Arising from the dismal murk of past mediocrity,
Current was formed in early July of 1992. Seizing
pre-paid studio time from Matt and Derek's failing musical
endeavor, Gallowstree,
Current recorded an eight song demo at the
Tempermill on July 7th - a mere seven days after their first
practice. The fast and hectic pace disallowed any planning or
forethought and much of the recording was improvised and/or written
in the studio. Some four months later, four of these songs would
appear on Current's first vinyl offering - a self-titled 7" - which
in turn gave birth to Council Records. Soon after the release of
this record, Scott and the band parted ways over differences in
direction and dedication.
Throughout the Fall and Winter of
1992, Current circulated their s/t 7" locally in Michigan and via
mailorder. The reception was positive and in the Spring of 1993,
Current was asked to participate in the first More Than Music
Festival (Dayton, OH). Shortly after, Current was approached by
Doghouse
Records who offered to help finance and release what would
later become the Coliseum LP. Not wishing to deal with contracts
and bad relations, Current balked at the idea and decided to
release the LP on their own label. The Coliseum LP was released in
the Summer of 1993 - a time which also found Current setting out
for their first US tour. Accompanied by Little Rock, Arkansas' own
Chino Horde,
Current would play over 40 shows in two months, travel coast to
coast, meet an amazing amount of wonderful people, and play a
handful of shows with the likes of
Rorshach,
Sinker,
Askance,
Second Story Window,
Greyhouse and
Heroin.
Shortly after returning
from their Summer tour, Justin left Michigan for Utah, which
effectively disbanded Current. During that time the split 7" with
Indian
Summer was released, work on the split 7" with Chino Horde
began and the remaining members of Current, with the aid of some
old friends, recorded an
Embrace song for the Land of Greed, World of Need
compilation. Justin returned to Michigan in the final remaining
months of 1993 at which time Current reformed and the seeds of
Ottawa were first
sown.
Throughout the early months of 1994, Current practiced,
wrote new songs, released the split 7" with Chino Horde and planned
their next Summer tour. May of that year, saw Current leave for a
56-day Summer tour playing shows with
Indian Summer,
Native Nod,
William Martyr 17,
Prozac Memory and a host
of fine bands at the second More Than Music Festival in Dayton,
Ohio. Sadly, in the grandest time of existence, tour stressed the
relationships of all involved - foreshadowing doom in the months to
come. Returning from tour, Current managed to record seven furious
final songs at Woodshed Studios before disbanding for good in
November of 1994, four of which were post-humorously released as
the Is 4 7" in the Summer of 1995.
Current's final legacy
includes, two 7" singles, a split 7" with Chino Horde, a split 7'
with Indian Summer (Homemade Records) , a full-length LP
(Coliseum), various compilations tracks and a more or less complete
Discography CD released by
Council Records in the Winter of 1998.