Cap'n Jazz Explained

Cap'n Jazz (sometimes stylised as caP'n Jazz) is an American emo band from Buffalo Grove, Illinois.

History

Brothers Tim Kinsella and Mike Kinsella formed the band Toe Jam with Victor Villarreal, and Sam Zurick, in 1989, before eventually changing the band's name to Cap'n Jazz.^[2] Drawing influence from such bands as Gauge and Fugazi,^[3] Cap'n Jazz recorded several singles for independent labels in the early 90s as well as contributing to several compilations.

In 1995, the band released its only full-length album, Burritos, Inspiration Point, Fork Balloon Sports, Cards in the Spokes, Automatic Biographies, Kites, Kung Fu, Trophies, Banana Peels We've Slipped On and Egg Shells We've Tippy Toed Over, on the Man with Gun label. The album is sometimes referred to as Shmap'n Shmazz, which was printed on top of the CD release.

The band broke up in July 1995, shortly after Shmap'n Shmazz's release, on the night of a show at Little Rock's Das Yutes a Go-Go. In 1998, Jade Tree assembled a double-disc Cap'n Jazz retrospective titled Analphabetapolothology which compiles the band's complete recorded works (save for Naive, their song on Achtung Chicago! Zwei): Shmap'n Shmazz, early singles, material from split releases, compilation tracks, unreleased demos and outtakes and several tracks from their farewell performance in Chicago.

Post-breakup and reunion

Cap'n Jazz reunited at the Empty Bottle on Friday, January 22, 2010, as part of Joan of Arc's Don't Mind Control Variety Show.^[4] After playing a short, impromptu set in Chicago, the band played its first official reunited show at the annual Forecastle Festival in Louisville on July 10, 2010,^[5] and a hometown reunion show a week later at the Bottom Lounge, supporting the vinyl re-release of Analphabetapolothology on Jade Tree Records, where they gained success.^{[6] [7] [8]} Due to the show selling out in about 48 hours, a second show was added the next night. Later, it was announced that they would also be playing reunion shows across the United States ^[9] during the summer and fall of 2010.

Most recently, Cap'n Jazz was included in the lineup for the 2017 FYF Fest in Los Angeles' Exposition Park.^[10] This marks the band's first show since 2010. The FYF appearance was followed by shows in San Francisco, Chicago, New York and London, including an appearance at Riot Fest 2017 in Chicago.

The band played their first show since 2017 at the Empty Bottle in Chicago on Sunday, October 6, 2024.^[11] The band also reunited for Best Friends Forever Fest in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 11, 2024.^[12]

Former members of the band continue to play music, most notably in Make Believe, The Promise Ring, American Football, Owls, Ghosts and Vodka, Joan of Arc and Owen.

Influence and legacy

Cap'n Jazz have influenced a number of bands. Algernon Cadwallader has been noted for their sonic similarities to Cap'n Jazz, and have likewise cited the band as a primary influence.^[13] The American post-hardcore band Scary Kids Scaring Kids took their name from a homonymous Cap'n Jazz song.^[14] Black Country, New Road drummer Charlie Wayne was inspired by Cap'n Jazz amongst other artists. ^[15]

Members

Current members

• Tim Kinsella – lead vocals, French horn (1989–1995, 2010, 2017, 2024)
• Mike Kinsella – drums (1989–1995, 2010, 2017, 2024)
• Victor Villarreal – guitar (1989–1995, 2010, 2017, 2024)
• Sam Zurick – bass guitar (1989–1995, 2010, 2017, 2024)

Past Members

• Davey von Bohlen – guitar, backing vocals (1993–1995, 2010)

Touring members

• Nate Kinsella – guitar, backing vocals (2017, 2024)

Discography

Studio albums

• Burritos, Inspiration Point, Fork Balloon Sports, Cards in the Spokes, Automatic Biographies, Kites, Kung Fu, Trophies, Banana Peels We've Slipped On, and Egg Shells We've Tippy Toed Over (Also known as Shmap'n Shmazz) – LP/CD (Man With Gun Records, 1995)

Singles/EPs

• Sometimes if you stand further away from something, it does not seem as big. Sometimes you can stand so close to something you can not tell what you are looking at. – 7” (Underdog Records, 1993)
• Boys 16 to 18 Years... Age of Action – (Further Beyond Records, 1993)

