1. An industrial group from LA
Read Full Bio ↴Spahn Ranch is the name of two bands:
1. An industrial group from LA
2. A post-punk act from Detroit
The first and most well known is the Los Angeles electronic-industrial music group, formed in 1992 by Matt Green and his New York-based collaborator, Rob Morton. The group signed to Cleopatra Records. That same year, a self-titled, four-song EP with vocals supplied by Scott Franklin (later to become bassist for The Cramps), was released. In 1993, they added vocalist Athan Maroulis and recorded their debut album Collateral Damage. Their sophomore effort, The Coiled One, appeared two years later in the midst of Morton leaving the band due to creative and logistical differences. After his departure, the line-up was expanded to include Christian Death drummer David Glass, Screams for Tina guitarist Kent Bancroft, and Tubalcain drummer Harry Lewis. This offered a beginning of the fuller, more diverse, dark electro-industrial sound that Spahn Ranch would continue to pursue. By 1997 Spahn Ranch pared themselves down to a tight, three-piece unit of Green, Maroulis and Lewis.
Architecture, released in 1997, featured contributions from Killing Joke/Prong bassist Paul Raven and Rockats/Nancy Sinatra guitarist Danny B. Harvey. This album took an even more experimental appraoch to the Spahn Ranch sound, incorporating elements of drum and bass, dub and for the first time, live guitar parts. Beat Noir, in 1998, followed a similar path even further and included work with Bauhaus/Love & Rockets bassist David J.The band regularly toured throughout North America during their existence with the likes of Front Line Assembly, Front 242, Switchblade Symphony and The Electric Hellfire Club. Spahn Ranch also made a couple of European treks prior to their demise as a group in 2000. Closure was a posthumous release in 2001 of their final album recorded in 2000.
The second band was formed in Detroit, MI in 1986 and released one album in 1987 called Thickly Settled. In it's infancy, the band played in many local venues on the bill with various local bands. Quickly a strong following developed, which immediately precipitated a self titled cassette release of six tracks on the Ikthus Network label. After having missed their own billing at a show, the band was introduced to Eric Cope of Insight Records from San Francisco, CA. He offered them a contract with Insight after reviewing their cassette and video work. The band accepted and began recording their first LP, 'Thickly Settled' in California where they were welcomed by receptive audiences. 'Thickly Settled' was hailed as one of the best albums of the year by England's Underground Magazine, and also met favorable reception in the U.S.A. None of the members of Spahn Ranch had any formal music training and had not played an instrument prior to forming the group. "The sound they create is tense and raw, not polished to distract from the music itself. Drummer Odell Nails lays down a thick, almost tribal drum beat, accompanied by Hobey Echlin's bass foundation for the music. Guitarist Bradley Horowitz adds the energetic, consuming guitar melodies, changing the tunings for each song in order to make no two sets alike. Bob Sterner's vocals with a touch of folk influence, mesh with the instrumental sounds that give the finished product, intense music which envelopes and audience." Hobey Echlin later joined the band as bassist.
Locusts
Spahn Ranch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Repeat as necessary
A beam shown divided shaded over screens
In the presence of visuals
Covered and drawn in
Watched its repetition siphoning
In the corners locusts rotating
Conceived the believing
As parted or programmed
Plans of obsolescence inhaled again
Do you see its face?
Or the masters orders
They consumed the maker over again
In the corners locusts rotating
Empty me feeding
The lyrics of Spahn Ranch's song Locusts paint a haunting picture of the dangers of conformity and the destructive power of blindly following orders. The first few lines describe a scene of repetition and the presence of visuals, which could be interpreted as the stimuli that perpetuate such repetition. The line "covered and drawn in" suggests a sense of entrapment, as if the singer is caught in a cycle of repetition they cannot escape from. The use of the locust metaphor is particularly effective here, as locusts are known for devouring everything in their path and represent a force of destruction beyond human control.
The second verse delves deeper into the idea of conformity and the dangers of following orders without question. The line "conceived the believing" could be interpreted as the birth of ideology or belief, and the subsequent lines suggest that such beliefs can be imposed on people through programming or obsolescence. The phrase "do you see its face?" is particularly chilling, as it implies that the singer is forced to confront the face of the master they serve, perhaps realizing that it is not a benevolent force.
The final lines of the song bring the focus back to the locusts, which are still rotating in the corners, relentless in their consumption. The use of the verb "empty" in the phrase "empty me feeding" suggests that the locusts are taking something essential from the singer, leaving them hollow and devoid of meaning. Overall, Locusts is a powerful and thought-provoking song that delves into the darker side of conformity and the dangers of following orders blindly.
Line by Line Meaning
I could see the other end
I had a clear vision of the final destination
Repeat as necessary
Repeat the process until the desired outcome is achieved
A beam shown divided shaded over screens
A ray of light split and obscured by screens
In the presence of visuals
Surrounded by images or videos
Covered and drawn in
Enveloped and captivated
Watched its repetition siphoning
Observed its repetition draining away
In the corners locusts rotating
In the corners, swarms of pests rotating
Empty me feeding
Draining my vitality and energy
Conceived the believing
Giving birth to the belief
As parted or programmed
Either as a result of being separated or pre-programmed
Plans of obsolescence inhaled again
Schemes of becoming obsolete being inhaled once more
Do you see its face?
Are you able to recognize its true nature?
Or the masters orders
Or simply following the orders of those in charge
They consumed the maker over again
They devoured the creator once more
In the corners locusts rotating
In the corners, swarms of pests rotating
Empty me feeding
Draining my vitality and energy
Contributed by Cameron T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
judson leach
"Yo, Matt, Athan !!! - Guess what I just watched?!?" - For the 1st time in YEARS! - GREAT WORK, My Old Friends !!! - Judson! (JLAB Productions!) - Merry Christmas ! - To You ALL !!! 🙂
PS !! - Hey Brian! - Hope you are WELL !! - It's Been YEARS !!
Merry Christmas to You and Yours, Sir !!!
Cheers!
Judson & Buddy!!
THE Golden Hound Dog of (JLAB) OHIO !!!
PPS - Currently "Rebuilding JLAB" - Mac Mini Style !! (Can't buy DATS anymore!! HAHAHA!)
Whitewolf W Brown
OMG I miss all my Cleopatra Records VHS tapes - oh they had wicked stuff. I had a whole stack of em! This band is MAX!
PARTY_WOLF_CREW
They had some edgey shit but I love it
Anonymous Bosch
Athan Maroulis. Great vocalisr, great guy. Loved this band.
Jkjr Karmia
I saw them in the year 2000 at the house of blues in Chicago they were opening up for switchblade Symphony awesome show
2525NC
I saw that same show in Toronto, it was amazing!
PAINFUL MOON
I love it 😂
Yeicob Torres O
excelente banda
Jen Rose
Love it
Ricky Plotner
Major clockwork 🍊 vibes. 🖤
ChemicalBurn74
This video reminds me of a average weekend in Hollyweird back in the 90s! Lol! I saw and did a lot of weird shit back then in the goth/industrial clubs. Memories....😂