Breakfast with Amy was an American
Christian alternative rock
Christian alternative rock is a form of alternative rock music that is lyrically grounded in a Christian worldview. Some critics have suggested that unlike CCM and older Christian rock, Christian alternative rock generally emphasizes musical ...
band, formed in 1986 in
La Habra, California
La Habra – archaic spelling of – is a city in the northwestern corner of Orange County, California, United States. In the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census, the city had a population of 60,239.
History
Origin of name
The name refe ...
at the La Habra Four-Square church. At that time, the band consisted of vocalist David Koval, bassist Jeff "Tennessee Beans" Beahn, guitarist Christopher Colbert, and drummer Paul Pellegrin. The pastor of the church was throwing a Saturday night concert. A band had backed out and he needed a replacement. David, Christopher, Paul and Jeff quickly formed "Friends of Amy" to perform.
The band was later joined by Caryn Barker on guitar and Charlotte Stripland on bass. Charlotte was replaced in 1989 by Bob "Edwin" Wohler. Brothers Eric and Jeremy Wood filled in on Bass and Drums respectively during the final days of the band.
The band initially released an independent 4-track recording as a demo tape in 1987. It featured three songs (Funeral, Ferris Wheel and Love Song) and was recorded at Half Moon Studio by engineer Dan Bush. For the demo, the line-up featured Rich Berger on Drums. In 1988 the band released a professionally recorded demo tape (see side B of the Narrowpath release).
In 1989, Breakfast with Amy was approached by Greg Sostrom of Narrowpath Records and subsequently signed by him in 1990. This led to the formal release of their studio album ''
Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt''. The album was recorded at
Casbah Recording Studio in
Fullerton, California
Fullerton ( ) is a city located in northern Orange County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 143,617.
Fullerton was founded in 1887. It secured the land on behalf of the Atchison, Topeka and S ...
during two sessions about a year apart. The A side featured new material recorded at the time the band signed with Narrowpath Records of
Concord, California
Concord ( ) is the most populous city in Contra Costa County, California, Contra Costa County, California, United States. According to an estimate completed by the United States Census Bureau, the city had a population of 124,016 in 2024, maki ...
. It was produced by Chaz Ramierez, known for his work in the Orange County New Wave and Punk scenes. The B side featured their first studio tracks (previously sold at concerts). After limited release through Narrowpath (suffering from payment and accounting problems with their distributor) the band signed with Michael Knott's
Blonde Vinyl Records in 1991.
With a new label that could better represent the band's progressive music and image, Breakfast with Amy quickly moved to the forefront of the underground Christian rock scene that had been taking shape in Orange County - Southern California since the early 80's. During the short lifespan of Blonde Vinyl, Breakfast with Amy released 2 studio albums. After the collapse of Blonde Vinyl Records (due to Spectra Distribution, Inc. filing for bankruptcy) the band dissolved. In 1995, they released their final album (a live compilation), ''Live At The Hawleywould Bowl!'', under
Flying Tart Records featuring a compilation of live performances from throughout their career. The band never found a mainstream audience in or out of Christian circles.
In 1995, Gray Dot records re-released the first Breakfast With Amy album featuring re-mastered tracks and
three bonus demo tracks (from their original demo). Breakfast with Amy is remembered by fans of the fledgling alternative Christian rock scene as one
of the staples of Blonde Vinyl Records, being present on nearly all of their compilation CDs (as well as other alternative Christian rock compilations) and being one of only a few artists on the label to make a music video.
As the band evolved, their live performances became outlandish stage shows. Typical performances featured costumed band members,
Go go dancing, flaming
taxidermy
Taxidermy is the art of preserving an animal's body by mounting (over an armature) or stuffing, for the purpose of display or study. Animals are often, but not always, portrayed in a lifelike state. The word ''taxidermy'' describes the proces ...
, and movie projectors used as stage lighting. Shows often ended with instrument destruction and a wall of
feedback
Feedback occurs when outputs of a system are routed back as inputs as part of a chain of cause and effect that forms a circuit or loop. The system can then be said to ''feed back'' into itself. The notion of cause-and-effect has to be handle ...
. Due to these factors, the band was rarely invited back to a venue (be it a club or a church).
The band is often described as
Post-punk
Post-punk (originally called new musick) is a broad genre of music that emerged in late 1977 in the wake of punk rock. Post-punk musicians departed from punk's fundamental elements and raw simplicity, instead adopting a broader, more experiment ...
, mixing elements of
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a rock music Music genre, genre that is inspired, influenced, or representative of psychedelia, psychedelic culture, which is centered on perception-altering hallucinogenic drugs. The music incorporated new electronic sound ...
,
Art rock
Art rock is a subgenre of rock music that generally reflects a challenging or avant-garde approach to rock, or which makes use of modernist, experimental, or unconventional elements. Art rock aspires to elevate rock from entertainment to an ar ...
, and
Punk rock
Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...
. During live performances, many songs were performed as long jams with the vocalist
improvising on
pop culture
Popular culture (also called pop culture or mass culture) is generally recognized by members of a society as a set of practices, beliefs, artistic output (also known as popular art pop_art.html" ;"title="f. pop art">f. pop artor mass art, some ...
references. Some songs have
Pop music
Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom.S. Frith, W. Straw, and J. Street, eds, ''iarchive:cambridgecompani00frit, The Cambridge Companion to Pop ...
melodies, while other songs feature layers of guitar
dissonance and
feedback
Feedback occurs when outputs of a system are routed back as inputs as part of a chain of cause and effect that forms a circuit or loop. The system can then be said to ''feed back'' into itself. The notion of cause-and-effect has to be handle ...
