Biography
Casper & the Cookies emerged from the solo efforts of Athens, Georgia musician Jason NeSmith, who performed under the alias Casper Fandango and infused the group with eclectic indie pop alongside kooky on-stage antics. NeSmith served as drummer in the "philosopher rock" trio Feyerabend in 1996 alongside frontman David Dault and future Cookies contributor Kay Stanton. At one Feyerabend performance that year Dault declared, "This ain't the house of Casper Fandango!," prompting NeSmith to retort, "Yes it is," which gave rise to the Casper Fandango persona. NeSmith promptly began composing material under this guise, issuing the Casper Fandango & the Knees cassette Consumer LP in spring 1996. He persisted with the Casper endeavor by producing another cassette, Casper Fandango & His Tiny Sick Tears' How's Your Hand?, in 1997, even as the bulk of his energies went toward Feyerabend and Orange Hat.
March 16, 1999 marked the debut Casper & the Cookies concert, when NeSmith, Christo Harris, Ben Spraker, and Kenny Howes appeared at Atlanta's Gravity pub seeking entry into the active Athens/Atlanta circuit. The following year the ensemble supported Elf Power at Athens' 40 Watt. NeSmith soon wed Stanton and relocated to Athens, a move that later led Harris and Spraker to exit. During this period the band placed a pair of recordings on the Lookit Meee! label—Casper Fandango & His Tiny Sick Tears' How's Your Hand? and the Take It Away, Live in the Lobby EP—yet its most notable impact came through energetic live performances.
A representative from Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records noticed the group while it opened for the Late BP Helium and Elekibass, resulting in a signing agreement. After multiple personnel shifts and sustained effort, the updated lineup of NeSmith, Stanton, Phil Stockman, Paul Walker, and Ben Spraker delivered Oh in 2004 and toured Japan the next year. Following NeSmith's brief tenure with Of Montreal, Casper & the Cookies resurfaced in 2006 with The Optimist's Club, now anchored by NeSmith, Stanton, and drummer Davy Gibbs. Issued that summer, the album preserved the bouncy, eccentric character of Oh while shedding its earlier rough-hewn production traits.
At the 2007 Athens Pop Fest the band backed Daniel Johnston, and they also shared bills with the Apples in Stereo before undertaking another Japan trek. Despite ongoing roster adjustments the group sustained a steady release pace, unveiling Modern Silence in 2009. A gratis digital offering titled Ice Mattress appeared on their site in 2011, and Dingbats followed in 2014.
March 16, 1999 marked the debut Casper & the Cookies concert, when NeSmith, Christo Harris, Ben Spraker, and Kenny Howes appeared at Atlanta's Gravity pub seeking entry into the active Athens/Atlanta circuit. The following year the ensemble supported Elf Power at Athens' 40 Watt. NeSmith soon wed Stanton and relocated to Athens, a move that later led Harris and Spraker to exit. During this period the band placed a pair of recordings on the Lookit Meee! label—Casper Fandango & His Tiny Sick Tears' How's Your Hand? and the Take It Away, Live in the Lobby EP—yet its most notable impact came through energetic live performances.
A representative from Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records noticed the group while it opened for the Late BP Helium and Elekibass, resulting in a signing agreement. After multiple personnel shifts and sustained effort, the updated lineup of NeSmith, Stanton, Phil Stockman, Paul Walker, and Ben Spraker delivered Oh in 2004 and toured Japan the next year. Following NeSmith's brief tenure with Of Montreal, Casper & the Cookies resurfaced in 2006 with The Optimist's Club, now anchored by NeSmith, Stanton, and drummer Davy Gibbs. Issued that summer, the album preserved the bouncy, eccentric character of Oh while shedding its earlier rough-hewn production traits.
At the 2007 Athens Pop Fest the band backed Daniel Johnston, and they also shared bills with the Apples in Stereo before undertaking another Japan trek. Despite ongoing roster adjustments the group sustained a steady release pace, unveiling Modern Silence in 2009. A gratis digital offering titled Ice Mattress appeared on their site in 2011, and Dingbats followed in 2014.
Albums
Singles
