{{Short description|Progressive rock band from California}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Upsilon Acrux | background = group_or_band | origin = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | genre = Progressive rock, rock in Opposition, zeuhl, noise rock | years_active = 1998–present | label = Cuneiform Records, Planaria Recordings | current_members = Paul Lai<br />Dylan Fujioka<br />Noah Guevara<br />Mark Kimbrell<br />Patrick Shiroishi | past_members = ''see below'' }}

'''Upsilon Acrux''' is an American progressive rock band from Los Angeles formed in 1998.

==History== Upsilon Acrux first appeared on record on a 1998 compilation entitled ''Trummerflora 2''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.accretions.com/catalog/trummerflora2.asp |title=Accretions...catalog...trummerflora 2 |website=www.accretions.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021229004744/http://www.accretions.com/catalog/trummerflora2.asp |archive-date=29 December 2002 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Soon after they contributed a song to a compilation entitled ''Before the Pirates Came''.<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p370308/biography|pure_url=yes}} Upsilon Acrux] at AllMusic</ref> They went from a 4-piece to a 3-piece before releasing 2002's ''Last Train Out''.<ref>[http://www.sfbg.com/noise/45-02/brutal.html Brutal Prog and Beyond], ''San Francisco Bay Guardian'', August 7, 2002. Accessed March 26, 2008.</ref> They expanded to a five-piece, including two drummers for ''Volucris Avis Dirae-Arum'' in 2004. By 2005 they had done away with the dual-drummer setup, and signed with Cuneiform Records later in the year.<ref>[http://www.prefixmag.com/features/upsilon-acrux/mapping-the-path-to-obscurity/12739/ Mapping the Path to Obscurity]. Prefixmag, October 18, 2006. Accessed March 26, 2008.</ref> 2007 saw the release of their first album for Cuneiform, ''Galapagos Momentum''.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/v5dp/ Review], BBC, September 14, 2007. Accessed March 26, 2008.</ref> They released their sixth full-length album, entitled ''Radian Futura'', on May 19, 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://avantmusicnews.com/index.php?s=barbes&search.y=1|title=Search Results for "barbes"}}</ref> In 2015, on April 14, they released a new album called ''Sun Square Dialect''.

==Releases== ===''Galapagos Momentum''=== The lineup of Applehans, Kiersnowski (the King), Lai and Miller (Ice) performed for two years, recording ''Galapagos Momentum'' in 2006. Before the recording was pressed, a new incarnation was assembled with Cobb (McEnroe, Bart Garfunkel),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://larecord.com/uncategorized/2007/10/10/upsilon-acrux-the-smell|title=UPSILON ACRUX @ THE SMELL|website=Larecord.com|access-date=2020-04-02}}</ref> Lai, Meszler (Mezz, Meszloforte), Moeggenberg (Moeggen) and Sataman (Martron, Marty-Party) in March 2007. This new lineup promoted ''Galapagos'' throughout the U.S. in summer 2007. The album was critically acclaimed,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/upsilon-acrux-galapagos-momentum-2496210907.html|title=Upsilon Acrux: Galapagos Momentum|date=September 20, 2007|website=PopMatters.com|access-date=2020-04-02}}</ref> earning a number 2 position on Organ Magazine's end of the year album list.<ref>[http://www.organart.demon.co.uk/albumsofMaastrichtenaar007.htm] {{dead link|date=April 2020}}</ref> The group would share stages with The Locust, Qui, Tatsuya Yoshida, Polar Goldie Cats, The Mae Shi, Ancestors, HEALTH, Abe Vigoda, Weasel Walter, and Cheer-Accident.

On November 17, 2007, Upsilon Acrux played the Barking Tuna Fest in Kalamazoo, MI. Mission of Burma followed.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

===''Radian Futura''=== In December 2007, Upsilon began work on their magnum opus, "Transparent Seas (Radio Edit)". On June 6, 2008, the song was premiered at Cafe Mariposa in Echo Park, CA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://groups.yahoo.com/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20010418142816/http://groups.yahoo.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 18, 2001|title=Yahoo! Groups|website=Groups.yahoo.com|access-date=2020-04-02}}</ref>

