Pitchblende (band)

Pitchblende
OriginWashington, D.C., U.S.
GenreArt punk
Years active1991–1995
LabelsCargo
Jade Tree
Matador Records
Simple Machines
SpinoffsTuring Machine
MembersJustin Chearno (guitar)
Treiops Treyfid (guitar)
Scott DeSimon (bass guitar)
Patrick Gough (drums)

Pitchblende was an American four-piece art punk band from Washington, D.C., United States, composed of Justin Chearno on guitar, Scott DeSimon on bass guitar, Patrick Gough on drums and Treiops Treyfid on guitar.

Between 1991 and 1995, the group recorded three albums and several singles for the independent labels Cargo, Jade Tree, Matador Records and Simple Machines.

Style

Coworkers and guitarists Justin Chearno and Treiops Treyfid met Patrick Gough after placing an ad on the Washington City Paper seeking a drummer who shared their interest in Sonic Youth, Live Skull, Mission of Burma, and William Shatner. The three soon recruited Gough's friend Scott DeSimon on bass. Though Pitchblende shared a practice space with Jawbox for about 18 months, the band members were not quite insiders in the D.C. punk scene, feeling more kinship with the likes of Brainiac, Rodan, Polvo, Unwound, Candy Machine, and Codeine.

Most of Pitchblende's debut full-length, Kill Atom Smasher, was recorded live with minimal overdubs, late at night at Inner Ear Studios with engineer and Girls Against Boys member Eli Janney. Additional snippets of improvised music were recorded at a studio at the American University.

Although based in Washington, Pitchblende's dense, angular sound was commonly thought to be closer in style to the contemporary music scenes in New York City and Chicago than what was heard on the DC-based post-punk labels at the time. Central to Pitchblende's approach was an emphasis on experimentation and dynamics; the band's songs often used complex structures, unusual arrangements, alternative tunings and jarring time changes.

Pitchblende's recordings and loud, energetic live shows earned them critical accolades and comparisons with influential bands such as Mission of Burma and Sonic Youth. The group melded together the chaotic spirit of punk with an absurdist, dada aesthetic; somewhat pop sensibilities; and a musical proficiency informed by prog-rock bands. In spite of occasional references to being inspired by jazz, very little of Pitchblende's music was improvisational. This misconception prompted the band to cheekily rename itself The Pitchblende Quartet for its final 1995 album, Gygax!.

Chearno and DeSimon moved to New York City and the band played its final show on September 5th, 1995 at the city's famous underground venue Brownies.

Chearno and DeSimon formed the three piece instrumental band Turing Machine with the late Jerry Fuchs. Chearno went on to form the bands Doldrums and Panthers, and later worked in the wine industry in New York. DeSimon is a magazine editor. Gough is an urban planner in Northern Virginia who played in the D.C.-based trio Imperial China from 2007 to 2013 and is currently in the duo Czonka. Treyfid is a Los Angeles-based fine artist, solo musician, and graphic designer who performs in drag as Disasterina. Chearno died on August 22, 2024, at the age of 54.

Discography

Singles and EPs

LPs

Appearances

References

  1. ↑ Woodlief, Mark; Robbins, Ira (2007). "Pitchblende". Trouser Press. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gentry, Brandon (December 9, 2011). "Secret History: Pitchblende's Kill Atom Smasher". DCist. Archived from the original on February 24, 2025. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  3. ↑ Pearis, Bill. "Justin Chearno (Pitchblende, Turing Machine, and Four Horsemen co-owner) has died". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved August 23, 2024.