IRIS - NOISEPOP

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IRIS is 'Wired, Anxious, and just plain Neurotic'

The above quote, taken from IRIS' song Wired, goes a long way to describe this noise-pop band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. IRIS' music is a little edgy, not unlike too many cups of coffee at four in the morning (wired, anxious?) and their sound is tight - almost too tight (or just plain neurotic?) but they still maintain their pop-sensablities.

IRIS is fronted by Sarah Glasco , who provides the leading vocals, cello and rhythm guitar as well as violin. Holding down the rhythm section are bassist Josh Sokal and drummer Kaeri Johnson . Sokal serves double duty, primarily by filling out the low end but by also creating high-pitched ambience with his novel bass setup which includes a separate amp for his effects . Johnson, trained as a jazz musician, doesn't just throw down the standard 4/4 but injects high-energy rhythms and syncopated beats into the mix. All the while, Dave Schall spits out aggressive lead guitar and improvises with various noise making devices. Both Sokal and Schall backup Glasco's vocals. The members of IRIS have been playing together in various configurations since 1992.  First as Knoxville TN, punk/grunge band Hermaphroditee, then as Bubble, Bosco and Jody Globe in '95-'97. The final lineup was set late in '97 when Jody Globe and Bosco called it quits.  The remaining members joined to create IRIS.

IRIS creates a new sound that is sure to please a variety of audiences - from punksters to the popsters, ambient-heads to acidheads. From the grunge era Hermaphoroditee comes the grinding guitars and high-powered drumming of Schall and Johnson. From Bubble comes the romantic and ethereal vocals, body shaking bass and searing FX of Glasco and Sokal. From Jody Globe and Bosco come a sense of pop which includes those catchy hooks that keep you humming long after the show is over.

IRIS debut 1998 release In all of us has garnered positive press on the local and regional level recieving reviews from the Daily Tarheel, Spectator, Faze3, and Buskers Ball. In a review of In all of us, Brad Aaron of the Spectator states that "Iris delivers an atonal yet melodic swirl." and compares Glasco's vocal style similar to that of Kristen Hersh and Kim Deal.  While Eric Walls of Faze3 claims that "IRIS have a sound that combines elements of rock, alternative, pop, punk, noise, and psychedelia in to one big ol' pie of very original music." IRIS has conducted interviews with WKNC-FM Raleigh, Raleighmusic.com, and WUTK-FM Knoxville among others.  IRIS is currently on hiatius while writing new material and working on their second release, due out in June, 2002.
 

bio by: Dave Schall, revised 4/16/02