Upsilon Acrux
{{Short description|Progressive rock band from California}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Upsilon Acrux
| background = group_or_band
| origin = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| genre = Progressive rock, rock in Opposition, zeuhl, noise rock
| years_active = 1998–present
| label = Cuneiform Records, Planaria Recordings
| current_members = Paul Lai
Dylan Fujioka
Noah Guevara
Mark Kimbrell
Patrick Shiroishi
| past_members = see below
}}
Upsilon Acrux is an American progressive rock band from Los Angeles formed in 1998.
History
Upsilon Acrux first appeared on record on a 1998 compilation entitled Trummerflora 2.{{cite web |url=http://www.accretions.com/catalog/trummerflora2.asp |title=Accretions...catalog...trummerflora 2 |website=www.accretions.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021229004744/http://www.accretions.com/catalog/trummerflora2.asp |archive-date=29 December 2002 |url-status=dead}} Soon after they contributed a song to a compilation entitled Before the Pirates Came.[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p370308/biography|pure_url=yes}} Upsilon Acrux] at AllMusic They went from a 4 piece to a 3 piece before releasing 2002's Last Train Out.[http://www.sfbg.com/noise/45-02/brutal.html Brutal Prog and Beyond], San Francisco Bay Guardian, August 7, 2002. Accessed March 26, 2008. They expanded to a five-piece, including two drummers for Volucris Avis Dirae-Arum in 2004. By 2005 they had done away with the dual-drummer setup, and signed with Cuneiform Records later in the year.[http://www.prefixmag.com/features/upsilon-acrux/mapping-the-path-to-obscurity/12739/ Mapping the Path to Obscurity]. Prefixmag, October 18, 2006. Accessed March 26, 2008. 2007 saw the release of their first album for Cuneiform, Galapagos Momentum.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/v5dp/ Review], BBC, September 14, 2007. Accessed March 26, 2008. They released their sixth full-length album, entitled Radian Futura, on May 19, 2009.{{Cite web|url=https://avantmusicnews.com/index.php?s=barbes&search.y=1|title=Search Results for "barbes"}} In 2015, on April 14, they released a new album called Sun Square Dialect.
Releases
=''Galapagos Momentum''=
The lineup of Applehans, Kiersnowski (the King), Lai and Miller (Ice) performed for two years, recording Galapagos Momentum in 2006. Before the recording was pressed, a new incarnation was assembled with Cobb (McEnroe, Bart Garfunkel),{{Cite web|url=https://larecord.com/uncategorized/2007/10/10/upsilon-acrux-the-smell|title=UPSILON ACRUX @ THE SMELL|website=Larecord.com|access-date=2020-04-02}} Lai, Meszler (Mezz, Meszloforte), Moeggenberg (Moeggen) and Sataman (Martron, Marty-Party) in March 2007. This new lineup promoted Galapagos throughout the U.S. in summer 2007. The album was critically acclaimed,{{Cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/upsilon-acrux-galapagos-momentum-2496210907.html|title=Upsilon Acrux: Galapagos Momentum|date=September 20, 2007|website=PopMatters.com|access-date=2020-04-02}} earning a number 2 position on Organ Magazine's end of the year album list.[http://www.organart.demon.co.uk/albumsofMaastrichtenaar007.htm] {{dead link|date=April 2020}} The group would share stages with The Locust, Qui, Tatsuya Yoshida, Polar Goldie Cats, The Mae Shi, Ancestors, HEALTH, Abe Vigoda, Weasel Walter, and Cheer-Accident.
