Tracker (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tracker | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Genres | Indie rock |
| Years active | 1998 – present |
| Labels | FILMguerrero |
| Website | www.trackermusic.com |
Tracker is an American indie rock ensemble from Portland, Oregon. The act was founded in 1998 by John Askew,[1] a freelance audio engineer and writer for Tape Op magazine.[2]
Askew, a multi-instrumentalist, initially created studio recordings with little (if any) assistance under the name Tracker, but later recruited a revolving lineup of musicians for live performances. Those included Michael Schorr (formerly of Death Cab for Cutie) and Dave Harding (formerly of Richmond Fontaine).[2] Askew also founded the record label FILMguerrero which supports other independent musicians in Portland.[3]
The first album under the Tracker name was Ames in 2001,[4] followed by Polk in 2002.[5] Askew transformed Tracker into a full-time touring and recording band after the Ames album.[6] The first two albums were named after fictional towns in Iowa that Askew had never visited.[7] The album Blankets (2004)[8] serves as a soundtrack to a graphic novel of the same title by Craig Thompson.[3][9] That album included guest appearances by Chris Funk (The Decemberists), Willy Vlautin (Richmond Fontaine), and Adam Selzer (Norfolk & Western).[10]
