Funeral Diner
Funeral Diner was a screamo band from Half Moon Bay, California, located near San Francisco, playing self-described "screamy, chaotic, melodic hardcore."[1] During their last few years, the band established a strong cult fanbase through a near constant string of releases and a touring schedule during which they visited the United States, Europe, and Japan.[2][3]
Funeral Diner | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Half Moon Bay, California |
Genres | Screamo, emo, post-rock |
Instruments | Vocals, guitars, drums |
Years active | 1998-2007 |
Labels | Numerous record labels |
Associated acts | Stirling Says ...Who Calls So Loud Portraits of Past Nexus Six Sheep Squeeze Living War Room Lost Ground Takaru |
Past members | Seth Babb Dan Bajda Matt Bajda Dave Mello Ben Steidel Sean O' Shea Rob Beckstrom Andy Radin Phil Benson |
The band had a large catalog of splits and compilation tracks on various records. They rarely pressed CDs, and kept many of their releases in limited quantities and one-time pressings, jumping from label to label, though their last few major recordings were released by Alone Records.[4][5] Their most recent full-length, The Underdark, was issued on Alone in 2005.[6]
Members of the band were previously affiliated with other groups such as Nexus Six, Portraits of Past,[7] Living War Room, Lost Ground, Sheep Squeeze, and Takaru. After the breakup, members have gone on to form Stirling Says, ...Who Calls So Loud, Pills, and Lemonade.
Though rooted in first wave emo, hardcore punk and early screamo characteristics, the band later included elements of post-rock.[8] Funeral Diner's albums have attracted significant coverage from rock press outlets.[9]
Members
Final Lineup
- Seth Babb: vocals
- Dan Bajda: guitar/vocals
- Matthew Bajda: drums
- Dave Mello: guitar
- Ben Steidel: bass
Former Members
- Sean O' Shea: bass
- Rob Beckstrom: bass
- Andy Radin: bass
- Phil Benson: vocals
Discography
Studio Albums
Year | Album Details | Notes |
---|---|---|
2002 | Difference Of Potential
|
LP edition limited to 1000 black colored copies |
2005 | The Underdark
|
First issued through Alone Records in April 2005 on CD and vinyl formats. First vinyl pressing included black and clear vinyl, 1200 copies of the black vinyl and an unknown number of copies of the clear vinyl. In 2015, to celebrate the album's tenth anniversary, Repeater Records reissue the album on grey colored vinyl, 524 copies total. |
Extended Plays
Year | Album Details | Notes |
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2002 | The Wicked
|
First released in August 2002 on CD format through Sorry Records. Later reissued on CD and 10" vinyl formats in 2004 through Alone Records with different artwork and an extra track. |
2005 | Swept Under
|
10" edition issued through both LilacSky Records and Audio Is A War. CD edition, issued by Cosmic Note Records, includes different artwork and extra remixed versions of Funeral Diner tracks appended to the end. |
2006 | Bag Of Holding
|
Tour edition EP released as a home burned 3" CD. Edition of 75, all copies hand-numbered. |
2007 | Doors Open'
|
CD edition independently released by the band for their 2007 Japan tour. The single-sided 12" edition was released between Vendetta Records and Adagio830 in Germany. This edition included different artwork from the CD edition and was released in edition of 600 black colored copies. |
Split releases
Year | Album Details | Notes |
---|---|---|
1999 | Nexus Six/Funeral Diner
|
Edition of 1000 black colored copies. Split with Nexus Six. |
2000 | The World of Forms
|
Edition of 1000 black colored copies, 50 of which came packaged in hand-stamped sleeves. Split with Staircase. |
2001 | The Shivering/Funeral Diner
|
Edition of 600 handnumbered black colored copies. Split with The Shivering. |
2002 | A Split Seven Inch
|
Three pressings total: 525 make up the first, 440 for the second, and 520 for the third, all of which adding up to 1485 black colored vinyl copies total. The second and third pressings were hand-numbered. Split with Zann. |
2003 | Music Inspired by Rites of Spring Part One
|
Rites of Spring tribute 7" split with the Saddest Landscape. Edition of 780 black colored copies. |
2003 | Dead City/Funeral Diner
|
1000 black colored copies and about 140 test pressings. About 130 of the test pressings were sold by Dead City on tour with unique artwork and inserts. About 12 copies were packaged in manilla envelopes and had artwork done by Dan Davis of Kodan Armada. Including these two "artwork variations", about 6 different variations of artwork exist for this release. Split with Dead City. |
2004 | I Just Want To Feel This Way Forever
|
First issued as a CD through Falling Leaves in 2004. Reissued on 10" vinyl format through Somberlain with alternative artwork in 2005 as an edition of 675: 340 black, 335 mint-green. Split with Evylock. |
2004 | A Seven Inch Split
|
Edition of 1030 copies: 570 black, 460 champagne clear. 141 of the black copies were hand-numbered European tour editions, and 123 of the clear copies were hand-numbered as well. All copies of the split were pressed on thick 70 gram vinyl. Split with Raein. |
2004 | Welcome The Plague Year/Funeral Diner
|
2000 copies total: 1000 blue, 700 black, 200 clear, and 100 white. Split with Welcome The Plague Year. |
2007 | Ampere/Funeral Diner
|
Released in edition of 1000: 800 black, 200 grey. All copies were actually single-sided with etching all over the B-side and some even on the A-side. Split with Ampere. |
Compilation Albums
Year | Album Details | Notes |
---|---|---|
2003 | Three Sides Dead
|
Compilation album composed of all of Funeral Diner's tracks from their splits with Nexus Six, Staircase, and The Shivering. |
2003 | ...Is Dead
|
Tour edition homeburned CD-R, edition of 200. Sold through the band's 2003 European tour. Compilation composed of tracks that will later appear on their splits with Evylock, Raein, and Welcome The Plague Year. |
Compilation Appearances
Year | Album Details | Song |
---|---|---|
2003 | Inspiration From Forest
|
"Shifting" |
2004 | A Sequel Of A Story
|
"This Truly Is God's Country" |
2006 | The Emo Apocalypse
|
"Addendum" |
2008 | Droning Earth Vol. 4
|
"Two Houses" |
References
- Bio, funeraldiner.com. Accessed June 10th, 2009.
- Biography Archived 2007-10-27 at the Wayback Machine, 32brinkster.com. Accessed July 15, 2007.
- Biography Archived 2009-12-24 at the Wayback Machine, SXSW. Accessed July 15, 2007.
- Review of The Wicked. Delusions of Adequacy, April 15, 2005. Accessed November 7, 2008.
- Review of The Wicked. Decapolis, September 28, 2004. Accessed November 7, 2008.
- Review of The Underdark Archived 2008-12-03 at the Wayback Machine. Aversion.com. Accessed November 8, 2008.
- Mat Hocking, Review of The Underdark. Drowned in Sound. Accessed November 8, 2008.
- Stewart Mason, Review of The Underdark. Allmusic.
- Joe Davenport, Review of The Underdark. Delusions of Adequacy, April 15, 2005. Accessed July 15, 2007.