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Maryrose Crook has been a mainstay of sorts in the New Zealand underground going back nearly 25 years to her first involvement with the iconoclastic musician Bill Direen, continuing through the short-lived band the Max Block that she formed with her husband Brian Crook in the mid-'80s and eventually the primordial alt-country band the Renderers that incepted in 1989. Ghosts of Our Vegas Lives (3BOS 1009) represents Maryrose's first album-length foray as the sole songwriter and singer, backed by her husband Brian and the other members of the Renderers (circa 2003, when it was recorded). Backing up a bit, a look through the Crooks' history reveals deep roots in New Zealand's underground, going back nearly 25 years: 1983: Christchurch, Maryrose plays bass in Bill Direen band Above Ground, releases cassette Gone Aiwa. Maryrose sings on "Feast of Frogs", Bill Direen single. 1987: Brian Crook forms the Max Block, a four-piece combo with Rebecca Shanahan on drums and backup vocals, Robbie Stowell on bass, Brian on guitar and writing words and music and singing lead vocal and Maryrose on keyboard and singing backup. 1989: The Renderers form, Christchurch. 1990: The Renderers release their debut album, Trail of Tears, on Flying Nun. 1992: Brian and Maryrose move to Port Chalmers and start playing with Robbie Yeats (Dead C) and Denise Roughan (3Ds, Look Blue Go Purple). 1994: That Dog's Head in the Gutter Gives Off Vibrations, takes alt country "somewhere else..." released on Ajax Records, Chicago. "Brian: now he's ladelling the snarling six string noise he brings to the Terminals all over these tales of lives gone tragically (and often alcoholically) wrong. When the couple harmonize they sound like Eleventh Dream Day with an Antipodean accent and that's not a bad thing at all" – The Bob magazine. 1996: The Surface of Jupiter released on Ajax. "Not country, not rock, just plain spooky." – Mac Hodge, Rip it Up magazine. With the support of Ajax Records, the Crooks tour the U.S. with a pickup American band (Bernie Bernstein on drums and Steve Meecham on bass) and play 16 dates including 3 in New York having been asked back and back, finally playing with Thurston Moore to a packed crowd at The Cooler. In Chicago, the Crooks meet Will Oldham and find out he has recorded a version of "I Hear the Devil Calling Me" off Trail of Tears. Maryrose Crook has first exhibition of her artwork at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. 1997: The Renderers set up a New Zealand tour for Will Oldham, playing as his backing band and as the support. Maryrose solo exhibition at the Physics Room. 1998: the Crooks tour the U.S. again with Richard Baker on bass and their U.S. drummer Bernie Bernstein on drums. A Dream of the Sea released on Siltbreeze Records of Philadelphia. 2000: Maryrose receives Creative New Zealand grant to record a solo album. 2001: Maryrose participates in group exhibition at Dunedin Public Art Gallery called Beyond the Surface. Will Oldham releases his recording of the Renderers' "A Dream of the Sea" on More Revery by Bonnie Prince Billy, a collection of covers by Bill Withers, PJ Harvey and others. 2003: The Crook family move to Invercargill after recording Ghosts of Our Vegas Lives, where Maryrose has a six-month art residency at the Invercargill Museum and Art Gallery. 2004: Maryrose exhibits work in the Prospect Exhibition at the City Gallery in Wellington. 2005: Maryrose has a touring solo exhibiton Bringing All the Things That Run at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, the Southland Museum and Art Gallery and the Aigiantie in Timaru, winding up at the Mary Newton Gallery in Wellington, October 2005. 2006: Ghosts of Our Vegas Lives released on Tinsel Ears (NZ) and 3 Beads of Sweat (Chicago). The Renderers play as support for Will Oldham in February.
As
Maryrose Crook with The Renderers : Solo: With
the Renderers: With
the Max Block: With Bill Direen/Above Ground:
Website: www.therenderers.com E-mail: crook.crook [at] clear.net [dot] nz Snail mail: 38 Bellevue Place
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