Sleepytime Gorilla Museum

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Oakland, California, United States (1999 – 2011)

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum formed in 1999 in Oakland, California, United States. The band was founded by Nils Frykdahl (guitars, flutes, vocals) and Dan Rathbun (bass, log, trombone, lute, vocals) of the band Idiot Flesh, with Carla Kihlstedt (violins, percussion guitar, autoharp, organ, bulbul, vocals) of Tin Hat Trio, 2 Foot Yard and The Book Of Knots, after the three worked together in Charming Hostess. Matthias Bossi (drums, glockenspiel, xylophone, vocals) and Michael Mellender (percussion, assorted melodic instruments, vocals) both joined in 2004. Previous members include percussionist Moe! Staiano, founding drummer David Shamrock, and drummer/manager Frank Grau.

The band tour the U.S. frequently in a renovated vintage Green Tortoise bus, and their live performances have featured puppet shows, pseudo-scientific scholarly presentations, and performances by members of the Butoh group inkBoat. SGM’s music has been categorized as anything from to to to (Rock In Opposition). Many reviewers have remarked that the group is altogether unclassifiable.

The band uses many homemade devices as instruments, such as the viking row-boat and the spring-nail guitar. Rathbun plays a stringed bass instrument of his own construction called The Log which uses piano strings and is perhaps 7 feet long; it is played with two sticks: one in the left hand generally used as a fret, another in the right hand striking the strings.
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  • yorammorad

    v more than agreed.

    14 days ago
  • Zooey1692

    If this band doesn't set-up that kickstarter campaign soon I'm going to go crazy.

    20 days ago
  • Kubina91

    SGM never die!

    last month
  • yorammorad

    and for higaimousou and everyone else, from what I've heard SGM will be starting a kickstarter campaign in order to be able to finish up the album and the upcoming film. If this is true (I sure hope it is! At least something is finally happening)- then be sure to donate!

    March 2012
  • yorammorad

    I think it's a freaking great name. Nothing better than a long awkward name.

    March 2012
  • metalhybrid

    Yes , they do have a bad name... but who cares as long as they make this awesome music?... I dont.

    March 2012
  • MechanoFraktur

    Some words of wisdom from Nils - "...You can't just write 'Buda Buda Pew Ba Dew Ba Dee Doo' as the melody line to be played by this instrument that can only go 'GRRRRREAUUGGGHHERRRRRRHHHH'"

    February 2012
  • PWZAC

    "ev"

    February 2012
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