Biography

Introduction

This article is about the indie rock band, for the robot made by Fujitsu, see Enon (robot), for other uses, see Enon (disambiguation).

Enon is an indie rock band founded by John Schmersal, Rick Lee and Steve Calhoon. Currently, Enon is situated in Philadelphia, though the band is known for being part of the New York music scene.

Biography

Schmersal was originally in the band Brainiac and formed Enon (named after the village in Ohio, which is close to Schmersal's hometown of Dayton) with Lee and Calhoon following the death of Brainiac's singer Timmy Taylor and their subsequent disbandment. After Brianiac Schmersal made a solo album under the name John Stuart Mill. Rick Lee and Steve Calhoon were both previous members of the band Skeleton Key, a befriended band Brainiac had toured with. Together they formed Enon. Lee created a number of percussion sounds for the band playing a "junk kit" including a Radio Flyer wagon, propane tank, and old hubcaps. After the release of their first album Believo! in 1999, Calhoon left the band and was replaced by Toko Yasuda (bass/vocals/keyboard) and Matt Schulz (drums). Yasuda was previously in the bands Blonde Redhead, The Lapse and The Van Pelt. With the new lineup, Enon released High Society in 2002 and toured with The Faint. A majority of Enon's albums have been released on the Chicago-based indie label, Touch and Go Records. Lee left the band, and Enon went on to release Hocus Pocus in 2003, and a collection of singles and previously difficult to find internet-released songs with a bonus DVD entitled Lost Marbles and Exploded Evidence in February 2005. In 2007 all three members of Enon contribute to Les Savy Fav's album Let's Stay Friends. Yasuda also did vocal contributions to previous recordings of this band, like for instance the first track of The Cat and the Cobra. Enon released their fourth studio album, Grass Geysers...Carbon Clouds on Touch & Go Records on October 9, 2007.^[1]

In summer 2008, drummer Matt Schulz announced that he would be leaving the group to pursue other interests. Afterwards he joined Holy Fuck as a touring member. Enon will tour for the remainder of 2008 and into 2009 with a replacement drummer before Schulz's replacement will be announced in early 2009.

Brainiac's former bassist Monasterio directs music videos, including two for Enon, and released an album in 2008 with a new band called Model/Actress; Schmersal makes appearances on this album.

Discography

Albums

1998 Long Play
2000 Believo!
2002 High Society
2003 Hocus Pocus
2004 Onhold
2005 Lost Marbles and Exploded Evidence (compilation album + DVD set)
2007 Grass Geysers...Carbon Clouds

Singles

1998 "Fly South"
1999 "Motor Cross"
2001 "Listen (While You Talk)"
2001 "Marbles Explode"
2001 "The Nightmare Of Atomic Men"
2002 Enon [Self-Titled]
2002 "Drowning Appointment"
2003 "In This City"
2003 "Evidence"
2003 "Because Of You"
2003 "Starcastic"
2008 "Little Ghost / Swab The Deck"
2008 "Annashade" (i-tunes download)

Compilation Appearances

2001 track "New York's Alright (If You Like Saxophones)" on This Is Next Year: A Brooklyn-Based Compilation
2001 track "Tilt You Up" on Multiball #21
2001 track "Off The Hook" on Friction Records Vol. 1
2001 track "Stamina Obliterate" on For Fun Only!
2002 track "White Rabbit" on Don't Know When I'll Be Home Again (A Compilation Benefiting American Veterans Of The Vietnam War)
2003 track "Sex Beat" on On The High Wire (U.S. Pop Life Vol. 15 Power - Energy)
2004 track "Shave" on The 2004 Believer Music Issue Compilation
2005 track "Marbles Explode" on Friction Records Free Sampler CD

Videography

"Come Into" (2001, directed by Paul Cordes Wilm)
"Cruel" (2001, directed by Paul Cordes Wilm)
"Window Display" (2002, directed by Brian Quain, not an official video)
"Carbonation" (July 2002, directed by Paul Cordes Wilm)
"Pleasure and Privilege" (October 2002, directed by Clark Vogeler)
"In This City" (February 2003, directed by Josh Graham, Juan Monasterio, and Arya Senboutaraj)
"Murder Sounds" (2004, directed by Paul Cordes Wilm)
"Daughter in the House of Fools" (2004, directed by Rainbows & Vampires)
"Mikazuki" (2004, directed by The Wilderness)