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. Bazan is currently touring the United States with a full band for the first time in almost five years.
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]
Solo 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 89.3 The Current , Bazan mentioned that his next album would be played entirely by him and that he would recruit friends to play live when he tours. The album, Curse Your Branches, includes "Please, Baby, Please," a song he debuted during the interview. During his solo tour in September 2008, Bazan debuted six other songs that were on the short list for Curse Your Branches: "Weeds in the Wheat", "Curse Your Branches", "American Flags", "Broken Arm", "The Stitches," and "Harmless Sparks."
Bazan released his first DVD the following month. 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 2008 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 to coincide with the 2008 United State presidential 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]
Bazan's full length debut album, Curse Your Branches, was released on September 1, 2009 on Barsuk Records.[9]
Discography
Albums
DVDs
EPs
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
- 1,000 printed on marbled vinyl
- B-side: "All I Want for Christmas"
- 200 printed on white vinyl
- 400 printed on red vinyl
- 400 printed on green vinyl
- B-side: "The Man in Me"
- B-side: "Say It Isn't Greensleeves (A Change At Christmas)"
- 200 printed on blue vinyl
- 400 printed on golden vinyl
- 400 printed on clear vinyl
See also: Pedro the Lion discography, Headphones discography
Notes and references
- ^ "Pedro the Lion". Jamesline Archives. http://www.jamsline.com/b_pedrothelion.htm. Retrieved April 21, 2006.
- ^ Unwed Sailor's bassist, Johnathon Ford, subsequently played bass for Pedro the Lion during that period.
- ^ "Sasquatch Festival: Day One". Onion AV Club. http://www.avclub.com/content/feature/sasquatch_festival_day_one/2. Retrieved August 15, 2008.
- ^ http://www.kevinbarnett.com/blog/2006/12/21/the-ho-ho-horatio-sanz-christmas-special/
- ^ http://www.blogotheque.net/David-Bazan,3150
- ^ "Stereogum OKX". Stereogum.com. http://www.stereogum.com/okx. Retrieved October 21, 2007.
- ^ http://www.davidbazan.com
- ^ http://www.alarmpress.com/7332/concert-reviews/david-bazan-preps-for-new-album-with-nationwide-house-tour/
- ^ http://www.barsuk.com/
External links
