Parts & Labor

Brooklyn's Parts & Labor create a boisterous delivery of electric guitars, sparse electronics, and rackety vocals. The experimental/noise rock collective came together in 2002 with keyboardist <a href="spotify:artist:4HKTPJw50BFASrfhJEHIVP">Dan Friel</a> and bassist B.J. Warshaw. <a href="spotify:artist:4HKTPJw50BFASrfhJEHIVP">Friel</a> and Warshaw originally met three years prior while the two were working at the Knitting Factory. Both had already played in various noise rock outfits before Parts & Labor, but it wasn't until the addition of drummer Jim Sykes that Parts & Labor finally felt like a solid band. They made their album debut with Groundswell in 2003. Once the band was ready to tour, Sykes left Parts & Labor to return to his native Chicago. Drummer Joel Saladino quickly stepped in, performing his first show just three days after joining the group. That same year, Parts & Labor also released Rise, Rise, Rise for Narnack. This experimental split release featured vocalist <a href="spotify:artist:3LxogQGFWIVPpDWNOVlSzK">Tyondai Braxton</a> and highlighted an elaborate, avant-garde spin on Parts & Labor's sound. In June 2004, Saladino left the band and formed Narchitect. Christopher R. Weingarten was named as his replacement, and a 7" release for Plastic followed in April 2005. Before recording their third album, Parts & Labor had already toured with the likes of <a href="spotify:artist:3HJIB8sYPyxrFGuwvKXSLR">TV on the Radio</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7AZwAitWq1KcFoIJhRWb6V">Deerhoof</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1aDpQ3bo57IlYWmsG5sdlp">Melt Banana</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2og3FOCLYXT9H7IYE6QPUq">Lightning Bolt</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3jJxGc6wl7xvZHSg8tg61V">Enon</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:6If4kQp0rhfVgAZDNudjjS">Oneida</a>. <a href="spotify:artist:4HKTPJw50BFASrfhJEHIVP">Friel</a> and Warshaw also founded Cardboard Records, home to <a href="spotify:artist:6Wl2FjAN6wagvhsX2FUppy">Pterodactyl</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:21jI3pnCq3VVeqLszuqhie">Big Bear</a>, and Aa. The band got back to its noise rock roots for Stay Afraid (2006), a roisterous first release for Jagjaguwar/Brah. Mapmaker followed in 2007. In 2008, Parts & Labor released Escapers 2: Grind Pop, as well as Receivers. After that experimental period, the band focused on a more solid effort, releasing the highly cohesive Constant Future in 2011. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, Rovi