bio
Sam Black (bass/electronics 2010-present)
Craig Manrique (drums 2012-present)
Jeff Wagner (voice/guitar 2006-present)
Patrick Crawford (drums 2006-2012)
Josh Layton (guitar/bass 2009)
The protagonists of the lurid stories of Tunnel vocalist/ guitarist Jeff Wagner may be grifters, but nihilists they are not. Riding possessed upon the feral, hypnotic rhythms of bassist/ noisemaker Sam Black and drummer Craig Manrique, Wagner’s anti-heroes grasp at transcendence and howl in ecstasy.
SULTRY DAGGERS (LP/CD/MP3 album out Fall 2012) is the San Francisco band’s third album, and the first to openly admit to a love of the future-punk visions of Chrome and Killing Joke and the dark, pretty melodies of studio alchemists like Cranes and Tones on Tail. These elements now build upon the twisted drones of SULTRY DAGGERS’ seafaring predecessor FATHOMS DEEP (2011) and the sparse, gothic ballads of the debut, CARVER BROTHERS LULLABY (2009). SULTRY DAGGERS was recorded by Black in San Francisco, mixed by Chris Crawford (French Miami) at Death by Audio in Brooklyn, and mastered by Carl Saff (Grails, Unsane) in Chicago.
Press for the Tunnel:
“Scratchy and acerbic post-MARQUEE MOON death C&W…These guys is Motherfuckers, no less.” -Julian Cope, Head Heritage
“Like an inspired meeting of the minds from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds circa TENDER PREY, Gun Club, mid-period Swans, and Television…How often do you stumble across an album whose every song is stunning?” -RKF, the One True Dead Angel
“The trio glides like a shark through eight tales of sex, death and altered states of consciousness, leaving a trail of blood and glitter behind it.” -Michael Toland, blurt-online
“The Tunnel, out of San Francisco, swaggers through a doomed and noir-ish landscape of abandoned taverns and spectral red light districts.” -Jennifer Kelly, Dusted
“The Tunnel are one of the great bands in the SF area right now.” -Greg Barbrick, blogcritics.org
“Tom Waits meets Rob Zombie with some German expressionism thrown in.” -Lord Kveldulfr, Razorcake
“If you like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds during their “Tender Prey” era, you’ll dig the Tunnel.” -Tony DuShane, San Francisco Chronicle
“Surreptitiously seedy, monumentally melodic.” - Mick Mercer, mickmercer.com
more press here.
Craig, Jeff, Sam (Alex Stover Photography).
Sam, Jeff, Pat.
Sam, Jeff, Pat.
Pat, Jeff, Sam.
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Craig, Josh.
