Tim Kinsella (born October 22, 1974) is a musician from Chicago, Illinois. He has been a part of many bands including Cap'n Jazz[1], The Sky Corvair, Joan of Arc, Owls, Friend/Enemy, Everyoned, and Make Believe. He has also recorded solo material, some of which under a pluralized name: Tim Kinsella(s).
History
Tim Kinsella got his start musically around 1989 when he and his brother, Mike Kinsella, met Sam Zurick and Victor Villarreal to form Cap'n Jazz[1]. They were all in school at the time, and it took them a while to get serious about playing music. After going through several name changes, and adding guitarist Davey von Bohlen, the group decided to make music seriously, ultimately garnering a cult following, and fame in the independent music scene of Chicago and the midwest.
Cap'n Jazz
Following the release of Cap'n Jazz's first and only album, Burritos, Inspiration Point, Fork Balloon Sports, Cards In The Spokes, Automatic Biographies, Kites, Kung Fu, Trophies, Banana Peels We've Slipped On and Egg Shells We've Tippy Toed Over (also known as Shmap'n Shmazz), and their last show on July 14, 1995 they disbanded, and member Davey von Bohlen left Chicago to focus on his side project The Promise Ring. Three years after the break up, in 1998, Jade Tree Records put out a double disc compilation, called Analphabetapolothology, which included all the songs from Shmap'n Shmazz, as well as songs from various 7", singles, demos and outtakes. Victor Villareal went home, and after a year of playing music independently, Tim, Mike, and Sam recruited Erik Bocek and Jeremy Boyle for what would eventually be called Joan of Arc.
The Sky Corvair
The Sky Corvair began as a side project for members of Braid, Cap'n Jazz, and Gauge. They played their first show in October 1994, and recorded nine songs that December. Shortly thereafter, Tim Kinsella left the band to pursue Cap'n Jazz full time. Tim's credit on The Sky Corvair's only album includes, guitar, vocals, and mixing.
Discography
Albums
- Unsafe At Any Speed CD (released on Actionboy/Divot Records)
Joan of Arc
After the demise of Cap'n Jazz, Kinsella began writing new material with keyboardist Jeremy Boyle. At this point, he was learning a new instrument (the guitar), and his songwriting began to take an abstract/experimental turn. Simultaneously, Sam Zurick was learning the drums, and playing in a band with Erik Bocek (a high school friend and former Cap'n Jazz roadie). The two were joined together, and after the addition of Mike Kinsella, Red Blue Yellow was born.
After difficulties, and a break up after their first show, they threw away all of their old material, and started afresh, with a new name, and new songs. Three months later, Joan of Arc had their first show at Autonomous Zone in Chicago. After two promising 7" singles the band recorded their debut album A Portable Model of... for Jade Tree. The album introduced JOA's signature sound - a fondness for stark acoustic songs then altered with subtle electronics.
Discography
Owls
Owls were an indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois, from 2001-2002. The band was formed by the original lineup of seminal experimental indie rock band Cap'n Jazz soon after its second breakup (the first came in 1994); Cap'n Jazz guitarist Davey Von Bohlen, who played in the band's second incarnation, had gone on to found, and was now playing in The Promise Ring. The band's lineup consisted of brothers Tim Kinsella and Mike Kinsella (on vocals and drums, respectively), along with guitarist Victor Villareal and bassist Sam Zurick. Tim Kinsella and Zurick have also played together in Joan of Arc and Make Believe, and Villareal and Zurick have played together in the instrumental-rock Ghosts and Vodka.
Unfortunately, the band dissolved after one tour. Rumours circulated that this was largely due to the complications arising from guitarist Victor Villareal's heroin dependency. When Mike Kinsella left to continue his solo project Owen and to play guitar for Maritime, he was replaced for a few live shows by Ryan Rapsys.
Friend/Enemy
Friend/Enemy was formed in 2001 as the next in a series of projects fronted by Kinsella. The band's core members include Kinsella, Todd Mattei (also of Joan of Arc), and Jim Becker (Califone). Friend/Enemy can best be described as a loose folk-punk somewhere between T.V. Smith and Captain Beefheart. Kinsella's trademark postmodern beat poet routine takes a sharper, more adult turn and Becker adds a host of incidental noises including banjo, pedal steel, and percussion. The first release, 10 Songs, was recorded at the Slabb in Chicago and had a handful of the city's musical intelligentsia adding sounds. These included vocals by Caryn Culp (Plastic Crime Wave), keyboards by Andy Lansagan (the 90 Day Men), bass by Nick Macri (Euphone, Sunny Day Real Estate), piano by Azita Youssefi (Bride of No No), and bass by Sam Zurick (Joan of Arc, Owls).[2]
Everyoned
Tim has participated in this Chicagoland Super band, which also includes members from Pigface, TVPow, Joan of Arc, Town & Country, Revolting Cocks, and Central Falls.
Discography
Albums
- Everyoned CD (released on Brilliante Records)
Make Believe
Make Believe is 2003's touring version of Joan of Arc, consisting of singer Tim Kinsella, guitarist Sam Zurick, bassist Bobby Burg, and drummer Nate Kinsella. After 3 months of touring solidified their playing together, they returned home and decided to follow this impulse and write new songs with a more aggressive approach. But they all knew it had to be something different than Joan of Arc. For it to be represented as a true collaboration and reflect its totally different approach to songwriting and speak for itself it had to shake whatever connotations the band name Joan of Arc had acquired. Their first full-length Shock of Being was released on October 4, 2005. In June 2007 Kinsella left the band to focus on other projects and married life. However, months after his departure from the band, Kinsella rejoined his bandmates and recorded their third album in fall 2007. On February 22, 2008 the band played their first show since Kinsella's departure at Chicago's Subterranean. The third full-length Goin' to the Bone Church was released on April 29, 2008.
Tim Kinsella(s)
After the release of the Gap, Tim started to do some solo work for Troubleman Unlimited, and decided that this new era should coincide with a name change. He released 4 works under Tim Kinsellas for various labels. Tim had a falling out with the head of Troubleman Unlimited over royalties and currently the two are not speaking even though Tim admits his error on the issue. Tim's solo release entitled "Crucifix/Swastika" was written while he was on his honeymoon. His latest release Field Recordings of Dreams was recording late at night.
Discography
Albums
- He Sang His Didn't He Danced His Did CD (released on Troubleman Unlimited Records in 2001)
- Crucifix/Swastika CD (released on Record Label Records in 2005)
- Field Recordings of Dreams CD/Recycled Cassette (released on I Had an Accident Records in 2007)
EPs/7"
- Gene McDonald/Ronald Simmons Split Demands Feminist Critique CD EP (released on BoxMedia Ltd. in 2002)
- Postmarked Stamps #6: Tim Kinsella/Jen Wood Split 7" (released on Tree Records in 1998)
- Julia LaDense / Tim Kinsella Split CDr (released on Felt Cat Records in 2009)
A Set
Tim contributed his guitar work to the A Set CD "The Science of Living Things" released on the now defunct label Tree Records. Albert Menduno is the lead man behind this band and has released CDs without the contribution of Tim Kinsella.
Discography
"Albums"
- "The Science of Living Things" CDEP (released on Tree Records)
"Comps"
- "Dark Farm" CD (feat. "This Flag I've Raised" originally released on "The Science of Living Things" released on Hyperion Media)
Trivia
References
