Hamster Theatre

The Boulder, CO-based Hamster Theatre were founded in 1993, emerging from the musical imagination of Dave Willey, an American accordionist/composer skilled in a wide variety of instruments who had lived for a time in Europe and found himself attracted to the music of Lars Hollmer, Nimal, and similar Rock in Opposition-related artists who blend elements of rock, European folk, avant-garde experimentation, and modern composition. Returning to the States, he recorded and released a solo cassette entitled Songs From The Hamster Theatre (reissued on CD by the Prolific label in 1995), and the Hamster Theatre saga was underway.



In 1993, like-minded keyboardist/trombonist Jon Stubbs joined with Willey as co-leader of the new band named Hamster Theatre, formed to play Willey's compositions live. Hamster Theatre featured Willey primarily on keyboards, guitar, and melodeon and Stubbs on bass -- the group would find itself perennially challenged to find a bassist who would stick around very long -- with an array of additional musicians (including vocalist Deborah Perry) on keyboards, sax, flute, and drums. The group gigged around Colorado bars and coffeehouses, but aside from Willey and Stubbs this Hamsters lineup ultimately would not last.

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