GIANTS CHAIR

 I think it is important for information to be exchanged, and using this blog space I’d hope to add something to the lack of decent online info or mp3’s of certain bands or music I really like. One band that I’m always drawn to at the moment  would be Kansas City’s GIANTS CHAIR, a band who pretty much refined and perfected the Midwestern post hardcore sound. Their approach was very rhythm driven and hard edged, yet musical with more complex song arrangements.

In appraisal of this mid 90s hardcore sound or ’emo’ (as it was often referred to then) few bands produced anything of lasting value. It’s crazy to think how ’emo’ has become a term commonplace to describe a fashion obsessed substance free brand of corporate rock. Anyway, many bands were just lacking anything beyond the stylistic traits of tight pants/white socks, paper bag sleeves, lyrics about angels or butterflies, photographs of old typewriters, the ‘quiet/loud’ song template etc.. Looking back in 2008 with a more critical eye I’d cite  GIANTS CHAIR, HOOVER, NAVIO FORGE, DRIVE LIKE JEHU, MOLLY McGUIRE, SIDESHOW, FRANKLIN, CURRENT and GRAVITY RECORDS as providing the more challenging and creative music from the mid 90s era. Rooting around a stack of old zines in search of information I found this interview gold from Hanging Like A Hex #8 (early 97) & scanned it as a .pdf ENJOY:  GIANTS CHAIR 1997 INTERVIEW  

 The first time i took note of the name GIANTS CHAIR was THIS cool review in Second Nature magazine. It was quite hard even then to get ahold of their records, everytime I tried to pick something up it was always sold out. Fast forward ten years I have eventually tracked most of it down. Starting with ‘Red and Clear’. you can hear an extremely accomplished debut album for the Caulfield record label. For me, the track  1000 of Anything  demonstrates how focused and fluid their music sounds.

 GIANTS CHAIR play circles around the now ‘legendary’ emo bands like INDIAN SUMMER, ORDINATION OF AARON, CAP n’ JAZZ etc. Another thing they possesed which many did not was the key ingredient of good songwriting that also rocked. This can be heard even on their first 7″, check this track  Common Cold  which was backed with ‘Weed Roses’, later rerecorded for ‘Red and Clear’. You can DL that whole single thanks to this guy and his blog Rocket Science . Below are  scans of Caulfield records ads for ‘Red and Clear’ from HeartattaCk zine.                                                  

 

 Unfortunately I am unable to rip the track ‘Ever Present’ from their split 7″ with BOYS LIFE which, while excellent, is not enough when used to a full album doseages. One record I picked up in the late 90s (due to my inability to find any GIANTS CHAIR)  was ‘In Passing’ by THE FAREWELL BEND who featured GIANTS CHAIR drummer Paul Ackerman and the guitarist and bassist of BOYS LIFE. Well worth checking out, especially for HUSKER DU fans! 

One thing to note is that most GIANTS CHAIR records were packaged in beatifully minimal letterpress printed sleeves designed by guitarist Scott Hobart, he discusses this element further in this INTERVIEW. The most impressive sleeve design appears on their second full length ‘Purity and Control’ which was recorded in 1996 by Duane Trower (Season To Risk guitarist). His production is excellent, with a very open mix detailing each instrument & the guitar sound in particular just shreds! This album in my opinion is their masterstroke, everything seems measured out to create the exact dynamic or mood. The  Instrumentation weaves almost seemlessly, nothing here sounds awkward or out of place. The natural ability these guys have to bring forth a perfect expression or feeling is inspiring to hear.  The Speech   is one of my favourite tracks from ‘Purity and Control’, the middle eight (or end eight?) they drop into at the end of the track just sounds so awesome! The lyrics are definitely better on this album but are still oblique with no discernable subject matter other than personal stream of conscious. More importantly it fits with the music like a glove. 

 The first time I really heard GIANTS CHAIR was their split 7″ with ETHEL MESERVE in Tree’s Postmarked Stamps series. Not really representative of their sound, the track  Lost Dauphin   is a guitar and bass instrumental with faint sounds of a pen scribbling overlayed. The track remains placid until the final note when distortion kicks in with a kickdrum hit, a cymbal rings out and then it’s gone.

 GIANTS CHAIR tributes are few and far between but SHINER titled a track ‘Giant’s Chair’ on their ‘Starless’ album & CAVE IN (the only band capable of handling a cover) recorded a rendition of The Callus  on the ‘Tides of Tomorrow’ EP. Aside from that it seems kinda rare to hear their name mentioned. In an ideal world someone should release a Discography collection because this shit shines like a beacon. I believe the band began playing again last year, see photo below from this year. The bands myspace page has other recent live shots and some other background but if anyone has any information, live recordings etc. please get in touch.