About

Tortoise

Tortoise JUNE 27 Commodore Ballroom Since its formation in Chicago in the early ’90s, Tortoise has been one of the most dynamic bands in modern music. The group transformed American indie rock by shunning standard punk and rock-and-roll influences and incorporating instead a variety of diverse music genres including Krautrock, dub, jazz, minimalism, electronica, ambient, and film music. Moreover, Tortoise dispensed with rock’s normal song structure and focused almost entirely on instrumental prowess and group interaction. Some have cited Tortoise as being one of the prime forces behind the development and popularity of the so-called “post-rock” movement. Over the past decade Tortoise has produced a number of innovative and influential albums for the Thrill Jockey label. From the deep and understated rhythms and tones on their 1996 landmark Millions Now Living Will Never Die, to the bombastic sounds of 2001’s Standards, to the building and rebuilding upon melodies and rhythms on Its All Around You, this delicately complex and fiercely original ensemble has always been ahead of the curve. With John McEntire drums, John Her... more...

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Current Lineup

John McEntire
drums, keyboards
Doug McCombs
bass guitar
John Herndon
drums, keyboard, vibraphone
Dan Bitney
percussion
Jeff Parker
guitar