Small Brown Bike
Growing up together in Marshall, Michigan, the members of Small Brown Bike have been friends, bandmates, and minor bike mechanics for most of their lives. When brothers Mike and Ben Reed (vocals/guitar and bass/vocals, respectively), Travis Dopp (guitar), and Dan Jaquint (drums) were looking for band names for the project they started in the fall of 1996, they looked back on their collective small-town childhood and came up with Small Brown Bike, named for a sentimental Frankenstein bicycle that they had pieced together from parts as kids. After self-releasing their "No Place Like You" 7" in 1997 and following it up in 1998 with the "(and don't forget me)" 7", they appeared on a couple compilations and attracted the attention of Gainesville, Florida's No Idea Records through relentless regional touring and a fraternal relationship with Hot Water Music. No Idea released Our Own Wars in 1999 before Dopp stepped down from guitar and friend Scott Flaster took over. The compilation Collection, including singles and vinyl-only tracks, also appeared that year. Recorded with producer Ed Rose in between touring with HWM and Saves the Day, they followed up with their Dead Reckoning CD/LP in the fall of 2001. Dopp returned to the ranks of Small Brown Bike in January 2002 with a new drummer, Jeff Gensterblum, signing on in March as Jaquint decided to pursue a full-time job and school. The band hooked up with the Casket Lottery for an October split EP. The split was very well received (described as "essential" by some critics) and further caught the attention of Lookout Records, who then released their next album, The River Bed, in September 2003. An EP, Nail Yourself to the Ground, additionally appeared that June on No Idea. After several months of touring in support, however, Small Brown Bike announced their dissolution by the year's end. Their last show was played in 2004 at Chicago's Fireside Bowl.
© Nate Cavalieri /TiVo
Discography
5 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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The Circle Cure: Small Brown Bike Songs By Friends
Alternative & Indie - Released by Old Point Light on 31 May 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Our Own Wars
Rock - Released by 575884 Records DK2 on 15 May 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Fell & Found
Rock - Released by 575884 Records DK2 on 26 Apr 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The River Bed
Rock - Released by 575884 Records DK2 on 22 Sep 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Nail Yourself To The Ground
Rock - Released by 575884 Records DK2 on 25 May 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo