While most bands would despise being voted ‘Worst Band Name of 2007’ by the satirical news organization The Onion, Clown Vomit relishes in their award. Formed in the high school cafeteria by bassist/vocalist Anthony Giannotti and thereminist/vocalist Brian Bonelli over a second helping of Eggsalad, Clown Vomit has been pushing the boundaires of the avante-garde movement since their 2002 formation. And while the band has had several member changes of the years, the core duo of Giannotti and Bonelli have remained over the years spreading their made up ‘pseudo-philosophical’ art-music movement they have coined “Instigation.’ In fact, Clown Vomit views the title of ‘Worst Band Name in 2007’ as another ridiculous reminder that the majority of the public has never been able to see past the name Clown Vomit for what they truly are- a band that dwells in the meaningless. Clown Vomit has, and will always mean nothing. But to the unsuspecting audiences Clown Vomit may be their last hope in a musical age where conformity and commercial appeal out weigh originality and live performance.

After nominal success with their first 2002 independent release Francesca’s Magic Crouton (named after a girl in Giannotti’s art class who had really shiny braces) the band took several years of a hiatus while they all attended college. It was only after an article was written in The New Paltz Oracle in 2006 that declared Clown Vomit ‘the greatest band of all time’ that the group decided to reconvene and start writing new music. The band quickly returned to the studio to record their second release Regurgitation, which later became a cult classic among the underground New York avante-garde scene. Also during this time the band began using alter egos and dressing up in elaborate costumes which in the words of Bonelli “challenged the audience to see through the antics to truly feel our music.” During the recording sessions of Regurgitation, drummer Scotty Zwang of Code Anchor joined the group after he heard the original demo tape at a friend’s house. Guitarists Jon Moss and Ryan Vota were also brought into the group after the demise of their band Justice Gorilla. However, shortly after the release of Regurgitation, Zwang left the group to play full time in Code Anchor, and Clown Vomit was without a drummer. The band began auditioning drummers and selected Blaise Lanzetta due to his rhythmic proficiency and technical skill behind the kit. Soon Ryan Vota left the group after a period of ‘non activity’ and to this day remains on good terms with the rest of the band. By this time in late 2006, Giannotti was studying music at Boston’s Berklee College of Music where he became obsessed with the music of John Coltrane and Sun Ra, and also began embracing the art movement called ‘Dada' or 'Dadaism,’ which began on the outset of World War I in Zurich, Switzerland. Combined with Bonelli’s fixation on Frank Zappa and borrowing elements from Bonelli's side project The Professor Hiney Experience, the band began writing music again that was much more progressive then the early days, and the new sound alienated audiences as much as it captivated them. Guitarist Ryan Wasser was brought into the group to make the music much more guitar driven, as previously the music had been dominated by intense bombastic basslines, silly lyrics, and blaring theremin. Songs that were once 4 minutes now reached epic lengths of sometimes into 10 or 15 minutes, highlighted by extended guitar solos by Wasser which seemed to echo groups like Cream or The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Critics and fans alike were unsure if the band was to be taken seriously or not, possibly due to the fact that the band continued dressing in outrageous offensive costumes, while performing catchy brilliant songs such as the 1950’s retro ‘I Doody For You’ a minor east coast radio hit. The song did little to attract a new audience though, and in December 2007 Clown Vomit returned to the studio to record their first double album with engineer/saxophonist Eric Gaffen entitled ‘New World Odor.’ Working on a shoestring budget, recording came to a hiatus after a fight broke out between Giannotti and Gaffen over money, and parts of this recording later leaked unto the internet as an unfinished demo called Nutsack. Gaffen later declared that working with Clown Vomit was “extremely fun” but that “there were times when we were recording where I wanted to choke Giannotti until his face turned purple.” After the New World Odor sessions and a tour of Colorado, drummer Lanzetta and guitarist Jon Moss parted ways with the group but still contribute to the recording process when needed. Original drummer Scotty Zwang returned after a last minute phone call before a gig, and in 2008 Giannotti declared on B.J. Radio that ‘the returning of Zwang to the group was like finding your puppy dog.’ After his experience playing drums with several electronic music groups, Zwang began utilizing some of these concepts in his live playing, and once again the band’s sound continue to balloon and grow.

In mid 2008, the band began looking at their music under a much more serious light, as Giannotti began writing more accessible music. Lyrics, melody, arranging, as well as improvisation became a much more dominant facet of the music, while the addition of guitar genius Timothy Valerio brought the band to a 5 piece. Valerio not only brought a brand of professionalism to band they had never before experienced, but also brought a lead guitar sound that was a cross between Dream Theater’s John Petrucci, guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen, and blues master Eric Clapton. He challenged Giannotti to continue writing more newer material stating that ‘the old stuff is good, but the new stuff is great.’ The Clown Vomit quintet of Bonelli, Giannotti, Wasser, Zwang, and Valerio continued as this lineup for nearly a year and began recording their first EP Sunshine in the Morning, which was to highlight the band’s diversity and musicality up to that point. But after the death of Valerio in motorcycle accident in April of 2009, the band seriously considered stopping altogether. For Giannotti, who had known Valerio since both high school and their time together at Berklee College of Music, the thought of continuing in a band which was a ‘self-satire’ seemed more childish then ever. A vote was called in June 2009 between the remaining four members of the band as to its future, and it was decided that not only would the costumes be dropped, but the entire persona of the band altogether be dropped. Clown Vomit would essentially start from scratch. They began dressing in suits during their gigs, and to their surprise the new image was welcomed by both old and new fans and accepted with ease.

Nearly a year after the start of its production, Clown Vomit is set to release Sunshine in the Morning on Thanksgiving 2009, the first in a trilogy of albums which tells the story of an unnamed, unmentioned protagonist who is struggling with his own creative talents and abilities in a world which deems him irrelevant. Clown Vomit not only views the new album as their most accessible yet, but also their most challenging release. The opening title track, at nearly 10 minute long, is viewed by the band as their magnum opus and will set their standard for a productive successful future in the changing music industry.