View source for Replicator (band)

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist| <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name                = Replicator
| image               = Replicator-groupshot.jpg
| caption             = Replicator performing in 2008
| image_upright       = 1.25
| background          = group_or_band
| origin              = [[Oakland, California]], U.S.
| genre               = [[Noise rock]], [[post-hardcore]], [[post-punk]], [[math rock]], [[indie rock]]
| instrument          =
| years_active        = Late 1999 {{ndash}} April 2008
| label               = {{hlist|Radio Is Down|Substandard|Feedback Loop}}
| associated_acts     = {{hlist|Cartographer|[[Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends]]|Victory and Associates|Guitar vs. Gravity|Mount Vicious|[[Household Gods (band)|Household Gods]]|Tiny Peloton|Collisionville}}
| current_members     = {{plainlist|
* Conan Neutron
* Ben Adrian
* Chris Bolig
* Todd Grant
}}
| website             = {{official website}}
}}

'''Replicator''' was an American [[noise rock]] band from [[Oakland, California]]. The band consisted of Conan Neutron ([[electric guitar]]/vocals/[[tape deck]] operation), Ben Adrian (bass guitar/vocals/keyboard), and Chris Bolig (drums). The band was  joined by Todd Grant on [[rhythm guitar]] for live performances in later years.

The band members were advocates of the [[DIY punk ethic]], as popularized by bands such as [[Fugazi (band)|Fugazi]] and [[The Minutemen (band)|The Minutemen]]. Replicator started as a bay area [[Indie rock]] band of little distinction before finding their signature sound, often compared to bands such as [[Shellac (band)|Shellac]], [[The Jesus Lizard]], [[Steel Pole Bathtub]], and the [[Melvins]]. The band had multiple songs influenced by literary works, including those of [[Kurt Vonnegut]], [[Stephen King]], [[Philip K. Dick]] and [[Neal Stephenson]]. Largely ignored by both the mainstream and underground music world, their irreverent attitude, and "cleverness" won them over a very small but dedicated fanbase, including a handful of famous fans, including comedian [[Patton Oswalt]] and comic book author [[Warren Ellis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warrenellis.com/?m=20060929 |title=2006 » September » 29 |publisher=Warren Ellis |date=September 29, 2006 |accessdate=January 9, 2012}}</ref>

==Music==

Replicator had a sound based on unusual and urgent [[time signature]]s, dissonance, repetitive heavy rhythms, an often angular guitar sound, and Neutron and Adrian's urgent, sometimes dueling vocals. The songs did not have traditional [[Verse (popular music)|verse]]/[[refrain|chorus]]/verse structure and the arrangements were, at times sparse and at other times chaotic. Replicator's sound was often associated with science fiction, paranoia, and somewhat obscure pop culture references, the band frequently cited the fact that they did not have any love songs in their press materials.

Straddling the fine line between "social commentary and smart ass revelry" as well as "technical precision and reckless abandon," Replicator used [[Tape deck|analog tape deck]] to play [[Sampling (music)|samples]] live until switching to a laptop computer with the Bludgeonsoft software Back to Basics for [[Sampling (music)|sampling]]. Song titles such as: ''Bawkbakwak Bawkbagone'', ''Warrior Needs Food, Badly'', ''Frank Lloyd Wrong'' and ''Login with my fist'', rarely conformed to standard structure, however according to band members in multiple interviews,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kalx.berkeley.edu/ |title=Kalx-Fm &#124; Kalx-Fm |publisher=Kalx.berkeley.edu |date=January 5, 2012 |accessdate=January 9, 2012}}</ref> the song titles almost always are inspired by or inspire the lyrical content of the songs, unlike other bands with lengthy song titling such as [[Don Caballero]] (who do not have vocals) and [[Minus the Bear]].

