Tar was 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, formed in 1988 in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

. Throughout their career they released four studio albums, two extended plays, and a number of singles before breaking up in 1995. They were known for their dry sense of humor.

History

The precursor to Tar was a hardcore punk outfit called Blatant Dissent, which formed in

DeKalb, Illinois DeKalb ( ) is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 43,862 according to the 2010 census, up from 39,018 at the 2000 census. The city is named after decorated Franconian- French war hero Johann de Kalb, who died ...

where singer/guitarist John Mohr and drummer Mike Greenlees were attending

Northern Illinois University Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a public research university in DeKalb, Illinois. It was founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895, by Illinois Governor John P. Altgeld as part of an expansion of the state's system ...

. Joining Mohr and Greenlees in Tar were original bassist Tim Mescher (only until 1991 and who also played for Snailboy), bassist Tom Zaluckyj and guitarist Mark Zablocki. Zaluckyj and Mohr played unique instruments, crafted of aluminum, designed by Ian Schneller of

Specimen Products Specimen Products is a Chicago-based manufacturer of custom guitars, tube amplifiers, and audio horn speakers led by luthier Ian Schneller. Specimen Products also offers courses in guitar and tube amplifier design, construction, and repair throug ...

. The band released albums on the

Amphetamine Reptile Amphetamine Reptile Records (or AmRep Industries) is a record label founded in 1986 by Tom Hazelmyer in Washington state. The label specializes in noise rock and also released '' Strap It On'', the debut album by alternative metal band Helmet w ...

and

Touch and Go Records Touch and Go Records is an American independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois. After its genesis as a handmade fanzine in 1979, it grew into one of the key record labels in the American 1980s underground and alternative rock scenes. Tou ...

labels before disbanding in 1995. During its career, the band released a total of five singles, four albums, two mini albums, and contributed songs to six compilations and split singles. The band toured nationally and internationally with bands such as

Jawbox Jawbox is an American alternative rock band from Washington, D.C., formed in 1989 by J. Robbins (vocals/guitar), Kim Coletta (bass), and Adam Wade (drums). After the trio released the album '' Grippe'' in 1991, Bill Barbot (guitar/vocals) joi ...

Arcwelder Arcwelder is an American punk rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, formed in 1987. The band, a perennial local favorite, consists of brothers Rob and Bill Graber and Scott Macdonald, all of whom share in songwriting and singing. History U ...

, and

the Jesus Lizard The Jesus Lizard is an American rock band formed in 1987 in Austin, Texas and based in Chicago, Illinois. They were "a leading noise rock band in the American independent underground… hoturned out a series of independent records filled with ...

. In 1994 the band made the decision to call it quits after releasing one final album. '' Over and Out'' was written and recorded over a period of a year and a half, produced by the band and engineered by

Steve Albini Steve Albini (pronounced ; born July 22, 1962) is an American musician, record producer, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman and Flour, and is a member of Shellac. He is the founder, owner and principal en ...

and

Bob Weston Bob Weston (born 1965) is an American musician, producer, recording engineer, and record mastering engineer. Critic Jason AnkenyAnkeny, Jason. " Bob Weston: Overview from Allmusic.com declares that "Weston's name and fingerprints are all over th ...

, and released in 1995. Tar reunited for a one-off performance at the PRF BBQ 2012 festival in Chicago, and later in the year, as opening act for

Shellac Shellac () is a resin secreted by the female lac bug on trees in the forests of India and Thailand. It is processed and sold as dry flakes and dissolved in alcohol to make liquid shellac, which is used as a brush-on colorant, food glaze and ...

at Lincoln hall in Chicago. In 2013, a double vinyl disc compilation titled ''1988-1995'' was released through Chunklet Magazine, limited to 150 gold colored copies that included download cards. The group would reunite again in 2017 to perform at the All Tomorrow's Impeachments festival.

Discography

Studio albums

*''Roundhouse'' (Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1990) *''Jackson'' (Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1991) *''

Toast Toast most commonly refers to: * Toast (food), bread browned with dry heat * Toast (honor), a ritual in which a drink is taken Toast may also refer to: Places * Toast, North Carolina, a census-designated place in the United States Books * '' ...

'' (Touch and Go Records, 1993) *'' Over and Out'' (Touch and Go Records, 1995)

Compilation albums

*''1988-1995'' (Chunklet Magazine, 2013)

Extended plays

*''Handsome'' (Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1989) *''Clincher'' (Touch and Go Records, 1993)

Singles

* "Play to Win" b/w "Mel's" (No Blow Records, 1988, NBLW01) * "Flow Plow" b/w "Hand" (

Amphetamine Reptile Records Amphetamine Reptile Records (or AmRep Industries) is a record label founded in 1986 by Tom Hazelmyer in Washington state. The label specializes in noise rock and also released '' Strap It On'', the debut album by alternative metal band Helmet w ...

, 1989, SCALE25) * "Solution 8" b/w "Non-Alignment Pact" (

, 1991, ARR153) * "Static" split 7-inch with

(

Dischord Records Dischord Records is a Washington, D.C.-based independent record label specializing in punk rock. The label is co-owned by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, who founded Dischord in 1980 to release ''Minor Disturbance'' by their band The Teen Idles. ...

, 1992, DIS 77.7/TG113.3) * "Teetering" b/w "The In Crowd" (Touch and Go Records, 1992, TG104) * "Feel This" b/w "Hell's Bells" (Chunklet Magazine, 2012, CHK7-001)

References

External links

* AMG profile page
Touch and Go Records page

Southern Records page

Trouser Press page

PRF BBQ 2012 Reunion Performance
American post-hardcore musical groups Amphetamine Reptile Records artists Musical groups from Chicago Musical groups established in 1988 Musical groups disestablished in 1995 Touch and Go Records artists {{US-indie-rock-band-stub