After eight years of touring the country playing shows for dedicated fans, the members of Homunculus are calling it quits to pursue other ventures. But before the band separates, it has decided to do one final tour.
Adam Schoen, bass guitar and vocals, said after graduating from Ohio University and meeting the band in Athens, it made sense to include the town as one of their final show stops.
When I joined the band
I made sure we always got back to Athens Schoen said. I hope that even though these are our last shows together we still end up making new fans.
It all started in 1995, when a group of friends started playing in a basement in Bloomington, Ind. After two years of playing small clubs and pubs, Homunculus released its first,
self-titled rock album in 1997, according to the Homunculus Web site (www.homunculture.com).
A year later, the band released The Pulse of Directed Devotion. After relocating to Cincinnati, the year continued to be huge for the band as it started headlining gigs in Chicago and New York City, according to the Web site.
In 1999, the band experienced some changes, with two members quitting the band.
With Homunculus
we did all the writing together
so everyone had a different view of the direction we should be going
Kevin Shima, guitar and vocals, said.
It was as exciting as it was frustrating to get the band to mesh
he added.
By October of 1999, Homunculus picked up its bass player, Schoen, and went back on the road, continuing to average 200 to 250 gigs a year across the country. +
Shima said.
On the positive side, Shima said traveling rewards him with the opportunity to compare similarities and differences with the fans he meets in each city.
In 2000 Homunculus slowed its touring schedule to begin writing a new album. By 2001 the band had released its last studio album to date, WORDS.
The band officially announced its plans of separation in June, leaving fans confused as to what would happen to the new album Homunculus had promoted prior to the breakup.
We've yet to discuss what to do with the songs we've recorded
Schoen said. We've demoed some; the rest are just bits and pieces that total to roughly 30 songs.
The Homunculus Web site will remain accessible for people to continue to enjoy and to discover the band's music.
Schoen and Shima both plan to continue making music throughout their lives.
Schoen has been contacted by other bands, while Shima recently moved to Athens and currently is working on a solo release.
The members said they will miss playing together.
It was a big part of our development
said Ben Doepke, who plays keyboards.
When things wrap up
it will take awhile to find my bearings
