Bracket (band)

Bracket

Bracket is an American punk rock band from Forestville, California, formed in 1992. The band has consisted of lead vocalist and guitarist Marty Gregori, bassist Zack Charlos and drummer Ray Castro since its inception, with guitarist Angelo Celli replacing founding member Larry Tinney in 1999. Bracket has issued albums through Caroline Records and Fat Wreck Chords, with their most recent album released on Takeover Records in 2005.

History

Formation and Caroline Records era (1992–1996)

In the early 1990s while attending El Molino High School in Forestville, California, friends Marty Gregori, Larry Tinney, Zack Charlos and Ray Castro decided to form a band under the name High Output. Early on, the band played cover songs by Tom Petty, Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Rolling Stones, with their earliest performances appearing at weddings, bar mitzvahs and high school parties. The bands name was changed to Bracket prior to releasing the self-financed Giant Midget EP in 1993.

The following year Bracket released their debut album 924 Forestville St., which also marked the bands debut on Caroline Records, a label that released debuts by influential alternative rock acts, including Hole, Smashing Pumpkins, Wax and White Zombie. The album title is likely a reference combining the name of local punk rock mecca 924 Gilman Street with the bands nearby hometown of Forestville. The album featured "Warren's Song, Pt. 1" and "Warren's Song, Pt. 2", the first installment of songs named after friend Warren Rake, who the band has continued to title songs after throughout their career. After a request to release 7" vinyl was turned down by Caroline Records, Bracket began issuing the format on Fat Wreck Chords during the interim between albums.^[1] The label released both Stinky Fingers and Bs. in 1994, which included album covers that parodied The Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers and Pearl Jam's Vs. respectively.

In 1995 Bracket released 4-Wheel Vibe, their sophomore effort for Caroline Records, produced by Don Fleming. The album picked up where the pop punk sound of their debut left off, in addition to showcasing a wider range of genres, later described by Fat Wreck Chords as "...catchy, quirky, guitar driven power noise pop."^[1] Four unreleased songs appeared with album track "Circus Act" on 4 Rare Vibes in 1996. That year the band completed their third album Like You Know, however after a catalog number was assigned and promotional albums were distributed, Bracket was dropped from Caroline Records and the album never saw official release.^[2] Five songs from the album were released on the double 7" vinyl F is for Fat, with the seven other tracks later included on Age & Experience, a split with Humble Beginnings on Too Hep Records. On November 19, 1996, Bracket issued the compilation release, E is for Everything on Fat Wreck Chords, which combined previously released vinyl material.

Fat Wreck Chords years (1997–2004)

While preparing for their next album, Bracket toured the United States with the likes of NOFX, Snuff, Smoking Popes, MxPx and Everclear.^[1] Although the band had been issuing vinyl releases on Fat Wreck Chords for years, their first studio album for the label didn't come until 1997's Novelty Forever, produced by Bracket with Ryan Greene and Fat Mike. Having toured throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, the band toured Japan that year.^[1] Novelty Forever would be the last album to feature founding guitarist Larry Tinney, who was replaced with Angelo Celli in 1999. When All Else Fails was released on May 9, 2000, with Greene reprising his role as producer. Fat Mike again appeared, this time contributing guitar on "No Brainer", as well as co-writing the track.

On February 26, 2002, Bracket released their installment of the Live in a Dive series, a collection of live albums on Fat Wreck Chords, which also included releases from No Use for a Name, Swingin' Utters and Lagwagon. The performance was recorded on August 14, 1999 when the band appeared in support of Tilt at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco, California. The set included material from all of Brackets' albums up to that point, including their compilation tracks from Live Fat, Die Young and Short Music for Short People.

Requiem and recent activity (2005–present)

In 2005, Bracket released Requiem, their first album of new material in nearly five years. It would also be the first album since 1995's 4-Wheel Vibe to not be released through Fat Wreck Chords. Instead, the album marked Brackets' debut with Takeover Records, recorded in a self-made studio inside an abandon trailer.^[3] Requiem is made up of "Warren's Song, Pt. 10" through "Warren's Song, Pt. 26", however the tracks don't appear in succession. In addition to the bands staple pop punk sound, the album featured Beach Boys-esque vocal harmonies ("Warren's Song, Pt. 16"), acoustic elements ("Warren's Song, Pt. 26") and string arrangements ("Warren's Song, Pt. 13").

After Castro moved to Colorado, the band became less active. With the other members remaining in California, they formed The Good Life Crisis in 2007 to act as an outlet for different types of music between Bracket albums, with Gregori playing ukulele, Charlos playing guitar and Celli playing mandolin. That same year the trio began performing locally, with sets that consisted of original material, Bracket tracks, and occasional cover songs by The Beatles, Nirvana, NOFX and Tenacious D. The Good Life Crisis has continued to release songs through their MySpace and YouTube pages, however the band has yet to issue a release.

Band members

Current members

• Marty Gregori – vocals, guitar (1992–present)
• Angelo Celli – guitar, vocals (1999–present)
• Zack Charlos – bass, vocals (1992–present)
• Ray Castro – drums (1992–present)

Former members

• Larry Tinney – guitar, vocals (1992–1999)

Discography

Albums

• 924 Forestville St. (1994) Caroline Records
• 4-Wheel Vibe (1995) Caroline Records
• Like You Know (1996) Caroline Records (unreleased)^[2]
• Novelty Forever (1997) Fat Wreck Chords
• When All Else Fails (2000) Fat Wreck Chords
• Live in a Dive (2002) Fat Wreck Chords
• Requiem (2005) Takeover Records

Extended plays and singles

• Giant Midget (1993)
• 5:35 (1994) Hi-Rise Recordings
• Stinky Fingers (1994) Fat Wreck Chords
• Bs. (1994) Fat Wreck Chords
• Trailer Park (Bracket Isn't It?) (1995) Hi-Rise Recordings
• For Those About to Mock (1995) Fat Wreck Chords
• 4 Rare Vibes (1996) Caroline Records
• F is for Fat (1996) Fat Wreck Chords
• E is for Everything on Fat Wreck Chords (1996) Fat Wreck Chords
• Appetite for Food (1997) High Output Recordings
• Age & Experience (1999) Too Hep Records (split w/ Humble Beginnings)

Compilation appearances

• Fat Music for Fat People (1994) Fat Wreck Chords – "2RAK005"
• Survival of the Fattest (1996) Fat Wreck Chords – "Talk Show"
• Live 105: Ten Year Anniversary (1996) – "Eating Pie"
• Before You Were Punk (1997) Vagrant Records – "867-5309/Jenny" (Tommy Tutone)
• Physical Fatness (1997) Fat Wreck Chords – "Sour"
• Serial Killer Compilation (1999) Fearless Records – "Shoe Gazer"
• Short Music for Short People (1999) Fat Wreck Chords – "Warren's Song, Pt. 8"
• Music to Listen to Music By (1999) Coldfront Records – "Imaginary Friend"
• Going Nowhere Fast (1999) Destined to Fail Recordings – "Betterman"
• Live Fat, Die Young (2001) Fat Wreck Chords – "Hearing Aid"
• Ramones Maniacs (2001) Trend is Dead! Records – "Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?" (Ramones)

External links

• BracketMusic.com (unavailable as of 26 October 2007)
• Fat Wreck Chords band page
• Bracket's MySpace page

References

1. ^{^} Fat Wreck Chords Official Site
2. ^{^} Wilfully Obscure - Like You Know
3. ^{^} Allmusic - Bracket biography