Tarkio (band)
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| Tarkio | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Missoula, Montana, United States |
| Genres | Alternative country |
| Years active | 1996–1999 |
| Labels | Kill Rock Stars |
| Former members | |
| Colin Meloy Gibson Hartwell Louis Stein Brian Collins |
|
Tarkio was the former band of Colin Meloy prior to his forming The Decemberists. An alternative country band from Missoula, Montana, Tarkio separated in 1999, but found new popularity in a retrospective released by Kill Rock Stars in 2006.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
Tarkio formed in Missoula, Montana in 1996, after Meloy had studied English at the University of Oregon for a few semesters. He recruited banjo player Gibson Hartwell, bassist Louis Stein, and drummer Brian Collins following a meeting at an open mic night at a local coffeehouse.[2] The band took its name from "Tarkia", a ghost town in western Montana, based on a false memory from Meloy's childhood.[2]
In 1997, the band self-released a number of demos. Limited to 500 copies, this self-titled EP was followed by an album, I Guess I Was Hoping For Something More, released on Barcelona Records. This album included musician Kevin Suggs on pedal steel.
In 1999, the band self-released Sea Songs for Landlocked Sailors. Limited to 200 copies, the EP included a song that would later be re-recorded by the Decemberists, "My Mother Was a Chinese Trapeze Artist."
The band broke up shortly after this, when Meloy finished school and moved to Portland, Oregon, later forming the Decemberists. A number of live recordings of the band's songs were released on a radio compilation in 2002.
As the Decemberists began to achieve more fame, fan demand for the hard-to-find Tarkio material grew, paving the way for Kill Rock Stars to release Omnibus. The two-disc compilation featured detailed liner notes and stories from members of the band, including Meloy, as well as all of the available recorded material by the band, including a live radio performance from 1998.[3]
The band's sound has been variously compared to The Waterboys, Uncle Tupelo, and Wilco.[1][4][5][6]
[edit] Band members
- Colin Meloy - vocals, guitar
- Gibson Hartwell - guitar, banjo, vocals
- Louis Stern - bass, vocals
- Brian Collins - drums, percussion
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- I Guess I Was Hoping For Something More (CD) - Barcelona Records - 1998
- Omnibus (CD) - Kill Rock Stars - 2006
[edit] EPs
- Falleness (Cassette) - Self-released - 1997
- Sea Songs For Landlocked Sailors (CD) - Self-released - 1999
[edit] References
- ^ a b Emery, Matt (2006) "The 'Omnibus' has left the station", The Michigan Daily, 8 February 2006
- ^ a b Deusner, Stephen M. (2006) "Tarkio Omnibus", Pitchfork Media, 26 January 2006
- ^ Kelly, Jennifer (2006) "Tarkio Omnibus", PopMatters, 15 February 2006
- ^ Monger, James Christopher "Omnibus Review", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation
- ^ Shapiro, Shain (2006) "TARKIO: OMNIBUS", Jambase, 22 January 2006
- ^ Sisario, Ben (2006) "Chimney Sweep's World, With No Mary Poppins", New York Times, 25 January 2006
