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Hagfish | |
|---|---|
 Hagfish performing in 2006 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Punk rock,alternative rock,pop punk,melodic hardcore |
| Years active | 1991–2001 (reunions: 2003–2004, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) |
| Labels | Idol,Dragon Street,BYO,London,Go-Kart,Honest Don's, Coldfront |
| Members | George Stroud Reagan III Zach Blair Doni Blair Tony Barsotti |
Hagfish were an Americanrock band originated inSherman, Texas that rose to notoriety via performances in theDeep Ellum district ofDallas, Texas, drawing influences from bothpunk rock andalternative rock. The lineup included lead vocalist George Stroud Reagan III, guitaristZach Blair, bassist Doni Blair and drummer Tony Barsotti for the majority of the band's career, including nearly all of their recorded work. Formed by the Blair brothers in 1991, Hagfish emerged with contemporariesTripping Daisy andToadies as part of the 1990sDallas/Fort Worth alternative rock scene and were also heavily influenced by theDescendents/All, whose members recorded and produced two of the band's studio albums. After officially disbanding in 2001, Hagfish have reunited occasionally for live performances.[1][2][3][additional citation(s) needed]
Hagfish was formed inDallas, Texas when brothers, guitaristZach Blair and bassist Doni Blair met drummerBanning Lyon after his band Conniption Fit broke up in the early 1990s. Their collective chemistry led the trio to pursue frontman James Newhouse, formerly of the band Terminal Rot, who would fill the position.[1] During this time period, Hagfish began performing locally, opening for such bands asAll,Swervedriver andPoster Children. A demo tape was released following the contrasting sensibility of punk band theDescendents, with tracks like "Tallman", about the middle finger and "Maybe", a love song composed by Lyon.
Tensions between Lyon and the Blair brothers culminated in Lyon leaving the band and John Frum took over on drums, bringing with him guitarist Mike Brown to fill in the sound.[1] This lineup pushed the quintet into new territory, and although popular with fans, the band was collapsing due to internal conflict. Newhouse was fired from the group and later died in a car accident in October 1994.[1] The Blair brothers severed ties with Frum and Brown after an attempted recording project, bringing with them the Hagfish moniker. The pair briefly reunited with Lyon and began searching for a singer, finding George Stroud Reagan III during a rehearsal at Musician's Exchange in Dallas.
After Lyon departed for the second time, drummer Scott Carter joined Hagfish in 1993, who along with the Blair brothers and Reagan, began work onBuick Men, the group's debut studio album. During the recording sessions Carter was replaced with drummer Tony Barsotti, the last lineup change to occur within the band for what would prove to be a near decade run together. The album was released later that year onDragon Street Records, who had issued thedebut album by local companionsTripping Daisy, the previous year.Buick Men was followed up with a four-song7" vinyl EP onBYO Records in 1994.
With a permanent lineup in place, Hagfish signed toLondon Records and enteredThe Blasting Room inFort Collins, Colorado to record their next album with producersBill Stevenson andStephen Egerton (members of the Descendents and All), who also engineered and mixed the sessions. In addition to six brand new tracks, many songs fromBuick Men were re-recorded with much sleeker production to create the albumRocks Your Lame Ass, released June 27, 1995.
To promote the release, Hagfish embarked on their first major tour withBad Brains. Immediately following the release ofRocks Your Lame Ass, a long year of constant touring ensued supporting the likes of Bad Brains, ALL, ZEKE,Everclear,NOFX,The Mighty Mighty Bosstones,The Offspring,Face to Face,Die Artze,The Reverend Horton Heat and theSupersuckers. The band made an infamous appearance onKROQ'sLoveline on August 16, 1995, after the suggestion of hostRiki Rachtman.[2]Rocks Your Lame Ass would go on to become the most successful Hagfish release, withsingles for "Stamp" and "Happiness" both issued along with accompanyingmusic videos that appeared onMTV's120 Minutes. In 1996, Hagfish was voted best Alternative Rock/Pop act by theDallas Observer.[3]
However, the momentum never translated into album sales and after numerous arguments with the band's label, the follow-up album was rejected by London Records, who subsequently dropped the group. "Unidentified" would be the only song from these sessions to transpire when it was made available as a free download on the band's official website.[4] The album would eventually be reworked, re-recorded and released independently. In 1997, Hagfish issued their second 7" vinyl EP, this time onGo-Kart Records.
