Shrimp Boat

Shrimp Boat emerged in 1985 as one of the pivotal Chicago indie acts whose exploratory approach foreshadowed the cryptic textures later labeled post-rock, and several members would later achieve wider recognition through projects such as the Sea and Cake. The initial lineup featured singer and guitarist Sam Prekop alongside guitarist Ian Schneller and bassist David Kroll. Their fondness for irregular meters, jazz-tinged forms, and uncommon grooves set them apart from other acts playing the city’s club scene at the time. Drummer Eric Claridge joined in 1986, after which the group put out the cassette-only debut Some Biscuit in 1988 and followed it months later with Daylight Savings. On the band’s own Specimen Products imprint they released their first vinyl effort, Speckly, in 1989. Claridge departed that year and Brad Wood took over on drums. The band signed with Bar/None in 1990 and tracked Duende the same year, although the album remained unreleased until 1992; in the interim they issued the self-released collection Volume 1. Cavale appeared in 1993, by which point both Kroll and Wood had left, Eric Claridge had rejoined on bass, and Tom Jasek had assumed drumming duties. Shrimp Boat dissolved within months of Cavale’s arrival. Prekop and Claridge soon formed the Sea and Cake, while Wood became a highly sought-after indie-rock producer whose credits include work with Liz Phair, Veruca Salt, and the Smashing Pumpkins.