{{Short description|American indie rock band}} {{For|the Neutral Milk Hotel song|In the Aeroplane Over the Sea}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Communist Daughter | image = Communist Daughter.jpg | image_size = | landscape = yes | caption = The band performing live in January 2017 | origin = Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States | genre = Indie rock, indie folk | years_active = 2009–present | label = Grain Belt | website = {{URL|http://www.communistdaughter.com}} | current_members = Johnny Solomon<br />Adam Switlick<br />Molly Moore<br />Al Weiers<br />Dillon Marchus<br />Steven Yasgar | past_members = Jonathan Blaseg<br />Christopher McGuire<br />Lee VanLith<br />Ian Prince<br />Dan DeMuth }}
'''Communist Daughter''' is an indie rock band from Saint Paul, Minnesota, founded by Johnny Solomon in 2009. They have released three albums and three EPs.
==History== ===2009-2010: Soundtrack to the End=== Communist Daughter was founded in 2009 by singer and songwriter Johnny Solomon in Prescott, Wisconsin. Solomon moved from Saint Paul to Prescott in 2007 after addiction, mental health issues, and a spell in jail caused the breakup of his marriage and of his band, Friends Like These.<ref name="Hoenack">Hoenack, Dave (2012) "[http://www.citypages.com/2012-07-04/music/communist-daughter-s-lions-and-lambs-ep-explores-johnny-solomon-s-recovery-from-addiction/full/ Communist Daughter's Lions and Lambs EP explores Johnny Solomon's recovery from addiction] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214094949/http://www.citypages.com/2012-07-04/music/communist-daughter-s-lions-and-lambs-ep-explores-johnny-solomon-s-recovery-from-addiction/full/ |date=2014-12-14 }}", ''Minneapolis City Pages'', July 4, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2014</ref><ref>Swensson, Andrea (2010) "[http://www.citypages.com/2010-03-31/music/communist-daughter-frontman-johnny-solomon-finds-small-town-sound/full/ Johnny Solomon Finds Small Town Sound] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017024055/http://www.citypages.com/2010-03-31/music/communist-daughter-frontman-johnny-solomon-finds-small-town-sound/full/ |date=2013-10-17 }}", ''Minneapolis City Pages'', March 31, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2014</ref><ref name="Crain">Crain, William (2012) "[https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2012/sep/26/note-communist-daughter/# Of Note: Communist Daughter]", ''San Diego Reader'', September 26, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2014</ref><ref name="Melton">Melton, Kyle (2012) "[http://www.daytoncitypaper.com/lions-lambs/ Lions & Lambs]", ''Dayton City Paper'', May 29, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2014</ref><ref name="Riemenschneider">Riemenschneider, Chris (2010) "[http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/89706352.html Local music: Johnny Solomon's kingdom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528145700/http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/89706352.html |date=2010-05-28 }}", ''Star Tribune'', April 2, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2014</ref> There he took over the Boxcar restaurant and began writing and recording as Communist Daughter, taking the name from a Neutral Milk Hotel song.<ref name="Crain" /><ref name="Riemenschneider" /> He assembled a band of Twin Cities musicians–bassist–Adam Switlick (formerly the guitarist with Friends Like These), keyboardist Jonathan Blaseg, and drummer Steve Yasgar (formerly of A Whisper in the Noise and Swiss Army)–recording a four-song demo that included the track "Not The Kid."<ref name="Riemenschneider" /> Communist Daughter signed to Grain Belt Records and began recording their debut album ''Soundtrack to the End''. They added singer Molly Moore, whom Solomon met when she visited his restaurant, and guitarist Al Weiers (formerly of Faux Jean and the Odd).<ref name="Riemenschneider" /> Steve Yasgar took a break from the band during the recording, and they finished the album with drummer Christopher McGuire (12 Rods, Kid Dakota).
