Stars Like Fleas

Stars Like Fleas
Origin	Brooklyn, New York, USA
Genres	Experimental rock Indie rock
Years active	1998–present
Labels	Hometapes, Praemedia, Talitres

Members	Shannon Fields Montgomery Knott Ryan Smith Tianna Kennedy Ryan Sawyer Matt Lavelle Shayna Dulberger Laura Ortman Sam Amidon Jon Natchez Shelley Burgon

Website	Official website

Stars Like Fleas is a Brooklyn-based band formed by multi-instrumentalist Shannon Fields and vocalist Montgomery Knott in the winter of 1998. Frequently compared to later Talk Talk and Robert Wyatt, their music blends avant-jazz and free improvisation with electronic textures and several overdubbed murmured vocal lines.^[1]

History

The band started in 1998. On their albums and in live performances, Fields and Knott have recruited a host of other musicians, including members and ex-members of Other Dimensions in Music, TEST, No-Neck Blues Band, Papa M, Out Hud, Gold Sparkle Band, At the Drive-In, Beirut, Tall Firs, TV on the Radio, Celebration, Fiery Furnaces, The Silent League, and Mercury Rev.^[2] In 2007 they did a Take-Away Show video session shot by Vincent Moon.

Members

Shannon Fields - producer
Montgomery Knott - vocals
Ryan Smith - piano, synthesizers, laptop, many other things
Ryan Sawyer - drums, percussion
Matt Lavelle - bass clarinet, flugelhorn, trumpet, cuica
Sam Amidon - fiddle, banjo, voice
Jon Natchez - reeds, brass, strings, keys, etc.
Gerald Menke - pedal steel, dobro resonator, guitars
Shelley Burgon - harp, laptop, baritone guitar
Tianna Kennedy - cello
Shayna Dulberger - bass
Laura Ortman - violin

Discography

Took the Ass for a Drive (1999; digitally re-released by File 13 2007, downloadable at iTunes)
Sun Lights Down on the Fence (2003, Praemedia)^[3]^[4]^[5]
The Ken Burns Effect (2007, Talitres Records in Europe) (May 20, 2008 Hometapes, distribution via Absolutely Kosher/Misra)

References

^ Couture, François. "Sun Lights Down on the Fence." Allmusic.
^ Burns, Todd. "Sun Lights Down on the Fence." Stylus Magazine January 5, 2004.
^ Sounds, Paths, Radios: Notes on Stars Like Fleas
^ Stylus Magazine Review of Sun Lights Down on the Fence
^ Pitchfork Review of Sun Lights Down on the Fence