David Grubbs (Gastr Del Sol, Bastro, etc) (lyric, bootleg, electronic)

GravitySlips · 02-18-2008, 12:55 PM

I did a search and nothing came up in this forum, or in the indie forum regarding the wonderful David Grubbs, therefore...

He's been in several great bands. He started off in Squirrel Bait, which was a post hardcore sorta band that had a couple of pretty cool releases before they splintered into other bands...some of them into Slint who we all know.

David then formed Bastro, who had a slightly more challenging, Albini-esque sound, mixing the sound of Squirrel Bait with more complex, mathy drumming (originally a drum machine, doubtless inspired by Big Black, and later on with John McEntire who later played with Tortoise).

Gastr Del Sol followed Bastro, and they were essentially the same band, but with a marked change in their sonic direction. They incorporated elements of Fahey-style guitar work, folk, free jazz, classical, electronica and krautrock to create a fairly original sound which they developed throughout their releases. The band was basically a mix of David Grubbs and Jim O'Rourke, so of course they've got some good stuff. They were among the first bands to be called "post-rock", although their sound shares almost nothing in common with the popular post rock bands of today like Sigur Ros and Godspeed. Lyrically, they're often completely nonsensical, using surrealist imagery and often awkward phrasings. I would regard Gastr Del Sol as one of the best bands of the 90s, and they'd be pretty high in my favourite bands of all time list. Their album "Camoufleur" should be essential listening for fans of alternative music, however vague that statement may be. Check it check it check it.

So anyone heard any of David Grubbs' work? I've still to listen to his solo work, but these bands come pretty highly recommended.

Oh aye, he also participated in that 77 Boadrum event that the Boredoms put on. Here's an interesting docu on that...

77 BOADRUM | VIDEO | VIVA-RADIO.COM

I will never post anything like this again so enjoy and goodbye etc.

**cardboard adolescent** · 02-18-2008, 02:26 PM

David Grubbs' solo stuff is very similar to Gastr Del Sol, but not quite as good imo. Rickets & Scurvy is a pretty good album nonetheless.

**Urban Hatemonger** · 02-18-2008, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GravitySlips

Oh aye, he also participated in that 77 Boadrum event that the Boredoms put on. Here's an interesting docu on that...

77 BOADRUM | VIDEO | VIVA-RADIO.COM

I have the bootleg of that

swim · 02-18-2008, 04:53 PM

Hammering so Hard is one of those songs that I love so much with no logic behind it it's just great. Squirrel Bait in general is really cool and Bastro, Bitch Magnet and Gastr del Sol are all really good.

GravitySlips · 02-19-2008, 03:46 PM

Hammering So Hard is such a great song. The drumming is pretty nuts, I really can't fathom how it manages to hold the song together, but it's def my favourite Squirrel Bait song. I actually like Squirrel Bait's s/t more than I like Skag Heaven..."Sun God" is a great track as well from memory.

The thing that impresses me most about Squirrel Bait is that they were basically just a bunch of high school kids making some great music and supporting lots of the best underground bands of the time. They weren't revolutionary or anything, but for their age they were making some really rad music,

I forgot about Bitch Magnet, who I believe David Grubbs was also involved in. I've still to check them out, but I do have one of their albums downloaded, which i'll get round to eventually.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cardboard adolescent

David Grubbs' solo stuff is very similar to Gastr Del Sol, but not quite as good imo. Rickets & Scurvy is a pretty good album nonetheless.

good stuff, I'll check that out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

I have the bootleg of that

You get 1000 indie points for that Urban. Is it any good?

teshadoh · 02-20-2008, 09:19 AM

Bitch Magnet was a great band & also featured Sooyoung Park of Seam. Ben Hur is a good album by them - it's an interesting bridge between hardcore & what Seam will later sound like.

**Urban Hatemonger** · 02-20-2008, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GravitySlips

You get 1000 indie points for that Urban. Is it any good?

No idea , it's almost 2 hours long.
I don't think i've ever made it to the end before.

mightyprojet · 04-15-2008, 12:33 PM

I think the only Bitch Magnet album Grubbs played on was Ben Hur unless he was using a codename on Umber and Star Booty.Squirrel Bait was great,Skag Heaven is one best records of the `80s IMHO.Bastro was cool too,almost a blueprint of what would come later in indie rock.Too bad Gastr did`nt last longer.Camoufleur is their best record.I have`nt investigated much of his solo stuff.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

02-18-2008, 12:55 PM
GravitySlips Music Addict Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 729	David Grubbs (Gastr Del Sol, Bastro, etc) I did a search and nothing came up in this forum, or in the indie forum regarding the wonderful David Grubbs, therefore... He's been in several great bands. He started off in Squirrel Bait, which was a post hardcore sorta band that had a couple of pretty cool releases before they splintered into other bands...some of them into Slint who we all know. David then formed Bastro, who had a slightly more challenging, Albini-esque sound, mixing the sound of Squirrel Bait with more complex, mathy drumming (originally a drum machine, doubtless inspired by Big Black, and later on with John McEntire who later played with Tortoise). Gastr Del Sol followed Bastro, and they were essentially the same band, but with a marked change in their sonic direction. They incorporated elements of Fahey-style guitar work, folk, free jazz, classical, electronica and krautrock to create a fairly original sound which they developed throughout their releases. The band was basically a mix of David Grubbs and Jim O'Rourke, so of course they've got some good stuff. They were among the first bands to be called "post-rock", although their sound shares almost nothing in common with the popular post rock bands of today like Sigur Ros and Godspeed. Lyrically, they're often completely nonsensical, using surrealist imagery and often awkward phrasings. I would regard Gastr Del Sol as one of the best bands of the 90s, and they'd be pretty high in my favourite bands of all time list. Their album "Camoufleur" should be essential listening for fans of alternative music, however vague that statement may be. Check it check it check it. So anyone heard any of David Grubbs' work? I've still to listen to his solo work, but these bands come pretty highly recommended. Oh aye, he also participated in that 77 Boadrum event that the Boredoms put on. Here's an interesting docu on that... 77 BOADRUM \| VIDEO \| VIVA-RADIO.COM I will never post anything like this again so enjoy and goodbye etc.

02-18-2008, 02:26 PM
cardboard adolescent time isn't on my side Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,378	David Grubbs' solo stuff is very similar to Gastr Del Sol, but not quite as good imo. Rickets & Scurvy is a pretty good album nonetheless. __________________ Free Music! Free Art! The Ocean Will Have Us All

02-18-2008, 04:53 PM
swim Everyone Does Everything. Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: coastal plain North Carolina Posts: 4,396	Hammering so Hard is one of those songs that I love so much with no logic behind it it's just great. Squirrel Bait in general is really cool and Bastro, Bitch Magnet and Gastr del Sol are all really good. __________________ you should be ashamed to be so proud of what you got http://www.mediafire.com/?ryxhwjmb1y9 http://www.mediafire.com/?g4wzjzjz1gu

02-20-2008, 09:19 AM
teshadoh Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 98	Bitch Magnet was a great band & also featured Sooyoung Park of Seam. Ben Hur is a good album by them - it's an interesting bridge between hardcore & what Seam will later sound like.

04-15-2008, 12:33 PM
mightyprojet Groupie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: canada Posts: 47	I think the only Bitch Magnet album Grubbs played on was Ben Hur unless he was using a codename on Umber and Star Booty.Squirrel Bait was great,Skag Heaven is one best records of the `80s IMHO.Bastro was cool too,almost a blueprint of what would come later in indie rock.Too bad Gastr did`nt last longer.Camoufleur is their best record.I have`nt investigated much of his solo stuff.