Estradasphere

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Background information
Origin	Santa Cruz, California, United States
Genre(s)	World Fusion Avantgarde
Years active	1998–present
Label(s)	The End Records Mimicry Records
Associated acts	Secret Chiefs 3 God of Shamisen Fishtank Ensemble
Website	Official website
Members
Jason Schimmel Tim Smolens Timb Harris Kevin Kmetz Adam Stacey Lee Smith
Former members
David Murray John Whooley

Estradasphere is an experimental band that originated in Santa Cruz, California during the late 1990s. Constructed around core members Tim Smolens (bassist), Timb Harris (violinist) and Jason Schimmel (guitarist), they are popular throughout the United States and have performed almost 300 shows at 156 venues.^{[citation needed]}

Estradasphere are best known for their eclectic musical styling. They frequently draw inspiration from genres such as jazz, funk, techno, classical, pop, metal, New Age, Latin, Balkan, Greek and gypsy stylings. They are influenced by artists such as The Beach Boys and Secret Chiefs 3; and have been compared to the music of Mr. Bungle or John Zorn.^[1] Like Mr. Bungle and Secret Chiefs 3 they stylistically mix different genres into their songs. They have also been known to play themes from television programs and video games such as Super Mario Bros (an example [1]).

As of 2006, Estradasphere have released five full length albums (including a split live CD/DVD), an EP, and a VHS that compiles early footage of live shows. The VHS product has since been re-released on DVD with extra footage.

Estradasphere received some critical acclaim with their 2002 album, Buck Fever, but they have yet to gain any substantial commercial success. While the band continues to reach more people and expand its endeavors (including their most recent album, Palace of Mirrors), they appreciate having a personal connection with their audience. Certain fans of Estradasphere have been known to show their appreciation for the band in eccentric ways, such as a fan who calls himself "Sheepman" and dresses up as a sheep when appearing at Estradasphere shows.

On September 19, 2006, Estradasphere released a new LP entitled, Palace of Mirrors, through The End Records. Accompanying the release was a North American tour--performing and dramatizing the entire album on stage with an interactive video and light show.

Contents 1 Band history 2 Band members 2.1 Current members 2.2 Former members 3 Discography 4 Related bands/side projects 5 Trivia 6 Notes 7 External links

[edit] Band history

Guitarist Jason Schimmel and bassist Tim Smolens met in 7th grade at Miraleste High School. In 1997, their band Don Salsa recorded its first album, Koolaid Moustache In Jonestown. In 1998, Jason and Tim moved to Santa Cruz, California. Jason attended UC Santa Cruz, along with Timb Harris, John Whooley, and Dave Murray. At that time, John, Tim, Jason, Dave, and friend, Jason Conception, played downtown among the street performers of Santa Cruz. Jason Conception left the band to focus on his other project Netwerk:Electric. In December of 1998, Timb Harris joined the band. The band continued to play the streets and at local coffee shops.

On January 7, 2000, Estradasphere held its first concert at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center. This was a pivotal show for the band, and they began to play clubs exclusively. Estradasphere's popularity in Santa Cruz birthed a spontaneous circus environment where audience members began actively participating in the shows and fans were encouraged to wear costumes. Frequent sideshow acts included: juggler and balloon maker, David Poznanter, a book reader, George Smith III, fire-dancers, cheerleaders, stilt-walkers, and more. Poco Marshall booked many more shows at the legendary Palookaville, as he was the venue talent buyer at the time. Later that year, they released their first album It's Understood on Trey Spruance's label, Mimicry Records. They went on their first North American tour, opening for Secret Chiefs 3.

In 2001, Estradasphere released their first EP, The Silent Elk of Yesterday, which included a few new studio tracks, and some live performances. They also went on their second North American tour with the band Tub Ring.

The band released their second full length album, Buck Fever in the Spring of 2002. Later that year, drummer Dave Murray left the band.

In 2003, they released their third full length album Quadropus. Because they did not have a full time drummer, several guest drummers appeared on this album, including Dave Murray.

