Columbus Alive: Local Music - Grafton (2011)

Columbus Alive, May 30th, 2011:

A decade ago, Grafton’s early career as barebones garage punk hellraisers culminated in the self-titled debut Lou Poster had always imagined. 

“This first record, that’s the one I started envisioning from the time I was 19,” said Poster, Grafton’s guitarist, singer and mastermind. 

Two lineup changes and three records later, Poster and drummer Jason McKiernan will reunite with original bassist Donovan Roth on Friday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the debut, 15 years as a band and Poster’s 35th birthday. 

They’ll play the entire LP on Friday, hearkening to when they were young guns of Columbus rock. 

“It’s more a celebration that we’re still alive,” McKiernan said. 

Poster relocated to Columbus in 1995 and moved in with McKiernan the following year. Soon they were bashing out bluesy punk rock inspired by Columbus duo The Hairy Patt Band. Gaunt’s searing pop-punk, Gibson Bros.′ howlin’ stomp and Monster Truck Five’s churlish noise-mongering were in the mix too. 

“All those bands that we were into were the guys that we were afraid of at the bar,” Poster said.

Know Yer Band: Grafton

Band: Grafton

Members
Guitars/Vocals - Lou Poster
Bass/Backing Vocals - Donovan Roth/Will Pugh
Drums/Backing Vocals - Jason McKiernan

Releases
2001 - Self-Titled album (Derailleur)
2002 - Sumbitch/Fine, Good, Go! 7" single (Diaphragm Records)
2003 - Blind Horse Campaign album (Dead Canary Records)
2004 - Majesty Shakes 12" single (Dead Canary Records)
2006 - Jumpstart Wire album (Dead Canary Records)

Know Yer Band: Bob City

Band: Bob City

Members
Vocals - Jeremy Hoar/Justin Tesa
Guitar - Pat Murphy
Guitar - Joachim "JoJo" Kearns
Bass - Donovan Roth
Drums - Brad Swiniarski/Ben Kemp

Releases
1998 - Swamp Buggy Racer / Dead Man 7" single (Burnt Herd)
1999 - Hardball EP (Red Hour Recordings)
1999 - Vent The Spew Vol. 1 compilation (Red Hour Recordings)
2000 - Split w/A Planet For Texas 7" single (Diaphragm Records)
2000 - Bob City album (Derailleur Records)
2001 - Cringe.com/pilation Volume 2 (Cringe.com)

Know Yer Band: The Feelers

Band: The Feelers

Members
Vocals - Prof. Dan "Feelings/White Pepper" Riffe
Guitar - Aleks Red Menance
Guitar/Vocals - Jon "JG/J. Ghad" Gray
Bass - Sean "Sensation" Redd/Donovan "Smashy" Roth
Drums - Joe "Q.T. Thunderguns/Canivorous Supremacy" Riffe

Releases
2004 - Fuhrers New MiniSkirt 7" single (Death By Noise)
2004 - Split w/Blank Its 7" single (Contaminated Records)
2005 - Parts And Pieces 7" single (P. Trash Records)
2005 - Learn To Hate The Feelers album (Dead Beat Records)
2006 - Just Can't Get Enough 7" single (Contaminated Records)
2007 - Nothing Always 7" single (Bachelor Records)
2007 - 2007 European Tour 7" EP (P. Trash Records)