Geologist (musician)

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Geologist
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Geologist performing live
Background information
Born
Brian Ross Weitz[1]

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Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
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OccupationTemplate:Pluralize from textMusician, environmental lobbyist
InstrumentTemplate:Pluralize from textSampler, vocals, percussion, synthesizer, hurdy gurdy

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Brian Ross Weitz (/ˈweɪts/ Script error: No such module "Respell".,[2] born March 26, 1979), also known by his stage name Geologist, is an American musician best known as a member of the experimental pop group Animal Collective. He provides electronic sound manipulations and samples for the band.

Weitz grew up in Philadelphia and Baltimore[3] and lives in Washington, DC.[4] His nickname comes from a friend mistaking his major in college, as well as the headlamp he wears in order to see his electronic equipment during live shows.[5]

Animal Collective

Geologist attended the Park School of Baltimore where he met future Animal Collective bandmates David Portner (aka Avey Tare) and Josh Dibb (aka Deakin). Avey Tare, Geologist and Deakin first started an indie-rock band called "Automine" with two other schoolmates. Deakin introduced his childhood friend Noah Lennox (aka Panda Bear) to Avey Tare and Geologist. Throughout their high school years and winter/summer college breaks, the four of them played music in different variations and often solo, swapping homemade recordings and sharing ideas.

Geologist went on to study at Columbia University, while Avey Tare went to NYU, Panda Bear to Boston University, and Deakin to Brandeis University. Avey Tare recorded tracks with Panda Bear which eventually became Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished, which was released under "Avey Tare and Panda Bear" in August 2000. After Panda Bear and Deakin both left school and moved to New York in 2000, the group's music became more collaborative, and Avey and Panda began playing clubs around New York. Geologist soon began performing with the group who eventually became "Animal Collective." He first appeared on their 2001 release Danse Manatee, and has contributed to every Animal Collective recording to date, except for their 2004 Sung Tongs LP and their 2003 Campfire Songs LP (though he was present during the recording of the latter to operate the MiniDisc recorders). Before that time, Geologist had gone to Arizona for graduate school.[6]

When asked about his personal musical influences, he says "I was always inspired by horror soundtracks, things that use unconventional sounds and textures as music. I'm interested in how abstract sounds can have the same impact on the listener as traditional musical sounds.[3]"

Other musical projects

As well as performing various DJ sets, Geologist has released the track "Jailhouse" on Animal Collective's Keep Cassette, "Stretching Songs for Spring" on a digital split with Avey Tare entitled New Psycho Actives Vol. 1 and created the soundtrack for the Morphologic Studios short film Man O War.[7][8] In April of 2018 he released the limited edition cassette Live in the Land of the Sky - his first proper solo release. [9]

Geologist collaborated with Doug Shaw (credited as "D.S.") on the album A Shaw Deal, released in January 2025.[10] The singles "Loose Gravel" and "Route 9 Falls" were released on January 13, 2025 ahead of the album.[11]

In 2025, Weitz formed the instrumental psychedelic rock trio Motherfuckers JMB & Co. with former Gwar drummer Jim Thomson and Marc Minsker. The group released its debut album, Music Excitement Action Beauty, in 2025.[12][13]

He also hosts a monthly radio show on NTS Radio called The O'Brien System.[14]

Personal life

In addition to his musical career, Weitz also worked on ocean conservation and environmental policy. He has a BA from Columbia University in Environmental Science, and an MPA in Environmental Policy from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.[15]

Weitz was married on Halloween in 2009.[16] He and his wife had a son in August 2010.[17]

Musical equipment

Discography

  • Live in the Land of the Sky (2018)
  • A Shaw Deal (2025) (with D.S.)
  • Music Excitement Action Beauty (2025) (with Motherfuckers JMB & Co.)
  • Can I Get a Pack of Camel Lights? (2026)

References

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  1. ^ [1][dead link]
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ep. #1078: Geologist | Kreative Kontrol. March 19, 2026. Retrieved March 19, 2026 – via shows.acast.com.
  3. ^ a b Animal Collective's Brian Weitz: The New Gay Interview, September 27, 2007
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Richards, Chris (September 30, 2012). "Animal Collective interview: Brian Weitz (Geologist) on living in D.C." – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  5. ^ WNYC's "Spinning on Air," July 30, 2004, second hour.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Animal Collective at Progressive Broadcasting Service". Archived from the original on July 22, 2008.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Keep + AC Cassette Tape". Keep.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Tracy, Liz (April 21, 2011). "Animal Collective's Geologist Creates Original Soundtrack for Coral Morphologic". Miami New Times.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Live in the Land of the Sky". Discogs. April 26, 2018.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Dillon, Ryan (January 30, 2025). "Geologist & D.S Pull Out Mystifying Sounds With 'A Shaw Deal' (ALBUM REVIEW)". Glide Magazine.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Geologist & D.S. – "Loose Gravel"". Stereogum. January 13, 2025.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Breihan, Tom (June 13, 2025). "Animal Collective's Geologist, Gwar's Hans Orifice, & Marc Minsker Share Debut Album As Motherfuckers JMB & Co". Stereogum. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Geologist – "Government Job"". Stereogum. January 6, 2026. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Geologist Presents: The O'Brien System".
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Two If By Sea Grant Animal Collective's Avey Tare Reveals All About New EP, Film, Tour Hiatus" (PDF).
  16. ^ Animal Collective's Avey Tare Reveals All About New EP, Film, Tour Hiatus. October 9, 2009.
  17. ^ The Self Titled Interview: Avey Tare of Animal Collective Script error: No such module "webarchive". October 19, 2010.
  18. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Interview: Geologist and Avey Tare of Animal Collective". Identity Theory. August 29, 2005.
  19. ^ a b c d Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Geologist | Equipboard®". equipboard.com.

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