Vanessa Briscoe Hay
Vanessa Briscoe Hay | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Vanessa Briscoe |
Also known as | Vanessa Ellison |
Born | October 18, 1955 |
Genres | New wave, post-punk, folk rock, experimental, rock |
Occupation(s) | Musician, Songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Keyboard Vocals |
Years active | 1979–present |
Labels | Caution DB Records Sky Records DFA Cloud Recordings Studio Mouse Productions PRS for Chunklet Industries New West Records Strolling Bones Records |
Vanessa Briscoe Hay (born October 18, 1955) is an American singer for the Athens, Georgia bands Pylon, Supercluster and Pylon Reenactment Society.
Biography
Born to a textile worker and a housewife in
Danny Beard from Atlanta helped Pylon to record their first single "Cool/Dub" in 1979 at Stone Mountain Studios in Atlanta, and Pylon began to tour the US. The album Gyrate followed and was released in late 1980. Early career highlights included a performance at Central Park opening for the B-52's, a tour of the UK, opening a few dates for U2 on their first major US tour and the release of the album Chomp.[3]
Pylon decided to quit while they were still having fun. They broke up for the first time in 1983 after playing a "final" show, which was taped for
In 1989, Pylon reformed. Career highlights the second time around included tours with both
Vanessa Hay became an RN in 1994. In 1993, she and Bob Hay had their second daughter.[5]
Randy Bewley approached the other band members about reforming Pylon, just for fun, in 2004. In August, 2004 Pylon played an unannounced show at Little Kings in Athens, Georgia. In 2005, they played a series of dates in Athens and Atlanta, including Athfest and at the Atlanta Heroes awards by the invitation of the B-52's. Jason Gross, Perfect Sound Forever encouraged them to look into reissuing their first album, Gyrate, on CD. Jeff Calder (The Swimming Pool Q's) helped with the process of finding the tapes to restore at Southern Tracks Studios in Atlanta and Rodney Mills remastered them at Rodney Mills Masterhouse in Duluth, Georgia. DFA records in New York approached Pylon about reissuing this material, unaware that Pylon were already working toward this. James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem (band), had been including Pylon's song "Danger" in his DJ sets for several years and was interested in re—issuing Pylon's first album Gyrate on his label DFA. Gyrate Plus was reissued on October 16, 2007.[6] A remastered Chomp More was reissued on October 20, 2009.[7]
Hay was also a member of the recording project
A 7-inch vinyl single "Gravity / Altitude" by Pylon was issued in April 2016 by Chunklet as a part of the Pylon Live project. A double vinyl album was issued on July 25, 2016. This music was recorded at the first final performance on December 1, 1983 at the Mad Hatter in Athens, GA.[9] Vanessa performed with Pylon Reenactment Society at both release events along with Swimming Pool Q's and members of Love Tractor.