In the Spring of 2004, they released a DVD of live concert footage entitled, Passion for Life. It contained a full length DVD as well as a CD that included some live tracks and other material. The cover featured an oil painting by Santa Cruz artist, Michael Joseph Welsh, entitled, Humans as seen by God last week through a Tootsiescope.

In 2004, founding member and saxophonist, John Whooley, left the band. Tsugaru Shamisen player Kevin Kmetz and keyboardist Adam Stacey joined Estradasphere to replace him. They played their first show together as a new band with guest drummer Theo Mordey at 2004's SXSW Festival. Later that year Lee Smith moved from Atlanta to join Estradasphere as their new permanent drummer.

In 2005, Estradasphere released, These Are the Days [DVD], a documentary of the band's first national tour, highlighting the original line-up and circus side-shows. This marked the end of an era and ushered in the present age of Estradasphere.

2006 saw the energetic and cohesive reemergence of Estradasphere. They signed to the New York based, The End Records, and released their most conceptually grounded album to date, Palace of Mirrors, an instrumental song-cycle with a positively psychedelic narrative structure.

In 2007 Estradasphere signs with Silverleaf Booking Agency, who booked a Northwest US tour with The End Records label mates Stolen Babies, and is planning a full US tour in April.

[edit] Band members

[edit] Current members

• Jason Schimmel - guitar, banjo
• Tim Smolens - bass guitar, double bass
• Timb Harris - violin, trumpet
• Kevin Kmetz - shamisen, guitar
• Adam Stacey - accordion, keyboards
• Lee Smith - drums

[edit] Former members

• David Murray - drums
• John Whooley - saxophone

[edit] Discography

Album Cover	Title	Release Date	Label
	It's Understood (LP)	June 26, 2000	Mimicry
	These are the Days (VHS)	2000
	The Silent Elk of Yesterday (EP)	September 18, 2001	Mimicry
	Buck Fever (LP)	2001	Mimicry
	Quadropus (LP)	October 28, 2003	Mimicry
	Passion for Life (LP/DVD)	March 9, 2004	Mimicry
	There are the Days (DVD Reissue)	October 3, 2005
	Palace of Mirrors (LP)	September 19, 2006	The End

[edit] Related bands/side projects

• Don Salsa - Tim Smolens and Jason Schimmel perform with others. Experimental group. Official Website
• Fishtank Ensemble - Tim Smolens, Kevin Kmetz and Adam Stacey perform with Doug (of Don Salsa), Aaron Seeman (who has recorded accordion for Estradasphere and Mr. Bungle). Also features Fabrice on fiddle and Ursula. Gypsy music. Official Website
• God of Shamisen - Kevin Kmetz and Lee Smith perform along with Dave McCoy and Mark Thornton. Shamisen rock. Official Website
• I.S.S. (Ideal Social Situation) - Tim Smolens performs with George the Reader, Joey Ryken (MonoMan), Joel Rainbow and Jesse Houts (MC Wheels). Pop. Official Website
• Netwerk: Electric - Former bandmate Jason Conception (1998) performs with others. Jazz.
• Santa Cruz Hemp Allstars - John Whooley performs with members of Sound Tribe Sector 9, Netwerk: Electric and Disco Biscuits. Official Website.
• Santa Cruz White Album Ensemble - Jason Schimmel (and occasionally Timb Harris) perform with others. They perform Beatles albums such as the White Album, Rubber Revolver and Sgt. Pepper's Mystery Tour in full concerts. Official Website
• Secret Chiefs 3 - Timb Harris, Adam Stacey and Kevin Kmetz perform with Trey Spruance and others. Jason Schimmel, John Whooley, and Tim Smolens also make appearances. Official Website

[edit] Trivia

• The band named itself as a tribute to actor Erik Estrada who is most recognized from the television series "CHiPs".^{[citation needed]}
• The majority of their songs consist of instrumentals, each ranging in variation from death metal, 1960's pop, jazz, soundtracks, video games & world music.
• The band has a secret language of acronyms.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Estradasphere - official Estradasphere website.
• - Estradasphere myspace
• The End Records - website of Estradasphere's current record label.
• Web of Mimicry - website for Estradasphere's former record label.
• Interview From October 4, 2006