Tar (band)

Tar
Origin	Chicago
Genres	Noise rock, post-hardcore
Years active	1988–1995, 2012, 2017
Labels	Touch and Go Records Amphetamine Reptile Records No Blow Records

Members	Mike Greenlees John Mohr Mark Zablocki Tom Zaluckyj

Past members	Tim Mescher

Tar was an American post-hardcore band, formed in 1988 in Chicago. Throughout their career they released four studio albums, two extended plays, and a number of singles before breaking up in 1995. They were known for their dry sense of humor.^[1]

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History

The precursor to Tar was a hardcore punk outfit called Blatant Dissent, which formed in DeKalb, Illinois where singer/guitarist John Mohr and drummer Mike Greenlees were attending Northern Illinois University. Joining Mohr and Greenlees in Tar were original bassist Tim Mescher (only until 1991 and who also played for Snailboy), bassist Tom Zaluckyj and guitarist Mark Zablocki. Zaluckyj and Mohr played unique instruments, crafted of aluminum, designed by Ian Schneller of Specimen Products.^[2]

The band released albums on the Amphetamine Reptile and Touch and Go Records labels before disbanding in 1995. During its career, the band released a total of five singles, four albums, two mini albums, and contributed songs to six compilations and split singles. The band toured nationally and internationally with bands such as Jawbox, Arcwelder, and the Jesus Lizard. In 1994 the band made the decision to call it quits after releasing one final album.^[3] Over and Out was written and recorded over a period of a year and a half, produced by the band and engineered by Steve Albini and Bob Weston, and released in 1995.

Tar reunited for a one-off performance at the PRF BBQ 2012 festival in Chicago, and later in the year, as opening act for Shellac at Lincoln hall in Chicago. In 2013, a double vinyl disc compilation titled 1988-1995 was released through Chunklet Magazine, limited to 150 gold colored copies that included download cards.^[4] The group would reunite again in 2017 to perform at the All Tomorrow's Impeachments festival.^[2]

In March 2024, Mohr and Greenlees announced the debut album for their new band Deep Tunnel Project would be released later that year on the label Comedy Minus One. Deep Tunnel Project also includes Tim Midyett of Silkworm and Jeff Dean from Heavy Seas.

Discography

Studio albums

Roundhouse (Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1990)
Jackson (Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1991)
Toast (Touch and Go Records, 1993)
Over and Out (Touch and Go Records, 1995)

Compilation albums

1988-1995 (Chunklet Magazine, 2013)

Extended plays

Handsome (Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1989)
Clincher (Touch and Go Records, 1993)

Singles

"Play to Win" b/w "Mel's" (No Blow Records, 1988, NBLW01)
"Flow Plow" b/w "Hand" (Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1989, SCALE25)
"Solution 8" b/w "Non-Alignment Pact" (Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1991, ARR153)
"Static" split 7-inch with Jawbox (Touch and Go Records/ Dischord Records, 1992, DIS 77.7/TG113.3)
"Teetering" b/w "The In Crowd" (Touch and Go Records, 1992, TG104)
"Feel This" b/w "Hell's Bells" (Chunklet Magazine, 2012, CHK7-001)

References

^ Kot, Greg (5 March 1993). "Tar Keeps Its Tongue Firmly In Cheek". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
^ ^a ^b Kevin, Warwick (14 July 2017). "Early 90s noise-rock band Tar kick the dust off their aluminum guitars". chicagoreader.com. Chicago Reader. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
^ Goldman, Marlene. "Trouser Press Tar Biography". Trouser Press. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
^ "Tar "1988–1995" 2×LP Promo". youtube.com. Chunklet Magazine. Retrieved September 25, 2013.^{[dead YouTube link]}