Since 2014, Hay has fronted the
On February 9,2024, Pylon Reenactment Society released their full length album debut on Strolling Bones Records titled Magnet Factory. The album of eleven songs includes two tunes written by Pylon in 1979, but never formally recorded in the studio – “3 x 3” and “Heaven (In Your Eyes)” alongside nine original songs. One of the new tracks (“Fix It”) features vocals by Kate Pierson. The graphics for the package were designed by Michael Lachowski, original bassist for Pylon. [12] [13] [14] [15]
Discography
Pylon (band)
- Cool/Dub 7-inch single (Caution Records 1980)
- Gyrate LP (DB Records, Armageddon 1980)
- Pylon !! EP (DB Records, Armageddon 1980)
- Crazy/M-Train 7-inch single (DB Records 1982)
- Beep/Altitude 7-inch single (DB Records 1982)
- Four Minutes/Beep/Altitude EP (DB Records 1982)
- Chomp LP (DB Records 1983)
- CD(DB Records 1988)
- Chain LP/CD (Sky Records 1990)
- Gyrate Plus CD (DFA Records, 2007)
- Chomp More CD (DFA Records, October 20, 2009)
- Gravity/Weather Radio 7-inch single (Chunklet, 2016)
- Pylon Live Double LP (Chunklet, 2016)
- Pylon Box Boxset (New West Records, 2020)
Supercluster (band)
- Special 5 EP (self-issued, 2008)
- Waves CD (Cloud Recordings/Studio Mouse Productions) (October 6, 2009)
- 7-inch single(Cloud Recordings/Studio Mouse Productions) (October 6, 2009)
- Paris Effect/Neat in the Street 7-inch single (Cloud Recordings/Studio Mouse Productions) (March 29, 2011)
- Things We Used To Drink/Memory Of The Future 7-inch single (Studio Mouse Productions) (July 10, 2012)
Pylon Reenactment Society
- Part Time Punks Session Vinyl 6 song 12-inch EP (PRS, Chunklet Industries, October 20, 2017) PRS001[16]
- Messenger / Cliff Notes Vinyl 2 song 7” single (PRS,Chunklet Industries, November 30, 2019) PRS002 [17]
- Compression digital single (Self Released, October 31, 2020) SB27 [18]
- 3 x 3 digital single (Strolling Bones Records, September 29, 2023) SB27 [19]
- Flowers Everywhere digital single (Strolling Bones Records, October 27, 2023) SB27 [20]
- Christmas Daze digital single (Strolling Bones Records, December 1, 2023) SB29 [21]
- ‘’Fix It (feat. Kate Pierson’’ digital single (Strolling Bones Records, January 19, 2024) SB27 [22]
- Heaven (In Your Eyes) digital single (Strolling Bones Records, February 9, 2024) SB27 [23]
- Magnet Factory Vinyl LP, CD (Strolling Bones Records, February 9, 2024) SB27 [24]
Compilations
With Pylon (band)
- Declaration of Independents - 13 Tracks of U.S. Rock 1980, Vinyl LP, Various artists (1980, Ambition Records AMB1, Basement Records BASE 6005, Stiff Records Yank 2)[25]
- Jericho Go, Vinyl LP, Various artists (1985, DB Recs / Stiff Records D BAT80) (DB Recs / Victor Musical Industries, Inc. VIL 28034)[26]
- Athens, GA - Inside / Out, Vinyl LP, Various artists (1987, I.R.S. Records IRS6185)
- Hits, Cassette, CD (1989, DB Recs DB91)[27]
- Squares Blot Out the Sun, Vinyl LP, CD, Cassette, Various artists (1990, DB Recs DB72)[28]
- Totally Wired, CD, Various artists (1995, Razor & Tie RE 2076)Various - Totally Wired Discogs
- KFJC 98.7 Fifty - Blowing Minds Since 1959, Vinyl double record LP, Various artists (2009, No label KJFC24)[29]
- Keith Haring - The World of Keith Haring - Influences + Connections , Vinyl triple record LP boxset, Triple CD boxset, Various artists (2019, Soul Jazz, Ltd. SJR LP444)[30]
- Blank Generation- A Story of US and Canadian Punk and It's Aftershocks 1975-1981, Five CD boxset, Various artists (2023, Cherry Red Records, (CRCDBOX147) [31]
With Pylon Reenactment Society
- Let's Go Dancing: Said the Firefly to the Hurricane (A Kevn Kinney Tribute), Vinyl LP, digital, Various artists (November 24, 2023, Tasty Goody Records, (MCC1950) [32]
With other artists
- Finest Worksongs:Athens Bands play the music of R.E.M. CD (2007, Iron Horse IHR002) (guest vocalist-The Observatory-"Pilgrimage")[33]
Other
- Dead Letter Office (LP) LP (IRS Records 1985) (Cover of "Crazy" by R.E.M.)
