San Diego Reader

Jackson Milgaten: Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric), Vocals | Craig Barclift: Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric), Vocals | Scott Wheeler: Keyboards, Vocals | Jeremy Scott: Drums, Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric) | Dave Mead: Drums

Genre: Rock

RIYL: Vampire Weekend, Vision of a Dying World, the Powerchords, the Paddle Boat, Grizzly Bear

Upcoming Local Shows

Discography

Related Links:

• Jam Session: "Cuckoo Chaos on Daytrotter" · Feb. 14, 2012

• Blurt: "Jackson of All Trades" · Sept. 2, 2009

Synoposis

Inception: San Diego, 2008

Ex-Band Members: Jane Weibel, Vocals

Influences: Vision of a Dying World, Bon Iver, the Powerchords, E.L.O., Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Blur, Carlos Santana, Nina Simone, George Michael, David Bowie, Vampire Weekend

Background:

Cuckoo Chaos was founded in 2008 by singer/guitarist Jackson Milgaten, (Vision of a Dying World, the Paddle Boat). The initial lineup featured fellow Visionary Jeremy Scott, Craig Barclift, Jane Weibel, with Milgaten's roommate Scott Wheeler singing and playing keyboards.

Craig Barclift graduated Bonita Vista High and attended Southwestern College and San Diego State. He also plays with the Powerchords, as well as co-running Single Screen Records.

In 2009, Milgaten and Scott transformed their Normal Height home into a house party venue they called the Boat House. In September 2010, they won Best Alternative at the San Diego Music Awards.

As of 2011, the band includes Jeremy Scott (who switched from drums to guitar), Garrett Prange, Wheeler, Milgaten, and drummer Dave Mead. They’re being booked locally and for tours by Tom Windish at Chicago’s Windish Agency, which also works with Deerhunter, Girl Talk, and Animal Collective.

A seven-song EP Woman was released September 13, 2011, on Lefse Records. In October, they played four shows at the annual CMJ music fest in NYC, as well as recording two live in-studio sessions (one for the Daytrotter website) and performing a Windish Agency showcase at Mercury Lounge during the festival. The Daytrotter session included Woman tracks “Slut Barf,” “Jesus Flag American Fish,” “Just Ride It,” and “Possessed by a Corpse.”

Their CMJ set at Pianos on the Lower East Side of NYC on October 18, 2011, earned a rave from the New York Times.