Tub Ring pushes the outer edges of alternative rock through unruly rhythmic patterns and precise instrumental selections, yielding atmospheric sets of quirky yet melodic ideas. Launched as a punk unit in Chicago back in 1992, the group swiftly shifted into an experimental unit that fused volatile sonic experiments with fluid experimental rock passages. Kevin Gibson supplies vocals, Rob Kleiner handles keyboards, Jason Fields plays bass, Mouse covers guitar, and Mike Gilmore sits behind the drums; each musician arrived with earlier band credits drawn from contrasting backgrounds. The debut disc Stupid Pet Tricks surfaced in 1992, and the EP Music for the Bathroom followed one year later. Their original material soon earned notice across Chicago’s underground club circuit, prompting the release of the first full-length album, And the Mashed Potato Mountain Etiquette, three years after the band’s start. In 1997 the second album, Super Sci-Fi Samurai Rockstar Ultra Turbo II, reached stores, drawing animated press notices that enlarged the group’s devoted audience. Three years afterward the third album, Drake Equation, appeared in 2001, produced by Trey Spruance of Mr. Bungle. Ahead of the 2002 album Fermi Paradox the drummer and guitarist slots changed, with Dave Tavares and Shawn Sprinkel stepping in respectively. Zoo Hypothesis arrived in August 2004. Repeated road work with Mindless Self Indulgence, the Fully Down, Dog Fashion Disco, Estradasphere, and Kill Hannah, together with sustained effort, enlarged their underground following. In 2005 Tub Ring placed as finalists in the MTV2 on-air “Dew Circuit Breakout” contest beside the pop-punk acts Over It and Hellogoodbye. Although victory eluded them, the spotlight helped; a year later the current roster of Gibson, Kleiner, bassist Trevor Erb, drummer Chris Wiken, and guitarist Jeff Enokian signed to The End Records.
