Cringe.com/pilation - The Columbus Sound Volume 1

Drew Layman
Aug 11
7 min read

If you’ve spent any time digging into Columbus’s music scene, you’ve probably crossed paths with Joel Treadway—whether you knew it or not. He’s been championing local bands since at least 1990, when he started an email list to promote live shows around Ohio State’s campus. That list eventually evolved into cringe.com, which remains today the most reliable calendar for live music in central Columbus.

CRINGE.com/pilation

The Columbus Sound - Volume 1

Cringe.com – C001CD

2001

But Cringe was never just a gig list. It was—and still is—a paean to the “ever elusive Columbus sound.” Treadway's definition of Cringe?

CRINGE:

The Columbus “sound,” as once described (in conversation) by local cartoonist Terence Concannon
The lo-fi garage and punk answer to grunge
To shrink or recoil in fear

That mix of sincerity and self-aware humor is what makes Cringe special. By the mid-90s, it had evolved into a full-blown e-zine, complete with reviews, discographies, web hosting, reader letters, and even a radio stream. Eventually, the zine format gave way to a more traditional website, with the live shows calendar taking center stage.

Then came the compilations.

In March 2001, Cringe started hosting club shows to help fund a new project: a compilation CD that would capture the spirit of the campus-area rock scene. On September 29, 2001, Cringe.com/pilation Volume 1 was released—21 original songs from a variety of Columbus bands. It’s a snapshot of a scene that was raw, weird, and bursting with energy.

Back tray card of Cringe.com/pilation Volume 1

The album kicks off with “DCG” by Silo the Huskie, a catchy ode to the sacrifices of band life. It’s one of my favorites, reminding me of an amped up Big Back Forty. From there, the compilation zigzags through punk, alt-country, power-pop, and experimental noise. I won’t pretend I have firsthand memories of every band here, but I’ve done some digging to give you a taste of what each brought to the table.

Focus On Local Bands Allows For Good Show; The Lantern - October 1, 2001

Here’s a quick guide to the Volume 1 lineup, with some choice quotes from critics and writers who’ve covered these acts:

Band Vibe / Notable Quote

Silo the Huskie “Balls-out rock and roll… honest, down-to-earth.” – Andrew Carver, Pennyblackmusic

Pretty Mighty Mighty “Unbearably catchy rock… violin, incredible and shimmering instrumental interludes, catchy two-part harmonies.” – Justin Vellucci, Swordfish

The Honey’s “Less Ramones, more Runaways, filtered through a haze of '80s pop-metal.” – Brian O'Neill, AllMusic

Grafton “Waylon Jennings playing the blues in a blender, strapped to a rocket.” – Tim Murr, SPONIC

Focus On Local Bands Allows For Good Show; The Lantern - October 1, 2001 pt 2 — The Lantern - October 1, 2001

The Jive Turkeys “Whiskey- and weed-laced bluesy rock… best witnessed at greasy, dingy dive bars.” – Karen E. Graves, AllMusic

Lizard McGee “Songs (that) melt into your brain… melodies float in the air and wrap themselves around your head in an amorphous, hazy bliss.” – Impose Magazine

Guinea Worms “Midwest scuzz rock… singer-guitarist Will Foster kind of reminds me of Kenneth the page from 30 Rock.” – Austin Chronicle

A Planet For Texas “Big riffs, kick-ass attitude, humor, and silly stage names.” – Karen E. Graves, AllMusic

The Bygones “Honest emotion, no matter the volume. These four pull off the trick of sounding familiar yet uncommon, traditional yet possessing ears of this decade.” – Jerry Dannemiller

The Rancid Yak Butter Tea Party “Take four completely different songs, play them all at once, and have it sound like one cohesive, albeit alien, music.” – Tastes Like Chicken

The Randys “Party band for people who roll their eyes at party bands. A level of musicianship that's unrivaled in the city.” – Joel Oliphint, Columbus Alive

Tim Easton “Colorful lyrics that describe the struggling lives and lost loves of rural Americans in heart-wrenching detail..” – Hal Horowitz, AllMusic

Manda And The Marbles “Sexy and clever sing-along punk… pure brilliance.” – Stein Haukland, Ink 19

Tiara “The four-piece band mixes electronic textures into their primarily guitar-based songs in inventive ways. A languorous atmosphere predominates, with indolent vocal harmonies” – Stewart Mason, AllMusic

Media Whores “Sweaty, loud, unpretentious pop… Rock and Roll!” – Jason Litchfield, Amplifier Magazine

The Velveteens “Meagan and Amy Alwood are the literary and harmonious foundation of this muscular pop-rock troupe. Fortunately, the Alwoods' voices are never drowned out.” – Aaron Beck, Columbus Dispatch

Templeton “Easy-to-swallow indie rock... wry takes on sports, rock & roll, and bike gangs.” – Karen E. Graves, AllMusic

Bigfoot “Country-fried indie rock perfection. Those who equate the term "alt-country" with soft-spoken acts will be left reeling from the amount of emotion and rawk this outfit offers.” – Karen E. Graves, AllMusic

Estee Louder “Exuberant, galloping rock 'n' roll. Their songs are propelled by bright, maddeningly catchy guitar riffs and hyperkinetic drumming.” – Columbus Alive

Superstar Rookie “Handclaps and singalong choruses colliding against a crunchy guitar tone… with a dash of Replacements-esque sloppiness thrown in the mix.” – Jason McGathey, Love Letter To Columbus

Jack Neat “The powerful presence of Nikki Wonder backed by Matt Newman's brilliantly thoughtful chordal guitar arrangements and an utterly empathetic rhythm section with more timing intelligence than you can believe… Nikki is personality-plus, a great singer and entertaining as hell..” – Jon Petric, Columbus Free Press

The compilation also features gorgeous cover art by Meagan Alwood Karcic—another nod to the creative community that makes this scene so vibrant. More volumes would follow, but Volume 1 set the tone. Cringe.com remains an essential stop for anyone serious about live music in the city, and this compilation is a lovingly curated, slightly chaotic, and totally authentic snapshot of Columbus music at the turn of the millennium.