Malachi Constant
From Minnewiki
© Emma Beecher, used with permission.
Malachi Constant formed in St. Paul in 1999. They broke up September 1, 2006. The band, whose name is taken from the protagonist of the Kurt Vonnegut novel The Sirens of Titan, have been ever-evolving in the St. Paul scene. Describing their music is impossible; they have influences as disparate as grime and Lillith Fair.
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History
Singer and guitarist Carl Wedoff moved from Oak Park, IL to St. Paul in order to attend Macalester College (Web site). He reunited with Ben Hecker, with whom he had been friends in Illinois, but had relocated to St. Paul earlier. Teaming up with Hecker's friend Sean Harrison, the trio began to look for a drummer. "Seasoned" drummer, and fellow Macalester student, Alex McCown filled out the line-up.
After several shows at 10K, (the basement of one of the Macalester dorms) Malachi Constant headed out to perform shows for a wider audience at Twin Cities bars and clubs. They released their first album, Incitement to Discourse in 1999 on Wedoff's self-produced label Bleeding Duck Records. Members of the band are reportedly trying to find and destroy all remaining copies of this record.
Shortly after their initial exploits into playing venues, a small record shop called Eclipse opened on Grand Avenue promoting free all-ages live music. For four years, Malachi Constant honed their chops, and their live show antics as the unofficial house band at Eclipse. Sharing the stage with such acts as Exempt, Superhopper (Web site) and early versions of Hockey Night (Web site), Malachi Constant started playing larger venues like the 7th Street Entry (Web site), the Turf Club (Web site) and Big V's.
2000 proved to be a busy year for Malachi Constant. After self-releasing the 4-song EP Newspeak in January, and another 9-song EP, (Challenger) in August, on the newly created Double Indemnity label, the band headed out on its first tour.
© Lisa Venticinque for Guilt Ridden Pop, used with permission.
The band returned in 2002 with the album Zenith. Produced by the Rank Stranger's Mike Wisti, and jointly distributed by Guilt Ridden Pop (Web Site) and Double Indemnity, Zenith had distribution, and peaked at #116 in CMJ.
More touring and local shows helped the band get new material down for the next record, Infinite Justice—another Mike Wisti production on Guilt Ridden Pop.
In early 2005, drummer Alex McCown announced he'd be leaving the Twin Cities to pursue a master's degree at the New School in New York. The band recorded new material in July 2005 with Bruce Templeton at the controls prior to McCown's departure. The as-yet-untitled album set off a furious bidding war, ending in a three-way tie: Modern Radio Record Label, Guilt Ridden Pop, and Double Indemnity get to share the proceeds. Lead singer Wedoff is getting a law degree at the University of Minnesota so he can sue poor people. A new drummer has been located, hired, and taken under Malachi Constant's wing.
After a run of nearly 8 years, Malachi Constant called it quits early in the morning of September 1, 2006. Carl Wedoff explained on the band's myspace page: "I hope too much explanation isn't necessary. It was time."
Members
- Carl Wedoff: Guitarists
- Ben Hecker: Guitars 2
- Sean Harrison: Bass
- Nikki Shimz: Drums
Moved away, misses out on the payoff
- Alex McCown: NYC drums
Albums
- Incitement to Discourse (1999)
- Newspeak EP (2000)
- Challenger (2000)
- Zenith (2002)
- Infinite Justice (2004)
- Pride (2006)
Audio
Audio available on band Web site:
- "The Wind in the Willows"
- "Arts and Crafts"
- "Saigon Kick"
- "Creativity"
- "The Spice of Life"
