Artist History After tearing up Midwestern clubs for over two years, this Madison,Wisconsin based band was the first band to be signed to Jake Wisely's Minneapolis based Red Decibel Records, and released "Gardens of Machinery" to critical acclaim. Following the release of "Gardens of Machinery", Red Decibel sent the boys out on the road - playing clubs in the Midwest, upstate New York, and Canada. Their second album, "Chameleon Drool", proved to be an astonishing mix of funkadelic acid crunch and wail, which prompted Kerrang! magazine to assert that Rapscallion were "the next Soundgarden." Both CMJ and Foundations Magazines recognized this band with favorable reviews. With all the underground buzz circling this band, Rapscallion was soon offered a Management deal with the Los Angeles based Steve Moir Company, and a publishing deal with Warner/Chappel followed. The Chameleon Drool Tour blazed through places like the "Whiskey A Go Go" in Los Angeles, The "Off Ramp Cafe" and "RCKCNDY" in Seattle, as well as many southern cities, including Louisville, Nashville, Johnson City, Knoxville, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Atlanta, Oxford, Gainsville, Deerfield Beach, St. Petersburg, and Tampa. Other cities included Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Lincoln, Missoula, Spokane, Eugene, San Diego, Southampton, and New Haven. Both releases continued to garner high marks from various rock and alternative music publications. Fueled and strengthened by the dramatically diverse and wide range of lyrical and instrumental talents of its musicians, Rapscallion's music still remains accessible to the wide range of their audience. With this "Something for Everyone" state of mind Rapscallion is now offering up a new set of demos, Older and WiDer, which is once again attracting enthusiastic reviews from Rock journalists. The band is currently back in the studio working on more new material.

Group Members Eric Hansen - bass guitar, Gary Kealey - lead/rhythm guitar, Tod Schwenn - vocals, Randy Landphier - drums, Jayme Poster - lead/rhythm guitar

Albums Gardens of Machinery (Red Decibel), Chameleon Drool (Metal Blade)