In March, 2010, the single "Not The Kid" reached No. 1 on KCMP 89.3 The Current's charts.<ref name="Swensson2012">Swensson, Andrea (2012) "[https://blog.thecurrent.org/2012/01/johnny-solomons-road-to-recovery/ Johnny Solomon's Road to Recovery]", The Current, January 12, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2014</ref> Steve Yasgar returned to the band, bringing along keyboardist Lee VanLith, who played with Yasgar in A Whisper in the Noise. ''Soundtrack to the End'' was released in April 2010 on Grain Belt Records. The critic for the ''Star Tribune'' placed it as third on his top ten list for the year.<ref>Riemenschneider, Chris (2010) "[https://www.startribune.com/the-best-local-albums-of-2010/112505704/ The Best Local Albums of 2010]", ''Star Tribune'', December 31, 2010. Retrieved November 12, 2017</ref> Five years later that same critic rated the album as the second best to have come from Minnesota in the first half of the 2010s.<ref>Riemenschneider, Chris (2010) "[https://www.startribune.com/best-minnesota-albums-of-the-decade-so-far/310087531/ Best Minnesota albums of the decade (so far)]", ''Star Tribune'', July 2, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2017</ref> Two songs from ''Soundtrack To The End'' ("Speed of Sound" and "Soundtrack to the End") were featured in Season 7 Episode 14 (P.Y.T.) of the ABC show ''Grey's Anatomy''.<ref name="Swensson2012" />
The year ended with Solomon confronting renewed mental health and addiction problems, just as the band was poised for success. They participated in two end-of-the year tribute shows at First Avenue, beginning with a late November tribute to The Replacements.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://first-avenue.com/event/2010/10/tribute-replacements-celebrating-25th-anniversary-tim-0 |title=A TRIBUTE TO THE REPLACEMENTS: Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Tim | First Avenue |access-date=2017-11-12 |archive-date=2017-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313050739/http://first-avenue.com/event/2010/10/tribute-replacements-celebrating-25th-anniversary-tim-0 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The band ended the year with a shambolic Golden Slumbers cover at First Avenue's annual John Lennon tribute, after which Solomon checked himself into the Hazelden treatment center.<ref name="Swensson2012" />
===2011-2015: touring, EPs, and vinyl remix=== Solomon moved back to Saint Paul in 2011, following his release from Hazelden. Steve Yasgar and Lee VanLith left the band in April, 2011 and Ian Prince joined on drums.<ref name="Riemenschneider2">Riemenschneider, Chris (2011) "[http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/130363458.html Local music news: Communist Daughter ready for fall rush]", ''Star Tribune'', September 22, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2014</ref> They remixed ''Soundtrack to the End'' for vinyl, rerecording some of the drum tracks with Prince because the original tapes had been lost.<ref name="Riemenschneider2" /> They then recorded the EP ''Something Wicked This Way Comes'' with a limited release in September 2011. In 2012, Dan DeMuth replaced Ian Prince on drums, and multi-instrumentalist Dillon Marchus replaced keyboardist Jonathan Blaseg.<ref name="Sullivan">Sullivan, Derek (2014) "[https://www.postbulletin.com/life/lifestyles/communist-daughter-takes-collective-approach-in-rochester-show/article_d759397c-3ce0-599e-b804-0d053b140134.html Communist Daughter takes collective approach in Rochester show]", ''Post-Bulletin'', March 25, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2014</ref> In July they released ''Lions & Lambs'' and toured nationally, including the CMJ Music Festival and several dates with Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit.<ref name="Jackson">Jackson, Josh (2013) "[https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/08/communist-daughter.html Communist Daughter]", ''Paste'', August 18, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2014</ref><ref name="MM">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20150329064725/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2704483071.html What We're Looking Forward to This Month]", ''Minnesota Monthly'', July 1, 2012.</ref>
