The Black Math Experiment

The Black Math Experiment is a band described as a unique blend of 1980s synthpop and new wave music[1] with similarities to "The B-52's crossed with Berlin, The Dead Milkmen, and Talking Heads."[2] Based in Houston, Texas in 2004, the band is known for their offbeat pop songs with irreverent or strange lyrics (for example, "Evil Wizard Jesus"). They are known for elaborate live shows that integrate multimedia such as televisions endlessly running odd videos, evangelical-like pamphlets and baptisms, Christmas presents, and a toilet paper cannon, all led by the inexhaustible energy of lead singer Jef With One F (Jef Rouner). They received notoriety with their song, "You Cannot Kill David Arquette".

The Black Math Experiment
The Black Math Experiment: left to right, Bill Curtner, Chris Soliz, Jef With One F, Christi Lain, Captain Mongo Nelson (behind) and Brian Coleman
The Black Math Experiment: left to right, Bill Curtner, Chris Soliz, Jef With One F, Christi Lain, Captain Mongo Nelson (behind) and Brian Coleman
Background information
OriginHouston, Texas US
GenresAlternative rock
Years active2004–2008
MembersBill Curtner
Brian Coleman
Christi Lain
Jef With One F
Past membersChris Soliz
Captain Mongo Nelson
Justin Nemeti

History

The Black Math Experiment was founded by Bill Curtner in Houston, Texas in 2004 with Curtner on guitar, Captain Mongo Nelson (Captain Matthew Nelson) on bass guitar, Brian Coleman on drums (2004–), Chris Soliz on keyboards/synthesizers and Jef With One F (Jef Rouner) and Christi Lain singing lead vocals. The band was formed from the remnants of a previous band called Cosmonaut Down with Lain and Jef replacing the previous lead vocalist. The Black Math Experiment debuted at a club called Helios in Houston on December 18, 2004. The following year they put out their debut EP, What We Do... Is Secret.[3]

The band rose to notoriety with its 2005 release Fake Words and Signs From Space. The release's eponymous track is the band's most popular downloaded single.[4] Notably, it also featured the sarcastic song "You Cannot Kill David Arquette", which was inspired by Curtner's fascination with the resiliency of Arquette's movie characters. This song led to an informal collaboration with the object of the song and a makeshift Arquette altar at live shows. A second single, "Laugh Track", became the theme music for the Dial-A-Joke segment on British KidsCastUK.[5] In a review, Joey Guerra of the Houston Chronicle described the band as a "snappy, sarcastic sextet" “equal parts neo-new wave rock outfit, irreverent comedy troupe and kitschy musical theater act."[6]

Their next release in November 2006, Last Transmission from the Blue Room, was well received by critics, seeming "a natural progression for the band."[2][7] The album included a re-recording of the Arquette song as well as a cover of "Science Fiction/Double Feature" from the movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It also featured a remix of the song "Ruler of the Rock Robots (A Love Story)" by Asmodeus X, retitled "Ruler of the Trance Robots". Following the album's completion, Chris Soliz left the group as a full-time member to pursue other projects, but remains an occasional collaborator.

Starting late in 2006, Black Math Experiment songs such as "Ohio" regularly began making the playlists of Houston area radio stations such as KPFT and KTRU.[8][9][10]

In 2008, the band won the Houston Press Music Award for "Best Unclassifiable Band".[11] That same year they went on "indefinite hiatus."[12][13]

The Black Math Experiment and David Arquette
David Arquette posing with the Black Math Experiment; from left, Bill Curtner, Captain Mongo Nelson, Jef With One F, David Arquette, Christi Lain with Brian Coleman behind at wheel of limo

The band's 2005 song "You Cannot Kill David Arquette" was commended by its subject, David Arquette, who sent the band a box of gourmet cupcakes in thanks and much later, the 1965 Ford Econoline van used in his movie The Tripper.[14] Since then, Arquette has occasionally promoted the band, including during an interview on MTV’s Total Request Live (TRL).[15][16] The song was also featured on MTV's Ridiculousness.[17] On March 27, 2007, during a national tour to promote The Tripper, the actor stopped in Houston to promote the band and joined them onstage in a performance.[18][19][20] The band's music was later used to accompany the B-roll in the DVD release of the film.

