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NEWS
sublinks

March 1996
Roger Anderson puts out an ad in the SF Bay Guardian
Michael Evans (future/former Shimmer Kids) joins on drums
Glenn Forgothislastname joins on bass
We rehearse in Mike's basement and a good time is had by all
Record 1st demo in rehearsal space.

May 1996
Mark Dansby answers ad and replaces Glenn Forgothislastname on bass

June 1996
Play 1st show at the Cocodrie, SF

July 1996
Record 2nd demo - makes demo tape of the week in the Bay Guardian
here's the proof

Sept 1996
Michael switches to guitar and Gregg Ziemba joins on drums

Nov 1996
Record 3rd demo (Miracle Girl Shines) at Little Buddha Studios in San Rafael.

1997
Record several new songs and covers on 8 track in Gregg's rehearsal space.
Michael quits the band
Gregg moves to New York
We move into a rehearsal space with Red House Painters and play with various drummers, including Steve from Sciflyer.
Mark and Roger record first CD-ep at Abandon Studios with Anthony Koutsos from RHP on drums
Hidden track "Wallflower" included on Cool Beans sampler

1998
CD-ep is released on own label (2012 Music)
Shane Kraus joins on drums
His friend Chris Ruffalo joins on guitar and many glorious sounds are made

1999
Record version of "Hotel Womb" for an ill-fated Church tribute
Mark leaves, then Shane quits
Gregg moves back to SF from NY and rejoins on drums
Chris just sort of fades away
Recorded "You Have To Be Joking" on Gregg's 8-track for a Flaming Lips tribute
Erica Watson joins on bass
Demos recorded for next CD and sent out in hopes of gaining label interest.
Roger records 3 new songs (Finders Keepers, Melt, Waiting To Connect) at Badman Studios.

2000
Mark Dansby triumphantly rejoins on bass, replacing Erica unfortunately
We get evicted from 2 rehearsal studios
Recording starts on The Angel Has Landed

2001
The Angel Has Landed is released in July, again on own label.
Play CD-release show opening for Red House Painters

That was the last anyone heard of Vaportrail.

2002-2004
Roger plays a few solo shows and starts a new project using loops, drones and layers of sound, called Halcyon High.

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SF Bay Guardian - Oct. 1996
(Demo Tape o' the Week)

There couldn't be a more fitting name for this band: Vaportrail's hollow arrangements give what they play particular resonance. While most demo tapes are sonic clutter from the get-go, I thought "Real Day" would never start. Its long intro (four guitar notes, a bass mantra, and a simple backbeat) go on almost forever before the singing starts. Lyrically Vaportrail play alphabet soup with snippets of B+ poetry, as in "One of the Rockets", which has lyrics like "Look what I found / Crashed to the ground / Keep it down / To a whisper / ...She's one of the rockets / That nobody knows." Overall, the effect is complimentary to the song's chorused swirl of guitar noise. "Starving for Starlight" is the strongest song on the cassette, evoking images of New Order in their prime. Singer Roger Anderson and bassist Mark Dansby play a Lowlife-era Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook in the way their melodies intertwine. Vaportrail takes angst-ridden rock and puts an ambient spin on it, appealing to angry young men and shoegazers alike.

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