- We Made A Record, What Did You Do?/Wuxtry Record Store Day Compilation (LP) LP (Wuxtry Records 2010) (Paris Effect)
- Cover + Remix 7-inch single (DFA Records, October 2011) (Cover of "Cool" by Deerhunter, Remix of Yo-Yo by Calvinist)
- HHBTM Records, April 2013) ("Form A Line" by Tunabunny, Form A Line: Vanessa Vocal Version,Back It Up Dub Version, Album Version, Line Dance Version)
- Dressy Bessy - "Lady Liberty" album (Yep Rock Records, February 2016) (Backing vocals on "Get Along (Diamond Ring) by Dressy Bessy
Filmography
- Athens, GA.: Inside/Out (1987), archive footage, interview[34]
- Red Turns Into Blue: Athens Inside-Out 2 (2021), performance footage with Pylon Reenactment Society, interview[38]
Video
- Beep (1990), Pylon (band), from CD: Hits, a compilation, DB Records.Reissued CD: Chomp More by DFA Records (2009). Directed and edited by Michael Lachowski
- Look Alive (1992), Pylon (band), from album Chain, Sky Records. Directed by Jim McKay / C-100.
- Too Many Eights (2007), Supercluster (band), from CDR EP: Special 5. Directed and edited by Vanessa Briscoe Hay
- I Got the Answer (2009), Supercluster (band), from: CD Waves, Studio Mouse Productions/Cloud Recordings. Directed by Paul Thomas and John Lee Matney.[39]
- Neat In The Street (2011), Supercluster (band), from: single "Paris Effect"/"Neat In The Street", Studio Mouse Productions/Cloud Recordings. Written by The Side Effects (Butchart/Ellison/Swartz), 1980. Directed and edited by Hana Hay.
- Memory Of The Future (2012), Supercluster (band), from: single “Things We Used To Drink”/“Memory Of The Future”, Studio Mouse Productions. Directed by Hana Hay and Hannah Jones from artwork by Hannah Jones.
- Beep (2017), Pylon Reenactment Society, from Vinyl 12” Ep Part Time Punks Sessiom, PRS for Chunklet Industries, from unreleased documentary “Athens, GA...30 Years On” directed by Bill Cody,edited by Tony Brazier.
- Messenger (2019), Pylon Reenactment Society, from Vinyl 7” Single Messenger / Cliff Notes, PRS for Chunklet Industries, directed by Tony Brazier.[40]
- 3 x 3 (2023),Pylon Reenactment Society, from: digital single,Strolling Bones Records. Written by Pylon (band)° (Bewley,Briscoe Hay, Crowe, Lachowski), 1979. directed by Bill Cody,edited by Tony Brazier.[41]
- Flowers Everywhere (2023),Pylon Reenactment Society, from: digital single,Strolling Bones Records. Written by Pylon Reenactment Society° (Briscoe Hay, Denton, NeSmith,Rowe, Sanders,Stanton), 2023. directed by Dan Aguar.[42]
- Fix It (feat. Kate Pierson (2024), Pylon Reenactment Society from: digital single, Strolling Bones Records. Written by Pylon Reenactment Society directed by Dominic DeJoseph [43]
- Heaven (In Your Eyes) (2024), Pylon Reenactment Society from: digital single, Strolling Bones Records. Written by Pylon Reenactment Society directed by Matthew Buzzell [44]
References
- ISBN 0-7432-9201-4.
Like an apolitical answer to England's Gang of Four, Pylon played a brutally physical, stripped-down form of funk rock
- ^ "Pylon: Biography". Perfect Sound Forever. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ Smith, Lee Valentine (18 January 2010). "We Are Pylon". Georgia Music Magazine. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
Even though the band did break up shortly after the album was released in '83, it remained very much alive in fan interest and support.
- ^ Hinely, Tim (1 February 2016). "Back To Athens". Blurt. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
I have to confess that I married the lead singer (of The Squalls) Bob Hay, but I would never let my musical taste be clouded by the rose colored glasses of love,right?
