Plaid Retina
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2008-04-26T20:25:32Z
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{{Articleissues|OR=August 2007|rewrite=August 2007|unreferenced=August 2007}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|Name = Plaid Retina
|Img = PlaidRetinaPinkeye.jpg
|Img_capt =
|Genre = [[punk rock]]<br/>[[hardcore punk]]
|Years_active = [[1986 in music|1986]] - [[1995 in music|1995]]
|Label = [[Lookout! Records]]<br/>[[Very Small Records]]
}}
'''Plaid Retina''' was an [[United States|American]] [[punk rock]] [[musical ensemble|band]] from [[Visalia, California|Visalia]], [[California]], formed in [[1986 in music|1986]] and active until [[1996 in music|1996]].
==History==
===The Beginning===
The history of Plaid Retina begins in [[1984 in music|1984]], in Visalia, a small city in California Central Valley, when [[drummer]] [[Don Hudgens]] joined [[metal (music)|metal]] band [[Oblivion]], a [[high school]] band established by Travis, [[Jeff Gilley]], [["Bryan T" Thompson]], [[Alarick Garcia]] and [[Mike Matthews]]. The crew for that band also included [[Matt Morris]] and [[Jeff Beck]]. It was at this time Hudgens and [[Matt Morris]] met up with [[Kelly Casper]], who was part of that scene at [[Redwood High School (Visalia)|Redwood High School]].
Even though the band was not from [[Los Angeles]], the band managed to keep up with the [[underground scene]] in Los Angeles (250 miles from Visalia), which was what made them unique in their small-town local scene. Heavy Metal's definition, however, was about to be shattered by a plethora of different influences. The advent of [[hardcore punk]] acts such as [[Minor Threat]] and the [[Suicidal Tendencies]], whose first album made a huge impression of the metal scene, caused the members of the band to splinter.
===Misc.===
In [[1985 in music|1985]], after the breakup of Oblivion, Hudgens and Morris saw that together they might be able to accomplish their own band, so they gave it a shot and set up shop in an old [[railroad]] [[boxcar]] that Morris' parents, Bill & Brenda, were using as a shed, located in a huge backyard away from the neighborhoods. They convinced Kelly Casper to join in on [[bass (guitar)|bass]] with Matt playing [[guitar]] and singing. This incarnation was called "'''Misc.'''", which happened to be scribbled on the first [[cassette tape]] they recorded on. The music clearly was leaving metal behind and headed full speed toward hardcore punk and [[skate rock]]. The music was played and performed as brash and as abrasively as they could possibly deliver it, and recorded with a '[[Boombox|ghetto-blaster]]' onto very old used cassette tapes that were actually found in the boxcar, with vocals by both Morris and Casper sung directly into the built-in [[microphone]]. [[Gary Stallions]] also played second guitar for an appearance at a [[Redwood High School]] [[talent show]]. They were kicked out of the talent show when panic ensued because no one other than the punk scene knew what was going on when the fast music and [[slam dancing]] erupted.
===Aggravated Assault===
Casper had to leave the band amicably, so Don Hudgens brought in [[Rob Anderson]], who grew up with him during their teens and knew Matt Morris from the local [[BMX]] scene on that side of town years earlier around [[1982]]. They changed the name to '''Aggravated Assault''', the band then started to gravitate toward [[Fresno, California|Fresno]] California, a city 40 minutes north which had an active punk scene, shops and interesting places to skate, especially in its classic downtown area. Hudgens and Morris posted a flyer at "The Record Factory" which led to their first real gig at the legendary [[Knights of Columbus]] Hall, opening for the [[Wimpy Dicks]] ([[San Luis Obispo]]) and the [[Sea Hags]]. Repeated trips to Fresno led them to meet Dale Stewart of Capitol Punishment at his record store in Fresno, Stage Dive Records, which although not in Visalia, became one of the bands favorite hang outs whenever they could get a chance to be there.
