I Am Spoonbender

I Am Spoonbender
Origin	San Francisco, California, U.S.
Genres	Experimental music, krautrock, ambient, art rock, indie rock, progressive rock, electronic
Years active	1997–present
Members	Dustin Donaldson Robynn Iwata
Past members	Brian Jackson Marc Kate

I Am Spoonbender is an American/Canadian multimedia group formed in San Francisco in early 1997 by composer/multi-instrumentalist/producer Dustin Donaldson, with Brian Jackson and cub guitarist Robynn Iwata (a.k.a. 'Cup', who joined halfway through the recording of the debut album Sender/Receiver, after abandoning the guitar for synthesizers).

Their musical style has been favorably compared to Brian Eno, Can, and This Heat, and touches on elements of neo-psychedelia, ambient music, electronic music, tape music, psychedelic folk, synthpop, post-rock, post-punk, progressive, math rock, jazz, noise, pop, and musique concrete, with a distinctly experimental/avant-garde bent. Their sound has evolved over time and remains distinctive, making it difficult to place the group into a concise style or genre. Dustin Donaldson has noted that most of their influences are outside of music itself, although he has mentioned being inspired conceptually by Morton Subotnick, Wire, Laurie Anderson and Devo.

Members

Current members

• Dustin Donaldson: synths, drums, vocals, production 1997-
• "Cup" (Robynn Iwata): synths, vocals 1997-

Current live members

• Kevin Farkas – 2nd drumset, synths
• Nolan Cook – bass and synths (The Residents, Dimesland)
• Drew Cook – bass and synths (Dimesland)
• MA'AT – perception management and subliminatexture

Past members

• Brian Jackson: bass, synths, 1997–2000
• Marc Kate: synths, 1998–2003

Past session members

• Dave Edwardson (Neurosis): bass on Shown Actual Size, Buy Hidden Persuaders

Past live members

• Chad Amory: bass, synths, 2000–2001

Discography

Sender/Receiver	CD/ 12" picture disc	1999	Gold Standard Laboratories (US), Mint Records (Canada)
Teletwin	3-sided 12" EP, CD	2000	Little Army Records (US), Mint Records (Canada)
Plastic Lips	7" single	2000	Contact (Japan)
Shown Actual Size	CD/12" EP	2002	Gold Standard Laboratories
Buy Hidden Persuaders	CD	2004	Mesmer Detector, Ltd (world)
Stereo Telepathy Academy	CD	2006	Helen Scarsdale Agency (world)

Live appearances

Live appearances are rare. In addition to their own shows, I Am Spoonbender has performed on bills with Mogwai, Glenn Branca, Cibo Matto, The New Pornographers, Wire, Money Mark, Einstürzende Neubauten, Hot Hot Heat, Steven Stapleton, Mike Patton, Secret Chiefs 3, Man or Astro-man?, The Locust, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Kid606, The Faint, Grandaddy, Trans Am, Pleasure Forever, Chrome, Ariel Pink, Notwist, Oneida, Tarentel, Fly Pan Am, Matmos, and Explosions in the Sky, among others.

External links

• I Am Spoonbender website (link to history of archives at Internet Archive)
• AllMusicGuide
• Burland, Chris (March 28, 2001). "CMW 2001 Chart Showcase: I Am Spoonbender". Chart. Retrieved October 8, 2009.
• Interview in Montreal Mirror, 2003
• Interview in NOW magazine, 2003
• Interview on CitySearch