A BRIEF HISTORY OF DOLPH

1981 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989 · 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997

With Kurt Mann, Dolph forms his first band, Noyzez.
They write and record SOMONE IS WATCHING [sic], TALES FROM FLUBLOO, and THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM OF AN INTERWOVEN WAGTAIL.
SOMONE gets sent to Eugene Chadbourne (ex-Shockabilly, cohort of Camper Van Beethoven and the Violent Femmes, and generally one of the more endearingly bizarre characters in rock music).
Dolph writes or co-writes bits of approximately 70 songs, nearly all of which remain buried (and rightfully so).

Chadbourne writes back encouragingly -- "musical insanity is alive and well".
Noyzez breaks up.
Dolph spends the year concentrating on instrumental music, resulting in FLIPPING TREE, a combination of 4-track and primitive 2-track recordings. Some of the ideas have resurfaced in later songs.
Dolph discovers most of the major influences on his current work -- XTC, Elvis Costello, Robyn Hitchcock, Bob Mould, and Terry Taylor.

Dolph returns to writing lyrics with his music. The results slowly begin to reflect his newer influences and a *slightly* more mature lyrical sense.
Dolph and Kurt join up with Mike Arnold for the lost NINJAS OF THE MUNDANE session.
Among Dolph's written output are "Kiss It All Goodbye", the oldest song on RIPPLES, and "Raquel", the oldest song on INFINITY DOGS.

The songwriting continues to solidify and improve.
At the University of Houston, Dolph meets the people who would eventually form Gordian Knot.
"Under The Overpass", along with some of the other tracks from RIPPLES, is written.

Gordian Knot begins.
A strong songwriting surge begins, producing "Toll Of A Bell", "Fish Without A Sea", and "Runaway Trains Of Thought" from RIPPLES and "Balm In Gilead" and "Meaningless" from INFINITY DOGS, among others.

Gordian Knot takes on bassist Adam Flick.
Gordian Knot plays its only gig in April, and soon after records LIVE, UNPLUGGED, AND BUCKWILD!!!
Gordian Knot changes its name to Shed.
Shed plays two gigs in one October week.
(Oct-Nov) RIPPLES is recorded on a 4-track, with Horshack/Avijit bassist Mike Switzer co-producing, partly due to the frustrations that have begun to build within Shed.
(Dec) Shed breaks up.

(Jan) "Under The Overpass" and "Perspective" from RIPPLES are featured on "Local Lixx", a local music spotlight program on WOXY-FM, Oxford, OH.
(Feb 9) Dolph appears at KTRU-FM, Houston, and performs a 40-minute set.
Dolph has another strong songwriting spell, producing most of the material on INFINITY DOGS within a four-month span.
(May 9) Dolph returns to KTRU to record the live-to-DAT INFINITY DOGS in one five-hour session.
(Aug) Dolph and Adam re-unite to become Port Radium.
(Sep) Port Radium play their first gig and hire David Bilodeau to play drums.
(Nov) Port Radium play their first show as a trio at Fitzgerald's in Houston. The show is VERY GOOD (and, typically, goes unrecorded...).
(Dec) David leaves Port Radium two nights before a return gig at Fitz's, which Dolph and Adam fulfill anyway.

(Feb) David temporarily rejoins Port Radium to play an acoustic gig at Fitz's.
Plans for a Port Radium studio recording are made and fall through.
Dolph plays a solo performance at the Perpetual Park Party, an annual outdoor festival at the University of Houston.
A medley of Robyn Hitchcock's "Wax Doll" and "Cynthia Mask", performed at the above gig, is released as part of GLASS FLESH, a triple-cassette tribute project put together by Fegmaniax, the Internet mailing list for Robyn fans.

(Feb) Dolph completes the batch of 20 songs that he plans to take into the studio as soon as possible.
During the spring and summer, Dolph performs three times at the Wild Beet in Bloomington, Indiana, to small but receptive audiences.
(Oct) Soon after moving to Atlanta, Dolph buys a 4-track at last and begins working on the demos for the aforementioned batch of songs.
(Nov) In one fevered evening, Dolph records HUMBUG GLORY (The Bad Her Day Demos). This marks the first draft of the new album. Live to two tracks (one voice, one guitar per song), the recordings' urgency makes up for their simplicity.

(Feb) The single-CD distillation of GLASS FLESH is released, with Dolph's contribution appearing as the final track.
(Apr) Dolph gives his first live performance since moving to Atlanta, at Oglethorpe University (also his place of day-employment). The show includes "Big Stupid Grin," several tracks from HUMBUG GLORY, and a new song called "Let Me Lie," as well as covers of "Hold Me Now" and "Care Of Cell 44". The entire show is recorded and made available as HEADBONKER.
(Aug) Dolph appears at the Edge Festival at Stone Mountain Park, playing at the "Higher Grounds Coffee House Stage" on the 8th. Four songs are premiered in the 11-song set, which is well received. (coming soon: a detailed report with pictures!)
(Aug) A 4-song cassette EP called NEW YEARS is made available, containing the title track, "Let Me Lie," "My Crucifixion," and "Bird." Each of these songs was recorded at home in Studio Dolphty-Four in 1997.
(Dec) The NEW YEARS EP is included in the contents of NEW BIRD, a new full-length project. Initially yet another cassette-only release, plans are made for spring 1998 for an independent CD release.