Upsilon Acrux

Upsilon Acrux is an American progressive rock band from Los Angeles formed in 1998.

History[]

Upsilon Acrux first appeared on record on a 1998 compilation entitled Trummerflora 2.^[1] Soon after they contributed a song to a compilation entitled Before the Pirates Came.^[2] They went from a 4 piece to a 3 piece before releasing 2002's Last Train Out.^[3] They expanded to a five-piece, including two drummers for Volucris Avis Dirae-Arum in 2004. By 2005 they had done away with the dual-drummer setup, and signed with Cuneiform Records later in the year.^[4] 2007 saw the release of their first album for Cuneiform, Galapagos Momentum.^[5] They released their sixth full-length album, entitled Radian Futura, on May 19, 2009.^[6] In 2015, on April 14, they released a new album called Sun Square Dialect.

Releases[]

Galapagos Momentum[]

The lineup of Applehans, Kiersnowski (the King), Lai and Miller (Ice) performed for two years, recording Galapagos Momentum in 2006. Before the recording was pressed, a new incarnation was assembled with Cobb (McEnroe, Bart Garfunkel),^[7] Lai, Meszler (Mezz, Meszloforte), Moeggenberg (Moeggen) and Sataman (Martron, Marty-Party) in March 2007. This new lineup promoted Galapagos throughout the U.S. in summer 2007. The album was critically acclaimed,^[8] earning a number 2 position on Organ Magazine's end of the year album list.^[9] The group would share stages with The Locust, Qui, Tatsuya Yoshida, , The Mae Shi, Ancestors, HEALTH, Abe Vigoda, Weasel Walter, and Cheer-Accident.

On November 17, 2007, Upsilon Acrux played the Barking Tuna Fest in Kalamazoo, MI. Mission of Burma followed.^{[citation needed]}

Radian Futura[]

In December 2007, Upsilon began work on their magnum opus, "Transparent Seas (Radio Edit)". On June 6, 2008, the song was premiered at Cafe Mariposa in Echo Park, CA.^[10]

Radian Futura was released on CD by Cuneiform and in September 2009 on vinyl by . Upsilon promoted the album nationally and on a month-long jaunt in Europe, autumn 2009. The album was met with critical acclaim,^{[11][12][13][14]} and the band shared stages with Yowie, Ahleuchatistas, Zs, , Peter Brötzmann, , Nels Cline, Carla Bozulich, Extra Life, Adebisi Shank, and .

On September 18, 2009, Upsilon performed for a crowd of over 400 at the Gertje Fest 5 at the Landbouwebelang in Maastricht.^[15]

Upon the group's return from its European tour, Upsilon Acrux performed a 70-minute set at The Smell. The concert was professionally mixed and recorded.^[16]

Personnel[]

Paul Lai has remained with the group since its inception.^[17]

Current lineup (2010–present)

• - guitar
• Noah Guevara - guitar
• Patrick Shiroishi- Rhodes/sax
• Mark Kimbrell - drums
• Dylan Fujioka - drums

Founding members

• - guitar, Moog
• Cameron Presley - guitars, Moog
• Tommy Cutler - bass, vocals

Former Members

• - drums
• - guitar
• Phil Cobb - Moog
• - bass
• Jesse (Klecker) Applehans - drums
• Eric Kiersnowski - bass
• - Moog
• - guitar
• Josh Quon - bass
• Muir Tennerstet - bass
• Derek Bruns - drums

Guest musicians

• Devin Sarno - bass (Last Pirates of Upsilon)^[18]
• Bobb Bruno - bass (Last Pirates of Upsilon, Last Train Out)^[19]
• Glen (Galaxy) Galloway - baritone sax (In the Acrux of the Upsilon King)
• - drums, drum programming (Radian Futura)
• Mike Armstrong - saxophone (Radian Futura, White LP)
• - guitar (White LP)
• Elvis Presley - harmonica (Last Pirates of Upsilon)

Discography[]

• 1999 In the Acrux of the Upsilon King ()
• 1999 The Last Pirates of Upsilon ()
• 2002 Last Train Out ()
• 2004 Volucris Avis Dirae-Arum ( CD / vinyl)
• 2006 Last Train Out ( vinyl reissue)
• 2007 Galapagos Momentum (Cuneiform Records)
• 2009 Radian Futura (Cuneiform Records)
• 2009 White LP (split w/ ) ()
• 2015 Sun Square Dialect ()

References[]