===Releases===
====''Plaid Retina''====
Stewart convinced the band to change its name to ''Plaid Retina'' (the name itself was a group decision), mostly to help them grow just in case they grew out of the piston-pumping [[D.R.I.]] style rhythms, which proved to be sound advice. Stewart connected them with the studio A.I.R. (Audio Image Recording) in Fresno at Van Ness and Bremer owned by Grey Gregson (update needed). This was the team that recorded the self-titled debut album, ''Plaid Retina'', that when pressed was actually a little [[7"]] but was in fact a formidable full length album (relatively speaking). ''Plaid Retina'' was a furious debut with a devastating rhythmic pace comparable to Minor Threat and D.R.I. Stewart also introduced the band to the staff of the [[Maximum RocknRoll]] magazine where [[David Hayes (record producer)|David Hayes]] entered the picture.
Hudgens used the magazine as a resource to communicate with people all over the world via [[mail]]. External influences other than hardcore punk began to appear and the band started experiencing with these influences. David Hayes then released ''Plaid Retina'' on [[Lookout! Records]], the [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]] based label he formed with [[Larry Livermore]]. Since the album was already recorded, releasing it was done fast and efficiently.
The [[East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)|East Bay]] and [[San Francisco Bay Area]] then become an additional focal point for the band. Morris got a [[van]] for the band, so national touring outside of California could begin.
====''Boxcar''====
At some point, Rob Anderson quit to become a [[United States Marine Corps|Marine]], and Travis from the "Oblivion" days joined on bass. ''Boxcar'' was recorded again with Grey Gregson at A.I.R. and was a cassette tape [[demo (music)|demo]] that consisted of covers on side A, and originals on side B. A sort of introduction of Travis to the world.
Thru the mail, Hudgens crossed paths with [[Musical Tragedies]], a record label in [[Germany]] that later released ''Boxcar'' as a 7" EP. Once again, since the material was already recorded, this project was able to be pressed and released very efficiently.
The originals on side B had a noticeable [[tempo]] relax from the first ''Plaid Retina'' release. However, the external influences other than hardcore have yet to show themselves - that will happen with the next release, ''Pinkeye''. The band spent a lot of personal time exploring these influences and getting them ready before presenting a radical change in their sound.
After the release of ''Boxcar'', the band began touring around the United States.
====''Pinkeye''====
Before the new album's release, the band debuted much of the new material in outside stage [[matinee]] performances at the [[College of the Sequoias]] in Visalia, to stunned audiences. The music featured dramatic twists, tempo changes, stops and starts that seemed ironically rhythmic.
The music still felt at home in the punk shows, because it has retained its brashness (and in some tracks, high speed tempos) in spite of the original approaches.
''Pinkeye'', the band's first full length 12" album, was released via Lookout! Records in [[1989 in music|1989]], and was recorded at A.I.R. by Grey Gregson.
A friend of the band, [[Tony Sevener]], loaned Hudgens a wide array of [[cymbals]] that helped the drum sound stretch out a little, along with some experimental drum effects by Grey. The new material was also performed on local [[cable television|cable]] access show, "[[The Shout Club]]".
Visalia [[skateboarder|pro skater]] [[Tom Knox]] met the band and most of ''Pinkeye'' appeared on [[Santa Cruz Skateboards]]' Strange Notes #3.
====''Rejection''====
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:RejectionRedVinyl.jpg|150px|right|frame|Rejection red vinyl - Photo by Stuk]] -->
[[Tim Biskup]] presented two different pressings of ''Rejection'' on [[Duck Butter Records]], one of the pressings having hand screened art and clear red vinyl.
The ''Rejection'' era was an enthusiastic period, because the ''Rejection'' EP was recorded and released in Fresno. Ironically enough, the band got popular across the country first before they did locally due to the albums and touring, using the Berkeley/East Bay area as a springboard. Even though the band had roots in Fresno, they only really knew a handful of people, mostly from the Capitol Punishment camp (due to the distance from Visalia) and this release brought them more inside the scene. Tim opened different doors and they met many new friends. Many more live performances in different venues in the city started happening. The local scene received the majority of the hand-screened versions.
The evolution of the music continued, some of the more conventional approaches still on ''Pinkeye'' (even though that album was very original) can be heard melting away.