Press Reviews Wisconsin State Journal's Rhythm Section, Thursday July 18th:"Older & Wider," Rapscallion "Kerrang magazine once predicted that Rapscallion could be the next Soundgarden. The Madison band's new CD, "Older and Wider," continues to inspire that kind of melodic grunge comparison, delivering interesting twists and timing, and strong vocals reminiscent of Soundgarden's Chris Cornell. The name of the disc implies a smart-aleck approach to song writing, but listeners will hear something much deeper. The seven-song CD opens with "Underneath," featuring bubbly and bouncy guitar work and melodic vocals. It's metal meets funk - sort of the spawn of Sabbath and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. The lyrics are sassy and sexy, describing dreams and desires. "Used to Be" and "Overnight" are light rock ballads with a focus on psychedelic-era style instrumentation. They are best enjoyed with lava lamp and incense. "Small Apartment" picks up the pace. It has single potential with smart and punchy power hooks. "San Andreas" is a finger-snapping,groovy blues-based number while "Bread & Butter" is harder hitting with punk-to-scat vocals and devilish delivery. The CD concludes with "Always Someone," a delicate song that is like nothing else on "Older & Wider". It could easily cross over from a modern rock to lite rock radio format. Rapscallion will perform at the Atwood Summerfest Aug. 3 and at The Annex, 1206 Regent St., Aug.17" ---Natasha Kassulke Maximum Ink Magazine June '02 Review of Rapscallion's new demo 'Older and WiDer' "Though Rapscallion began years ago dishing out finely honed heavy metal, a breakup and regrouping recently brought a mature but more adventurous Rapscallion back into the spotlight. On the aptly titled "Older and WiDer", Rapscallion expands from their heavy metal roots to encompass blues, grunge, and progressive rock in an astonishing post-millennium reappraisal. Tod Schwenn's vocals reach out but never strain to reveal grace behind the muscle. Twin guitarists Gary Kealey and Jayme Poster trade leads and licks while bassist Eric Hansen and drummer Randy Landphier close the circle with solid grooves and subtle accents. A balanced affair between thump and pummel thunder and finely textured craft, Rapscallion's stinging solos and shimmering restraint makes for a flash-within-the-flow aesthetic that dazzles as it destroys......... John Noyd" CMJ New Music Report Chameleon Drool "One of the Midwest's bright young hopes, Rapscallion have emerged with a second LP that positively decimates their `90 debut, Gardens Of Machinery. While that album featured some strong material, the band was dearly still finding their niche, and their ideas were blurred by production that'd make your skin crawl. Chameleon Drool finds a considerably more mature - but still vicious - band in a much more sympathetic sonic setting: the album seeths with manic energy from end-to-end, the ideas are much more fully realised, and the band's acute sense of dynamics is finally presented in a proper light. This quintet hails from Madison, Wisconsin, and that's not all they have in common with Last Crack pursuing and expanding upon a Jane's Addiction-ish post-metal bend, the band is driven by two maniacal guitarists, who create intricate and twisted settings for Tod Schwenn's menacing vocal pyrotechnics: his performance in particular gives this band an exceptional distinction and personality. While Rapscallion is still developing, the raw potential at work here shows them to be one of the most promising young bands we've heard in some time: Chameleon Drool is an unusual album that may take two or three listens to get a proper grasp on, but once the band gets its hooks in you, they ain't lettin' go. Plug "Naked No Less," "I Am Medicine," the poppier "Coconut Trial," "Starfish Constitution" and "The Holy Shit." - : CMJ New Music Report Issue: 262 Other Reviews "very progressively twisted" , "they actually have something different and fresh to offer" ' "Heavily diverse, the band draws from a wide variety of influences to create a sound very unlike anything I've heard" , "Tod Schwenn possesses a voice that he wields with a passionate and unbelieveable control, while guitarists Gary Kealey and Jayme Poster shred with incredible harmonies and unpredictable fretwork" , "Rapscallion - the shape of things to come." "They're back!".."We still have DJs who are announcing the first song as 'Chameleon drools, drool on me.' "....."Right, back to the album. At times the sound is a little close to Jane's Addiction for my taste, but the grooves are heavier and tastier than any Perry and his boys ever brewed. This is one solid disc. No filler, just bitchen music. Tracks? I'll let you figure out the titles for yourself. But "The Holy Shit" is really cool. Not to mention the rest of the album." CMJ New Music Report Gardens Of Machinery "At last the debut LP for both Rapscallion and Red Decibel has arrived. Rapscallion lies in an early Mind Over Four vein, feeling out different styles in an attempt to find something new. In a lot of aspects they achieve this successfully, fusing accessible touches with a hard edge. At first, we weren't too sure if the production did the songs justice, but after a few listens, the powerful songs break through the strange mix. The band is incredibly tight, although their songs flow loosely with wreckless abandon. And while Tod Schwenn has yet to grow into his own as a vocalist, his versatility will more than likely guide him to a more capable level. All said, Gardens Of Machinery is a foundation block for something that could become a monster. Picks: "Here's To Your Destruction," "Avin Sidore," "Treasures And Our Trash" and the title track for sure." - : CMJ New Music Report Issue: 196 Other Reviews "Swirling hard rock for the big big stage… "this band provides an interesting mix of metal that is pretty hard to pin down" "rascally and rowdy" "Metal tinge hard rock with a mildly funky sound and up front vocals." , "the band plays tighly; the songs, are dynamic and and complex" "aggressive but very melodic" "Impressive….. all of the songs manage to make a lasting impression" , "Rapscallion should do well with their off beat rhythms and imaginative lyrics" "I must say I am impressed. Rapscallion's power metal really kicks ass" "something a bit avant garde", "I was hooked", "[the] vocalist actually experiments with and utilizes different ragnes throughout every song." , " [they employ] some bizarre and interesting twists via time changes, [and] multi-faceted vocals," "totally avant garde rhythms, blinding guitar work" , "this 5-piece band serves up some of the most unique metal I've heard" , "the guitar work of Gary Kealey and Jayme Poster is succinct, yet boiling.", "this is a must" Fan reaction to Older & WiDer "Has a good sound for the commercial market of today, especially with the vocals and wash on the mix. Had a good build and pay-off, which falls into the same catagory. Guitar threw in a few tasty treats along this progression, adding some nice highlights to it and the solo section proved once again that shred is not dead." agentsofkaos - Murray, Utah "i was already bobbing my head and tapping my foot at the intro. great guitars and good work on the drums as well. but it's the guitar i'm really feeling!!!! the singer has a great sound, and the lyrics are suprisingly good. alot of the songs i have reviewed [of other bands] seemed to be lacking in the their lyrics. this one makes up for it times 10!!!! great job, i'm really digging it! " tattedchik - Papillion, Nebraska "Good groove - I love the vocals, and the drums are good because they always sound like they're about to jump." fahim ignition - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada "uhhh..band belongs on a cd", "you sound like you've got it together. sounds eerily like Alice in [Chains]...", "you guys are signed, aren't you.. you're just bored so you thought you'd come back here [to Garageband.com] , right? and then that solo kicks in and what the hell is that drum line?" Perticelli - Lansdale, Pennsylvania "cool grunge sound.... This song sounds like Pearl Jam made it with alice in chains and birthed this song.... kinda catchy." badday - Duluth, Georgia "This has a great riff, and one of the best rock vocals I've heard on Garageband. Very catchy. Hell, make it even more pumped up in parts. This has that sort of Soundgardenish/Alice In Chains sound. I really dug it. Great lead guitar." - adatis, New York "kickin' and drivin' rock – the intro is great , good vox, like the layering effect too , great groove too. all levels good to nice recording can hear all the lyrics too, , a little too alice in chains though (vocally) , like the jazz type of bridge, with the backing vox too, nice touch, great changes too. nice guitar layering, clean drumming and bass lines too real cool" - seaotter, West Milford,New Jersey

Location Madison, WI - USA

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