The band toured throughout 2013, 2014, and 2015, as they worked on their second album with Kevin Bowe. The band was featured in ''Paste Magazine''{{'}}s Best of What's Next 20 issue (#105) in August 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.paste.com/issues/week-105/articles/communist-daughter-shaking-off-the-demons |title=Communist Daughter Shaking off the Demons |access-date=2013-09-01 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130901041857/http://www.paste.com/issues/week-105/articles/communist-daughter-shaking-off-the-demons |archive-date=2013-09-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In September, 2013, singers Molly Moore and Johnny Solomon married.<ref name="Sullivan" /><ref name="Gallagher">Gallagher, Natalie (2014) "[http://www.pitch.com/FastPitch/archives/2014/05/13/communist-daughters-johnny-solomon-talks-touring-new-music-ahead-of-wednesday-gig Communist Daughter's Johnny Solomon talks touring, new music ahead of Wednesday gig] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519182647/http://www.pitch.com/FastPitch/archives/2014/05/13/communist-daughters-johnny-solomon-talks-touring-new-music-ahead-of-wednesday-gig |date=2014-05-19 }}", ''Paste'', May 13, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2014</ref> In March, 2014, the band played the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.<ref name="Sullivan" /> In July 2014, Dan DeMuth left the band, and Yasgar rejoined as Communist Daughter toured extensively, including more dates with Isbell. The Solomons also began playing acoustic duo shows, reaching out to fans on Twitter.<ref>Cook, Julia (2014) "[https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/05/communist-daughter-solicits-twitter-for-house-venu.html Communist Daughter Goes to Twitter to Find House Venues]", ''Paste'', May 19, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2017</ref> In 2015 they toured as both a full band and as an acoustic duo, and they finished the year with an EP of sad Christmas tunes, ''Sing Sad Christmas,'' featuring covers of various depressing holiday tunes, including the Pogues' "Fairytale of New York" and The Boy Least Likely To's "Blue Spruce Needles".<ref>Vang, Youa (2015) "[http://www.citypages.com/music/lil-bummer-boy-communist-daughters-sing-sad-christmas-brings-holiday-drear-7883888 Lil' bummer boy: Communist Daughter's Sing Sad Christmas brings holiday drear]", ''Minneapolis City Pages'', December 11, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2017</ref>
===2016-2017: The Cracks That Built the Wall===
2016 saw the release of the band's second full-length album, ''The Cracks That Built the Wall''.<ref>Danton, Eric (2016) "[https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/10/communist-daughter-the-cracks-that-built-the-wall.html Communist Daughter: The Cracks That Built the Wall Review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714110821/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/10/communist-daughter-the-cracks-that-built-the-wall.html |date=2018-07-14 }}", ''Paste Magazine'', October 28, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2017</ref> The first single, “Roll a Stone,” was featured in ''USA Today''’s “10 best songs of the week” and on NPR Music’s "10 Songs Public Radio Can’t Stop Playing.”<ref>Wilder, Charlotte and Nate Scott, "[https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/09/ftw-10-best-songs-of-the-week-jojo-the-weeknd-hamilton-leithauser-rostam 10 best songs of the week: Goldroom, JoJo, The Weeknd, Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam]", ''USA Today'', September 23, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2017</ref><ref>"[https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2016/10/29/499287689/heavy-rotation-10-songs-public-radio-cant-stop-playing Heavy Rotation: 10 Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing]", NPR Music, October 29, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2017</ref> The album finished the year as number three on the ''Star Tribune'''s Minnesota top ten.<ref>Riemenschneider, Chris (2016), "[https://www.startribune.com/zuluzuluu-edges-out-haley-bonar-in-our-best-of-2016-minnesota-album-poll/408613325/ ZuluZuluu edges out Haley Bonar in our best-of-2016 Minnesota album poll]", ''Star Tribune'', December 30, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2017</ref> The song "Keep Moving" was used on an episode of the Showtime series Shameless<ref>"[http://www.sho.com/shameless/season/8/episode/3/god-bless-her-rotting-soul Shameless - Season 8, Episode 3]," Showtime. Retrieved November 18, 2017.</ref> and on an episode of The Blacklist.
