Avail
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| Avail | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Reston, Virginia, USA |
| Genres | Punk rock, hardcore punk |
| Years active | 1987–2008 |
| Labels | Jade Tree Records Fat Wreck Lookout! Records |
| Members | Tim Barry Joe Banks Gwomper Ed Trask Beau Beau |
| Past members | Brien Stewart Doug Crosby Erik Larsen Chuck McCauley |
Avail was a punk rock band from Richmond, Virginia. Originally from Reston, Va. the band formed in 1987, its members including Joe Banks, Doug Crosby, Brien Stewart, and Mikey Warstler. The only original remaining member, guitar player Joe Banks, teamed up with rival band LDK's (Learning Disabled Kids) Tim Barry. They moved to Richmond in 1990, and soon, after numerous line up changes, put together a solid lineup to release their first album "Satiate" in 1992. Many of their lyrics center on Richmond. The band released six studio albums.
The band has never officially disbanded, but has not released new material since 2002 and not played live since late 2007.
Contents
Members
Avail has five members.
- Tim Barry - Vocals (Drums on first EP)
- Joe Banks - Guitar
- Gwomper - Bass
- Ed Trask - Drums
- Beau Beau Butler - Cheerleader
Former members:
- Brien Stewart (original vocalist/founding member 1987-1990)
- Chuck McCauley - Bass
- DJ Grimes - Bass
- Erik Larson - Drums
- Doug Crosby - Drums (original drummer/founding member 1987-1990)
Label Change
Avail self-released their first LP, Satiate on Catheter-Assembly Records. It was later re-released by Lookout! Records. They released several studio releases on Lookout! and then went on to Fat Wreck Chords for One Wrench and Front Porch Stories. Most recently, they have signed on with Jade Tree Records who has recently re-released the Avail albums Dixie, 4am Friday, and Over the James.
Legacy in Richmond
Tim Barry is currently writing and performing solo music. Joe Banks, along with former members Erik Larson and Chuck McCauley, formed The Ghost Run in 2009. Joe Banks, Chuck McCauley and Erik Larson have also teamed up in the band Freeman. Later member Ed Trask, formerly of Richmond's own Kepone, is continuing to promote the arts in Richmond through his own mural work, as well as helping to create events such as the RVA Street Art Festival, which took place in the summer of 2012 along the Canal Walk in downtown Richmond. Avail had developed into a legend in Richmond's music scene. Having helped to establish Richmond as a hub for independent music, some consider Avail to be representative of a certain time period in Richmond history. Graffiti, sidewalk impressions and tattoos in particular, bearing the "dixie" image, are quite common and generally a source of pride for some Richmond locals.
Discography
Full-length albums
- Satiate - 1992 - Lookout! Records
- Dixie - 1994 - Lookout! Records
- 4am Friday - 1996 - Lookout! Records
- Over the James - 1998 - Lookout! Records
- One Wrench - 2000 - Fat Wreck Chords
- Front Porch Stories - 2002 - Fat Wreck Chords
Demo albums
- Each Other - 1988
- Reaching Out - 1989
EP's
- Who's to Say What Stays the Same - 1989 - Sunspot Records
- Attempt to Regress - 1993 - Catheter Assembly
- The Fall of Richmond - 1997 - Lookout! Records - split EP with (Young) Pioneers
- 100 Times - 1999 - Fat Wreck Chords
Music Videos
- Simple Song (1996)
- West Wye (2002)
Live
- Live at the Kings Head Inn - 1993 - Old Glory Records
- Live at the Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco - 1998 - Lookout! Records
- V.M. Live Presents...Avail - 1999 - Liberation Records
