Rock group, Visqueen have gone on a hiatus. They played their final shows last month. Read on for more history on the group.

Rachel Flotard

Formed by musicians Rachel Flotard and Ben Hooker in 1996, Visqueen has been a melting pot group since the beginning. They began playing music together in Seattle, WA and have been touring ever since. Now, after having been established professionally for 10 years, they are taking a break. Other continual members include bass player Cristina Bautista, and electric cellist Barb Hunter on occasion. The group has played along side the likes of Guided by Voices, and Cheap Trick.

Their most well known work was the album Message to Garcia. It acts as an ode to Flotard’s father who was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and later passed in 2002. Its title was borrowed from an 1899 poem penned by Elbert Hubbard about a no pretense soldier who would do anything asked of him. It was this poem that acted as the only reading suggestion that Flotard’s father handed to her. This inspired her to use the title later for this album.

After their first record, King Me was released, the band went on a four month tour in a van. This was followed shortly by their sophomore album, Sunset on Dateland. Flotard also lent her voice to the Neko Case albums, Middle Cyclone, and Fox Confessor Brings the Flood. With Message to Garcia, she chose to collaborate with artists, Jon Rauhouse, The Fastbacks and The Long Winters.

The group had been well received by critics and fans alike, saying:

“From the disc’s opening blast, “Hand Me Down,” to its crashing coda 10 songs later, “Jimmy vs. James,” the music is insistent, urgent, thrilling. There are no wasted notes, no flash distractions.”
JOE HEIM, WASHINTON POST

“I listened to this CD last week on a drive through the mountains with my band, and silenced a car full of over-caffeinated men, and perhaps drew a tear or two. Rachel Flotard has written one of the best records that I have heard in a while. Period.”
DUFF MCKAGAN, GUNS N’ ROSES

Visqueen held its farewell shows in November 2011.