The Chain Gang of 1974

The Chain Gang of 1974 is the indietronica project of American musician and DJ, Kamtin Mohager. "The Chain Gang of 1974" can also be in reference to Kamtin Mohager himself. Mohager was raised in Hawaii and Colorado, and currently lives in Los Angeles, California.

The Chain Gang of 1974
Mohager performing in 2014
Background information
Birth nameKamtin Karimi Mohager
Also known asThe Chain Gang of 1974
Born (1985-07-31) July 31, 1985
San Jose, California, US
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • composer
Years active2007–present
Labels
  • Warner (2012–2014)
  • Modern Art
Associated actsTeenage Wrist

History

Born in San Jose, California[1] and raised in Hawaii (before moving to Denver), Kamtin Mohager (Nato) joined 3OH!3 as a touring bassist from 2008 through 2010. He self-released Fantastic Nostalgic: The Early Recordings in 2010. That year also saw the release of his full-length debut, White Guts. Mohager moved to Los Angeles to record the follow-up album, Wayward Fire, which was released on Modern Art Records in 2011.[2]

In early 2010, Mohager combined both early EP's into a digital-only release titled 'Fantastic Nostalgic: The Early Recordings. Mohager describes his early sound as "all over the place, from a piano ballad to songs that sound like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Primal Scream, or Justice."[3] Zachary Houle of PopMatters called the album "an homage to the '80s, in particular, the soundtracks to John Hughes films, and it is, in a word, fun."[4] Pitchfork Media's Ian Cohen remarked that it "ends up less like a living celebration of the past and more like a display case of your favorite synth-pop action figures in their original packaging."[5] David Marchese of Spin wrote that the album "swoons and grooves deliciously, but the lyrics have a distinctly processed flavor".[6] Max Blau of Paste called it "one of the better and most cohesive electronic albums" of 2011.[7] Allmusic's William Ruhlmann said: "Mohager convincingly makes the case that there is more to say in the music of the '80s, even if fashion has banished it to its own radio formats and nostalgia tours."[8] Justin Gerber of Consequence of Sound found flaws in the lyrics and suggested that "just about every song could be cut by about a minute", but added that "nearly every song has a beat that pummels you into submission, and that is most definitely a compliment."[9]

In 2012, Mohager signed to Warner Music Group for the release of his third full-length album, Daydream Forever. The album is described as a continuation of the synth-heavy, reverb-laden dreams that made Mohager’s debut album, Wayward Fire, an immediate favorite of the retro set. Production is thicker here, with more elastic bounces. If that means it feels like you’ve stepped into a 1980s night at the local bar (as one reviewer humorously put it), then Mohager has clearly succeeded. This is the guy who wasn’t moved to make music until hearing Tears for Fears in the movie Real Genius, says the legend; when tracks such as “Ordinary Fools,” “You,” “Moksha," and “Death Metal Punk” hit you firmly across the ears with their indelible 1980s-styled hooks, everything is working according to his lo-hi-tech plans. Elements of Tears for Fears, Duran Duran, OMD, and M83 coalesce into a party of their own. “Plum” ends things on a slightly darker Prefab Sprout–style tone.

In 2013, Mohager received worldwide recognition when his song “Sleepwalking” was featured on the soundtrack of Grand Theft Auto V, as well as on the game's official trailer.

In summer 2014, Mohager teamed up with DJ/producer Dillon Francis, as well as Sultan & Ned Shepard for the release of "When We Were Young".[10]

In early 2015, Mohager launched a collaborative side project with Marshall Gallagher of Swing Hero titled "Teenage Wrist". The band's debut single "Afterglow" received praise from My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way.

2016–2018: Felt

On September 9, 2016, The Chain Gang of 1974 released his single "I Still Wonder".[11] On March 26, 2017, The Chain Gang of 1974 announced the release of his new album, Felt, which was released on June 23 through Caroline Records.

