Creedle seemed to have everything a bunch of creative young types could have wanted: a record deal with national distribution, loyal fan base, musical niche pretty much to itself (Wikipedia describes Creedle as an "avant-jazz-punk-art-damaged band").
But six years after it formed out of the dissolution of San Diego bands Daddy Long Legs, Holy Love Snakes, If Tomorrow and The Pull Toys, Creedle, too, called it quits.
"The individual members had differing interests and commitments, and it felt as if the band had run its course," guitarist and singer Devon E. Levins wrote in an e-mail exchange from his home in New York City about Creedle's 1998 split. "We played an official last show with Uz Jsme Doma from the Czech Republic at the Casbah, where we had played our first show (but at the original location)."
The Casbah's anniversary celebration is bringing the band back for a reunion -- and the possibility of doing more projects together.
With two shows on tap this weekend at the Casbah, Levins said a reunion last year made this year's get-together a bit smoother.
"We had played a show last year for the Casbah's 12 Days of Christmas, so it was tougher to get things together for that show since we had had a nine-year break. This was easier except that we had to work in a new saxophonist, Gabriel Sundy, since Cheme (Cochemea Gastelum) is on tour with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings and was unable to do the show this time. Rob Crow is also filling in on keys and samples for Robert Walter, who is on tour with the Greyboy Allstars. Regardless, Rob is an official member at this point even if Robert Walter is able to do any future shows."
Of those disparate interests that the band's members wanted to pursue, Levins said he is active in two bands in New York City: Pretendo with John Castro of the Rugburns and Steve Calhoon of Skeleton Key and Enon, and Morricone Youth, a film soundtrack project tied into his weekly Internet radio show (on East Village Radio) of obscure film music. Walter, who moved to New Orleans for a few years but is back in Southern California, is on tour with the Allstars and also playing with his 20th Congress; Gastelum, as mentioned, is in Jones' Dap-Kings.
Bassist Pieboy (Tim Blankenship) plays with various local projects, including Pillowhead and several of Gary Shuffler's covers projects, while drummer Dr. Gein (Dion Thurman) is playing in Schmaltz.
Even the new members of the band keep busy elsewhere; Crow is in Pinback and Goblin Cock, among others, and Sunday is in Bunky, Followers and Applebrown Jazz Ensemble.
The invitation from Tim Mays, owner of the Casbah, to participate in this weekend's shows seems to have lighted a bit of a fire under Creedle. Levins said that in addition to the two shows this weekend at the San Diego club, the band is doing shows in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
And as Levins alluded to in his comment about Walter being able to do any "future shows," Creedle's reunion may be more than a few weeks long.
First, there is the matter of Creedle's back catalog. The three albums released on Cargo Records in the early through mid-'90s are all out of print. Levins said the band is trying to get those releases back in active circulation, but added that "Cargo is just sitting on it."
As for the future?
"We also hope to write and tour another album. We'll see."
Creedle
When: 8:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., San Diego
Admission: $12-$14 (Friday is sold out)
Info: (619) 232-4355 or casbahmusic.com
