long-term and recurring band members, with singer David Thomas being the only member staying throughout the band's lifetime. They released their ...
and
Barkmarket
Barkmarket was a rock music group formed in New York City in 1987. Personnel were singer/guitarist and main songwriter Dave Sardy, bass guitarist John Nowlin and drummer Rock Savage.
Barkmarket's music was usually loud and aggressive, touching o ...
, whose bandleader,
Dave Sardy
David Stuart Sardy (born 1967), more commonly known as D. Sardy, is an American composer, musician, songwriter, and multiple Grammy winning record producer. He came to prominence as the leader of 1990s noise rock band Barkmarket before turning ...
has worked with Spongehead on most of their albums.
History
Spongehead formed in Brooklyn in 1985, featuring Dave Henderson on saxophone,
Doug Henderson on vocals and guitar, and Mark Kirby on drums. With
Kramer producing, the band released their 1988 debut ''
Potted Meat Spread
''Potted Meat Spread'' is the debut album of Spongehead, released in 1988 by Shimmy Disc.
Track listing
Personnel
Adapted from the ''Potted Meat Spread'' liner notes.
;Spongehead
*David Henderson – baritone saxophone, tenor saxo ...
'' on
Shimmy Disc Shimmy Disc is a New York City-based independent record label founded in 1987 by Mark Kramer. Before it was sold to the Knitting Factory, artists like Bongwater, Daniel Johnston, Fly Ashtray, Galaxie 500, King Missile, Boredoms, Ruins, Ween, Gwar ...
.
The band began to tighten musically and they released ''
Legitimate Beef
''Legitimate Beef'' is the second album by Spongehead, released in 1990 through Community 3 Records.
Track listing
Personnel
Adapted from the ''Legitimate Beef'' liner notes.
;Spongehead
*David Henderson – baritone saxophone, tenor ...
'' in 1991. Influenced by past collaborations with
Eugene Chadbourne
Eugene Chadbourne (born January 4, 1954) is an American banjoist, guitarist and music critic.
Life and career
Chadbourne was born in Mount Vernon, New York, but grew up in Boulder, Colorado. He started playing guitar when he was eleven or twel ...
, the lyrics embraced a
dada
Dada () or Dadaism was an art movement of the European avant-garde in the early 20th century, with early centres in Zürich, Switzerland, at the Cabaret Voltaire (in 1916). New York Dada began c. 1915, and after 1920 Dada flourished in Pari ...
ic viewpoint on politics.
1993's
Curb Your Dogma
''Curb Your Dogma'' is the third studio album by Spongehead, released on October 19, 1993 by Triple X Records.
Track listing
Personnel
Adapted from the ''Curb Your Dogma'' liner notes.
;Spongehead
*David Henderson – bass saxophone, ...
was produced by
Dave Sardy
David Stuart Sardy (born 1967), more commonly known as D. Sardy, is an American composer, musician, songwriter, and multiple Grammy winning record producer. He came to prominence as the leader of 1990s noise rock band Barkmarket before turning ...
of
Barkmarket
Barkmarket was a rock music group formed in New York City in 1987. Personnel were singer/guitarist and main songwriter Dave Sardy, bass guitarist John Nowlin and drummer Rock Savage.
Barkmarket's music was usually loud and aggressive, touching o ...
and showcased a maturation in the band's sound.
Discography
;Studio albums
*''
Potted Meat Spread
''Potted Meat Spread'' is the debut album of Spongehead, released in 1988 by Shimmy Disc.
Track listing
Personnel
Adapted from the ''Potted Meat Spread'' liner notes.
;Spongehead
*David Henderson – baritone saxophone, tenor saxo ...
'' (1989,
Shimmy Disc Shimmy Disc is a New York City-based independent record label founded in 1987 by Mark Kramer. Before it was sold to the Knitting Factory, artists like Bongwater, Daniel Johnston, Fly Ashtray, Galaxie 500, King Missile, Boredoms, Ruins, Ween, Gwar ...
)
*''
Legitimate Beef
''Legitimate Beef'' is the second album by Spongehead, released in 1990 through Community 3 Records.
Track listing
Personnel
Adapted from the ''Legitimate Beef'' liner notes.
;Spongehead
*David Henderson – baritone saxophone, tenor ...
'' (1991, Community 3)
*''
Curb Your Dogma
''Curb Your Dogma'' is the third studio album by Spongehead, released on October 19, 1993 by Triple X Records.
Track listing
Personnel
Adapted from the ''Curb Your Dogma'' liner notes.
;Spongehead
*David Henderson – bass saxophone, ...
'' (1993,
Triple X)
*''
Infinite Baffle'' (1996, Triple X)
;EPs
*''
Brainwash
Brainwashing (also known as mind control, menticide, coercive persuasion, thought control, thought reform, and forced re-education) is the concept that the human mind can be altered or controlled by certain psychological techniques. Brainwashin ...
'' (1994, Triple X)
References
External links
*
*
{{Authority control
1985 establishments in New York City
American noise rock music groups
Musical groups established in 1985
Musical groups disestablished in 1996
Musical groups from Brooklyn
Shimmy Disc artists
Triple X Records artists