Side projects

Curtner splits time with the Houston-based alternative rock band, The Abyss, and founded a second band with Jef With One F called The Ghost of Cliff Burton in 2009. In 2004, Jef With One F recorded " Wicked Little Town (Reprise)" with Asmodeus X for a production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch.[21]

Members
  • Jef With One F (Jef Rouner)– lead vocals, keyboards (2004–2008)
  • Christi Lain – lead vocals, keyboards (2004–2008)
  • Bill Curtner – guitar, keyboard, vocals (2004–2008)
  • Brian Coleman – drums (2004–2008)
  • Chris Soliz – keyboards, synthesizers (2004–2006)
  • Captain Mongo Nelson (Captain Matthew Nelson)– bass guitar, vocals (2004–2007)
  • Justin Nemeti – bass guitar (2007–2008)

Discography

Albums and EPs
  • What We Do... Is Secret (E.P.), 2005
  • Fake Words and Signs From Space, 2005
  • Last Transmission from the Blue Room, 2006
  • Live From the Five Minute Hallway, Vol. 1, 2007
  • All You Need is Blood, 2007

Compilation appearances
  • "Lost (Acoustic version)", Make It Matter, (various artists), 2008 – Make Music Matter

Footnotes and references
  1. Joey Guerra. Joey's weekend picks. Houston Chronicle, September 1, 2005.
  2. Cobb, David (November 6, 2006). "Review: The Black Math Experiment, Last Transmissions From The Blue Room". Houston Calling. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
  3. Cobb, David (October 28, 2005). "The Black Math Experiment: What We Do... Is Secret EP". Houston Calling. Archived from the original on December 25, 2005.
  4. Information from iTunes. Retrieved August 31, 2009
  5. "KidsCastUK Show 63". mevio. December 21, 2008. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011.
  6. Joey Guerra. The Black Math Experiment: Black Math Experiment adds up. Houston Chronicle, December 21, 2005.
  7. Evan St. John. The Black Math Experiment – Last Transmission from the Blue Room (SR). Austin Sound, February 16, 2007.
  8. Sample Houston music survey puts “Ohio” as No. 7. Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Public News Radio, November 18, 2006.
  9. Rich, Rad. "Blog of KPFT's Rad Rich". Archived from the original on May 3, 2009.
  10. "Last Transmission from the Blue Room debuts at No. 7, beginning a long run in the Top 15". KTRU. Archived from the original on May 26, 2008. Retrieved February 25, 2007.
  11. Chris Gray. The 2008 Houston Press Music Awards Ceremony. Houston Press, August 6, 2008.
  12. Joey Guerra. Bye-bye Black Math Experiment. Houston Chronicle, June 3, 2008.
  13. John Nova Lomax. Black Math Experiment to Go On Hiatus. Houston Press, May 27, 2008.
  14. Joey Guerra. Immortalizing David Arquette. Houston Chronicle, September 7, 2006.
  15. MTV’s transcript. Total Request Live. MTV.
  16. Joey Guerra. Black Math Experiment on MTV's TRL. Houston Chronicle, February 2, 2007.
  17. MTV Ridiculousness Season 5, Episode 6 with guest David Arquette, August 14, 2014
  18. Joey Guerra. BME and David Arquette: An immortal Houston meeting. Houston Chronicle, March 28, 2007.
  19. Video highlights by David Arquette of his visit with The Black Math Experiment with interview excerpts
  20. Video from the Black Math Experiment show. Houston Chronicle, March 28, 2007.
  21. Jef With One F. Aftermath: Asmodeus X at Numbers. Houston Press, October 27, 2008.

Other Interviews and Articles

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