On November 17, 2007, Upsilon Acrux played the Barking Tuna Fest in Kalamazoo, MI. Mission of Burma followed.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
=''Radian Futura''=
In December 2007, Upsilon began work on their magnum opus, "Transparent Seas (Radio Edit)". On June 6, 2008, the song was premiered at Cafe Mariposa in Echo Park, CA.{{Cite web|url=https://groups.yahoo.com/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20010418142816/http://groups.yahoo.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 18, 2001|title=Yahoo! Groups|website=Groups.yahoo.com|access-date=2020-04-02}}
Radian Futura was released on CD by Cuneiform and in September 2009 on vinyl by Thin Wrist Recordings. Upsilon promoted the album nationally and on a month-long jaunt in Europe, autumn 2009. The album was met with critical acclaim,{{Cite web|url=http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=23000|title=UPSILON ACRUX – Radian Futura (2009)|website=Progarchives.com|access-date=2020-04-02}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/radian-futura/26673/|title=Upsilon Acrux – Radian Futura Album Review|website=Prefixmag.com|access-date=2020-04-02}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/radian-futura-upsilon-acrux-cuneiform-records-review-by-glenn-astarita.php|title=Upsilon Acrux: Radian Futura album review|website=Allaboutjazz.com|access-date=2020-04-02}}{{Cite web|url=https://lotsofswords.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/album-review-upsilon-acrux-radian-futura/|title=Album Review – Upsilon Acrux "Radian Futura"|website=Lotsofswords.wordpress.com|date=June 22, 2009}} and the band shared stages with Yowie, Ahleuchatistas, Zs, Bad Dudes, Peter Brötzmann, Honey Ride Me a Goat, Nels Cline, Carla Bozulich, Extra Life, Adebisi Shank, and Peter Kolovos.
On September 18, 2009, Upsilon performed for a crowd of over 400 at the Gertje Fest 5 at the Landbouwebelang in Maastricht.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lbbm.nl/|title=Lbbm.nl – Duurzame levensstijl|website=Lbbm.nl|access-date=2020-04-02}}
Upon the group's return from its European tour, Upsilon Acrux performed a 70-minute set at The Smell. The concert was professionally mixed and recorded.{{Cite web|url=http://www.upsilonacrux.com/|title=Upsilon Acrux Merchandise|website=Upsilonacrux.com|access-date=2020-04-02}}
Personnel
Paul Lai has remained with the group since its inception.[http://www.newangelesmonthly.com/article.php?id=122&IssueNum=9 Bottom of the Listings, Top of the World]. New Angeles Monthly, February 2008. Accessed March 26, 2008.
;Current lineup (2010–present)
- Paul Lai – guitar
- Noah Guevara – guitar
- Patrick Shiroishi- Rhodes/sax
- Mark Kimbrell – drums
- Dylan Fujioka – drums
;Founding members
- Paul Lai – guitar, Moog
- Cameron Presley – guitars, Moog
- Tommy Cutler – bass, vocals
;Former Members
- Chris Meszler – drums
- David Moeggenberg – guitar
- Phil Cobb – Moog
- Marty Sataman – bass
- Jesse (Klecker) Applehans – drums
- Eric Kiersnowski – bass
- Nick Lejejs – Moog
- Brady Miller – guitar
- Josh Quon – bass
- Muir Tennerstet – bass
- Derek Bruns – drums
;Guest musicians
- Devin Sarno – bass (Last Pirates of Upsilon){{Cite web|url=http://devinsarno.com/discography.html|title=Devin Sarno | Discography|website=Devinsarno.com|access-date=2020-04-02}}
- Bobb Bruno – bass (Last Pirates of Upsilon, Last Train Out){{Cite web|url=http://www.bunnytuff.com/discography.html|title=bunny tuff – bobb bruno|website=Bunnytuff.com|access-date=2020-04-02}}
- Glen (Galaxy) Galloway – baritone sax (In the Acrux of the Upsilon King)
- Brady Miller- drums, drum programming (Radian Futura)
- Mike Armstrong – saxophone (Radian Futura, White LP)
- Peter Kolovos – guitar (White LP)
- Elvis Presley – harmonica (Last Pirates of Upsilon)
Discography
- 1999 In the Acrux of the Upsilon King (Accretions Records)
- 1999 The Last Pirates of Upsilon (Win Records)
- 2002 Last Train Out (Hactivist Records)
- 2004 Volucris Avis Dirae-Arum (Planaria Recordings CD / Epicene Records vinyl)
- 2006 Last Train Out (Daft Alliance vinyl reissue)
- 2007 Galapagos Momentum (Cuneiform Records)
- 2009 Radian Futura (Cuneiform Records)
- 2009 White LP (split w/ Honey Ride Me A Goat) (Kitchen Dweller Records)
- 2015 Sun Square Dialect (New Atlantis Records)
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles