Avant-garde ‘noise rock’ group formed in 1977 by Charles Brohawn (guitarist and student at Maryland Institute College of Art), and Chris Mason (guitarist and University of Maryland student from Minnesota). Musical style was similar to Jad Fair and Baltimore group Half Japanese. Originally a four-piece group and members had also included Dan Carney, Laurie Stepp, Marshall Reese, Michael Tolson… By the late ‘70s the Tinklers became a two-piece guitar duo of founders Brohawn & Mason playing mostly at local art shows where they also displayed their artwork.
The duo released their first album “Casserole” (Shimmy-Disc Records) in 1989. Subsequent releases included the album “Saplings” (1992), an EP “James Brown” (1992), 1993 LP “Crash”, 1995 EP “UFO’s”, and 1999 album “Slowpoke” (Serious Records).
Brohawn also released recordings in collaboration with guitarist Asa Osborne of Lungfish as The Tear Jerks.
Mason founded Widemouth tapes specializing in recordings of avant-garde musical artists and poetry.
1989(LP) Shimmy-Disc Casserole
1991(LP) Simple Machines Saplings
1992(EP) Simple Machines James Brown
1993(LP) Crash
1995(EP) UFO’s
1999(CD) Serious Slowpoke
