The Pattern (band)

The Pattern were an American punk garage rock band based in Oakland, California from 2000-2004.

History

The Pattern formed in the summer of 2000 as a "party band", uniting the efforts of a five-piece crew, all of which had previous band experiences. Led by vocalist Christopher Appelgren (former lead singer of the Peechees and owner of Lookout Records), along with guitarists Jason Rosenberg (formerly of Saint James Infirmary), Andy Asp (former singer and guitar player in Nuisance), bassist Carson Bell (formerly of the Cuts), and drummer Jim "Nastic" Anderson (formerly of Black Fork). The Pattern "joined garage rock, indie tones, and also punk rock's rousing references, eventually revealing inspired and unique alternative tunes". [Allmusic guide] During the months subsequent to its formation, the band swiftly assembled a fan base not only in the U.S., but also in Europe. [http://www.eastbayexpress.com/2002-09-04/music/london-calling/]

Following the release of several 7" records (on Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles label, Gearhead Records, and San Diego's GSL label) a compilation EP was released in September 2001 under the title "Immediately". The crew's first EP, hit the record stores via the Lookout Records label in the United States and Wichita Recordings in the UK, eventually enjoying good reviews by the local media and prompting appearances at the 2001 Reading and Leeds festivals in the UK. In late 2001, the Oakland-based band started preparing to embark on their first major American nationwide tour, alongside bands such as the Vue, the Donnas, Girls Against Boys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and even opening for The Strokes. [http://www.sfweekly.com/2001-05-30/music/life-of-the-party/]

In 2002, The Pattern's first full-length album "Real Feelness" (recorded at Tiny Telephone studios in San Francisco, CA) was released. Jim Anderson had left the band and was replaced by drummer Scott Batiste. Shepard Fairey directed The Pattern's first video for the single "Fragile Awareness". After the record's release on Lookout Records (in the US), Witchita Recordings (in the UK), and JVC (in Japan), The Pattern continued to tour the United States and the UK with bands like The Hives, The Datsuns, The Mooney Suzuki, and Clinic.

Original bassist Carson Bell and drummer Scott Batiste left the band in 2003. The Pattern continued to tour the United States and then eventually called it quits in 2004.

Chris Appelgren works for Noise Pop in San Francisco, Carson Bell went on to play bass with former Pattern tour mates The Mooney Suzuki [http://www.sfbg.com/40/25/cover_didit.html] and now plays bass in a new band, Scott Batiste plays drums in the metal band Saviours, Andy Asp plays guitar in The Parish, and Jim Anderson plays drums in Swann Danger .

Discography

The Pattern "My Own Age" 7" Released 2001
The Pattern "Wet Circuit City" 7" Released 2001
The Pattern "Finger Us/Worse All The Time" 7" Released 2001
The Pattern "Immediately" "EP" Released September 25, 2001
The Pattern "Real Feelness" Released 2002
Various Artists "Lookout Freakout Episode 3"

Notable Appearances

The song "Selling Submarines" was included in Episode 14 "The Countdown" of the Fox television series The O.C..

References

* [http://www.theocshow.com/theocmusic1.htm theOCshow.com "music from the show"]
* [http://www.eastbayexpress.com/2002-09-04/music/london-calling/ "London Calling" East Bay Express article about The Pattern]
* [http://www.sfweekly.com/2001-05-30/music/life-of-the-party/ "Life of the Party" SF Weekly article about The Pattern]

External links

* [http://lookout.littletype.com/pattern-lkb-grpcat.php Lookout Records official The Pattern page]
* [http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/pattern/artist.jhtml The Pattern on MTV.com]
* [http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/pattern/artist.jhtml The Pattern on VH1.com]
* [http://www.wichita-recordings.com/ Wichita Recordings on the web]
* [http://www.noisepop.com Noise Pop on the web]
* [http://www.myspace.com/saviours666 Saviours on the web]
* [http://www.myspace.com/theparishband The Parish on the web]
* [http://www.swanndanger.com/ Swann Danger on the web]
* [http://www.carsonbell.blogspot.com Carson Bell on the web]