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David Weinstein
Arts & Entertainment section
The Diamondback (U.Md.'s student paper)
March 22, 1991

New trio springs into rock

Right now, in a Greenbelt basement, three guys are making a lot of noise. They call themeselves Absolutely Boxspring.

If you're a local music fan and you haven't heard of Absolutely Boxspring yet, don't feel too bad. they've only played a handful of gigs since their debut in October. In addition they don't have a CD at Kemp Mill or even a tape at WMUC [actually, we did have a tape at 'MUC].

But they probably won't be a secret for much longer. The trio is set to record a debut cassette release later this month.

Absolutely Boxspring strikes the perfect balance between grungy [this word hadn't be co-opted at the time of the writing] '70s hard rock and melodic pop. The three musicians say they have been influenced by various loud groups from Led Zeppelin to Mission of Burma to Midnight Oil.

Absolutely Boxspring would have fit nicely on the old SST label--next to Dinosaur Jr. and the Meat Puppets --although the band members are surprised they placed in this company.

"We're probably the last people to know what we sound like," said guitarist Dan Kozak, a junior English major. "It's funny because the first time I heard Dinosaur Jr., I thought they sounded like Neil Young singing with the Volcano Suns, and I've always liked both of those bands."

Kozak writes most of the band's lyrics. Lots of times, he chooses words that sound right with the music rather than telling stories or preaching politics. Their song Fabrication is an exception.

"My dad works at the State Department. It's interesting when you know someone on the inside," Kozak explained. "The national press is so slanted. Someone gets an angle on a story and everyone, everywhere follows. The song's about not believing everything you read."

On Absolutely Boxspring's demo tape, and in its rehearsal, the lyrics are buried under loud music. Brothers Dave Witty (bass) and Steve Witty (drums) write the songs with Kozak.

"We usually don't finish a song before we go into rehearsal, this way there's more input as a band," Kozak said.

All three band members are veterans of the Washington club scene. The band most recently played at d.c. space March 7. Kozak was a guitarist in [an earlier band called] Boxspring. He sugessted the "absolutely" in the new group's moniker because he'd "always wanted to do that. I like what Bob Dylan does with adverbs, songs like Absolutely Sweet Marie and Positively Fourth Street."

Rob Myers
Whack DC
October 1991

Absolutely Boxspring: Don't let the Rickenbacker chaos fool you, there's harmony in them thar hills. New tape in the pressing.

Susie Mudd
Maryland Musician
Feburary 1992

...Former members of Age of Consent and Third Rail have come together to form Absolutely Boxspring. Their influences range from Led Zeppelin to Royal Crescent Mob, The Who, Gang of Four, Mission of Burma and more out-there types of music. Thus far, no one has been able to label the music of Absolutely Boxspring. They give you a little bit of everything. They just started playing out in the last couple of months, but in that time they have played most of the major D.C. venues and even a couple in Baltimore. Absolutely Boxspring have just completed their debut cassette. It inclues nine of their own songs, and has already received airplay on WHFS. I'm sure that's just the start when it comes to Absolutely Boxspring. I'll keep you informed as long as they keep me informed.

Mark Bounds
Tracks
Music Monthly
April 1993

absolutely boxspring: I assume that these guys hail from the talent-laden D.C. area as they thank d.c. space and the 9:30 Club on their J-card--but they'll never tell. There was no bio or contact info with the tape. [actually there was--the above bit was the result, but apparently the tape and bio were seperated and written up 14 months apart!] No matter! The music speaks volumes as the three-piece outfit of Dan Kozak (gtr/voc), Dave Witty (bass) and brother Steve Witty (kit) weave their way through a musical menagerie. Fabrication is an infections funk groove. Strange, and sometimes out-of-sync (in a good way), the guitar work is somewhat reminiscent of Fripp/Belew from their Elephant Talk days. Blonde, Brune et Russe skips along melodically, providing precise pop that's fit for HFS rotation. Gulls At The Mall, meanwhile, delivers the traditional D.C. flavor not unlike Jawbox. A Single Rose is pretty and poised, and Resin (an intro) sports a feedback blend that would make the Edge proud. Nothing Doing and Campfire both utilize precise picking and vocal harmonies, while Did You Ever? traverses into all-out apesh*t bridges and choruses throughout. It's tight, yet loose--a great combination. The maraschino cherry on this sundae is The Power of Myth, as Boxspring brings the tape to a close...absolutely!

