Difference between revisions of "Grok"

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[[image:Realpits.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Review of Grok's "Bubbles" album from ''Real Groove'']]
 
[[image:Realpits.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Review of Grok's "Bubbles" album from ''Real Groove'']]
  
Grok reformed in 2006 with a substantially different lineup, with only [[Scott Brodie]] remaining from the original. The new Grok are based in London and include three members from [[Girlinky]], who stopped playing in 2005; [[Scott Brodie]] (bass and vocals), [[Rob Talsma]] (drums) and Chris Ayles (guitar). Two keyboard players from the initially reformed Grok, ex-Hamiltonians [[Dan Nicholls]] and [[Jayne Hartstone]], have since been replaced by three new keyboard players. Another ex-Hamiltonian, [[Paul Fitness]], is still a keyboard player for the band. Other members are ''Peter Ocsenas'' and ''Pep Sanchez''.
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Grok reformed in 2006 with a substantially different lineup, with only [[Scott Brodie]] remaining from the original. The new Grok are based in London and include three members from [[Girlinky]], who stopped playing in 2005; [[Scott Brodie]] (bass and vocals), [[Rob Talsma]] (drums) and Chris Ayles (guitar). Two keyboard players from the initially reformed Grok were ex-Hamiltonians [[Dan Nicholls]] and [[Jayne Hartstone]], who were replaced by three new keyboard players; ex-Hamiltonian, [[Paul Fitness]], ''Peter Ocsenas'' and ''Pep Sanchez''. In 2010 ''Grok'' play as a 4-piece; ''Brodie'', ''Talsma'', ''Ayles'' and ''Ocsenas''.
  
 
[[image:Wheel.jpg|right|thumb|The "Wheel of Chordal Destiny"]]
 
[[image:Wheel.jpg|right|thumb|The "Wheel of Chordal Destiny"]]
Songs played during Grok's live performances are now impovised (i.e., they are made up on the spot), with subject matter provided by the audience and by using of the "Wheel of Chordal Destiny" to guide the music. During 2007 Grok spent time in a recording studio, which resulted in the release of a single titled [[Song for Europe]] in May 2008, and an album titled [[Ruined Music for Everyone]] in June 2008. These songs were also one-off improvisations in the studio. Original Grok member [[Grant Brodie]] contributed to the single via the internet from New Zealand.
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Songs played during Grok's live performances are now impovised (i.e., they are made up on the spot), with subject matter commonly provided by the audience and by using of the "Wheel of Chordal Destiny" to guide the music. In 2010 they improvised a live souundtrack to the 1922 silent movie ''Nosferatu''.  
  
Despite their long absence from Hamilton, ''Pink Shirt'' off their [[Ruined Music for Everyone]] album took the top place on [[Contact 88.1FM]]s [[Top 8]] in mid-July 2008.
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During 2007 Grok spent time in a recording studio, which resulted in the release of a single titled [[Song for Europe]] in May 2008, and an album titled [[Ruined Music for Everyone]] in June 2008. These songs were also one-off improvisations in the studio. Original Grok member [[Grant Brodie]] contributed to the single via the internet from New Zealand. Despite their long absence from Hamilton, ''Pink Shirt'' off their [[Ruined Music for Everyone]] album took the top place on [[Contact 88.1FM]]s [[Top 8]] in mid-July 2008.
  
 
== Releases ==
 
== Releases ==
[[image:Groknew.jpg|right|thumb|Grok c. 2006; Jayne, Scott, Dan. Rob, Chris]]
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[[image:Groknew.jpg|right|thumb|Grok c. 2006; Jayne, Scott, Dan, Rob, Chris]]
 
*[[Bubbles and Noises from the Aquarium]] CD, 1996 <br>
 
*[[Bubbles and Noises from the Aquarium]] CD, 1996 <br>
 
*[[Song for Europe]] Single, 2008
 
*[[Song for Europe]] Single, 2008

Revision as of 15:20, 24 November 2010

City Weekend article, 30 August 1996, on Grok

Grok was a Hamilton "super-group" of sorts, being largely a collaboration between brothers Scott Brodie (bass, vocals) from Inchworm (and later Girlinky) and Grant Brodie (keyboards) from (amongst other bands) Dribbly Cat Attraction. Other members were Chris Fish (guitar, Korg, 4 track) from Love and Violence, Department of Corrections, mOoFiSh and others, and Max Ward (drums), ex-Three Men Missing and the Sandbabies.

The band took out the top prize at the Contact 89FM Battle of the Bands competition in 1996. They took their name by reversing "Korg", the brand of Fish's keyboard; this was a Korg MS10, played by Fish with one foot, while using the other to tweak a four track to record and play back audience and stage noise during shows.

Bubbles and Noises from the Aquarium was Grok's only CD while based in Hamilton, released in 1997. A track from the album, 8:30 18/02/97, was released on Green Eggs and Hamilton under the name Salad.

Review of Grok's "Bubbles" album from Real Groove

Grok reformed in 2006 with a substantially different lineup, with only Scott Brodie remaining from the original. The new Grok are based in London and include three members from Girlinky, who stopped playing in 2005; Scott Brodie (bass and vocals), Rob Talsma (drums) and Chris Ayles (guitar). Two keyboard players from the initially reformed Grok were ex-Hamiltonians Dan Nicholls and Jayne Hartstone, who were replaced by three new keyboard players; ex-Hamiltonian, Paul Fitness, Peter Ocsenas and Pep Sanchez. In 2010 Grok play as a 4-piece; Brodie, Talsma, Ayles and Ocsenas.

The "Wheel of Chordal Destiny"

Songs played during Grok's live performances are now impovised (i.e., they are made up on the spot), with subject matter commonly provided by the audience and by using of the "Wheel of Chordal Destiny" to guide the music. In 2010 they improvised a live souundtrack to the 1922 silent movie Nosferatu.

During 2007 Grok spent time in a recording studio, which resulted in the release of a single titled Song for Europe in May 2008, and an album titled Ruined Music for Everyone in June 2008. These songs were also one-off improvisations in the studio. Original Grok member Grant Brodie contributed to the single via the internet from New Zealand. Despite their long absence from Hamilton, Pink Shirt off their Ruined Music for Everyone album took the top place on Contact 88.1FMs Top 8 in mid-July 2008.

Releases

Grok c. 2006; Jayne, Scott, Dan, Rob, Chris


Published Articles

  • Winning Contest a Surprise for Grok, City Weekend, 30 August 1996, P9

External Site