Communist Daughter

Communist Daughter
Members of the band Communist Daughter in the Minneapolis West Bank neighborhood of Cedar-Riverside, June 2013.
Background information
Origin	Saint Paul, MN, Minnesota, USA
Genres	Indie rock, indie folk
Years active	2009–present
Labels	Grain Belt Records
Members	Johnny Solomon Adam Switlick Molly Moore Al Weiers Dan DeMuth Dillon Marchus
Past members	Steve Yasgar Jonathan Blaseg Christopher McGuire Lee VanLith Ian Prince
Website	www.communistdaughter.com

Communist Daughter is an indie rock band from Saint Paul, MN founded by Johnny Solomon. The band's name comes from the title of a song from the band Neutral Milk Hotel.

History

Communist Daughter was founded in 2009 by singer and songwriter Johnny Solomon in Prescott WI. Solomon moved from Saint Paul to Prescott WI in 2007 after the break up of his band Friends Like These. There he began writing and recording under the name Communist Daughter, taking his name from a Neutral Milk Hotel song. In 2009 he assembled a band of twin cities musicians, bass player Adam Switlick (formerly the guitar player for Friends Like These), keyboard player Jonathan Blaseg, and drummer Steve Yasgar formerly of Swiss Army. They recorded a 4 song demo that included the track "Not The Kid". Communist Daughter signed to Grain Belt Records and began recording the debut album Soundtrack To The End. At this time they added guitar player Al Weiers (Faux Jean) and singer Molly Moore. Steve Yasgar left the band and they finished recording the album with drummer Christopher McGuire (12 Rods, Kid Dakota).

In March 2010 the single "Not The Kid" reached #1 on KCMP 89.3 The Current's charts. Steve Yasgar returned to the band and Keyboard player Lee VanLith joined the band. Soundtrack to the End was released in April 2010 on Grain Belt Records.

In late 2010, after playing the CMJ music festival, Johnny put the band on hold and checked in to rehab at Hazelton treatment facility in Center City MN for treatment of alcohol and meth addiction and Bi-polar disorder. While in treatment 2 songs from Soundtrack To The End (Speed of Sound, Soundtrack to the End) were featured in Season 7 Episode 14 (P.Y.T.) of the ABC show Grey's Anatomy.

In 2011 after leaving treatment Johnny moved back to Saint Paul. Steve Yasgar and Lee VanLith left the band in April 2011 and Ian Prince joined Communist Daughter on drums. They remixed Soundtrack To The End for vinyl and rerecorded some of the drum tracks with Ian Prince. They then recorded the EP "Something Wicked This Way Comes" on Grain Belt Records with a limited release in Sept of 2011.

In 2012 Dan DeMuth replaced Ian Prince on drums, and keyboard and guitar player Dillon Marchus replaced keyboard player Jonathan Blaseg. In June they released "Lions & Lambs" on Grain Belt Records and toured nationally including the CMJ music festival and several dates with Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit.

In 2013 the band began to record their sophomore record with Kevin Bowe as a co-producer. August 2013 the band was featured in Paste Magazine's Best of What's Next 20issue (#105).

In September 2013 singer Molly Moore and Johnny Solomon married.

Band members

Members of Communist Daughter are:

• Johnny Solomon – guitar, lead vocals
• Molly Moore - lead vocals
• Dan DeMuth – drums
• Adam Switlick – bass guitar, vocals
• Dillon Marchus – keyboards, guitar
• Al Weiers - guitar

Former members include:

• Steve Yasgar – (2009, 2010-2011) -- drums
• Christopher McGuire (2009) – drums
• Jonathan Blaseg (2009–2012) – keyboards
• Lee VanLith (2010–2011) - keyboards
• Ian Prince (2011) -- drums

Discography

Albums

Soundtrack To The End (2010)

EP's

Something Wicked This Way Comes (2011)

Lions & Lambs (2012)

Music Videos

Speed of Sound

Ghosts

Soundtrack to the End

Oceans

Not the Kid

City Love

Find Communist Daugther videos on YouTube

External links

• Grain Belt Records
• Communist Daughter Web Site
• Communist Daughter Facebook Page
• Communist Daughter on Vimeo
• Friends Like These on Myspace
• Featured on the PBS program "MN Original" from the TPT St. Paul, MN Station: MN Original Video