U.S. Maple

by Stephen HowellIn early 1995, U.S. Maple was born out of the ashes of two groups at Chicagos Northern Illinois University. Lead singer Al Johnson and high guitarist Mark Shippy were in Shorty, while drummer Pat Samson and low guitarist Todd Rittman spent their time with the Mercury Players. After the break-up of the two bands, the members met to see how they could deconstruct rock, only to leave its most basic elements. Since their development, they have released three different albums. The band recorded their first single at Easley Recording Studios in Memphis, Tennessee in September 95. It included the song When a Man Says Ow!, which would later reappear on their first full-length album, backed with a number called Stuck. Doug Easley manned the production boards for the session. Chicago independent record label Skin Graft took notice of the band and signed them on in the fall of that year. Shortly afterwards, the label released the Stuck single. Later in the same year, U.S. Maple stepped into Solid Sound Studios at Hoffman Estates in Illinois. It was here that they recorded their first full-length album Long Hair in Three Stages with renowned indie producer Jim ORourke. The record was released in October 1995. Before the band would go into the studio to work on their follow-up, they recorded a new single, as well as a contribution for a tribute album. Released on the Sonic Bubblegum imprint in early 1996, the band tackled and disfigured the 1961 Dion and the Belmonts hit The Wanderer. It was backed by a new original entitled Whoa Complains. Then, in May of that same year, they re-recorded the AC/DC song Sin City for a tribute album on Skin Graft. U.S. Maple appeared alongside other Chicago bands like Shellac and Bign. In early 1997, the group stepped back into Solid Sound Studios once again with the help of ORourke. What resulted was Sang Phat Editor, released in June. The fall of 1998 was a time of change for U.S. Maple, as they left Skin Graft. The band needed more support from the label due to their extensive touring schedule. It was early in 1999 that the group signed to Drag City Records, another Chicago-based independent label. Their interest in Drag City was a result of their contact with some of its artists one of which included ORourke. In late January of 99, U.S. Maple returned to the studio. However, they were now recording in Brooklyn, New York at B.C. Studios, rather than Illinois Solid Sound. Not only did the surroundings change, but producers as well. Michael Gira, former lead singer of the goth-rock band The Swans, was now in charge of the recording sessions. What resulted was their third full-length album, Talker, which was released the following year. Acre Thrills arrived in spring 2001. That summer, Samson left the group and was replaced by Adam Vida, who had also played with Drag City artists like Edith Frost.