A Single Second is a Sacramento post-punk band, formed around 2002, known for a relentless touring schedule and a fluid lineup anchored by founding vocalist/guitarist Shawn Peter.[1][2]
At a glance
- Sacramento-based; described as "Sacramento's" band and "one of Sacramento's longtime post-punk bands."[1][2]
- Formed circa 2002 (an "almost six-year history" reported in 2008; a "nine-year career" reported in 2011).[1][2]
- Sole continuous original member: Shawn Peter (vocals, guitar, trumpet).[1][2]
- Heavy touring band: averaged ~100 shows a year, with over 1,000 shows logged by 2011.[1][2]
- Opened for punk legends G.B.H.[2]
Origin and local status
A Single Second is a Sacramento band. The 2008 feature calls them "Sacramento's A Single Second," and the 2011 feature names them "one of Sacramento's longtime post-punk bands."[1][2] Frontman Shawn Peter describes a tightly interconnected hometown scene in which "you go to any show and you really know who's in what band," and points to long-running local acts as peers.[2] This is clear local-origin evidence, not merely a touring act passing through.
Members and lineup history
Shawn Peter (vocals, guitar, and trumpet) is the only member to remain through the band's full history; by 2008 he was the lone surviving original member.[1] Peter attributes the turnover not to conflict but to people moving on, noting that former members remain friends.[1]
Lineup evolution documented in the sources:
- Clay Wolery (drums) was, per Peter, the member who stayed longest alongside him; Wolery left in November 2007 and his final recording with the band was the EP Moments.[1]
- Mikey Atilano (also of Ghost in the Flesh and Lesdystics) played bass on Moments and was subsequently replaced by Jason "Mogley" Tilsey.[1][2]
- Dave Girard, formerly of Drowning Adam, took over on drums after Wolery's departure.[1][2]
By the 2011 feature, the lineup was Shawn Peter (vocals, guitar, trumpet), Aaron Holt (lead guitar, vocals), Jason "Mogley" Tilsey (bass), and Dave Girard (drums, vocals).[2] Peter said the three-year run with Holt, Tilsey, and Girard was "the best the band has ever been."[2]
Songwriting
Peter and Holt split the music writing roughly 50/50, but the band describes the process as egalitarian, with Tilsey and Girard contributing equally — "whoever has the best idea" wins out.[1] Peter typically writes lyrics after the music and brings them to the band for approval.[1] Holt is described by Peter as the best guitarist he has played with.[2]
Releases
- An early/second EP (recorded c. 2003) included an instrumental, "Buddha Fish," later re-recorded for Moments.[1]
- Smiling Politely — full-length, 2005.[2]
- Moments — the band's fourth EP, released free at a party at the Fire Escape in Citrus Heights on June 21, 2008; it was Wolery's last recording with the band.[1] The title track is about the death of Peter's grandfather; other tracks include "Black & White" and "Buddha Fish."[1]
- A self-titled second full-length, delayed roughly two years by computer and hard-drive problems, finally released in 2011. It featured a collaboration with Lydia Gavin of Aroarah on the song "Wednesday," and included tracks "The Guide," "You," and "Dark Room."[2] The 2008 feature had reported the band hoped to begin recording this LP in August 2008 at Dave Girard's recording studio in Rio Linda.[1]
Radio and comparisons
According to the Sacramento News & Review (March 2007), the band's track "Falling From Grace" enjoyed regular rotation on Sacramento alternative-music station KWOD 106.5.[3] The same source notes that A Single Second had drawn comparisons to the now-defunct band Far.[3]
Touring and notable shows
A Single Second is built around constant touring, following a rigorous West Coast regimen and averaging about 100 shows a year by 2008; by 2011 the band claimed over 1,000 shows.[1][2] Notable engagements include opening for British punk legends G.B.H., the Maloof Money Cup in Orange County two years running, and the California State Fair.[2]
Documented Sacramento-area appearances:
- Blue Lamp, Sacramento, March 8, 2007 — on a bill with The Lonely Kings and Red Tape; 21-and-over show, tickets $7.[3]
- Moments release party at the Fire Escape, Citrus Heights, June 21, 2008.[1]
- Shenanigans (a Sacramento sports bar/venue), Friday, July 18, 2011, on a bill with Element of Soul, Sinister Scene (from Sparks, NV), Adam Roth, and the dance crew Verbatim; their set highlighted the politically charged "Politicians of U.S.A." and was characterized as a mix of heavy metal and punk.[4]
- 2011 CD release shows: Concerts in the Park at Cesar Chavez Park, Aug. 12, 2011, with a free follow-on show at the Distillery that night; and an all-ages show at Ace of Spades on Sept. 21, 2011, with D.R.I., Kill the Precedent, and Hoods.[2]
- Friday Night Concerts in the Park 2012, July 13, billed under "punk" alongside Another Damn Disappointment, Walking Dead, The Left Hand, and DJ Blackheart.[5]
Scene relationships
The band collaborated with Lydia Gavin of Aroarah, an act Peter says they had been friends with "since high school."[2] Peter cites a roster of peer Sacramento bands he enjoys playing with, including Kill the Precedent, First Class Citizen, Bastards of Young, the Secretions, and Will Haven.[2] On the broader scene, the band noted in 2011 that more venues were opening and turnout was improving, though "not as good as the days of the Cattle Club."[2] Member side/former projects connect the band to Ghost in the Flesh, Lesdystics, Drowning Adam, and Green Audio (Adam Roth's band).[1][4] Shawn Peter also appeared in Submerge's 2009 "Love It, Or Hate It!" Valentine's roundup of local musicians.[6]