. Band musical influences include
U2,
Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1978. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Ian McCulloch (singer), Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant and bassist Les Pattinson. By 1980, Pete de Freita ...
,
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth were an American rock band formed in New York City in 1981. Founding members Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar), Thurston Moore (lead guitar, vocals) and Lee Ranaldo (rhythm guitar, vocals) remained together for the entire history of ...
,
The Who
The Who are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup (1964–1978) consisted of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. Considered one of th ...
, The
Ramones
The Ramones were an American punk rock band formed in the New York City neighborhood Forest Hills, Queens in 1974. Known for helping establish the punk movement in the United States and elsewhere, the Ramones are often recognized as one of th ...
, The
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols are an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they became culturally influential in popular music. The band initiated the punk movement in the United Ki ...
and The
New York Dolls
New York Dolls were an American rock music, rock band formed in New York City in 1971. Along with the Velvet Underground, the MC5, and the Stooges, they were one of the first bands of the early punk rock scenes. Although the band never achieved ...
.
Members
Band members
*David Koval — vocals, electric sitar, acoustic guitar, bass, keyboards, mandolin
*Jeff "Tennessee Beans" Beahn - bass guitar
*Charlotte Stripland - bass guitar
*Bob "Edwin" Wohler — bass guitar
*Eric Wood - bass guitar
*Christopher "Chrissy" Colbert — guitar
*Caryn Colbert — guitar
*Rich Berger - drums
*Paul Pellegrin — drums
*Jeremy Wood - drums
Stage hands
*Christopher "Mr. Rhumba" Rumbaugh -
Team captain
In team sport, captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field. In eithe ...
and
babysitter
Babysitting is temporarily caring for a child. Babysitting can be a paid job for all ages; however, it is best known as a temporary activity for early teenagers who are not yet eligible for employment in the general economy. It provides auto ...
(band manager)
*Nathan Pellegrin -
Projectionist
A projectionist is a person who operates a movie projector, particularly as an employee of a movie theater. Projectionists are also known as "operators".
Historical background
N.B. The dates given in the subject headings are approximate.
Early ...
*Trish the Dish -
Go Go dancer
Go-go dancers are dancers who are employed to entertain crowds at nightclubs or other venues where music is played. Go-go dancing originated in the early 1960s at the French bar Whisky a Gogo, located in the town of Juan-les-Pins. The bar's ...
*LaLa Nellie -
Go Go dancer
Go-go dancers are dancers who are employed to entertain crowds at nightclubs or other venues where music is played. Go-go dancing originated in the early 1960s at the French bar Whisky a Gogo, located in the town of Juan-les-Pins. The bar's ...
*Beth -
Go Go dancer
Go-go dancers are dancers who are employed to entertain crowds at nightclubs or other venues where music is played. Go-go dancing originated in the early 1960s at the French bar Whisky a Gogo, located in the town of Juan-les-Pins. The bar's ...
*Gina -
Go Go dancer
Go-go dancers are dancers who are employed to entertain crowds at nightclubs or other venues where music is played. Go-go dancing originated in the early 1960s at the French bar Whisky a Gogo, located in the town of Juan-les-Pins. The bar's ...
*Sonja -
Go Go dancer
Go-go dancers are dancers who are employed to entertain crowds at nightclubs or other venues where music is played. Go-go dancing originated in the early 1960s at the French bar Whisky a Gogo, located in the town of Juan-les-Pins. The bar's ...
*Margaret the Bubble Girl
*Happy Fun Clown- Ken Bower (VP of Voice of Youth)
Discography
[https://knottheads.com/blondevinyl/artist/breakfast-with-amy/]
Studio albums
* ''
Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt'' (1990)
* ''
Dad'' (1991)
* ''
Love Gift
''product # bvcd 3482 (love gift)'' or ''Love Gift'' is the third and final studio album by the Christian alternative rock band Breakfast with Amy
Breakfast with Amy was an American Christian alternative rock band, formed in 1986 in La Hab ...
'' (1992)
Live albums
* ''Live At The Hawleywould Bowl!'' (1995)
Compilations
* ''Blonde Vinyl Teaser II: Food for Thought'' (1991)
* ''Radioactive Hits: The Definitive Blonde Vinyl Collection'' (1993)
* ''Live Long and Perspire: Sub Tart Vol. 1'' (1995)
* ''Afters'' (1997)
* ''Toast and Olive. "Friends of Tomorrow"'' (1998)
Videos
* ''Me'' (music video)
* ''The Sound of One Hand Snacking''
nreleased mockudrama
Other
*''Breakfast with Amy'' (custom demo)
*''Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt'' (custom demo)
*''Tuck in Your Love Gift''
nreleased album from Vox Vinyl(1991)
*''Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt''
eissue(gray dot #gdr 9503CD) (1995)
See also
*
Blonde Vinyl Records
References
External links
The Unofficial Breakfast with Amy WebpageArtist Profile at Blonde Vinyl Tribute PageDiscography Information at drindustrial
{{DEFAULTSORT:Breakfast With Amy
Christian rock groups from California
Musical groups from Orange County, California
La Habra, California
Musical groups established in 1986
1986 establishments in California
Musical groups disestablished in 1992
1992 disestablishments in California