Black Eyes (band)

Black Eyes is an American post-punk band from Washington, D.C., United States, that initially existed from August 2001 to March 2004, disbanding two months prior to the release of their second album, Cough.^[1][2][3] The band reunited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their self-titled full-length debut, Black Eyes, announcing a 2023 reissue and their first live performances in 19 years.^[4] Black Eyes' members are Dan Caldas, Daniel Martin-McCormick, Hugh McElroy, Jacob Long, and Mike Kanin.^[5]

Black Eyes
Origin	Washington, D.C., United States
Genres	Post-hardcore, noise rock, post-punk, experimental, sasscore
Years active	2001 (2001)–2004 (2004), 2022 (2022)–present
Labels	Dischord, Ruffian
Members	Dan Caldas Daniel Martin-McCormick Hugh McElroy Jacob Long Mike Kanin
Website	dischord.com/band/black-eyes

History

In 2002, Black Eyes released a 7" on Ruffian Records (Some Boys / Shut Up, I Never) and a 7" split with Early Humans on Planaria Recordings; the latter includes the track "Have Been Murdered Again," an early version of "Someone Has His Fingers Broken."^[6][7][8]

Black Eyes' self-titled debut album was released in 2003 on Dischord Records; most tracks feature the band's trademark dual vocals (from bass guitarist Hugh McElroy and guitarist Daniel Martin-McCormick) and two full drum kits.^[9] After Black Eyes, bassist Jacob Long began teaching himself to play saxophone, which he performed in the group's subsequent live shows and recording sessions.^[1]

After extensive touring with Q and Not U,^[4] Black Eyes disbanded after a show at The Black Cat in Washington, D.C., just two months before the release of their second album, Cough.^[1][10] For this album, the band incorporated frenzied brass instrumentation, pushing further into free-jazz territory.^[11]

The band's members went on to pursue other projects, including Ital,^[12] Earthen Sea,^[13] Marriage,^[14] Hand Fed Babies,^[15] Sentai,^[16] and Mi Ami.^[17] McElroy continued to release work on his DIY label, Ruffian Records,^[18] and Kanin founded On Repeat, a sub-label of Astral Spirits.^[1]

On November 15, 2022, it was announced that Black Eyes was reuniting and would perform a run of three shows in April 2023 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut album.^[19] Along with a reissue of Black Eyes, the band also released previously-unheard demos, live sets, and a zine titled Speaking In Tongues: Black Eyes 2001-2004.^[1][20]

Black Eyes discography

Full-length albums

• Black Eyes (Dischord, 2003)^[9][21]
• Cough (Dischord, 2004)^[10][22]

Black Eyes track listing:^[23] "Someone Has His Fingers Broken" "A Pack of Wolves" "Yes, I Confess" "On the Sacred Side" "Nine" "Speaking in Tongues" "Deformative" "King's Dominion" "Day Turns Night" "Letter to Raoul Peck"

Cough track listing:^[24] "Cough, Cough" "Eternal Life" "False Positive" "Drums" "Scrapes and Scratches" "Fathers of Daughters" "Holy of Holies" "Commencement" "Spring Into Winter" "Another Country" "Meditation"

References

1. Williger, Jonathan (17 April 2023). "Dischord Genre-Defiers Black Eyes Return to Reclaim Their Legacy". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
2. "Black Eyes". Dischord. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
3. Kelly, Chris (13 December 2023). "20 years after its debut album, D.C. punk band Black Eyes reunites". The Washington Post. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
4. Hoos, Kate (15 November 2022). "Black Eyes Reunite, re-issue debut album". Full Time Aesthetic. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
5. Corcoran, Nina (15 November 2022). "Black Eyes to Reunite for First Shows in 19 Years". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
6. "Black Eyes: Shut Up, I Never". Dischord Records. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
7. "News Archive". Ruffian Records. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
8. "Black Eyes". Sputnik Music. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
9. "Black Eyes: Black Eyes". Pitchfork.
10. Tangari, Joe (26 October 2004). "Black Eyes: Cough". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
11. "Black Eyes: Cough". PopMatters. 29 November 2004. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
12. Ryce, Andrew (9 February 2012). "Ital". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
13. Cohan, Brad (13 April 2022). "As Earthen Sea, Jacob Long makes dub-damaged bangers for dystopian dance floors". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
14. Masterson, Patrick (5 November 2015). "Marriage — Pool Blunt (Monofonus Press)". Dusted. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
15. "Concerts". Washington Post. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
16. "Catalogue". Ruffian Records. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
17. Breihan, Tom (7 April 2009). "Mi Ami: Watersports". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
18. Fischer, Jonathan L. (17 November 2009). "Ruffian Records Posts Rare MP3s, Plans Releases with Sockets". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
19. "Dischord Records: Black Eyes to reunite for East Coast shows this spring". Dischord Records. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
20. "Speaking In Tongues: Black Eyes 2001-2004". Dischord. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
21. Dungan, Jason (20 November 2003). "Black Eyes: Black Eyes". Dusted. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
22. Dungan, Jason (18 October 2004). "Black Eyes: Cough". Dusted. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
23. Mahoney, Brendan (4 June 2009). "2002: Black Eyes - Black Eyes". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
24. "Black Eyes – Cough". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 13 December 2023.