Trenchmouth

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This article is about the post-hardcore band from Chicago. For the disease called "trench mouth", see Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis.
Trenchmouth
Trenchmouth, from left to right: Armisen, Locks, DeZutter, Montana
Trenchmouth, from left to right: Armisen, Locks, DeZutter, Montana
Background information
OriginChicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres
Years active1988–1996
LabelsSkene!/East West
Associated actsThe Eternals
Past members

Trenchmouth was an American punk band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1988. Throughout its existence, the band mainly consisted of (vocals/percussion), Chris DeZutter (guitar), Wayne Montana (bass), and Fred Armisen (drums).[1]

Biography[]

The band was founded in 1988 after Armisen dropped out of the School of Visual Arts and moved from New York to Chicago.[2] As a five-piece with two guitarists, the band released their debut EP, "Snakebite," in 1989.[3] After releasing two studio albums, Construction of New Action and Inside The Future, they released a third LP, Trenchmouth vs. The Light of the Sun, on East West Records, a division of Elektra Records. The band broke up after releasing their final album, The Broadcasting System, in 1996.[1]

Armisen went on to be a cast member of Saturday Night Live. Locks went on to be in Super ESP and later reconvened with Montana to form The Eternals.

In a 2014 Q&A also featuring musicians David Pajo and David Grubbs, Armisen revealed why he quit Trenchmouth: "It just felt like other bands kept passing us by," Armisen also said that "it was easy to convince himself some of those bands were more pop, and had a broader appeal." But as weirder and weirder bands started passing Trenchmouth by, he started to see the writing on the wall. He concluded: "Tortoise [Pajo's former band] had 20 minute songs with no vocals and they were huge."[4]

Musical style[]

Primarily known as a post-hardcore band,[4] Trenchmouth was also labeled as punk rock and math rock.[5] The band's musical style featured influences from various genres, including no wave, post-punk, funk, and reggae,[1] as well as Latin music.[2] The band's first single, "Snakebite", was described as a post-punk track that "fills in the void between primitive acid-jazz grooves, worldbeat brazenness, and fetid Fugazi formula."[3] While the band's following releases, including Trenchmouth Vs. the Light of the Sun, featured "mutating time signatures, elaborate guitar phrasing, and fast-walking basslines that traditionally signify 1970s prog-rock",[6] the band's final album completes the band's evolution to a "bass-heavy dub project".[5]

Discography[]

Studio albums

EPs

  • Kick Your Mind and Make It Move EP (Dead Bird, 1991)

Compilation albums

  • Achtung Chicago! Zwei compilation (Underdog Records, 1993)
  • More Motion: A Collection (Thick Records, 2003)

Singles

  • "Snakebite" (1989)

Members[]

  • – vocals, percussion
  • Chris DeZutter – guitar
  • Wayne Montana – bass
  • Fred Armisen – drums

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Kellman, Andy. "Trenchmouth biography". Allmusic. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Hawkins, Bennett (February 24, 2014). "A Brief History Of Fred Armisen's Musical Career: From Trenchmouth To The 8G Band". Uproxx. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Ensminger, David (May 16, 2012). "Top Ten Lost Midwest Punk Singles". PopMatters. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b McManus, Brian (March 18, 2014). "Fred Armisen Reveals Why He Quit Trenchmouth". The Village Voice. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Glazer, Joshua. "Trenchmouth - The Broadcasting System review". Allmusic. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  6. ^ Glazer, Joshua. "Trenchmouth - Vs. the Light of the Sun". Allmusic. Retrieved September 3, 2015.

External links[]

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