Biography
Ringo Deathstarr fused the noisy pop hooks characteristic of late-'80s indie pop, the hazy guitar overload associated with shoegaze, and the gauzy punch typical of dream pop, thereby extending the approach pioneered by Ride, Medicine, and early Smashing Pumpkins. From the release of their debut album Colour Trip onward, the trio maintained a steady recorded output that highlighted their ability to shape blown-out guitar pop songs and capture them on tape with only minimal reference to contemporary recording methods; as a result, those albums stood alongside the work of their forebears, and the decision to introduce additional sonic elements on the self-titled 2020 album allowed the group to begin developing a distinct direction.
Elliott Frazier established the band in 2005 in his hometown of Beaumont, Texas. After relocating to Austin, he assembled a stable lineup that included guitarist Renan McFarland, bassist Alex Gehring, and drummer Dustin Gaudet. The five-song self-titled debut EP appeared on the British label SVC Records in fall 2007. Following several years of live performances, personnel adjustments that ultimately produced a core trio of Frazier, Gehring, and Daniel Coborn, and continued refinement of their style, the band attracted the attention of the U.K. label AC30 through a strong showing at the 2010 Reverence Festival. AC30 issued the first full-length Colour Trip in winter 2010 and licensed it to Sonic Unyon for Canadian distribution. The compilation Sparkler, drawn from earlier material, followed in 2011; the group then supported Smashing Pumpkins on tour before returning with the Shadow EP in early 2012. Later that year they delivered their second album, Mauve, which revealed greater force and featured a streamlined production overseen by Frazier.
The EP God's Dream arrived in 2013, and Pure Mood was released on Club AC30/Reverberation Appreciation Society in late 2015, incorporating lighter and poppier touches while intensifying the heavier passages. After that album the members attended to personal matters and continued touring, including a 2019 visit to Japan, before issuing another self-titled album in 2020 that further explored dream pop textures.
Elliott Frazier established the band in 2005 in his hometown of Beaumont, Texas. After relocating to Austin, he assembled a stable lineup that included guitarist Renan McFarland, bassist Alex Gehring, and drummer Dustin Gaudet. The five-song self-titled debut EP appeared on the British label SVC Records in fall 2007. Following several years of live performances, personnel adjustments that ultimately produced a core trio of Frazier, Gehring, and Daniel Coborn, and continued refinement of their style, the band attracted the attention of the U.K. label AC30 through a strong showing at the 2010 Reverence Festival. AC30 issued the first full-length Colour Trip in winter 2010 and licensed it to Sonic Unyon for Canadian distribution. The compilation Sparkler, drawn from earlier material, followed in 2011; the group then supported Smashing Pumpkins on tour before returning with the Shadow EP in early 2012. Later that year they delivered their second album, Mauve, which revealed greater force and featured a streamlined production overseen by Frazier.
The EP God's Dream arrived in 2013, and Pure Mood was released on Club AC30/Reverberation Appreciation Society in late 2015, incorporating lighter and poppier touches while intensifying the heavier passages. After that album the members attended to personal matters and continued touring, including a 2019 visit to Japan, before issuing another self-titled album in 2020 that further explored dream pop textures.
Albums
Singles
Live
