Shrimp Boat

by Jason AnkenyPrecursors of the esoteric sound eventually tagged post-rock, Shrimp Boat was among the key Chicago indie bands of their era, with members later going on to even greater success in groups like the Sea and Cake. Originally comprised of singer/guitarist Sam Prekop, guitarist Ian Schneller, bassist and David Kroll, Shrimp Boat formed in 1985. Their affinity for unusual time signatures, jazz-influenced structures and exotic rhythms were unlike anything else on the contemporary Chicago club circuit. They added drummer Eric Claridge in 1986 and issued their debut cassette album Some Biscuit in 1988, followed later that same year by Daylight Savings. On their own Specimen Products label, they issued their first vinyl LP Speckly in 1989. That year, Claridge left the band, replaced by Brad Wood. Shrimp Boat signed to Bar/None in 1990 and recorded their next album, Duende, that same year. The album didnt see release until 1992, and in the meantime, the band self-released the Volume 1 collection. 1993 saw the release of Cavale, but by this time, both Kroll and Wood had exited, while Eric Claridge returned to the band as bassist and Tom Jasek stepped in on drums. Within a few months of the albums release Shrimp Boat disbanded; Prekop and Claridge soon reunited in the Sea and Cake, while Wood emerged as one of the most sought-after producers in indie rock, helming records for the likes of Liz Phair, Veruca Salt and the Smashing Pumpkins.