Grüvis Malt | |
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Origin | Providence, Rhode Island, United States |
Genres | Futurock |
Years active | 1995–2005 |
Labels | Independent Lakeshore Records |
Associated acts |
Ebu Gogo Gavin Castleton Jonny Classic & the Classic Johns Tarantula A.D. Blue Cranes |
Members |
Gavin Castleton Brendan Bell Erik Nilsson Scott McPhail Justin Abene Steve Geuting |
Past members | Saunder Jurriaans Ethan Ruzzano Steve Martinka Marco Herrera Brandon Clemmens Josh Hutchins Reed Wallsmith Rich Hall |
Grüvis Malt was an American six piece band founded in Providence, Rhode Island in 1995. Grüvis Malt has released a total of seven full-length albums, one of which was released under Lakeshore Entertainment subsidiary Lakeshore Records, and three EPs. The other albums were released independently under Grüvis Malt's self-run label, Integers Only.
Grüvis Malt is known for their blending of genres (progressive rock, hip hop, jazz, and funk) and intense songwriting. They are the self-proclaimed founders of the "futurock" genre, which features a blending of irregular time signatures (like math rock), unconventional chord progressions, and abnormal song structure. Because of this blending of many genres of music, Grüvis Malt is sometimes called a "musician's band."
The group stopped touring in 2005, after the release of their last album, Maximum Unicorn, in order to pursue solo projects and tangible income.
Grüvis Malt was started in March 1995 in Providence, Rhode Island by high school students Gavin Castleton (keyboards), Brendan Bell (vocals/percussion), Ethan Ruzzano (guitar), Marco Herrera (drums) and Steve Martinka (bass guitar). The band had its beginnings in experimenting with random time signatures and heavy noise. At the end of the summer, Castleton moved to Portland, Oregon.
Upon Gavin's return in 1996, Josh Hutchins (a.k.a. Johnny Longburns) joined the band as a turntablist and beatboxer, and Breakfast All Day, their first EP, was recorded at Diva Studios with David Stem. In 1997, Martinka and Hutchins both left the band. Brandon Clemmens replaced Martinka on the bass guitar and Rich Hall joined on percussion, and the six piece began writing the songs that would become the Fetus EP.