Kill Sadie
From Minnewiki
Kill Sadie was a Minneapolis-based post-hardcore band who formed in 1997 and eventually split in 2001 after a large number of line-up changes. It proved to be a launching ground for several influential modern emo, hardcore, and indie musicians, who found larger success in other outfits such as Minus the Bear, Pretty Girls Make Graves and These Arms Are Snakes. Rather than seek popular appeal or radio play, the band adopted the familiar DIY ethic of constant touring. They are often grouped with many of the 80s-90s pre-emo bands such Rites of Spring and Texas Is The Reason although their musical style would probably be better described in reference to the members' subsequent projects.
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History
The band formed in 1997 in the Twin Cities area (Minneapolis/ St. Paul) of Minnesota. An early influence was D.C. band Swiz, who also inspired the faunt used on early releases. Reminiscent of bands like Fugazi and Drive Like Jehu in work ethic and spirit, they pushed away from the hardcore scene that rooted their sound to experiment with adding sonic presence, electronic beats and sampling, as well as multi-layered vocals. The emo genre was in its infancy to the extent that the band were never really included in such a scene, but many credit Kill Sadie with the dark brooding sound it has become today.
The band's name was taken from an incident at a party. Founding drummer Erin Tate was informed by his brother Knol (guitaristr) that a girl named "Sadie tried to kill [him]." Tate responded that "someone should kill Sadie." The band's name is often broken into two words ("Kill Sadie") though it is just as common for the phrase to be combined into a single word. Like most pre-emo bands in the 90's Indie scene they were very very different and clandestine.
They were eventually driven apart not only by moving from Minneapolis to Seattle, but mainly by directions they wanted to take the band, as is evident in the member's later projects.
The sound
Always different and fresh, Killsadie's sound ranged from soft ethereal jazz to screaming hardcore. The band mixed these two with stark originality and influenced many before they broke up. The smooth watery bass work and almost harp sounding guitar taps were rare to find in hardcore punk bands, a classification that barely describes the band's style. Their influence can be plainly heard today in everyone from Aiden to The Locust. Their closest contemporaries were probably At the Drive-In, Murder City Devils, or on their lighter side Sunny Day Real Estate.
Members
Due to constant touring, infighting and moving from state to state, Killsadie's lineup changed several times.
- Erin Tate - drums (Spring 1997-Fall 2001) Onalaska/Askeleton
- Jay Clark - guitar (Summer 1997-Fall 2001) Sharks Keep Moving/Pretty Girls Make Graves
- Steve Snere - vocals (Spring 1999-Fall 2001)These Arms Are Snakes
- Patrick Scott - guitar/vocals (Fall 1999-Fall 2001) Solo/DJ/producer
- Cory Murchy - bass (Winter 2001-Fall 2001)
- Andy Wolff - roadie/honorary member (Spring 1997 - Spring 2000)
- Rebecca Dunbar - keyboard (Summer 2001-Fall 2001)
- Bruce J Wuollet - guitar (Spring 1999-Fall 1999) THEMES
- Bob Eisnebise - bass (Spring 1997-Fall 2000) Shotgun Monday
- Josh VanLoon - vocals (January 1997-Winter 1998)
- Jason Aaronen - vocals (Spring 1997-Fall 1997)
- Erik Hanson - guitar (Spring 1997-Summer 1997) Flickr
- Knol Tate - guitar (Spring 1997-Fall 1999) Askeleton
Discography
Traitor 7"/CD (One Percent Records, 1998)
Kill Sadie EP (THD Records, 1998)
Half Cocked Concepts 10" (Old Glory Records, 1998)
In Half Cocked Concepts CD (includes THD 7")(One Percent Records, 1999)
Split 7" with Brand New Unit (Modern Radio, 2000)
A New Make 7" (Redwood Records, 2000)
Experiments In Expectation LP/CD (Dim Mak Records, 2001)
We're All a Little Sick CD best of (Satellite City, 2004)
Quotes
Amp 176 - Erik Hanson
Attention - Erik Hanson
Hidden Chord - Knol Tate
Minus The Bear - Erin Tate, Cory Murchy
The Stereo - Erik Hanson
These Arms Are Snakes - Erin Tate, Steve Snere