Following a long delay with their former record label, Hagfish returned to The Blasting Room with Stevenson and Egerton, who reprised their roles as producers to record the band's third album. This recording attempt proved successful and the self-titledHagfish saw release on March 24, 1998. The album was issued throughHonest Don's Records, a subsidiary label ofFat Wreck Chords. Two songs featured onHagfish previously appeared asb-sides to the "Happiness" single, which included an early version of "18 Days" (originally titled "New Year's Song") and a live version of "Twisting", aThey Might Be Giants cover. The band again toured in support of the release.
Hagfish released the live albumCaught Live on March 2, 1999, produced by the Blair brothers and the first of three releases for Coldfront Records. The performance was captured in October 1998 at Trees in Dallas and included material from bothRocks Your Lame Ass andHagfish, as well as the non-album tracks "Grin Doggy" and "Moaner". In 2000, the band released a limited edition interview disc with theirLoveline appearance from 1995, originally available as the final track of the "Happiness" single. The compilation album,That Was Then, This Is Then saw release in 2001, including b-sides, previously unreleased material and compilation tracks. That same year the band's touring stopped and several breakups soon followed.
Since the official breakup in 2001, the band members would go on to other projects, as well as participating together in sporadic reunions. On April 18, 2003, Hagfish reunited and performed at the Gypsy Tea Room in their hometown of Dallas. With the inclusion of three new songs in the set, the group announced plans to release a fourth studio album in late 2003 or early 2004.[4] The following month they toured withLagwagon and continued to play locally throughout the year, making an appearance at the Buzz-Oven Festival. However, the official website last updated on March 7, 2004, would fall dormant and to date, no new Hagfish album has surfaced. On June 18, 2006, the band reunited for another performance at the Gypsy Tea Room.
Following the group's initial split, the Blair brothers continued working in various bands together over the next several years. They formed Armstrong and releasedDick, the Lion-Hearted in 2002, featuringGwar drummerBrad Roberts. Four songs from the album were originally co-written by Zach Blair and George Reagan, intended for release on the rejected Hagfish album.[5] The Blair brothers joinedOnly Crime in 2003 with longtime friend and Hagfish producer Bill Stevenson (of the Descendents, All andBlack Flag), along with founding membersRuss Rankin (ofGood Riddance) and Aaron Dalbec (ofBane). This lineup released two albums,To the Nines andVirulence, before the Blair brothers would move on to other projects. In 2006, the Blair brothers and Stevenson appeared with instrumental band The Mag Seven on the albumThe Future Is Ours, If You Can Count.
After the breakup of Hagfish, Reagan went on to homegrown hip hop group The Brothers, but mainly moved his focus to his two children, while Tony Barsotti started his own furniture design company.[5] Prior to Hagfish disbanding, Zach Blair played with Gwar asFlattus Maximus from 1999–2002, appearing on the live albumYou're All Worthless and Weak, in addition to the band's eighth studio album,Violence Has Arrived. Zach Blair would later become lead guitarist forRise Against in 2007, touring with the group before making his debut on the albumAppeal to Reason the following year. In 2011, the band releasedEndgame, their most successful album to date, peaking at No. 2 on the USBillboard 200. That year, Reagan createdHagfish is Dead, ablog that covers topics ranging from band recommendations to notable music videos.[6] Doni Blair joined theToadies following their reformation and release ofNo Deliverance in 2008, touring behind the album and its follow-up,Feeler. He made his first recorded appearance with the group onPlay.Rock.Music, released on July 31, 2012.
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1993 | Buick Men
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| 1995 | ...Rocks Your Lame Ass
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| 1998 | Hagfish
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| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1999 | Caught Live[4]
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| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 2001 | That Was Then, This Is Then[5]
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Note that like the band's final studio album, both EPs are self-titled.
| Year | EP details | Tracks |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Hagfish
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| 1997 | Hagfish
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