* En anglais uniquement
Minneapolis, MN, indie rock classicists
Tapes 'n Tapes formed in the winter of 2003, when guitarist/vocalist Josh Grier (aka "Tapes 1"), bassist Matt Kretzmann ("'n") and guitarist Steve Nelson ("Tapes 2") began crafting a sound that harked back to
the Pixies and
Pavement and also recalled more contemporary bands like
the Shins. Nelson left the band, with drummer Karl Schweitz becoming the band's second "Tapes"; this lineup recorded the Tapes 'n Tapes EP in early 2004, recording in a cabin in Wisconsin. After the EP's release,
Tapes 'n Tapes played a string of gigs with
I Am the World Trade Center,
the Streets,
Metric, and
the Futureheads. Kretzmann moved to Seattle in summer 2004, and bassist Shawn Neary became
Tapes 'n Tapes second "'n." The band went through more lineup changes: Schweitz moved to Madison, WI, early the following year, and Jeremy Hanson joined as
Tapes 'n Tapes' new drummer. This version of the band recorded its debut album,
The Loon, in summer 2005 with producer/engineer Erik Appelwick. Ibid Records released
The Loon that fall; around that time, Kretzmann rejoined the
Tapes 'n Tapes fold. Positive reviews of
The Loon and the band's consistent gigging -- which included a winter 2006 East Coast tour and an appearance at that year's South by Southwest -- led to
Tapes 'n Tapes signing with XL Records. Neary left the band late that spring, and Appelwick stepped in to become the band's extra "'n." XL re-released
The Loon in summer 2006. In 2007,
Tapes 'n Tapes recorded with producer Dave Fridmann at his Buffalo, NY studio; the band's second album Walk it Off arrived the following spring. For their third album, 2011's Outside, the band returned to their own Ibid imprint, recording the album in their hometown and having Peter Katis mix the results. ~ Heather Phares