Mark Bounds
Tracks (year-end column)
Music Monthly
January 1994

absolutely boxspring: It's just a matter of time before you hear the likes of this D.C. combo on the alternative airwaves (WHFS and beyond). Jawbox is doing it, so why not boxspring? Absolutely!

Diana Ziegler
Rockin' A Hard Place
Music Monthly
May 1994

You may have read Mark Bounds' compimentary review of Absolutely Boxspring or noted that they did indeed place in his top 20 of 1993. I can only agree with his high praise for the band, and I have a little information to update on the state of the band. The three-piece progressive rock group, consisting of Dan Kozak (guitar/vocals), Dave Witty (bass) and Steve Witty (drums), is currently supporting a new seven-inch release. You can hear it on WHFS.

Local Music Store
1994

Layers of melody with a drive and groove you can't pigeonhole. A band that wants to be nice to you--most of the time. Toss the mattress, keep the boxspring. You need the change.

Mark Jenkins
March 18-24, 1994 Soundcheck
Washington City Paper

Sprung Rhythms

In recent years, lots of bands have sounded vaguely like R.E.M., but usually the resemblance is more in the guitar than in the vocals. Not so for Absolutely Boxspring, which recently released a 7-inch single, Non Disclosure Statement/Carwreck. Singer Ian Christopher McCaleb can be rather Stipey, and when his voice melds with those of guitarist Dan Kozak and bassist Dave Witty on the later song, the similarity is obvious, though not unpleasant. Not slavish imitators, the band members have obviously listened to various shoegazers and other purveyors of hazy melodicism. So far, the results aren't distinctive, but they are bustingly tuneful.

Mark Bounds
Tracks
Music Monthly
November 1994

Absolutely Boxspring: due to the fact that 95% of what I receive for review is of the cassette tape variety (and the other 4% on CD), it's actually a pleasure to get a good old fashioned 45--a medium I still love. Absolutely Boxspring deliver a superior sounding seven-inch with Non-Disclosure Statement b/w Carwreck. The first side teams with time signatures that seem to be merely stop gaps for the Boxspring sound. Driving bass and drums by Dave & Steve Witty frame Dan Kozak's raucous guitar assault and Ian Christopher McCaleb's vocals to perfection. The band is all over the place, yet right on the mark. The stunted rhythms and jangly guitars of Carwreck blend well with the lead and backing vocals, as elements come to mind that range from the Smiths to the Smithereens. Excellent production by Peter Gray Mansinne makes the listen complete. And with Jenny Toomey of Tsunami in their corner, you gotta love 'em!

Mikko Lappalainen
Elysium fanzine #5
Spring 1997 Absolutely Boxspring: demo

This is great shit. Combining some retro/guitar pop shades and some funkee/bluesy groove to their fundamental sturdy emocore/atmo-punk framework, AB come up with a rare and versatile sound--one of their self-mentioned influences, Shudder To Think could be the nearest comparison if you need one, but basically they are absolutely AB. There's edge and accessibility in a tight package here. The musicianship and the vocals are top notch, they'd just need a cool deal and money/time to record their stuff properly and we'd have a serious thing going. I especially enjoy the closing instrumental. Nice bass all the way thru. A CD should be coming up. Fine roughing.

Sidewalk Washington, D.C.
February 1999

....the group's style is absolutely its own...Boxspring's songs range from melancholy, bass-driven odes to funky, wah-wah heavy tunes to wistful, melodic pop songs.

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