''Radian Futura'' was released on CD by Cuneiform and in September 2009 on vinyl by Thin Wrist Recordings. Upsilon promoted the album nationally and on a month-long jaunt in Europe, autumn 2009. The album was met with critical acclaim,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=23000|title=UPSILON ACRUX – Radian Futura (2009)|website=Progarchives.com|access-date=2020-04-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/radian-futura/26673/|title=Upsilon Acrux – Radian Futura Album Review|website=Prefixmag.com|access-date=2020-04-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/radian-futura-upsilon-acrux-cuneiform-records-review-by-glenn-astarita.php|title=Upsilon Acrux: Radian Futura album review|website=Allaboutjazz.com|access-date=2020-04-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lotsofswords.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/album-review-upsilon-acrux-radian-futura/|title=Album Review – Upsilon Acrux "Radian Futura"|website=Lotsofswords.wordpress.com|date=June 22, 2009}}</ref> and the band shared stages with Yowie, Ahleuchatistas, Zs, Bad Dudes, Peter Brötzmann, Honey Ride Me a Goat, Nels Cline, Carla Bozulich, Extra Life, Adebisi Shank, and Peter Kolovos.

On September 18, 2009, Upsilon performed for a crowd of over 400 at the Gertje Fest 5 at the Landbouwebelang in Maastricht.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lbbm.nl/|title=Lbbm.nl – Duurzame levensstijl|website=Lbbm.nl|access-date=2020-04-02}}</ref>

Upon the group's return from its European tour, Upsilon Acrux performed a 70-minute set at The Smell. The concert was professionally mixed and recorded.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.upsilonacrux.com/|title=Upsilon Acrux Merchandise|website=Upsilonacrux.com|access-date=2020-04-02}}</ref>

==Personnel== Paul Lai has remained with the group since its inception.<ref>[http://www.newangelesmonthly.com/article.php?id=122&IssueNum=9 Bottom of the Listings, Top of the World]{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}. ''New Angeles Monthly'', February 2008. Accessed March 26, 2008.</ref>

;Current lineup (2010–present) *Paul Lai – guitar *Noah Guevara – guitar *Patrick Shiroishi- Rhodes/sax *Mark Kimbrell – drums *Dylan Fujioka – drums

;Founding members *Paul Lai – guitar, Moog *Cameron Presley – guitars, Moog *Tommy Cutler – bass, vocals

;Former Members *Chris Meszler – drums *David Moeggenberg – guitar *Phil Cobb – Moog *Marty Sataman – bass *Jesse (Klecker) Applehans – drums *Eric Kiersnowski – bass *Nick Lejejs – Moog *Brady Miller – guitar *Josh Quon – bass *Muir Tennerstet – bass *Derek Bruns – drums

;Guest musicians *Devin Sarno – bass (''Last Pirates of Upsilon'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://devinsarno.com/discography.html|title=Devin Sarno &#124; Discography|website=Devinsarno.com|access-date=2020-04-02}}</ref> *Bobb Bruno – bass (''Last Pirates of Upsilon'', ''Last Train Out'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bunnytuff.com/discography.html|title=bunny tuff – bobb bruno|website=Bunnytuff.com|access-date=2020-04-02}}</ref> *Glen (Galaxy) Galloway – baritone sax (''In the Acrux of the Upsilon King'') *Brady Miller- drums, drum programming (''Radian Futura'') *Mike Armstrong – saxophone (''Radian Futura'', ''White LP'') *Peter Kolovos – guitar (''White LP'') *Elvis Presley – harmonica (''Last Pirates of Upsilon'')

==Discography== * 1999 ''In the Acrux of the Upsilon King'' (Accretions Records) * 1999 ''The Last Pirates of Upsilon'' (Win Records) * 2002 ''Last Train Out'' (Hactivist Records) * 2004 ''Volucris Avis Dirae-Arum'' (Planaria Recordings CD / Epicene Records vinyl) * 2006 ''Last Train Out'' (Daft Alliance vinyl reissue) * 2007 ''Galapagos Momentum'' (Cuneiform Records) * 2009 ''Radian Futura'' (Cuneiform Records) * 2009 ''White LP'' (split w/ Honey Ride Me A Goat) (Kitchen Dweller Records) * 2015 ''Sun Square Dialect'' (New Atlantis Records)

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles Category:Cuneiform Records artists Category:Progressive rock musical groups from California