Circus Mind
Circus Mind was a DC (really Capitol Hill) band which included Karl Celarier (lead guitar), the brother of my friend, Eric. Other members were John Giesecke (drums), Sean Hanley (bass), Antoine Jenkins (vocals), Andy Soloviev (rhythm guitar), and Kevin Price (percussion).
Circus Mind was an interracial band that sounded like an amalgamation of Chuck Brown Go-Go, the Grateful Dead, and Fishbone. They were trippy and funky at the same time. Here is a taste of their version of Iko Iko.
I like this more recent track that features Celarier and Giesecke.
Karl has a few other tracks on his website.
Here is an entry in Congressional Record about Circus Mind.
My cassettes of their (out-of-print) releases disintegrated long ago.
If anyone knows where there is more of this to be found, please post here. Unfortunately, there are some other bands out there with the same name.
Circus Mind was an interracial band that sounded like an amalgamation of Chuck Brown Go-Go, the Grateful Dead, and Fishbone. They were trippy and funky at the same time. Here is a taste of their version of Iko Iko.
I like this more recent track that features Celarier and Giesecke.
Karl has a few other tracks on his website.
Here is an entry in Congressional Record about Circus Mind.
My cassettes of their (out-of-print) releases disintegrated long ago.
If anyone knows where there is more of this to be found, please post here. Unfortunately, there are some other bands out there with the same name.
posted by iClaudius at 7:39 PM
14 Comments:
Hey...I helped manage Circus Mind with my friend...did some stickers for them and shirts and toured
with them down south etc...
still have the pictures from our tour and lot's of old tapes (i love "Father")
J. D. Deming
Reno
USSDeming@aol.com
By
Anonymous, at
10:46 PM
Thanks for dropping me a line. I was very good friends with Karl's brother, Eric. I saw Eric about two weeks ago -- he is an art teacher in Montgomery Co. He told me Karl is working in television production.
I'm not sure how many Circus Mind shows I saw, but now wish it had been many more. I had two of their cassettes and I think they had at least one more, but they have come unraveled at this point and I only have an old boom box to play them on anyway. I also really liked "Father". I'll have to see if I've kept the cassette boxes to jog my mind for the titles of the other songs.
I'd love to find them on mp3 or CD. Let me know if you know of a source.
I'd be happy to post any pictures you might have.
By
iClaudius, at
12:22 PM
I was thinking about Circus Mind just now & googled them & found only your blog and the congressional posting. I grew up in DC & went to bunches Circus Mind shows in high school. A new year's show at Eastern Market stands out as one of the most fun nights of my life. They even played at Sidwell's senior prom in '90 (i was someone's date - i went to Wilson). If you ever happen to find any of their music on MP3 let me know. I'm still friends w/ many of my high school friends - i bet between them they still have the cassettes.
Thanks for the memories!
Nanika Coor
nanikacoor@yahoo.com
By
Anonymous, at
9:21 PM
"Father" in particular was a very important song to me and I'm still so sad my own has passed. I really can't listen to that song because it still hurts so much that he is gone.
Good to know that some folks out there appreciate the Circus Mind music.
It was worthwhile!
Circus Mind Guitar player
Karl Celarier
202 545-0089
Karl@celarier.com
By
Anonymous, at
8:56 AM
Wow- I was up thinking about where I was 20 years ago this weekend (it's my b-day so I was thinking..) and googled Circus Mind looking for -anything. I still have a t-shirt. I was a big fan- went to a every concert 1987-1990 or thereabouts. I have some band footage on video that I am happy to post- from the concert at Eastern Market actually, :).
Another friend still has the TAPES and has made a poor quality MP3 of them- it's enough for the flavor but shameful to distribute. I would LOVE to get my hands on some good clean copies of the music from then. I'd even be willing to cough up duckets to make this happen.
The music for me defined a that time in my life and set a tone for where I've gone- if you were there that night at the Iguana Club, you know what I'm talking about....:).
Kerri
kerri[at]nandikerri.org
By
Anonymous, at
1:32 AM
Three more things-
1.funny (in that cosmic sorta way) that most of the comments are posted today-
2. anyone remember the show in Ocean City, MD? That was my parents place we all crashed and partied at after-
3. reunion anyone?
Kerri[at]nandikerri.org
By
Anonymous, at
1:39 AM
well ah let me add abit here... I saw Circus Mind at the Grog and tankard on wisconson avenue back in the day... antoine was amazing and they had all the tools to go bigtime and leave the lame dc music scene behind, but what happened? john Burton was telling me they were on their way but what happened? don't know fer sure, heard antoine went gospel and decided that was his thing which is cool, but really a great band that never got a chance to blossom!
By
Anonymous, at
1:59 AM
Oh my... I don't know why i started thinking about Antoine and the boys. They came to Mississippi one summer and so I went to DC for New Year's and almost moved there. I miss them all so much and like everyone else Father is the only song i can remember. I would love to have their music and know how they are love.
Peace,
LeAnne
By
DeltaGault, at
2:31 PM
I saw them in Mississippi at least twice - and I want to say that there was some distance between those two shows. I think both were at Inez's or Don's. I had two cassettes and they were prized possessions, and damned if both of them didn't melt in my car over two separate MS summers. Please - anyone who has anything of theirs on MP3, cd - anything! - I'd pay!
-reneelgraves@hotmail.com
By
Anonymous, at
1:56 AM
My dad is John Giesecke and he is/was the drummer of the band!!
By
Anonymous, at
1:06 PM
Please post some pictures or something my dads John and I'd love to see them ; )
By
Anonymous, at
1:11 PM
love circus mind -cant believe that was 20 + years ago - music was a big part of my formative years and resonates in my brain to this day
By
bw, at
10:37 PM
My roommate and I followed Circus Mind all over Mississippi! I have pics from Mississippi State shows if you would like me to post. I so wish I still had the old tapes, Miss the pure energy from the music and the shows.
By
Denys, at
11:02 PM
One of the best shows I saw in the late 80s! Sidwell.
By
Aubergine Squirrel, at
8:33 PM
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