| |
 |
|
Considering Bastille's origins lie in revolt, it is an unintended irony
that they took their name from a symbol of rebellion and triumph over
tyranny.
By the spring of 2001, internal tensions had started to take their toll
on the venerable Washington DC Goth/Celtic band Mindshaft. Its glory days
of tours, CD releases and favorable press had become a memory. When Paul
came into the band a year before, he and Arthur immediately clicked personally
and musically, but to date had only a handful of performances and an aborted
recording session to show for it. Dave, who had been enthusiastically
brought into the band during the winter, constantly found his ideas summarily
dismissed by Mindshaft's force majeur. By June the situation deteriorated
to the point that Dave, Arthur and Paul tendered their resignations en
massse to form Bastille.
Bastille's first year of existence consisted of a series of experiments,
re-assessments and re-tooling. Unable to find a suitable bassist, their
good friend, Sluthammer guitarist John Walke agreed to supply the bottom
on a provisional basis. It was this lineup that played Bastille's debut
at Jaxx Nightclub in Springfield, VA October 4, 2001. The winter was spent
finalizing arrangements and laying down tracks for Off With Your Head.
Unfortunately, plans for a summer release and support gigs went awry when
John left to concentrate on his Sluthammer duties. The situation was exacerbated
when an equipment malfunction destroyed roughly half of the completed
master tracks.
After two months of auditions, Bastille and Tom Burick found each other.
Following the initial feeling out and learning period, work on the CD
was resumed and Bastille "got their feet wet" with a one-band show at
the Inn Zone in Falls Church VA. By the end of 2002, with Off With Your
Head in the can, Bastille geared up for its release with a Christmas weekend
show at Baltimore's Vault Nightclub. The Baltimore CD release took place
February 1 at Café Tattoo followed by engagements at the Thunderdome,
Vault and two shows at the Brass Monkey Saloon.
(The release of "Off With Your Head" and its "Baltimore Tour"
is as good a place as any to end this narrative of Bastille's development. Chapter 2 will appear when we
feel we have reached our next milestone.) |
