Revolution 9: Not just a Beatles song
Before free samplers and sites like purevolume or MP3.com, there used to be these CDs that labels put together called Compilations (my sarcasm is intentional of course) Usually there were a few well known bands that would pretty much sell the comps based on their established name and a bunch of young or no name bands to fill the remainder of the track listing. Occasionally you would get lucky and find a pretty rad band and then you would go off in search of their self released 7", but sometimes those compilation tracks would be the only time you'd ever hear their name again. Such was the case with a Virginia band called Revolution 9.
Back when I first started by label in 1998, I used to trade a great deal of my releases with other labels for their releases. I am not sure how but I ended up speaking over email with Matt from Shandle Records (and of the underrated band Chalkline) One of the releases I received in trade was of a compilation that Shandle released (which was named The Shandle Records Comp Vol. 1) Along with bands like Trademark, Chalkline, and Digression (among a few others) was the Virginia band Revolution 9. They completely stood out among the other bands that were mostly heavier than their melodic post hardcore sound.
Years back I remember thinking they sounded like a Background era Lifetime or the early Silent Majority material. Its definitely a sound that has all but disappeared in hardcore today, while bands like Split Lip, Endpoint, and Walleye had just about perfected it. The vocals are another thing that stands out about this genre because while the music may vary from heavy to driving, the vocalist doesn't really need to scream unnecessarily or break into some big chorus like today's bands. I uploaded all their tracks from the Shandle comp, so give them a listen:
"Free With My Surroundings"
"Dyed In The Wool"
"Vote For The Devil"
I later remember calling Matt from Shandle to tell him just how awesome this band Revolution 9 was and he told me that there was at some point plans to release a record from them which eventually fell through. I am not sure whether it was due to a falling out or the band breaking up, but I never heard their name again after that. A google search this afternoon provided me with some information that the band was comprised of Dayspring (which featured members of Grip and who later went on to Cycle, all of which I own records from, but haven't listen to in years) Actually after learning that I can see similarities to all those bands. So if anyone else has any knowledge of what became of this band or if perhaps they had another release, let me know.
The compilation is still available for sale too for a well spent $3.00 at Very Distribution.
Back when I first started by label in 1998, I used to trade a great deal of my releases with other labels for their releases. I am not sure how but I ended up speaking over email with Matt from Shandle Records (and of the underrated band Chalkline) One of the releases I received in trade was of a compilation that Shandle released (which was named The Shandle Records Comp Vol. 1) Along with bands like Trademark, Chalkline, and Digression (among a few others) was the Virginia band Revolution 9. They completely stood out among the other bands that were mostly heavier than their melodic post hardcore sound.
Years back I remember thinking they sounded like a Background era Lifetime or the early Silent Majority material. Its definitely a sound that has all but disappeared in hardcore today, while bands like Split Lip, Endpoint, and Walleye had just about perfected it. The vocals are another thing that stands out about this genre because while the music may vary from heavy to driving, the vocalist doesn't really need to scream unnecessarily or break into some big chorus like today's bands. I uploaded all their tracks from the Shandle comp, so give them a listen:
"Free With My Surroundings"
"Dyed In The Wool"
"Vote For The Devil"
I later remember calling Matt from Shandle to tell him just how awesome this band Revolution 9 was and he told me that there was at some point plans to release a record from them which eventually fell through. I am not sure whether it was due to a falling out or the band breaking up, but I never heard their name again after that. A google search this afternoon provided me with some information that the band was comprised of Dayspring (which featured members of Grip and who later went on to Cycle, all of which I own records from, but haven't listen to in years) Actually after learning that I can see similarities to all those bands. So if anyone else has any knowledge of what became of this band or if perhaps they had another release, let me know.
The compilation is still available for sale too for a well spent $3.00 at Very Distribution.
posted by Christopher at 5:32 PM
9 Comments:
DUDE, amazing. I have been looking for more tracks from this band for YEARS. Funny thing is, I pulled out "The Tie That Binds" comp a few weeks ago, and the Revolution 9 song inspired me to do some digging once more, so I JUST bought that Shandle comp (which is awesome, by the way) from Very last week! The connection to Dayspring is minimal, I think they shared one member (I'm not entirely sure), and it was not Cen Penn. But if they ever recorded any other songs I really want to hear them! I haven't checked yet to see if the song on "The Tie That Binds" is one of the three on this Shandle comp, but it might not be. A couple of other earlier bands from this area who had somewhat comparable sounds to Revolution 9 were Askance and Contagen, though the vocals were a little higher and much more unique (i.e. an acquired taste, in an Into Another sort of way). I'll post some tracks by both of those bands at some point down the line...
i really enjoy this band, but where can i find more beltaine?
-michael
amazon has used copies of the cd crowning the caged kid for a little under $1.50!
wow Andrew mentioned the Tie That Binds and the Shandle Records comp all in one paragraph. I'm having 1995-97 flashbacks big time!
as am i.
thanks for the kind words back in the beginning of september about revolution 9. i was the bass player and second guitar player for revolution 9. the extent of the releases.... there was
the shandle comp and the tie that binds comp.
there was a plan to have a release on some label named
"communication recordings," but that really didn't pan out. also a plan to have some additional material out on nevermore (the guy that put out the tie the binds) that didn't work out either.
i can't quite pin point the time that we stopped peforming/playing together, it must be close to 9 years or so.
i think some of the rest of the guys in the band continued after i parted ways, but not for too much longer. your post gets me interested in contacting the main guitar player - mike - to see what he's up to and if he's anxious to get together.
one of the guys, kevin, was in band cycle for a bit, playing bass. the singer was from a band called shadowman that was on a killer comp a long time ago on allied records.
i went on to play bass in a band called astronaut with a guy who was the songwriter for the bands - groove, elizabeth herz (old glory records).
i was hoping that things would have taken off with the band. if anybody is interested i could probably dig up some other tunes out of the closet. i have a few reels and adats full of material as well. i think i might even have a handful of demos pre shandle comp. ah - memories. thanks again for the nice comments.
i am going to try to reach out to talk to mike pond (the other guitar player) and see what he's up to. is it too late to attempt to be a rockstar in your thirties? :)
sincerely, tom (thomas.j.casey@gmail.com)
hey this is joe crawford. i sang for revolution 9 and shadowman and another band called the old grey whistle test. im stoked to see an interest so many years later in a band that myself and all the members really put our hearts into. we were not around for very long but i have a bunch of other songs that some of you might be interested in. if so email me at isisnowwas@yahoo.com
i appreciate all the love,
thank you so much
joe
I have one of the shandle records cd's. This one has a primrose records logo on it. Watership Down, Light, and Chalkline are the bands on it. I really like Watership down and know they went on to immigrant sun but I cant find them anywhere else. I was wondering if anyone might know more about them. I left a link to my myspace.
Watership down released a 7" on Immigrant Sun in 1997 (I think).
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