Pachyderm Recording Studios is a residential music recording studio located in

Cannon Falls, Minnesota Cannon Falls is a city in Goodhue County, Minnesota, Goodhue County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 4,083 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. Located along U.S. Route 52 in Minnesota, U.S. Route 52, southeast of the Min ...

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

History

The studio was founded in 1988 by Jim Nickel, Mark Walk and Eric S. Anderson, with acoustic design by Bret Theney of

Westlake Audio Westlake Recording Studios is a music recording studio with two locations in Los Angeles and West Hollywood, California. History Westlake Recording Studios was founded in the early 1970s by the American audio engineer Tom Hidley under the name ...

. Located 35.8 mi (57.6 km) southeast of the

Minneapolis–Saint Paul Minneapolis–Saint Paul is a metropolitan area in the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States centered around the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi, Minnesota River, Minnesota, and St. Croix River (Wisconsin–Minnesota), ...

metropolitan area, it is located in a secluded

old-growth forest An old-growth forest or primary forest is a forest that has developed over a long period of time without disturbance. Due to this, old-growth forests exhibit unique ecological features. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Natio ...

in rural

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

. The studio featured the same Neve 8068 recording console that was used in

Jimi Hendrix James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time. Inducted ...

Electric Lady Studios Electric Lady Studios is a recording studio in Greenwich Village, New York City. It was commissioned by rock musician Jimi Hendrix in 1968 and designed by architect John Storyk and audio engineer Eddie Kramer. It was completed by 1970. Hendrix ...

as well as

Studer Studer is a designer and manufacturer of professional audio equipment for recording studios and broadcasters. The company was founded in Zürich, Switzerland, in 1948 by Willi Studer. It initially became known in the 1950s for its professi ...

tape machines. The house was designed by Herb Bloomberg, architect of

Old Log Theatre The Old Log Theatre was the oldest professional theater in the state of Minnesota. It was sometimes cited as the oldest continuously operating professional theater in the United States. It was located in Excelsior and was funded entirely by ticke ...

and founder of the

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres Chanhassen ( ) is a city in Carver County, Minnesota, United States about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Minneapolis. The population was 25,947 at the 2020 census, with a 2024 estimate of 26,469. A small portion of the city extends into Henn ...

. The studio went into a decline in the mid-2000s, after original co-owner Jim Nickel sold the property. It went into a state of disrepair for many years, though bands occasionally still recorded there. It was purchased by engineer John Kuker in 2011 out of foreclosure and remodeled over the next three years. Kuker died on February 2, 2015, at the age of 40, after which his family took over ownership. The home, studio and grounds were renovated. The studio is managed by longtime Kuker employee Nick Tveitbakk and clients are still able to record with the wide variety of musical equipment and guitars that Kuker collected.

Selected recordings made at Pachyderm

* ''

Seamonsters ''Seamonsters'' is the third studio album by English rock band The Wedding Present. It was recorded in ten days in 1991 by American producer Steve Albini at Pachyderm Studio in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. Albini had earlier recorded two EPs with th ...

'' –

The Wedding Present The Wedding Present are an English indie rock group formed in 1985 in Leeds, England, by members of The Lost Pandas. The band has been led by vocalist and guitarist David Gedge, the band's only constant member. Closely linked to the C86 scene ...

(1991) * ''

Lulu Lulu may refer to: Companies * LuLu, an early automobile manufacturer * Lulu.com, an online e-books and print self-publishing platform, distributor, and retailer * Lulu Hypermarket, a retail chain in Asia * Lululemon Athletica or simply Lulu, a C ...

'' –

Trip Shakespeare Trip Shakespeare was an American Rock music, rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minneapolis, Minnesota and active from the mid 1980s to early 1990s. The band included Dan Wilson (musician), Dan Wilson and John Munson, who would later go on to be f ...

(1991) * ''

Fontanelle A fontanelle (or fontanel) (colloquially, soft spot) is an anatomical feature of the infant human skull comprising soft membranous gaps ( sutures) between the cranial bones that make up the calvaria of a fetus or an infant. Fontanelles allow ...

'' – Babes In Toyland (1992) * ''

Comfort Comfort is a state of physical or psychological ease, often characterized by the absence of hardship. Individuals experiencing a lack of comfort are typically described as uncomfortable or in discomfort. A degree of psychological comfort can b ...

