Tagging Satellites began in 1997 after a chance meeting in a small town bar. Zera Marvel was convinced she'd never meet anyone she could relate to in her newly adopted home of Charleston, South Carolina, when she looked up from her drink to see destiny smiling at her from the end of the bar. It was Graig Markel, singer for standout Seattle-based band New Sweet Breath, who happened to be playing in town the following night. It was a chance encounter that changed both of their lives. Two months later Zera got on a Greyhound bus with her clothes and a guitar, and moved out to Seattle. Together Zera and Graig formed the band Tagging Satellites.
The band went through a few line-up changes over the years. Jeff Hazel, the drummer for New Sweet Breath, recorded and played live for Tagging Satellites' first full-length, Shooting Down the Airwaves, which was released on Mag Wheel Records in 1999. In 2000 their next endeavor was a two-song ep, Cherry Blue, a limited edition, enhanced cd with a video, on Recovery Records. Later that year they released a full-length called Abstract Confessions, with just Graig and Zera writing, recording and playing everything on the 10-song disc. The electronic genius, Plastiq Phantom, filled in for a few live shows.
After the release of Abstract Confessions, Graig and Zera enlisted the talent of Shea Bliss on drums, and Jeffrey McCallum on bass. The five-song ep, Risk of Flight, released in 2001, was an exercise of sorts, created as the four of them got to know each other. In 2002, the full-length, One Night Falls was put out as a split release from local Seattle labels, Recovery Records and Roam Records. One Night Falls scaled the college radio charts in the US, garnering rave reviews along the way. The need for a keyboard player became apparent to round out the bands live sound, so they asked Erin McBride to join them. Then upon purchasing a van they took the show on the road across the US.
In 2003, Graig and Zera came to the difficult decision to end Tagging Satellites so they could pursue solo projects full time. In 2004 Graig released Tall Tails On Tape on Sonic Boom Recordings. In 2006 Graig and Zera are joining forces again, as Graig produces and records material for Zera's first solo release. Stay tuned!
For more information on what Graig and Zera are up to these days:
http://www.zeramarvel.com
http://www.graigmarkel.com
Photos, lyrics, MP3s and more at http://www.recoverysounds.com/ts Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
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