Album Notes

Rippopotamus:A Slightly Longer Biography

Rippopotamus was formed in 1990, in the shadow of UMASS Amherst and alternative rock heroes Dinosaur Jr., The Pixies and Buffalo Tom. The band quicky obtained local popularity and recorded its first EP " 'N Din Som" on its own 2 Funky Int'l record label that fall. While beginning to headline outside the Amherst/Northampton area the band returned to the studio to record their follow up EP in the spring of 1991. Released in the fall the second EP entitled "R House" spent 11 weeks in the number one position on local sales charts and garnered great reviews in the local press.

In 1992, while expanding their repertoire, fan base, and area of performance, Rippopotamus also began appearing as an opening act for national artists. They were chosen as the first local band to appear at the UMASS Spring Concert that year with Fishbone, The Beastie Boys, Phish and others. While maintaining a hectic schedule of New England performances Rippopotamus decided to relocate to Boston MA, and won best Rap/Hip-Hop Act in the 1992 Valley Advocate Music Poll.

Moving to Boston in 1993 the band began to work hard at establishing itself in that city's creative and very competitive music scene. The band also continued to expand its area of operation. That fall they began to record their first full length recording, while continuing a schedule of regular shows.

In 1994, now established as headliners in Boston, Rippopotamus received a nomination for Best Funk Act from the Boston Music Awards. During the spring the band put the finishing touches on its first full length album "Butter" and arranged a production and distribution deal with an independent record label, Off Beat Records. The album was released in September and received great reviews, airplay on college and commercial radio stations and national distribution.

In 1995, Rippopotamus toured in support of "Butter" including stops in Philadelphia in addition to New York and New England. The band received two Boston Music Award Nominations, five WFNX/Boston Phoenix Music Poll Nominations and participated in WBCN's Rock-n-Roll Rumble. The band also shot its first music video at Aerosmith's Boston club Mama Kin, along with a documentary of the band's life on the road.

In 1996 the band continued to expand its tour base, released it's music video & documentary, won a 1996 Boston Music Award, appeared at the LaBatt's Funk Fest in Montreal, Canada, and even had the vidoe aired on Much Music TV. In 1997, the band released its second full length CD "Swim" which once again received great press, College, AAA and Commercial radio airplay (155 stations nationwide). The band also licensed their song "Performer" to MTV to be the theme for their "Singled Out" game show, and peformed nearly 100 shows all over the Northeast U.S. and even arranged a return to Canada.

In 1998 the band was selected to appear at the 1998 Montreal Jazz Festival in July, as well as making its national television debut on CBS TV's syndicated "Wild,Wild Web" program appearing on 148 stations nationwide. This was followed by a brief tour of Michigan. The band then returned to the studio to record two songs for their follow up to "Swim". In 1999 Rippopotamus toured steadily, including stops in at Jimmy Buffet's famous "Margaritaville" club in Key West FL,as well as a return trip to the midwest, and more, while completing songs for the next CD.

Early in 2000 the band released a CD single featuring early mixes of 3 songs from their upcoming album. This caused the band to be featured Artits on numerous web sites including Ampcast.com, Soundsbig.com,Bostonbands.com & Bostonbandwidth.com. The band also had songs from their last album "Swim" featured in the independent film "Star Geeks. Currently the band is continuing to work in the studio on tracks for its upcoming studio album and is releasing a live album entitled "It's Alive" early in 2001.