The band recorded their first record ''[[Winterval]]'' with [[Bob Weston]] of the band [[Shellac (band)|Shellac]], triggering understandable comparisons to that band. Shortly afterwards, bass player Dan Kennedy left the band. The lineup solidified in 2001 when Indiana expatriate Ben Adrian joined the band on bass guitar. Adrian often joked that he was still "filling in" on bass 6 years later. 2002 and 2003 saw the band tinker with sound effects, taking the sampling (or "grand theft audio" as Neutron put it) practices of [[Steel Pole Bathtub]] and adding this to their developing aggressive and chaotic sound, as well as keyboard. "While Replicator admittedly wears its influences — harsh-but-concise rockers Shellac, progressive punk trio Unwound, and noise pioneers Sonic Youth — on its sleeve, the band's music is more than just a cheap knockoff."<ref>{{cite web |title=Everyday People Replicator's neophytes make noisy rock -- with just the right amount of art mixed in |url=https://www.sfweekly.com/music/everyday-people/ |website=SF Weekly |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref>

This sound was represented in the album ''You Are Under Surveillance''. Frequently cited<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfbg.com/38/45/x_local_grooves.html |title=Local Grooves &#124; San Francisco Bay Guardian |accessdate=May 16, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040817205720/http://www.sfbg.com/38/45/x_local_grooves.html |archivedate=August 17, 2004 }}</ref> as chaotic, dense and paranoid, Surveillance was apparently a loose concept album based upon the ideas of "paranoia, lost freedom of choice, airborne revenge, the end of the world, the problems and consequences of an overgrown consumerist, bottom line-oriented culture; and the merits of applied righteous indignation".<ref>{{cite web|last=Harvilla |first=Rob |url=http://www.eastbayexpress.com/2004-09-01/music/take-off-all-your-clothes/ |title=Take Off All Your Clothes &#124; Music &#124; Oakland, Berkeley & the Bay Area |publisher=Eastbayexpress.com |date= |accessdate=January 9, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820095045/http://www.eastbayexpress.com/2004-09-01/music/take-off-all-your-clothes/|archive-date=August 20, 2007}}</ref>

In September 2004, on one of their "ReplicaTours",<ref>[http://www.replicator5000.com/?page_id=8#2004 Replicator: Past Shows]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026134732/http://www.replicator5000.com/?page_id=8#2004 |date=October 26, 2006 }}</ref> Replicator's van was broken into and their guitars and keyboards were stolen.<ref>[http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/2004/09/01 ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402014228/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/2004/09/01 |date=April 2, 2008 }}</ref> Luckily they were able to borrow the equipment of their tourmates Greenlight the Bombers and continue. This theft occurred during the 2004 rash of equipment thefts that plagued many working musicians.

The end of the [[Arctic Monkeys]] 2006 song "Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But", bears a resemblance to Replicator's 2001 song "Ka-Tet". A song of little distinction or notoriety, but was released 5 years earlier. Some fans<ref>{{cite web|author=|url=http://t-a-c-k.livejournal.com/74480.html |title=t_a_c_k: The Arctic Replicators? |publisher=T-a-c-k.livejournal.com |date=July 28, 2006 |accessdate=January 9, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/sf_indie/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716075458/http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/sf_indie/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |title=sf_indie : Indie Music list for San Francisco area |publisher=Launch.groups.yahoo.com |date=August 14, 1998 |accessdate=January 9, 2012}}</ref> of the band have questioned if it is a case of simultaneous inspiration, or a case of (likely) musical plagiarism.

2007's ''Machines Will Always Let You Down'', seems to also be a loosely based concept album, this time around the conflict between man and machine. The press materials state that it is: ''10 songs about Nanotechnological assassination, time travel, building sex robots, the eternal battle of man vs. machine and other things''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stonerrock.com/forums2/allposts.asp?Forum=ap809241559&ID=40225&StartAt=0 |title=All That is Heavy - Vinyl Records, CDs, DVDs, T-Shirts |publisher=Stonerrock.com |date=October 6, 1973 |accessdate=August 11, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523210601/http://stonerrock.com/forums2/allposts.asp?Forum=ap809241559&ID=40225&StartAt=0|archive-date=May 23, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.builtonaweakspot.com/2007/12/replicator-machines-will-always-let-you.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214095753/http://www.builtonaweakspot.com/2007/12/replicator-machines-will-always-let-you.html|title=Replicator - Machines Will Always Let You Down|archivedate=December 14, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://razorcake.org/archive-replicator-machines-will-always-let-you-down/ |title=REPLICATOR: Machines Will Always Let You Down: CD |publisher=Razorcake |accessdate=August 11, 2013}}</ref>

