Ghost Aquarium originated in Orlando, FL in 1999 with Ron K (guitar, bass, vocals) recording demos at home on a Tascam 424. When it was time to hit the studio, Ron recruited Jason Griffith, long time friend and band-mate from previous projects. Taking their reckless abandon to Gainesville's Goldentone studios in 2001, Ghost Aquarium recorded the single "Let Go" along with "Alone.”
With the Psychotic Singles spinning a buzz on college radio, thanks to attention generated by DJ Sleepy Hippy, a return to Goldentone studios in 2002 produced the Spare Change E.P. The title track was formally recorded, while the home-recorded acoustic tracks "Crashed Again" and "Philadelphia" were finalized with vocals. The Spare Change E.P. blended "Crashed Again" with the E.P.'s title track and also featured the Psychotic Singles as B-sides. These songs together formed the basis of what would be Ghost Aquarium's take on creating a style of mid-tempo Shoegaze: clashing catchy guitar melodies and exploring deranged musical avenues while maintaining a dedicated pop sensibility. The resulting creation caught the attention of DJ Dan Stone at 104.1 WTKS, and "Spare Change" caught airplay on his nationally syndicated show, "Sound Opinions.”
In early 2004, a lineup change for performance purposes brought Sean Robinson to drums/backing vocals and Hunter Rogers to bass/backing vocals. The Living in Monotone E.P. was recorded and mixed by Sean Robinson at his studio in 2005. Living in Monotone featured an explosive full band version of the previously acoustic "Crashed Again.” For a good time, Ghost Aquarium preformed the tracks during a live showcase on the air during 91.5 WPRK's 110 hour marathon, an event during which DJ Dave Plotkin stayed awake and ran the station without sleep for the entire 110 hour duration.
By 2006 Ghost Aquarium partnered with Ripping Records for the vinyl release of a new single, "Light Cannot Escape,” featuring the title track and a cover version of Christian Death's classic "Spiritual Cramp.” Ron K once again picked up the guitar, bass and vocal duties, but this time Mike Quinnan took to the drum seat. The event was recorded and mixed at The Danger Room by Josh Dobbs on Halloween 2006.
Light Cannot Escape garnered favorable reviews from the likes of Big Takeover, Razorcake and others. Described as "instantly memorable" and even "creepy and depressive,” the comparisons to Dinosaur Jr. and My Bloody Valentine helped to bring tangibility to Ghost Aquarium's sound. In 2009 Light Cannot Escape was nominated by Andrew Earles for best single in New York's Village Voice "Pazz & Jop" music feature.
Following a relocation to Seattle Washington, Ghost Aquarium assembled a three piece line-up with Sean Robinson back on drums, Andrew Smith on bass, and Ron K holding down guitar and vocals. After a few gigs, Ghost Aquarium headed off to Seattle's Chromosound Studios in 2010. There, they began to put together tracks for the next release on Ripping Records, a split seven inch, pairing Ghost Aquarium with New York's Panic-pop outfit, Josh Dobbs and his Deficit of Dreams. The vinyl was released in the Fall of 2011 featuring "Despite the Vices" and "Enough Time to Live.” Again, the songs were met with positive reviews that noted the group's continual progression, indicating a sound akin to The Wipers, with the new tracks being described in a review as "slower but angst-ridden with a full, minor-driven guitar sound.” “Despite the Vices" was quickly snatched up by internet podcasts, and independent music radio shows.
Strange Communication, released on Halloween 2011, places Ghost Aquarium's finer moments in one collection, showcasing the band's eclectic influences, from radio friendly rockers to sedated and gloomy bat-cave brooding. The album features the L.P. version of "Despite the Vices,” "Enough Time to Live,” and "The Moment Party", which were recorded during the Chromosound sessions.
Some shout-outs--
From 2003 to 2007, while devoting time to Ghost Aquarium and with high hell on the rise, Ron joined Orlando's "Paper Street Soap Company", performing and recording bass guitar on the “Embrace Perpetual War, E.P.(W)". Eventually undisclosed antics resulted in a dubious, but very amiable departure from the band, and Ron K returned his focus to Ghost Aquarium and other new musical projects.
At the start of 2007, Ron K began touring and recording with friends from Orlando's long running thrash & roll blitzkrieg, The RunnAmuckS. Ron played guitar on the "Reanimated Demo (2007)", and on the full length album "Clawing Back(2008)".
During a long, cold, northwest winter in 2009, Ron K was inspired to return to writing experimental hardcore, recording guitar with Seattle's Earth Dies Screaming, and released a Self Titled E.P the same year.
In 1999 Ron K gigged and played Bass in Orlando's experimental hardcore band, Neuman Portentum, and recorded a still obscure full length album.
With a new RunnAmuckS album in the works, Ron K also continues to brandish the torch of Ghost Aquarium, composing new tracks, and living out life experiences that provide the introspective lyrics and bi-polar atmospheres that create Ghost Aquarium's unique musical catalog.
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