SXSW 2005 Showcasing Artists
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Dark Fog
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Dark Fog is the new psychedelic rock. Taking up where bands like Spacemen 3 and My Bloody Valentine left off, with their repetitive rhythms and simple atmospheric songs, Dark Fog then discards the digital "shoegazer" aspect of the genre, opting instead for long jamming and gutsy, shredding guitar solos inspired by Hendrix, The Groundhogs, Velvets, and 60's garage. The vocals are minimalist, often repeated, sung, whispered and spoken, tweaked with echo. The bass is massive and fuzzed, guitars tweaked, fuzzed and wah-ed. Drums solid with cymbals skillfully exploding into different sounds and shapes, all this augmented by a wild improvised theremin. Dark Fog has been compared to bands as diverse as Gun Club and The Jesus and Mary Chain. The band was created in the spring of 2004 by guitarist Ray Donato, who has lent his bass playing skills to psyche bands Utopia Carcrash (supported High Rise, Swirlies) and The Unshown (supported Acid Mother's Temple, The White Stripes) and Metal Prog group American Heritage (Escape Artist records, UK 2003 tour). Kevin Walsh, granddaddy of Original Sound Recordings studios and record label was then recruited to lend his guitar prowess as well as YT Robinson on Drums, and Jessie Halbert on Bass, all formerly of the OSR band Speed of Light. Their experience playing together proved to be an asset, as their intuitive abilities allowed them to record their demo and debut 7" record (on OSR) in just 3 weekend sessions, often resulting in the first or second takes being the keepers. Live their sounds captivate, and often a guitar is being played vertically, in the air, as if chasing the vortex of wah sweeps it is creating into the sky...
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TECHNOLOGY PARTNER