Anthology

• Analphabetapolothology – 2xCD (Jade Tree Records, 1998), 2xLP (Jade Tree Records 2010)

Compilation appearances

• Achtung Chicago! Zwei! – compilation LP (Underdog Records, 1993)
• Nothing Dies with Blue Skies – 7” split w/ Friction (Shakefork Records, 1993)
• How the Midwest Was Won – compilation 2x7” (Subfusc Records, 1993) (Playing Field Recordings, 1993)
• Picking More Daisies – compilation 2x7” (Further Beyond Records, 1993)
• It’s a Punk Thing, You Wouldn't Understand – compilation LP (Shakefork Records, 1993)
• Ghost Dance – compilation 2x7” (Slave Cut Records, 1993)
• A Very Punk Christmas – compilation 2x7” (The Rocco Empire & Further Beyond Records, 1993)
• Punk TV – compilation LP (Red Dawg Records, 1995)
• We’ve Lost Beauty – compilation LP (File 13, 1995)
• Ooh Do I Love You – compilation 2xCD (Core For Care, 1995)

External links

• Jade Tree Records’ band page

Notes and References

1. Web site: Cohen. Ian. Cap'n Jazz - Burritos, Inspiration Point, Fork Balloon Sports, Cards in the Spokes, Automatic Biographies, Kites, Kung Fu, Trophies, Banana Peels We've Slipped on, and Egg Shells We've Tippy Toed Over Review. Pitchfork. 2 October 2023.
2. Exposito . Suzy . November 2, 2016 . American Football: Inside Emo Godfathers' Unlikely Return . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240331084802/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/american-football-inside-emo-godfathers-unlikely-return-122039/ . March 31, 2024 . April 9, 2024 . . 'Cap’n Jazz had that sort of Dischord, Fugazi influence,' says [Mike] Kinsella..
3. Web site: Golin . Matt . 2010 . Gauge: 153 . April 9, 2024 . YouTube . 22:07 'Unquantifiably, I think Gauge was the biggest inspiration on Cap'n Jazz. Like, we were just trying to sound like Gauge'.
4. Web site: Cap'n Jazz to reunite tonight in Chicago. Punknews.org. Yancey, Bryne. January 22, 2010. October 16, 2022.
5. Web site: Photos: Cap'n Jazz at Forecastle . Buzzgrinder . July 13, 2010 . November 11, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100919143549/http://www.buzzgrinder.com/2010/photos-capn-jazz-at-forecastle/ . September 19, 2010 . mdy .
6. Web site: Hudson. Alex. Cap'n Jazz Officially Reunite, Reissue Analphabetapolothology on Vinyl. exclaim.ca. February 4, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20121005001457/http://exclaim.ca/News/capn_jazz_officially_reunite_reissue_analphabetapolothology_on_vinyl_2. October 5, 2012. dead.
7. Web site: Deem. Anna. Cap'n Jazz Reunite in Chicago After 15-Year Hiatus. AOL Music. February 4, 2011. August 29, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120829185553/http://www.spinner.com/2010/01/23/capn-jazz-reunite-in-chicago-after-15-year-hiatus/. dead.
8. Web site: ap'n Jazz announce second reunion show, vinyl reissue. Punknews.org. Yancey, Bryne. February 17, 2010. October 16, 2022.
9. Web site: Tours . Jade Tree . November 11, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101025002019/http://www.jadetree.com/tours/artist/cap%27n_jazz . October 25, 2010 . mdy .
10. Web site: EXPLORE THE LINEUP. FYF Fest 2017. en-US. 2017-04-09.
11. Web site: Sacher . Andrew . "See videos & setlist of Cap'n Jazz's first show in 7 years" . BrooklynVegan . October 7, 2024.
12. Web site: Staff . SPIN . "Dismemberment Plan, Cap’n Jazz Reuniting For Best Friends Forever" . SPIN . October 7, 2024.
13. Web site: Interviews: Peter Helmis (Algernon Cadwallader). September 24, 2009 .
14. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p692139|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic biography]. Allmusic. Apar, Corey. 2007-12-23.
15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehmc-6AQ8gQ