'' –

Failure Failure is the social concept of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, and is usually viewed as the opposite of success. The criteria for failure depends on context, and may be relative to a particular observer or belief system. On ...

(1992) * '' Hollywood Town Hall'' –

The Jayhawks The Jayhawks are an American alternative country and country rock band that emerged from the Twin Cities music scene in the mid-1980s. Led by vocalists/guitarists/songwriters Gary Louris and Mark Olson, their country rock sound was influentia ...

(1992) * ''

Grave Dancers Union ''Grave Dancers Union'' is the sixth studio album by American alternative rock band Soul Asylum and was released in 1992. The album features the single " Runaway Train", which reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the biggest hit ...

'' –

Soul Asylum Soul Asylum is an American rock band formed in 1981 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their 1993 hit " Runaway Train" won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. The band was originally called Loud Fast Rules, with a lineup consisting of Dave Pirner ...

(1992) * ''

In Utero The uterus (from Latin ''uterus'', : uteri or uteruses) or womb () is the organ in the reproductive system of most female mammals, including humans, that accommodates the embryonic and fetal development of one or more fertilized eggs until bir ...

'' –

Nirvana Nirvana, in the Indian religions (Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism), is the concept of an individual's passions being extinguished as the ultimate state of salvation, release, or liberation from suffering ('' duḥkha'') and from the ...

(1993) * ''

Sound as Ever ''Sound as Ever'' is the debut album by Australian band You Am I, released in October 1993 via rooArt Records.McFarlane'You Am I'entry. Archived frothe originalon 29 August 2004. Retrieved 16 May 2018. It was recorded at Pachyderm Studio in rura ...

'' –

You Am I You Am I are an Australian power pop band, fronted by its lead singer-songwriter and guitarist, Tim Rogers. They formed in December 1989 and are the first Australian band to have released three successive albums that have each debuted at the ...

(1993) * ''

Rid of Me ''Rid of Me'' is the second studio album by the English singer-songwriter PJ Harvey, released on 26 April 1993 by Island Records, approximately one year after the release of her critically acclaimed debut studio album '' Dry'' (1992). It marked ...

'' –

PJ Harvey Polly Jean Harvey (born 9 October 1969) is an English singer-songwriter. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments. Harvey began her career in 1988 when she joined local band Automat ...

(1993) * ''

Throwing Copper ''Throwing Copper'' is the third studio album by American alternative rock band Live, released on April 26, 1994, on former MCA Records subsidiary Radioactive Records. It was produced by Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads and was recorded at Pac ...

'' –

Live Live may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film * ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film * ''Live'' (2023 film), a Malayalam-language film *'' Live: Phát Trực Tiếp'', a Vietnamese-langua ...

(1994) * ''

Arise Therefore ''Arise Therefore'' is the fourth studio album by Will Oldham. It was released in 1996 under the moniker Palace Music, although sometimes credited simply to "Palace". The album features David Grubbs, Ned Oldham, and a Mayatone drum machine credite ...

'' –

Palace A palace is a large residence, often serving as a royal residence or the home for a head of state or another high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome whi ...

(1996) * ''

Rapture The Rapture is an Christian eschatology, eschatological position held by some Christians, particularly those of American evangelicalism, consisting of an end-time event when all dead Christian believers will be resurrected and, joined with Chr ...

'' –

Bradley Joseph Bradley Joseph (born 1965) is an American composer, arranger, and producer of contemporary instrumental music. His compositions include works for orchestras, quartets, and solo piano pieces. He has been active professionally since 1983, and has ...

(1997) * '' Good News for Modern Man'' –

Grant Hart Grant Vernon Hart (March 18, 1961 – September 13, 2017) was an American musician, best known as the drummer for the punk rock band Hüsker Dü. After the band's breakup in 1988, he released his first solo album, ''Intolerance'', before fo ...

(1999) * '' Acre Thrills'' – U.S. Maple (2001) * ''

From Here to Infirmary ''From Here to Infirmary'' is the third studio album by American punk rock band Alkaline Trio. It was their first album for Vagrant and their only album with Mike Felumlee, who replaced their previous drummer, Glenn Porter. When Felumlee left th ...