This record was recorded by [[Vern Rumsey]] of the band [[Unwound]], and was released on Olympia's Radio Is Down [[record label]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radioisdown.com |title=Radio Is Down |publisher=Radio Is Down|accessdate=August 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://razorcake.org/archive-replicator-machines-will-always-let-you-down/ |title=REPLICATOR: Machines Will Always Let You Down: CD|accessdate=August 11, 2013}}</ref>

2008 also saw several more US Tours, including a full us tour documented in a tour journal on the music website superstarcastic.com.<ref>[http://www.superstarcastic.com/author/conanneutron/page/4/ ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716164459/http://www.superstarcastic.com/author/conanneutron/page/4/ |date=July 16, 2011 }}</ref> These shows were largely well received, with the band's energy and "gleefully chaotic" sound often cited in reviews <ref>{{cite web |title=LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT UP DOWN UP DOWN - Replicator @ The Ruby Room August 18 |url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/sweetbleeders-replicator-get-down-to-brass-tacks-the-minibosses-the-ruby-room-august-18-6611461 |website=Phoenix New Times |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Drunken Show Report #?whatever |url=https://grouchosuave.wordpress.com/2007/02/18/drunken-show-report-whatever-babyland/ |website=grouchosuave.wordpress.com/ |date=February 18, 2007 |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Big Business / Replicator - Show Review |url=http://playinginfog.com/reviews/BigBusiness-Replicator.html |website=Playing in Fog |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Wednesday September 25th, 2002 at The Hurricane in Kasas City, MO The Litigators & Replicator |url=https://toomuchrock.com/shows/replicator.html |website=toomuchrock.com |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref>

On January 2, 2008, an announcement<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.replicator5000.com/?p%3D230 |accessdate=June 3, 2015 |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614121516/http://www.replicator5000.com/?p=230 |archivedate=June 14, 2011 |title=Replicator: The Rock Band 2000-2008 – 8 years of rock, robots and chaos }}</ref> was made on the Replicator website that "After 8 years, 3 albums, 2 eps, 4 vans, almost 200 shows, a handful of compilation appearances, and countless floors"<ref>{{cite web |title=Thankyou and Goodbye |url=https://replicator5000.com/2008/04/06/thankyou-and-goodbye/ |website=replicator5000.com |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref> the band had agreed to an amicable mutual break up with plenty of warning.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oakland Noise-Rock band Replicator Calling It Quits |url=https://www.eastbayexpress.com/CultureSpyBlog/archives/2008/03/04/replicator-calling-it-quits |website=eastbayexpress.com |date=March 4, 2008 |accessdate=June 20, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sfweekly.com/music/stay-jazzy-san-francisco/|title=Oakland noise-rockers Replicator call it quits|date=June 7, 2020}}</ref> After recording a final ep,<ref>[http://www.replicator5000.com/?page_id=15 ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409103835/http://www.replicator5000.com/?page_id=15 |date=April 9, 2008 }}</ref> (Including a cover of [[Babyland|Babyland's]] Arthur Jermyn), released again on Radio Is Down, Replicator played their last show at The Hemlock Tavern in San Francisco on April 5.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kowloon Walled City and Replicator: At the Hemlock, SF, CA, April 5th, 2008 By Federico |url=https://razorcake.org/archive-kowloon-walled-city-and-replicator-at-the-hemlock-sf-ca-april-5th-2008/ |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref>

In 2013, the French webzine gave an exhausting and detailed review to the Replicator discography <ref>{{cite web |title=Replicator |url=http://www.perteetfracas.org/zine/kros2011/kros_r/replicator_winterval_you_are_under_surveillance_machines_will_always_let_you_down_whangbar_province.htm |website=Perte & Fracas |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref>"Replicator is not content to be maniacs of an impeccable and indestructible rhythm, to ping the air like neurasthenic robots. They also offer a more natural mess, a propensity to confuse the tracks, a complexity of which one wonders where they will end up landing, while offering unsuspected melodies.""Replicator keeps the optics of an aggressive sound in songs where fun is not absent "