2019-Present: Pollen & Honey Moon Drips

On February 15, 2019, The Chain Gang of 1974 released the single “Burn Out” along with the announcement that he would be releasing one single per month throughout 2019. Then, on March 22, 2019, Mohager released “Heaven”, produced by Chadwick Johnson of the band Hundreth. The next month on April 26 followed the release of the third single, “Such A Shame.” Mohager later stated on Twitter that the track was inspired by Jimmy Eat World. On May 24, The Chain Gang of 1974 released the fourth single “Ordinary Fools, Pt. 2”, the follow up to the Daydream Forever opening track “Ordinary Fools”. On June 21, Mohager released the track “YDLMA” (You Don’t Love Me Anymore). The next month on July 26 saw the release Of “From Here Who Knows”. This was the last monthly single, and there was not another single in August. Instead of releasing a single in August, Mohager instead announces an upcoming EP entitled “Pollen”. The album would consist of the earlier singles “Heaven”, “Burn Out”, and “Ordinary Fools, Pt. 2”, along with a new song titled “Hide Tonight”. The EP was released September 6, 2019. Later next month, Mohager announced a new album, and also stated the album would be coming sometime in 2020. The album title is still unknown, but the word “Honey” can be seen as part of the album title in Mohager’s Instagram story. The album will have 12 tracks, and the remaining singles that weren’t on the “Pollen” EP would be included on the album. “Such A Shame”, “YDLMA”, and “From Here Who Knows”. Also, Mohager released “20:25”, a collaborative Single with Flux Pavilion and What So Not.

On April 15, 2020, the single "4AM, Still Lonely" was released with the announcement of the fifth studio album, Honey Moon Drips, which was released on May 29, 2020.

Tour history

The Chain Gang of 1974 has toured alongside bands, including AFI, Foster the People, The Naked and Famous, Washed Out, Cibo Matto, ABC, Big Audio Dynamite, Tapes 'n Tapes, Empires, Sir Sly, Miniature Tigers, and Geographer.

Touring members

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays
  • The Dirt EP (February 24, 2007)
  • When The Apple Drops - EP (January 16, 2008)
  • Fantastic Nostalgic: The Early Recordings (January 31, 2010)
  • Pollen - EP (September 6, 2019)

Songs in media
  • Song "Make My Body" featured in Scream 4 (2011).
  • Song "Hold On" featured in FIFA 12 (2011).
  • Song "Devil Is a Lady" featured in FIFA Street (2012) and MLB 12: The Show (2012).
  • Song "Undercover" featured in FIFA Street (2012).
  • Song "Sleepwalking" featured in Grand Theft Auto V: The Official Trailer, can be heard in the game itself as radio music, and on the official soundtrack. In addition to this, "Sleepwalking" is symbolically played as the end game credits theme for one of the game's three endings, mainly ending "B" (2013).
  • Song "Miko" featured in FIFA 14 (2013).
  • Song "You" featured in Real World: Ex-Plosion (2014).

References
  1. "SXSW Music Picks: Chain Gang of 1974 buzzes into Texas". The Mercury News. March 6, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  2. Cherrie, Chrysta. "The Chain Gang of 1974 – Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  3. "The Chain Gang of 1974 on World Cafe". NPR. December 22, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  4. Houle, Zachary (July 27, 2011). "Review: The Chain Gang of 1974 – 'Wayward Fire'". PopMatters. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  5. Cohen, Ian (July 14, 2011). "Reviews: The Chain Gang of 1974 – 'Wayward Fire'". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  6. Marchese, David (July 2011). "Reviews: Albums: The Chain Gang of 1974 – 'Wayward Fire'". Spin. SPIN Media LLC. 27 (6): 70–1. ISSN 0886-3032. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  7. Blau, Max (June 20, 2011). "Best of What's Next: The Chain Gang of 1974". Paste. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  8. Ruhlmann, William. "Album Review: The Chain Gang of 1974 – 'Wayward Fire'". Allmusic. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  9. Gerber, Justin (June 21, 2011). "Album Review: The Chain Gang of 1974 – 'Wayward Fire'". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  10. When We Were Young on YouTube
  11. "The Chain Gang of 1974 - I Still Wonder - YouTube". YouTube.com. September 9, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  12. "Twitter / CHAINGANGOF1974: New album//DAYDREAM". Twitter.com. November 24, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  13. "Twitter / CHAINGANGOF1974: the new album FELT". Twitter.com. March 24, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2017.

Further reading
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