Travis acquired an [[Ibanez]] left-handed bass guitar and also came across an [[Ampeg]] combo bass [[amplifier]] which would later define his sound on the albums and tours to come.
Matt started experimenting with [[Yamaha (manufacturer)|Yamaha]] SBG Model guitars.
"''I sat on a milk crate that Matt got for me to play drums from the beginning all the way to Rejection. We also used it to haul the stands and the pedal. If I broke one I just went to the back of a grocery store and got another one. I played a nice Yamaha kit I got before Pinkeye but couldn't make the payments and had to go back to pieced together pieces of crap.''" -Don said.
====''Mind Tracing the Going Down''====
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Mind Tracing Cover.jpg||right|thumb|200px|Mind Tracing the Going Down - Vinyl, Very Small Records 1991]] -->
David Hayes presented ''Mind Tracing the Going Down'', Plaid Retina's second full length album, in [[1991 in music|1991]] on [[Very Small Records]]. The album was recorded by Billy Anderson at the Razor's Edge in [[San Francisco]].
If ''Rejection'' was a local breakthrough, ''Mind Tracing'' did the same for the band in the San Francisco Bay Area. Many more Bay Area gigs were to follow in venues not just in the East Bay, along with significant new friendships forged with bands such as [[Schlong]], [[False Sacrament]], [[Neurosis]] and [[Victim's Family]].
[[Brad Weaver]] joined the band. Around this time, Matt Morris put together certain pieces of equipment that helped define his sound: a [[Mesa/Boogie]] amplifier (from the factory, purchased around the time of recording the album) in conjunction with a [[Roland JC-120]] amplifier, a [[Paul Reed Smith]] guitar, and a complex, well defined system of delay and other effects.
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Mind Tracing Compact Disc.jpg|right|200px|Mind Tracing the Going Down CD, 1991 Shmin Esso / Duck Butter SE / DB021]] -->
Not long after its release, Matt teamed up with [[Tim Biskup]] to release ''Mind Tracing'' on the dual Shmin Esso / Duck Butter conglomerate, ''[[Shmin Esso]]'' being Matt's label.
====''The Spark.''====
''The Spark.'' was an EP released on Very Small Records and recorded at [[Sergay's Recording Emporium]] in the San Francisco Bay Area.
At that time, Hudgens got a [[Tama]] [[drum kit]].
====''Dead End Mind''====
Third full length album on Very Small Records, recorded at House of Faith, Northern California. First to be released on compact disc.
====''What I Can't Have''====
EP on [[Joey Edwards]]' [[Little Deputy Records]]. Recorded by Scott (update needed) in Southern California, before the band moved to [[Austin, Texas]].
While still in California, Don acquired a [[Gretsch]] drum kit (which will define his sound through the remaining years).
In Austin, Mark joined on [[keyboards]] and Travis swtiched equipment from his [[Ampeg]] to a new [[Trace Elliot]] rig.
====Unreleased album====
The band recorded in [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] an unreleased album. However, the song "''Sperm''" made it out as a single for a heavy metal compilation.
===Breakup===
The band broke up in [[1996 in music|1996]] in Austin, Texas.
==Discography==
* ''Plaid Retina'' - [[Lookout! Records]] ([[1988 in music|1988]], 7" vinyl)
* ''Boxcar'' - [[Musical Tragedies]] ([[1990 in music|1990]], 7" vinyl)
* ''Pinkeye'' - Lookout! Records ([[1989 in music|1989]], 12" vinyl)
* ''Rejection'' - [[Duck Butter Records]] ([[1990 in music|1990]], 7" vinyl)
* ''Mind Tracing The Going Down'' - [[Very Small Records]] ([[1991 in music|1991]], 12" vinyl)
** Also released on compact disc via Shmin Esso/Duck Butter Records in 1991
* ''The Spark.'' - Very Small Records ([[1993 in music|1993]], 7" vinyl)
* ''What I Cant Have'' - Little Deputy Records (19??, 7" vinyl)
==External links==
* [http://www.lookoutrecords.com/bands/band.php3?bnd_id=45 Plaid Retina page on Lookout! Records website]
[[Category:California hardcore punk groups]]