Caspian (band)

Lore & Background

Caspian loosely formed in Autumn of 2003 in Beverly, Massachusetts. The band recorded a demo in May 2004 and performed its first show at The Pickled Onion in Beverly on August 26, 2004, at which time they had not yet chosen the name Caspian and were looking for a vocalist. In January 2005, the band signed with Dopamine Records and released the debut EP You Are the Conductor in November 2005. Their first tour of the Northeast occurred in January 2006, followed by a full US tour in April and May 2006. A hand-pressed, limited edition tour EP was released in September 2006 during their second full US tour.

The band's debut album, The Four Trees, was recorded in August 2006 at New Alliance Audio in Cambridge, Massachusetts with Ethan Dussault and released on April 10, 2007. It was re-released in Europe by Make My Day Records in July 2008. Founding guitarist Calvin Joss left touring duties after the album's release, and Erin Burke-Moran of The Fly-Agaris Sky was recruited as a touring replacement, later becoming a full-time member. Joss remains an active member and performs when scheduling permits. The band's second album, Tertia, was released in Europe on August 7, 2009 and in the US on September 15, 2009, supported by extensive touring including shows in China in July 2010 and a performance at the Old South Church in Boston on October 22, 2010, which was released as the EP Live at the Old South Church in January 2012.

In 2011, the band focused on writing their third album, Waking Season, which was recorded in January and February 2012 and released on September 21, 2012 via Triple Crown Records. The album was called 'The Post Rock Album of the Year' by Spin.com. Bassist Chris Friedrich died on August 28, 2013 at age 32. A benefit show was held on August 31, 2013, and touring member Jani Zubkovs subsequently became a full-time bassist. The EP Hymn for the Greatest Generation, released in 2012, was the final recording featuring Friedrich. The band's fourth album, Dust & Disquiet, was released worldwide on September 25, 2015, and included vocals, though Waking Season (2012) had already featured vocals on 'Gone in Bloom and Bough'. In November 2016, the band made its first appearance on late night television on Last Call with Carson Daly.

Reader's Guide

Caspian emerged from the post-rock underground of the mid-2000s, building a dedicated following through relentless touring and a series of well-received releases. Their debut EP You Are the Conductor and first album The Four Trees established them within the genre, while subsequent albums like Tertia and Waking Season expanded their reach internationally. The band's significance lies in their consistent output and extensive live performances, including tours across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia, as well as appearances at festivals such as SXSW and Boston Calling. Their 2015 album Dust & Disquiet marked a notable shift by incorporating vocals for the first time. The band's legacy is also shaped by the tragic death of bassist Chris Friedrich in 2013, which led to a change in lineup but did not halt their activity. Caspian's music continues to be a reference point for modern post-rock, and their live recordings, such as Live at the Old South Church and Live From the Larcom, document their evolution as a live act.

Did You Know?

• Caspian's first performance took place at The Pickled Onion in Beverly, Massachusetts on August 26, 2004, before the band had chosen the name Caspian.
• Bassist Chris Friedrich died on August 28, 2013 at age 32; his final recording was the EP Hymn for the Greatest Generation, released after his death.
• The band's 2015 album Dust & Disquiet was the first to include vocals.
• Caspian made its first appearance on late night television on Last Call with Carson Daly in November 2016.

From a Nameless Rehearsal Room to the Underground

Caspian's origins trace back to the autumn of 2003 in Beverly, Massachusetts, where a loose collective of musicians began developing material without even a settled identity. Their first live appearance came on August 26, 2004, at The Pickled Onion in their hometown, a night when the group had not yet decided on a name and was still searching for a vocalist. Over the following months they cut a demo in May 2004 and played a handful of small shows, including a support slot for the Japanese post-rock outfit Mono. By January 2005, the band had secured a deal with Dopamine Records, and in November of that year they issued their debut EP, You Are the Conductor. The record set the stage for a January 2006 four-date Northeast run covering New York, Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh, followed by their first coast-to-coast American tour in the spring of that year. A hand-pressed, limited-edition tour EP appeared in September 2006 during their second full U.S. run, cementing their presence in the growing post-rock underground.

Expanding the Map: Albums and Global Reach

The Four Trees, recorded in August 2006 at the newly renovated New Alliance Audio studio in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with engineer Ethan Dussault, arrived on April 10, 2007, and deepened the band's following within the post-rock community. A European reissue through Make My Day Records followed in July 2008, alongside a split 7-inch with fellow Massachusetts act Constants. Personnel shifts shaped this era: founding guitarist Calvin Joss stepped back from touring duties, prompting the recruitment of Erin Burke-Moran of The Fly-Agaris Sky, who transitioned from a temporary fill-in to a permanent member after the 2007 spring tour. The five-piece configuration produced Tertia, released in Europe in August 2009 and in the United States in September of that year. The promotional cycle was ambitious—two extensive European runs, a two-month North American tour that included opening slots for Red Sparowes and Fang Island, and in July 2010 the band's first-ever performances in China, playing the Hidden Agenda Live House and the Qiangyuan Music Festival in Guangzhou. By year's end, Caspian had logged close to 150 concerts across 33 countries on three continents.

Waking Season and Critical Breakthrough

After dedicating much of 2011 to writing, Caspian entered the studio in January 2012 at Q Division Studios in Somerville, Massachusetts, working for three weeks with co-producer, engineer, and mixer Matt Bayles. Additional tracking and production took place in February 2012 at Radar Studios in Clinton, Connecticut, before the band traveled to Red Room Studios in Seattle for a ten-day mixing session in May. On July 9, 2012, the group revealed the album's title, Waking Season, with a confirmed release date of September 21 on Triple Crown Records. The critical reception was immediate and enthusiastic: a week before the U.S. release, Spin.com streamed the full record and dubbed it "The Post Rock Album of the Year." The band supported the album with a 16-show run alongside Minus the Bear and Cursive, a European tour spanning October 10 through November 20, and a full U.S. headline tour in early 2013 with support from Junius and Native. A highlight came on May 26, 2013, when Caspian opened day two of the inaugural Boston Calling Music Festival at the Boston City Hall Plaza, marking the first time the group performed with six members on stage.

Grief, Resilience, and the Road Ahead

The summer of 2013 brought a devastating blow when the band announced on August 28 that bassist Chris Friedrich had died at the age of 32. Just three days later, on August 31, Caspian took the stage at the Engine Room in Manchester, New Hampshire, for a benefit concert that Friedrich himself had organized to support a close friend in need of a double lung transplant. Previous touring member Jon McMahan and longtime friend of the group, Jani Zubkovs, stepped in on bass for that performance. In the aftermath, Zubkovs committed to becoming a full-time member, ensuring the band could continue. The remainder of 2013 saw Caspian supporting HIM on a European tour in October, followed by a string of co-headlining dates with 65daysofstatic back in the United States. During that run, the group announced a new EP, Hymn for the Greatest Generation, containing three new songs, a demo, and two remixes of tracks from Waking Season. Pitchfork began streaming the title track on October 9, ahead of the EP's November 11 release, signaling that the band's creative momentum remained intact despite the loss.