THE BAND

Birdsaw was a highly acclaimed rock band from San Francisco during the turn of the century (20th > 21st Century). Their distinctive sound was characterized by Robin’s powerful vocals, Dan’s punk-jazz chord structures and compositions, Mark’s unique and powerful drumming, and Tom’s foundational, minimalist, and melodic bass lines.

In 1993, Robin Coomer was living in SF, composing original songs with fellow musicians, and had a background in musical theater. Dan was on a year hiatus from an MD/Ph.D. program at U Penn when he met Robin at a Broun Fellinis show in the mission district. The two began composing music together almost immediately. They shared many musical tastes and swapped passions, from the Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine to Lou Reed and Johnny Cash. Guitarist Dan Laks and vocalist Robin Coomer formed Five Feet to the Window with the original rhythm section Mike Fritz and Dave Bullwinkle. They were eventually represented by la-based Cadre Entertainment (David Benveniste (he managed “System of a Down”)). After numerous demo tapes and live gigs, with tours across the Northwest (especially favored around Kennewick, WA), the band abruptly dissolved. Shortly before recording their first album due to the new rhythm section (Chris McKay on bass and Dan Garvin on drums) balking at a big record deal (not sure, but it seemed they didn’t want to sell out?).

Robin and Dan decided to start anew with a new band, a streamlined rock sound, and its independent record label, Hemline Records, eventually distributed by Subterranean Records. They recruited Mark Pino, a drummer from defunct influential rock pioneers Lithium Milkshake, and soon recorded “Haunted by One Question,” produced by Kevin Donlon, with guitar phenom Eric McFadden playing bass.

As Eric McFadden ascended in his career, they found the awesome Tom Jordan to play bass shortly afterward and recorded “Fainting Room,” produced by Steven Lam and Jan Linder. Birdsaw played locally, toured the Northwest, the East Coast, and eventually a national tour (Booked by Ralph Spight of Victims Family). “Power on Control” was the third album recorded live at The Bottom of the Hill, mixed by Dan Rathburn (Idiot Flesh).

The last album, “Pitch Black Lightning,” was recorded by Justin Phelps in 2004 but was never completed as the band dissolved so that Dan Laks could return to graduate school and become a Ph.D. brain tumor scientist in the war on cancer. Now 18 years later, the raw digital tracks were uncovered, and Matthew Spatol mixed the album.

MARK PINO

I first began playing with Dan Laks and Robin Coomer in 1997. I was delighted to get a chance to make music with a guitar player whom I considered to be a master of tone and a lyricist from whom I heard the genuine poetic expression.

What seemed at first to be a short recording project turned into a five-year quest for music that we felt to be at a high standard. This was Birdsaw. The band worked on our music when we could document it as we saw fit and tried to get it heard by audiences as far afield as possible.
One can’t say that we didn’t give it our best shot. I, for one, am proud that Birdsaw always tried to make our music as unique to us as possible. That is how I felt about it then and how I continue to feel about it now.
I look back on those times with great fondness with Dan, Robin, and Tom Jordan.