Solomon also became active in speaking out about his mental illness and addiction, and about artists' need to care for themselves. In August he joined the board of Dissonance, a nonprofit organization that works on these issues.<ref>Solomon, Johnny "[http://www.dissonance.website/blog/2016/8/2/broken-and-complete Broken and Complete]", August 2, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2017</ref><ref>Dissonance "[http://www.dissonance.website/mission-history/ Mission & History]". Retrieved November 13, 2017</ref> In September he wrote an article for Talkhouse that frankly detailed his struggles with undiagnosed bipolar disorder and addiction during the band's first years.<ref>Solomon, Johnny "[https://www.talkhouse.com/like-write-music-think-youre-going-insane/ What It’s Like to Write Music When You Think You’re Going Insane]", September 14, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2017</ref>
The band toured again in 2017, playing dates with The Dig, Jason Isbell, Balto, and Seratones, and returning to SXSW.<ref>"[https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Communist-Daughter-Announce-US-Tour-Dates-20170119 Communist Daughter Announce US Tour Dates]" Retrieved November 13, 2017</ref><ref>"[https://breesestevensfield.com/jason-isbell/ Jason Isbell at Breese Stevens Field]" Retrieved November 13, 2017</ref><ref>"[https://schedule.sxsw.com/2017/events/type/showcase SXSW 2017 Showcase List]" Retrieved November 13, 2017</ref> Cuepoint named their SXSW performance the 11th freshest that they saw.<ref>Gorman, John "[https://medium.com/cuepoint/the-30-freshest-sets-we-saw-at-sxsw-9914d5812546 The 30 Freshest Sets at SXSW]", ''Cuepoint'', March 19, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2017</ref> During SXSW the band played a live session for Paste Magazine.<ref>Russell, Scott "[https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/03/paste-sxsw-streaming-schedule.html Here's Everything Paste Is Streaming Live During SXSW This Week]", ''Paste Magazine'', March 18, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2017</ref> In May, Twin Cities PBS broadcast a short documentary about the band, including footage from a show that had been taped live in their studio.<ref>"[http://www.tpt.org/lowertown-line/profile/communist-daughter-lowertown-line/ Communist Daughter]", Lowertown Line. Retrieved November 13, 2017</ref>
===2020: Unknown Caller and Alaska===
On March 12, 2020 the band announced a Indiegogo project<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211210/frRsMsyOS5E Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200819123742/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frRsMsyOS5E Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frRsMsyOS5E| title = Communist Daughter - Album #3 - Indiegogo Campaign | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> to raise funds to release its third album, ''Unknown Caller.''<ref name="indiegogo.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/communist-daughter-lp-3-unknown-caller#/|title=Communist Daughter LP#3 - Unknown Caller}}</ref> The Indiegogo project states that Moore and Solomon gave up a relentless touring schedule and moved first to San Diego to care for aging family, and then to their new home in a remote village in the Alaskan tundra.<ref name="indiegogo.com"/>
The album was released directly to project funders on May 9, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/communist-daughter-lp-3-unknown-caller#/updates/all|title = Communist Daughter LP#3 - Unknown Caller}}</ref>
==Musical style== The band's music has been described as folk rock, folk pop, and indie pop.<ref name="Boller">Boller, Jay (2010) "[http://www.mndaily.com/2010/04/14/cd-review-communist-daughters-soundtrack-end CD review: Communist Daughter's "Soundtrack to the End"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714143325/http://www.mndaily.com/2010/04/14/cd-review-communist-daughters-soundtrack-end |date=2014-07-14 }}", ''Minnesota Daily'', April 14, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2014</ref><ref name="Noisey">"[https://www.vice.com/en/article/communist-daughter-ghosts/ Communist Daughter - "Ghosts"]", Noisey (''Vice''), June 26, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2014</ref> Solomon's vocals have been compared with Andrew Bird.<ref name="Boller" /> Songs on the second album have drawn comparisons to Yo La Tengo and Bruce Springsteen.<ref>DeVille, Chris "[https://www.stereogum.com/1903048/communist-daughter-balboa-bridge/mp3s/ Communist Daughter – ″Balboa Bridge″]", Stereogum, October 4, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2017</ref><ref>Geslani, Michelle "[https://consequence.net/2016/09/communist-daughter-struggle-to-hold-back-their-emotions-on-new-song-listen/ Communist Daughter struggle to “Hold Back” their emotions on new song — listen]" Consequence of Sound, September 27, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2017</ref>
==Band members== ===Current=== * Johnny Solomon – guitar, lead vocals * Molly Moore Solomon – lead vocals * Steven Yasgar – drums * Adam Switlick – bass guitar, vocals * Dillon Marchus – keyboards, guitar * Al Weiers - guitar
===Former=== * Christopher McGuire (2009) – drums * Jonathan Blaseg (2009–2012) – keyboards * Lee VanLith (2010–2011) – keyboards * Ian Prince (2011) – drums * Dan DeMuth (2012-2014) – drums
==Discography==
===Albums=== * ''Soundtrack to the End'' (2010) * ''The Cracks That Built the Wall'' (2016) * ''Unknown Caller'' (2020)
===EPs=== * ''Something Wicked This Way Comes'' (2011) * ''Lions & Lambs'' (2012) * ''Sing Sad Christmas'' (2015)
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.communistdaughter.com}}
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Category:Musical groups from Saint Paul, Minnesota Category:Musical groups from the Twin Cities Category:2009 establishments in Minnesota Category:Alternative rock groups from Minnesota Category:American folk rock groups Category:American musical sextets Category:Indie rock musical groups from Minnesota Category:Musical groups established in 2009