The band convened for a "one off reunion" in May 2015 for the PRF BBQ West Coast, with no plans for future reunions. In an interview with Shiny Grey Monotone, Neutron said:<ref>[http://shinygreymonotone.blogspot.com/2016/09/conan-neutron.html Shiny Grey Monotone Interview, September 2016 - Conan Neutron]</ref> "I loved that band and loved my time in it. We did everything exactly the way we wanted to do it and did a bunch of weird stuff that some people seemed to enjoy. It was completely on our terms and ended when it should have, cool. It meant something to some people, and I'm pretty sure we left the world a wee but better than how it was when that band came into being, or at least more confused."

== Post-Replicator activities ==
After the break-up former members of Replicator started two new bands with Ben Adrian forming a [[post-punk]]/[[shoegazing]] group called Guitar vs. Gravity while Conan Neutron and Chris Bolig formed the short lived [[classic rock]] meets [[noise rock]] band Mount Vicious. After the break-up of Mount Vicious, Chris Bolig began playing drums for Adrian's "small format rock band" Cartographer and Neutron started the band Victory and Associates (2009-2014).

In 2015 Neutron began [[Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends]] with [[Melvins]] drummer [[Dale Crover]], Tony Ash and producer [[Toshi Kasai]].
In 2020, it was revealed he was also part of the band [[Household Gods (band)|Household Gods]] with [[David Pajo]] of Slint and [[Vern Rumsey]] of [[Unwound]].

Neutron runs the podcast Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal, which is considered one of the definitive information sources for artists in the [[noise-rock]], [[post-punk]] and "weird music" genres.

Adrian works at [[Line 6 (company)|Line 6]] and is a key player behind their Helix unit amongst other offerings and is considered a leading voice in the field of sound design.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/review-line-6-hx-stomp|title=Line 6 HX Stomp review|date=June 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Behind The Scenes With Line 6 Modeling |url=https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/behind-the-scenes-with-line-6-modeling/ |website=sweetwater.com |date=July 17, 2019 |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ben Adrian and the NAMM Preview |url=https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-gearbox-31143870/episode/ben-adrian-and-the-namm-preview-39362345/ |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref>

== Discography ==

===Albums===

* ''Winterval'' (2001)
* ''You Are Under Surveillance'' (2004)
* ''[[Machines Will Always Let You Down]]'' (2007)

===Singles and EPs===

*  "EP" (2002)
* "DDBBLLVVZZNN" split EP with Lower Forty-Eight (2003)
* "Whangbar Province EP" Whangbar Province EP (2008)

===Compilations===

* "Tired of Standing Still" (Journey to the End of the Night, Pt. 2) Highpoint Lowlife, 2001
* "bEASTfest 2001" (Ka-Tet) Whole Enchilada, 2001
* "bEASTfest 2002" (ft. Jesus <live on KXLU>) Whole Enchilada, 2002
* "Wäntage USA's 21st Release Hits Omnibus" 2XCD (Alert Status: 0), Wantage USA, 2004

==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==

{{wikimedia|display=Repilcator|d=Q7314078|wikt=no|b=no|v=no|s=no|c=Category:Replicator}}
* {{official website}}
* [http://www.sfbg.com/entry.php?entry_id=3879&catid=107&volume_id=254&issue_id=302&volume_num=41&issue_num=38 Revenge of the Nerds feature article San Francisco Bay Guardian]{{dead link|date=February 2016}} June 2007
* [http://www.playinginfog.com/reviews/replicator3.html Cafe Du Nord, live review March 24, 2004]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20021008043200/http://drowninginculture.com/showsyoumissed/Babyland_092002.htm Drowning in Culture September, 2002] 
* [http://skinnymag.com/spring07/hear_this/reviews.html Machines Will Always Let You Down review] Skinny Mag review, spring 2007
* [https://www.discogs.com/artist/193120-Replicator Replicator on Discogs]
* [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r561485|pure_url=yes}} winterval review Allmusic guide]
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Replicator}}
[[Category:American noise rock music groups]]
[[Category:American post-hardcore musical groups]]
[[Category:American art rock groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Oakland, California]]