Tanuki's first incarnation occurred
during the summer of 2003. Brought together by mutually-connected promising
but short-lived projects, drummer Charles Byrnes, bassist Chris Frain,
and guitarist C. Ray Himes began writing, rehearsing, and recording as
an instrumental trio with the intention of adding a vocalist sometime
later. That never came to fruition, and so they decided to forge ahead
as an instrumental group, drawing on influences as diverse as prog-rock,
beebop jazz, and even Indian ragas. The group continued to write and perform
during 2004, and in 2005 they had the opportunity to record "Warm
Up the Deathray, Agnes." At the end of this process Himes announced
he would be relocating to pursue other interests. Frain and Byrnes met
again in early 2007 to collaborate with Geoff Escandon's AmpLab project,
and during this time decided to continue Tanuki with a new guitarist.
Andy Sheets (of Captain Standish) was picked to "fill the very big
shoes" in Tanuki, and the trio began writing and rehearsing in August
2007. They are currently planning to record and release a new EP or full-length
album sometime in 2008.
Akoolstik is Fine Sound and Vision