- ^ Hinely, Tim (1 February 2016). "Back To Athens". Blurt. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
- ^ Anonymous, Anonymous (3 March 2007). "DFA Reissues Pylon?s Gyrate". XLR8R. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
- ^ Sisson, Patrick (10 November 2009). "An expanded reissue of the Athens post-punks' second album offers some clues to where they could have gone next". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
- ^ Radford, Chad (8 March 2011). "Supercluster's Vanessa Briscoe Hay untangles Athens' musical lineage". Creative Loafing Atlanta. Retrieved 2017-03-10.[dead link]
- ^ Moore, Bobby (17 February 2016). "The Pylon Reenactment Society Pays Tribute". Flagpole Magazine. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
- ^ Ham, Robert. "The Pylon Reenactment Society Revives the Past". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ "25 Best Frontwomen of All Time". Pastemagazine.com.
- ^ Midnight, Chip (5 February 2024). "Interview Pylon Reenactment Society". bigtakeovee.com. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ Smith, Lee Valentine (5 February 2024). "Inspired by original band, Pylon Reenactment Society releases own new album". ajc.com. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ "25 Pylon Reenactment Society Announce Debut Album Share New Video". Pitchfork.com.
- ^ "Pylon Reenactment Society Releases Own New Album". AJC.com.
- ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/10964499-Pylon-Reenactment-Society-Part-Time-Punks-Session
- ^ https://torchedmagazine.com/2018/11/14/torched-exclusive-premier-pylon-reenactment-society-messenger/
- ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/16190272-Pylon-Reenactment-Society-Compression
- ^ https://www.stereogum.com/2237643/pylon-reenactment-society-3-x-3/music/
- ^ https://magnetmagazine.com/2023/10/27/magnet-exclusive-premiere-of-pylon-reenactment-societys-flowers-everywhere-video/
- ^ https://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/premiere_ylon_reenactment_society_shares_new_track_christmas_daze
- ^ https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/pylon-reenactment-society/pylon-reenactment-society-fix-it-kate-pierson
- ^ https://www.popmatters.com/pylon-reenactment-society-heaven-in-your-eyes
- ^ https://www.popmatters.com/pylon-reenactment-society-heaven-in-your-eyes
- ^ "Various - Declaration Of Independents". Discogs.com. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ "Various - Jericho Go". Discogs.com. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ "Pylon (4) - Hits". Discogs.com. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ "Various - Squares Blot Out The Sun". Discogs.com. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ "Various - KFJC 89.7 FM - Fifty Blowing Minds Since 1959". Discogs.com. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ "Keith Haring". Discogs.com. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/28954984-Various-Blank-Generation-A-Story-Of-US-Canadian-Punk-Its-Aftershocks-1975-1981
- ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/29323135-Various-Lets-Go-Dancing-Said-the-Firefly-to-the-Hurricane
- ^ "Various - Finest Worksongs: Athens Bands Play The Music Of R.E.M." Discogs.com. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ "Vanessa Briscoe". IMDb.com.
- ^ "Motherhood (2009)". IMDb.com.
- ^ "Motherhood (2009)". IMDb.com.
- ^ "New York Mom movie dance (motherhood)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12.
- ^ "Full Credits". IMDb.com.
- ^ https://vimeo.com/21537287
- ^ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13560962/
- ^ https://www.brooklynvegan.com/pylon-reenactment-society-announces-debut-album-watch-3x3-video/
- ^ https://magnetmagazine.com/2023/10/27/magnet-exclusive-premiere-of-pylon-reenactment-societys-flowers-everywhere-video/
- ^ https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/pylon-reenactment-society/pylon-reenactment-society-fix-it-kate-pierson
- ^ https://www.popmatters.com/pylon-reenactment-society-heaven-in-your-eyes
Sources
- Reynolds, Simon: Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984, Penguin Books, February 2006, p. 264.
- Strong, Martin C. (2003). The Great Indie Discography. Edinburgh: Canongate. p. 469. OL 22546927M.
- Christgau,Robert: Christgau's Consumer Guide-the 80's, Pantheon Books, 1990, pp. 329, 498, 506.
- Hale,Grace Elizabeth: “Cool Town How Athens, Georgia, Launched Alternative Music and Changed American Culture”,A Ferris and Ferris Book , February 13, 2020