Red Sparowes

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Red Sparowes is a Los Angeles post-rock band comprising current and former members of Isis, Halifax Pier, Angel Hair and Pleasure Forever. Their sound is characteristic of soundscape-influenced experimental rock, with an otherwise uncommon extensive use of a pedal steel guitar.

History

Red Sparowes formed in 2003 as another project for its members. Through signing to Neurot Recordings, Neurosis' record label, Red Sparowes toured with The Dillinger Escape Plan and Made Out of Babies in 2004 after recording demos for their debut album. The debut was recorded in late May 2004 by engineer Desmond Shea, with the resulting sound in the vein of guitarist Bryant Clifford Meyer and Jeff Caxide's band Isis, Chicago post-rock/metal outfit Pelican, as well as bands as varied as Sonic Youth and The Cure. Members Jeff Caxide and Dana Berkowitz relocated in late 2004, thus forcing them out of the band.

Red Sparowes' first studio album, At the Soundless Dawn, was released in February 2005, following guitarist Bryant Clifford Meyer's other band, Isis, in their initial tours in support of Panopticon. Shortly after this release, a split 12" was released with Gregor Samsa. The Red Sparowes side contained the second track from At the Soundless Dawn, "Buildings Began to Stretch Wide Across the Sky, And the Air Filled With A Reddish Glow," as well as a song recorded during the album's recording sessions with guitar from Michael Gallagher of Isis, initially only available on the Japanese release of the album. After the release of the album the band headlined a tour in Europe and participated in an American tour with Pelican, Big Business and Breather Resist. After touring the band released their follow-up record, Every Red Heart Shines Toward the Red Sun, in 2006. This release was followed by more touring of North America and Europe, including shows in the US with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.

In 2008 Josh Graham parted ways with the rest of the band to pursue a musical project entitled A Storm of Light.

Red Sparowes began recording new material with engineer Toshi Kasai (Melvins, Big Business, Tool) in May 2008, and in August later that year the EP Aphorisms was released digitally. A vinyl version of this release is expected in Fall of 2009 in time for a short November tour with Russian Circles.

Red Sparowes have recently finished working on material for an upcoming album and will begin recording their third full length studio album with Toshi Kasai (Melvins, Big Business, Tool) on August 24, 2009.

Members

Current

• Bryant Clifford Meyer (guitar) of Isis
• Andy Arahood (guitar/bass) formerly of Angel Hair
• Greg Burns (bass/pedal steel) of Halifax Pier
• David Clifford (drums) of Pleasure Forever, The VSS
• Emma Ruth Rundle (guitar) of The Nocturnes

Past

• Josh Graham (guitar) of Neurosis (visuals), Battle of Mice, A Storm of Light
• Jeff Caxide (guitar/bass) of Isis
• Dana Berkowitz (drums)
• Brendan Tobin (guitar) of Made Out of Babies

Discography

Studio albums

Other Works

External links

• Red Sparowes
• Neurot Recordings
• Red Sparowes' Myspace
• Robotic Empire
• Red Sparowes collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive