Lake Trout (band)
| Lake Trout | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Genres | Ambient, post-rock, post-punk |
| Years active | 1994–2010 |
| Labels | Palm Pictures |
| Associated acts | Big in Japan Unkle |
| Website | laketrout |
| Members | James Griffith Ed Harris Mike Lowry Matt Pierce Woody Ranere |
Lake Trout are a rock band based in Baltimore. Their music is a combination of rock, ambient, jazz, and many other styles, including influences from post-rock and post-punk. The band has released six albums since its inception, four in-studio and two live. Their most recent album entitled "Live" was released in December 2008.
Lake Trout first came together in 1994. Their first album is self-titled and consists of eight songs with a heavy dose of jazz. It was released independently in 1997. The band's second album, released in 1998, is also on SNS Records. Volume for the Rest of It consists of 16 tracks total and has a more developed feel.
Lake Trout's third album, Alone at Last - Live with DJ Who is a live album and was recorded on December 9, 1999 at Trax in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was released by Phoenix Rising Records in 2000. This album, as would be expected with the addition of a DJ, has a harder and more electronic sound than the band's earlier work. It has a slightly darker feel than the previous two records and incorporates elements of drum and bass music into the sound. Mike Lowry has stated that Amon Tobin was a significant influence on him at the time, driving his development of breakbeat and jungle drumming techniques and textures.
With the release of their fourth album, Another One Lost (2003, released by Palm/RX Records), the band made a decided shift towards a more indie rock-oriented sound. The relationship between the "new sound" and the "old sound" is clearly evident, but the shift is obvious. Some fans lament this change in the band's sound, preferring the more jazz-oriented earlier work. Many enjoy the change, however, seeing a clear progression in the band's sound.
On September 13, 2005, the band released the album, Not Them, You on Palm/RX Records. This album continues with the evolution of the "new sound."
In December 2008, the band released a live album containing songs from the groups live set that had not been previously recorded as well as select songs from the most recent two studio albums.
In 2007 the band put a halt to its previous ongoing touring schedule. Since then the band has re-appeared every year for a few shows on the east coast. James Griffith, Matthew Pierce and Mike Lowry have toured extensively as part of UNKLE's touring band since June 2007.
Big in Japan is a Lake Trout side project. Until 2009 its members were James Griffith, Matt Pierce, and Mike Lowry. Its music was instrumental, very improvisational, and ambient.
In 2009, while James Griffith stayed in London working on the new UNKLE record, guitarist Ed Harris started playing bass for the group. More recent shows have included lots of guest sit-ins such as fellow Lake Trout member Woody Ranere, Katrina Ford of Celebration, Dave Heumann of Arboretum, Matt Naas of The Expotentials, Steve Strohmeier, and Mike Kuhl.
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