Biography
Chain & the Gang channel a groovy, pared-back mix of indie pop, funk, garage punk, and lo-fi experimentalism as the creative outlet for Ian Svenonius, the musician, author, actor, online talk-show host, and longtime frontman of Nation of Ulysses, the Make-Up, Scene Creamers, and Weird War. The project carries a consistent worldview shaped by Svenonius, who argues that freedom and liberty have enabled the idle and dishonest to damage the environment, foster greed, set class against class, litter cities with unattractive architecture, and promote greasy fast food, making it necessary instead to accept a new kind of bondage and regard convicts, hobos, and fellow outsiders as spiritual kin. Svenonius assembled the initial lineup from several established indie-rock players, among them Fred Thomas of Saturday Looks Good to Me, Brian Weber of Dub Narcotic Sound System, Brett Lyman of Bad Thoughts, and Sarah Pedal of Seahorse Liberation Army.
The group issued its first album, Down with Liberty...Up with Chains!, on K Records in April 2009. In support, Chain & the Gang embarked on a North American tour with the Hive Dwellers, the new project of K Records founder Calvin Johnson—already known from Beat Happening, Halo Benders, and Dub Narcotic Sound System—which shared the same backing musicians while Johnson assumed lead vocals in place of Svenonius. After diverting time to other pursuits, including hosting Vice’s Soft Focus, Svenonius reconvened Chain & the Gang for the 2011 release Music’s Not for Everyone.
The 2012 album In Cool Blood marked a shift, as the band recorded in mono for the first time and moved lyrical attention toward youthful mischief and away from earlier philosophical themes. Minimum Rock ’n’ Roll, the fourth album, arrived in 2014 with a revised roster that retained guitarist Brett Lyman and added Chris Sutton on bass, Fiona Campbell on drums, and Katie Alice Greer on vocals. Another lineup change took place in 2017, bringing guitarist Francy Z. Graham, bassist Anna Nasty, and drummer/keyboardist Mark Cisneros into the fold with Svenonius.
That configuration made its recorded debut on Best of Crime Rock, which paired re-recordings of well-known songs with three new tracks and became the band’s first release for In the Red Records after an extended association with K Records. Still in September 2017, Chain & the Gang issued Experimental Music, cut live in the studio with yet another personnel lineup that paired Svenonius with Fred Thomas, Danny Kroha, Shelley Salant, Ben Collins, and Amber Fellows.
The group issued its first album, Down with Liberty...Up with Chains!, on K Records in April 2009. In support, Chain & the Gang embarked on a North American tour with the Hive Dwellers, the new project of K Records founder Calvin Johnson—already known from Beat Happening, Halo Benders, and Dub Narcotic Sound System—which shared the same backing musicians while Johnson assumed lead vocals in place of Svenonius. After diverting time to other pursuits, including hosting Vice’s Soft Focus, Svenonius reconvened Chain & the Gang for the 2011 release Music’s Not for Everyone.
The 2012 album In Cool Blood marked a shift, as the band recorded in mono for the first time and moved lyrical attention toward youthful mischief and away from earlier philosophical themes. Minimum Rock ’n’ Roll, the fourth album, arrived in 2014 with a revised roster that retained guitarist Brett Lyman and added Chris Sutton on bass, Fiona Campbell on drums, and Katie Alice Greer on vocals. Another lineup change took place in 2017, bringing guitarist Francy Z. Graham, bassist Anna Nasty, and drummer/keyboardist Mark Cisneros into the fold with Svenonius.
That configuration made its recorded debut on Best of Crime Rock, which paired re-recordings of well-known songs with three new tracks and became the band’s first release for In the Red Records after an extended association with K Records. Still in September 2017, Chain & the Gang issued Experimental Music, cut live in the studio with yet another personnel lineup that paired Svenonius with Fred Thomas, Danny Kroha, Shelley Salant, Ben Collins, and Amber Fellows.
Albums
Singles
