Denver's Christie Front Drive
Christie Front Drive was an Emo Rock band that formed in 1993 in Denver, CO. The band was fronted by the indie rocker, Eric Richter, who has continued to play and release music, most notably the groups Antarctica, The 101, and currently Golden City. Other members have continued to play in various projects as well. The band’s career was relatively short-lived, for they broke up by 1997 and released 1 self-titled Ep, several 7”s, and 1 posthumous full-length entitled Stereo (1997 Caulfield Records). The full-length album was recently remastered and re-released in 2010 on Magic Bullet Records.
The band was one of the great staples of the 90s Emo renaissance, up there with previously posted legends such as Braid, Cap’n Jazz, and others, and the album, Stereo, is an absolute essential for all rock collections. I couldn’t find any studio-tracks on YouTube, but here’s some live footage of the 2nd track off the full length, “Radio”:
The show must be a reunion concert. Here’s another classic performed at the same show; it’s the track “Seven Day Candle,” also found on their posthumous Lp:
Christie Front Drive was a major influence on the genre; it’s a must have for appreciators of 90s Emo Rock...
Kansas City's Boy's Life
Boy’s Life was an Emo band out of Kansas City, Missouri that formed in 1993; they actively released records until 1996, including 2 albums, Boy’s Life (1995 Crank! Records) and Departures and Landfalls (1996 Headhunter/Cargo), several 7”s, and a split Ep with the above Christie Front Drive (1996 Crank! Records). The band had a short, but prolific, recording career, and members went on to participate in other significant projects, such as Canyon (a band that featured a member from the previously posted-about group, Crownhate Ruin) and Lullaby for the Working Class (a supergroup of sorts which featured members of Cursive and Bright Eyes). Both full lengths are great, but their first self-titled release is a definite essential. Here’s the opening track, “Golf Hill Drive”:
And the album keeps rockin’. The 2nd song doesn’t drag the pace at all. It’s called “Tucked In”; check it out:
Boy’s Life seems closely connected in both sound and spirit to the roots of modern, 90s Emo: DC Post-Hardcore. I hear a lot of Fugazi influence here, for sure. Check out the next track on the self-titled album, “A Quarter’s Worth”:
What great start to an amazing album. Definitely listen to the entire release; it’s a quality rock record.
Kansas City's Proudentall
Proudentall was a another Midwest Emo group from Kansas City, MO that formed in 1996. They played their first live show with the aforementioned Boy’s Life and continued to tour with other legends of the 90s Emo era. Like much music of the KC scene, their songs are mathy, at times noisy, as well as emotional. They released some 7”s, one being a split with the Anniversary, and one full length album, What’s Happening Here (2000 Caulfield Records). The album displayed great promise, but the band broke up unfortunately shortly thereafter. I could not find music samples on YouTube or BandCamp, so I have no video preview to provide; I apologize. I recommend taking a risk on this; check out the link. A highlight on the album for me is the track, “Untitled with Mike and B”; it reminds me of the previously posted Sharks Keep Moving.
Indiana's Split Lip
Split Lip was a Midwestern Emo band of the 90s that formed in Indianapolis, Indiana around 1990. Like many bands of their milieu, they started as a straight-edge group with an unimpressively typical sound of late 80s hardcore. In the early years they were grouped with bands like Endpoint, Youth of Today, Gorilla Biscuits, Bold, etc. Once the band signed with Emo-oriented label, Doghouse Records, their sound evolved melodically and emotionally, putting them at the forefront of the 90s Emo Rock phenomenon. They released their first full length in 1993, For the Love of the Wounded (Doghouse Records), an album that helped define a new generation of emo-core conventions; their breakthrough release, however, was the sophomore full length, Fate’s Got a Driver (1995 Doghouse Records); the record dramatically influenced the upcoming generation of Doghouse emo bands (I’m thinking of groups like the Get Up Kids, here...) Here’s the great opening track, “Her Side of Sundown,” from their the album, Fate’s Got a Driver:Shortly after, however, the band changed both their name and their sound, calling themselves Chamberlain and opting to explore more country-influenced music. The band’s new name was taken from a Split Lip song off the same album as the above track:
Chamberlain re-recorded the last Split Lip Lp to reflect their newly decided direction in musical composition; personally, I prefer the rawer, more emotive Split Lip version (and I do like Alt-Country bands...). Chamberlain remained active until 2000, and members have continued to play and record in the music scene. Drummer, Charlie Walker, apparently participated in side project, Institute, with Bush’s Gavin Rossdale, and now plays with another legendary, emo-punk band, Samiam. Both Adam Rubenstein and David Moore have released solo albums as well. Both Split Lip and Chamberlain are good rock bands worth checking out.
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