David Bazan

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David Bazan
David Bazan in Örebro, Sweden on February 9, 2008.
Background information
Born	January 1976 (33)
Genre(s)	indie rock
Occupation(s)	singer-songwriter
Years active	1995-present
Label(s)	Barsuk Records, Jade Tree, Suicide Squeeze, Tooth and Nail
Associated acts	Pedro The Lion, Headphones
Website	http://davidbazan.com, http://pedrothelion.org

David Bazan (born January 1976) is an indie rock singer-songwriter from Seattle, Washington. Bazan (pronounced "buh-zahn") was the lead singer and creative force behind the now-defunct band Pedro the Lion and was the lead singer of Headphones, a band he formed out of his interest in synthesizers. In early 2006, he began performing and recording solo.

Collaborations

In the early 90's he played drums in the band The Guilty (later named Coolidge) with fellow songwriter Damien Jurado.^[1] Bazan had attended Shorewood High School with Jurado.

In 2002, he played drums and sang backup vocals for Seldom; in 2004, he played with Starflyer 59. Bazan has made various studio appearances with Seattle-based bands; for instance, In 2004 he sang on the Six Parts Seven remix album Lost Notes From Forgotten Songs, played drums in 1998 on Unwed Sailor's Firecracker EP^[2], and contributed to the Rosie Thomas album These Friends of Mine.

Bazan was part of The Undertow Orchestra with Mark Eitzel (American Music Club), Will Johnson (Centro-matic, South San Gabriel), Vic Chesnutt, and Scott Danbom (Centro-matic, South San Gabriel). They toured the USA and Europe in 2006.

Bazan is a personal friend of comedian Horatio Sanz,^[3] and performed at Sanz's 2006 Christmas show, The Ho-Ho-Horatio Christmas Special, at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City.^[4] In 2007 he did a Take-Away Show acoustic video session.^[5]

Recent projects

Bazan recorded his first solo project, the EP Fewer Moving Parts, in between touring as a member of The Undertow Orchestra. The EP was released on 13 June 2006. Bazan recently finished a nationwide solo tour featuring Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and Johnathan Rice and also contributed a cover of the song "Let Down" to Stereogum's "OK X"^[6] project, a tribute to the Radiohead album OK Computer.

In September 2008, in an interview with Minnesota Public Radio, Bazan mentioned his next album will be played entirely by him and the he will recruit friends to play live when he tours. The album, Curse Your Branches, will include "Please, Baby, Please," a song he debuted during the interview. During his solo tour in September, Bazan played six other songs that will appear on the album: "Weeds in the Wheat", "Curse Your Branches", "American Flags", "Broken Arm", "The Stitches" and "Harmless Sparks."

A hidden page on Bazan's website was found by fans detailing an upcoming DVD release. The DVD contains interviews and intimate live performances filmed in his home studio, on his front porch, and while driving around in his Ford Bronco. It was shot during two weekends in June and July in Seattle. The DVD, entitled "Bazan: Alone At The Microphone," was released 21 October 2008.

In October 2008, Bazan released the album version of "American Flags" on his Facebook and Myspace pages in celebration of the 2008 election. The track was made available for purchase on iTunes and other online vendors in November, along with the version of "Please, Baby, Please" recorded for the DVD.^[7]

Beginning in March 2009, Bazan played a series of small, acoustic house shows. The smaller shows allowed him to debut new material and generate income, while still maintaining a low profile per the request of his record label.^[8]

On 15 May 2009 David announced on his Facebook page that his full length debut album entitled "Curse Your Branches" will be released 1 September 2009 on Barsuk Records.^[9]

Discography

Albums

• Curse Your Branches (September 1, 2009)

DVDs

• Bazan: Alone at the Microphone (2008)

EPs

• 7 song demo (1994)
• Fewer Moving Parts (13 June 2006)

Singles

• "The Poison Makes", split single b/w "Walk Slow" by Casey Foubert (January 2003, Bedside Recordings)

500 numbered on black vinyl on Ben Gibbard's short lived label

• "Away in a Manger" (25 October 2006, Suicide Squeeze)

1,000 printed on marbled vinyl

• "Jingle Bells" (4 November 2008, Suicide Squeeze)

B-side: "All I Want for Christmas"

200 printed on white vinyl

400 printed on red vinyl

400 printed on green vinyl

See also: Pedro the Lion discography, Headphones discography

Notes and references

1. ^ "Pedro the Lion". Jamesline Archives. http://www.jamsline.com/b_pedrothelion.htm. Retrieved on April 21 2006. 
2. ^ Unwed Sailor's bassist, Johnathon Ford, subsequently played bass for Pedro the Lion during that period.
3. ^ "Sasquatch Festival: Day One". Onion AV Club. http://www.avclub.com/content/feature/sasquatch_festival_day_one/2. Retrieved on August 15 2008. 
4. ^ http://www.kevinbarnett.com/blog/2006/12/21/the-ho-ho-horatio-sanz-christmas-special/
5. ^ http://www.blogotheque.net/David-Bazan,3150
6. ^ "Stereogum OKX". Stereogum.com. http://www.stereogum.com/okx. Retrieved on October 21 2007. 
7. ^ http://www.davidbazan.com
8. ^ http://www.alarmpress.com/7332/concert-reviews/david-bazan-preps-for-new-album-with-nationwide-house-tour/
9. ^ http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Bazan/14863274469

External links

• Official website