Wolf Eyes

Wolf Eyes

Wolf Eyes in Glasgow in 2006
Background information
Origin Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.
Genres Noise, noise rock, experimental, abstract , post-industrial, dark ambient
Years active 1996–present
Labels Sub Pop
Website wolfeyes.net
Members Nate Young
John Olson
Jim Baljo
Past members Aaron Dilloway (1999–2005)
Mike Connelly (2005-2012)

Wolf Eyes is a post-industrial/noise band from Detroit, Michigan, United States.

History

Wolf Eyes began as a solo project of former Nautical Almanac member Nate Young. Aaron Dilloway joined in 1998 while also playing with John Olson in Universal Indians. Olson occasionally performed with Wolf Eyes under the Spykes moniker and joined Wolf Eyes in 2000 after Universal Indians disbanded.

In 2005, Aaron Dilloway left Wolf Eyes, disinterested in extensive touring. Mike Connelly (of Hair Police, Failing Lights and Clay Rendering) replaced Dilloway, appearing first on their 2006 album Human Animal. Dilloway did some production work on Human Animal.[1] He has performed with them on at least two occasions (Empty Bottle Chicago, IL 2/25/2006 and No Fun Fest Brooklyn, NY 3/18/2006).

It was announced in February 2013 that Mike Connelly has left the group to concentrate on his solo work and Hair Police. He was replaced in the lineup by another Michigan musician Jim Baljo.[2] Both Aaron Dilloway and Mike Connelly appeared on the 2013 album No Answer: Lower Floors.

The group has released over 100 recordings in their relatively short lifespan. Official releases have appeared on labels including but not limited to Hanson Records, Bulb Records, American Tapes, Fusetron, De Stijl Records, Sub Pop, Troubleman Unlimited, AA Records, Gods of Tundra, Freedom From, and Hospital Productions. Wolf Eyes' first two major tours were with Sonic Youth and Andrew W.K. They have collaborated with Anthony Braxton, Black Dice, Double Leopards, John Wiese, Mammal, Prurient, and Smegma.[3]

Reception and influence

Journalist Marc Masters discerns the influence of "the dirge of Swans, the clang of Einstürzende Neubauten, even the dark hardcore of the Misfits" on the group's sound.[4]

In an article for Spin Magazine, Henry Rollins named member John Olson's noise bands in a column about his 5 favorite bands stating "The guy has over 1,000 releases on his label, and I have almost 700 of them. I have a great deal of time for all of these noise terrorists — it's modern avant-meets-stoners in a basement...." [5]

Fred Thomas of AllMusic observed

“ Their development since the earliest rumblings in 1997 (and further back than that for those with the energy to dig into pre-Wolf Eyes projects) has yielded some of the most staggering and genre-defining sounds of noise and sound art's dense, largely obscured history.[3] ”

Distribution

Most Wolf Eyes recordings are self-released, following the DIY tradition of bands such as Smegma. Their first major release was Dread, released on the American Tapes and Hanson Records labels but distributed through Bulb Records. Other major releases include Dead Hills on Troubleman Unlimited as well as Burned Mind and Human Animal on Sub Pop. Most Wolf Eyes recordings are released as either lathe cuts, cassettes, or CD-rs.

Side projects

Aaron Dilloway

John Olson

Nate Young

Mike Connelly

Partial discography

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

References

  1. ↑ Sub Pop Records. "Human Animal site". Sub Pop Records. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "Nate Young Facebook Page". Facebook.com. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  3. 1 2 Fred Thomas. "No Answer: Lower Floors - Wolf Eyes - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "Articles". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "Playlist: Henry Rollins' 5 Favorite Bands". SPIN. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
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