Tub Ring

by Mario Mesquita BorgesExperimenting with the wildest part of alternative rock via reckless rhythms and specific instrumentation, Tub Ring end up delivering spacy collections of eccentric and melodious themes. Starting off as a punk outfit in 1992 in Chicago, Ring rapidly evolved into an experimental ensemble, assembling risky tone conceptions with moving experimental rock selections. Kevin Gibson (vocals), Rob Kleiner (keyboards), Jason Fields (bass), Mouse (guitar), and Mike Gilmore (drums) make up Ring, all of them having previous band experience and coming from varied backgrounds. Stupid Pet Tricks appeared in 1992 as the band's first disc, one year before the issuing of yet another EP, Music for the Bathroom. Tub Ring's original tunes gradually started to turn into a reference in Chicago's underground club circuit, and three years after forming, the crew finally managed to deliver its first album, And the Mashed Potato Mountain Etiquette. In 1997, Super Sci-Fi Samurai Rockstar Ultra Turbo II, their second album, hit record stores and received exciting reviews from the media and expanded their loyal fan base. In 2001, following yet another three-year period, and with the production credits of Mr. Bungle's Trey Spruance, the band released its third album, Drake Equation. Tub Ring's drummer and guitarist were switched out in time for 2002's Fermi Paradox, Dave Tavares and Shawn Sprinkel joining on respectively. Zoo Hypothesis appeared in August 2004. Continuous touring -- alongside bands like Mindless Self Indulgence, the Fully Down, Dog Fashion Disco, Estradasphere and Kill Hannah -- and plenty of hard work helped their underground fan base swell, and in 2005, Tub Ring became finalists on the MTV2 on-air "Dew Circuit Breakout" contest alongside pop-punk acts Over It and Hellogoodbye. Though they ultimately lost, the exposure obviously didn't hurt and a year later the band (which now comprised Gibson, Kleiner, bassist Trevor Erb, drummer Chris Wiken and guitarist Jeff Enokian) signed with The End Records.