'' –

Alkaline Trio Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band from Chicago. The band's current members are Matt Skiba (guitar, vocals), Dan Andriano (bass, vocals), and Atom Willard (drums). Founded in late 1996 by Skiba, bassist Rob Doran, and drummer Glenn Por ...

(2001) * '' Stuart Davis'' – Stuart Davis (2001) * ''

The End of All Things to Come ''The End of All Things to Come'' is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Mudvayne. Released on November 19, 2002, the album expanded upon the sound of the band's first album, '' L.D. 50'', with a more versatile range of sounds, d ...

'' –

Mudvayne Mudvayne is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Peoria, Illinois, Peoria, Illinois, in 1996. Known for their sonic experimentation, face and body paint, masks and uniforms, the band has sold over five million records wor ...

(2002) * ''

Armchair Apocrypha ''Armchair Apocrypha'' is the fourth solo studio album by the American singer-songwriter Andrew Bird. It was released on March 20, 2007, through Fat Possum Records. The album features more electric guitars, a change from the more acoustic-oriente ...

'' –

Andrew Bird Andrew Wegman Bird (born July 11, 1973) is an American indie rock multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. Since 1996, he has released 16 studio albums, as well as several live albums and EPs, spanning various genres including swing musi ...

(2007) * '' Prog'' –

The Bad Plus The Bad Plus is an American jazz group from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, formed in 2000. They were originally a piano trio, but became a quartet in 2021: founding members Reid Anderson on bass and David King on drums, as well as guit ...

(2007) * ''

Wild Animals Wildlife refers to undomesticated animals and uncultivated plant species which can exist in their natural habitat, but has come to include all organisms that grow or live wild in an area without being introduced by humans. Wildlife was also ...

'' –

Trampled by Turtles Trampled by Turtles is an American bluegrass music, bluegrass-influenced Folk music, folk band from Duluth, Minnesota, Duluth, Minnesota. They have released ten full albums, three of which reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard (magazine), Billboa ...

(2014) * '' Panic Stations'' –

Motion City Soundtrack Motion City Soundtrack is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1997. The band's line-up consists of vocalist and guitarist Justin Pierre, lead guitarist Joshua Cain, keyboardist Jesse Johnson, bassist Matthew Ta ...

(2015) * ''The Cooling'' – Reina del Cid (2015) * '' Polar Similar'' – Norma Jean (2016) * ''Furnace'' – Dead Man Winter (2017) * ''Still Thirsty'' – Four Pints Shy (2018) * ''

Life Is Good on the Open Road ''Life Is Good on the Open Road'' is the eighth studio album by Minnesota-based bluegrass group Trampled by Turtles, released on May 4, 2018. Critical reception ''Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focu ...

'' –

(2018) * ''Sigourney Fever'' –

(2019) * ''Red Tail'' – Dave Simonett (2020) * ''

Once Twice Melody ''Once Twice Melody'' is the eighth studio album by the American dream pop duo Beach House. It was released on February 18, 2022, through Sub Pop, with its four chapters being released throughout four months starting November 10, 2021. A follow-u ...

'' –

Beach House Beach House is an American indie music, indie band formed in Baltimore, Maryland, Baltimore in 2004 by current members Victoria Legrand (vocals, keyboards) and Alex Scally (guitar, keyboard, backing vocals, drum programming). Their work is char ...

(2022) * ''

Caves Caves or caverns are natural voids under the Earth's surface. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. Exogene caves are smaller openings that extend a relatively short distance underground (such as rock ...

'' –

NEEDTOBREATHE Needtobreathe (stylized as NEEDTOBREATHE) is an American rock band from Seneca, South Carolina. The group first gained fame for their Christian themes, eventually reaching crossover success. The band is composed of Bear Rinehart (lead vocals, ...

(2023) * ''Midas'' –

Wunderhorse Wunderhorse are an English rock band formed in 2020 by frontman and songwriter Jacob Slater. Initially a solo project, Wunderhorse became a full band in 2021, with Slater (vocals, guitar) being joined by Harry Fowler (guitar), Pete Woodin (bass) ...

(2024)

References

External links

*
Live Nirvana Sessions History: In Utero

- archived version of the studio's pre-2009 website

- a list of experiences by artists who have recorded at Pachyderm Studios {{Authority control Buildings and structures in Goodhue County, Minnesota Music venues in Minnesota Recording studios in the United States 1988 establishments in Minnesota