Background
The Lawrence Arms is a punk rock trio formed in 1999 in Chicago, featuring Brendan Kelly, formerly of Chicago bands The Broadways and Slapstick on bass, Chris McCaughan on Guitar, and Neil Hennessy on drums. The band is named after an apartment complex in Chicago near where Kelly and McCaughan lived.
Kelly and McCaughan split vocals duties, and each have a very distinct style. Kelly tends to be more urgent and harsh in his singing, while McCaughan has a more relaxed, melodic voice. On earlier records Kelly sings nearly every song, while their most recent was a nearly even split.
The Lawrence Arms early on released two full length recordings on Asian Man Records, followed by two splits with fellow Asian Man bands The Chinkees and Shady View Terrace . In late 2001 they were signed to Fat Wreck Chords along with Minneapolis' Dillinger Four. They have released two full lengths and a Fat Club 7 inch since signing on. They have also contributed to a total of thirteen compilations as of November 2004, although rarely with songs not available elsewhere.
Originally formed with no intention of even playing a single live show, the Lawrence Arms have become one of Fat Wreck's most respected and well liked bands, and were on the forefront of the label's movement away from the traditional 'Fat Sound.' They are currently on a touring hiatus, and working on compiling some of their more obscure works, as well as re-recording two 'Ghost Stories' songs for a compilation CD to be released in early 2005 via Asian Man Records.
In December of 2004, The Falcon, an offshoot of the Lawrence Arms featuring Kelly and Hennessy along with Dan Andriano of the Alkaline Trio and Todd Mohney , formerly of Rise Against, released their first EP on Red Scare Records.
Discography
Major Band Releases
- A Guided Tour of Chicago (1999) Asian Man Records
- Ghost Stories (2000) Asian Man Records
- Present Day Memories (2001) Asian Man Records with The Chinkees
- The Lawrence Arms/Shady View Terrace (2001) Asian Man Records with Shady View Terrace
- Apathy and Exhaustion (2002) Fat Wreck Chords
- Fat Club 7 Inch (2002) Fat Wreck Chords
- The Greatest Story Ever Told (album) (2003) Fat Wreck Chords
Compilation Contributions
- Plea for Peace (2001) Asian Man Records with the song Chicago is Burning
- Living Tomorrow Today: A Benefit For Ty Cambra (2001) Asian Man Records with the song Nebraska
- Plea For Peace/Take Action (2001) Asian Man Records/Sub City Records with the song Quicentuple Your Money
- 2001 Asian Man Sampler (2001) Records with the song Hey, What Time Is "Pensacola:Wings Of Gold" On Anyway?
- 1157 Wheeler Avenue (2002) Failed Experiment Records with the song Nebraska (Live)
- Mailorder is Fun in Europe (2002) Asian Man Records with the song 100 Resolutions
- Plea For Peace/Take Action (2002) Asian Man Records/Sub City Records with the song Right as Rain (Part 2)
- Mailorder for the Masses (2002) Asian Man Records with the song Quincentuple Your Money
- Fat Music 6: Uncontrollable Fatulence (2002) Fat Wreck Chords with the song Presenting: The Dancing Machine (Il Robot Con La Testa Di Scimmia)
- Oil: Chicago Punk Refined (2003) Thick Records with the song Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been
- Experiments in Audio Rocketry (2003) 1-2-3-4 Go Records with the song Traditional
- Magnetic Curses (2004) Thick Records with the song An Evening of Extraordinary Circumstance
- Rock Against Bush vol 2 (2004) Fat Wreck Chords with the song Necrotism: Decanting the Insalubrious (Cyborg Midnight) Part 7
External Links