Cerberus Shoal formed in the fall of 1994. Caleb Mulkerin (guitar) had relocated from his native South Portland, Me. to Boston, Ma. in order to join Chriss Sutherland (bass,vocals) and Tom Rogers (drum kit) who were both attending university in the area. At that time the forth member Josh Ogden (guitar) traveled weekly from Falmouth, Me. to Boston for rehearsals and shows. The group practiced at Berklee College of Music where Rogers was attending and played its first show in March of 95' at the NYC punk space ABC No Rio.

Working through the D.I.Y. (Do-It-Yourself) punk scene this first incarnation of Cerberus Shoal released a self entitled 12" record and toured extensively around the U.S. until the end of the summer of 1995.

In the late of 1995 the second incarnation of the group took place with the arrival of Kristen Hedges (guitar,vocals) from Columbus, Ohio. Hedges took the place of Ogden. Within the next six months, "Lighthouse in Athens Parts One and Two" and "And Farewell to Hightide..." were written and recorded. "...Hightide...", and other bits of this period were released on Tree Records in the beginning of the summer of 96'. "...Hightide...", featured the newest member, David Mulder, on piano, organ, and conga. This seemingly complete group toured through the summer only to lose Hedges, who returned to Ohio, come fall.

The group was now left shorthanded as far as the previously written music was concerned therefore new material had to be created. So...the fall of 96' brought, "Breathing Machines" and "Never a Solution". These two pieces were never officialy recorded though a version of "Breathing Machines" was recorded live on the air at WMPG in Portland, Me. and released, by the group, as sort of a single. Cerberus continued to tour as a four piece through that fall, winter and into the spring of 1997.

In May of 97' the group began a collaboration with another Portland, Me. based band called Tarpigh. The two groups joined together along with two other Portland musicians Shannon Systems and Dave Jonson to work on two film soundtracks for Tim Follands, "Elements of Structure" and "Permanence". On a Sunday in the middle of May the music was recorded at the Cerberus Shoal house with volunteered equipment and time from Steve Drown and Fraser Jones. While watching the films the
group improvised the twenty minute "Elements of Structure" and the thirty minute "Permanence". As a result of the projects success, a bond was created between Tarpigh and Cerberus Shoal and the music was released on C.D through the California based label Audio Information Phenomenon.

Just weeks later Cerberus was scheduled to resume their six week summer tour when Mulder departed. This, again, left the remaining Sutherland, Rogers and Mulkerin with music written and ready to go but, one player short. So, in this time of need, Cerberus resorted to testing thier newly formed friendship with Tarpigh by inviting them to join up and hit the road for the summer. Though the notice was incredibly short, two weeks to be exact, Thomas Kovacevic (guitar, oud, panpipes, vocals) and Tim Harbeson (trumpet,keyboard,sakuhachi,accordion) were able to uproot thier lives and join the caravan. Eric Laperna (conglomerate,percussion) the third member of Tarpigh was not able to join the tour but, his spirit was in the van as the new Cerberus Shoal left to tour the U.S.

So whether it took place that fateful night in S. Portland or somewhere on the road, perhaps Arkansas, Cerberus Shoal and Tarpigh decided to join as one. That summer tour ended around the middle of July, 97' and upon return a new six piece Cerberus Shoal began rehearsing. This group went on to tour and record for approx. three years making music as art, expression and a way of life.
This Cerberus Shoal made three records: "homb", "Crash My Moon Yacht" and "Mr. Boy Dog". The first was released by Temporary Residence in Dec. of '99, the second is to be released by Maine's North East Indie Records and France's Pandemonium Records in May of 2000. Then because of the usual pressures placed on musical groups of our era the six could not continue to tour together, at least for the present. A new touring group had to be assembled.

So... Sutherland, Mulkerin and Rogers solicited the help of artist/musician Collen Kinsella and bassist Erin Davidson to help create a strong live show to be presented in the comming spring. Now the group is doing a good amount of touring here in the US and will come, for the first time in Europe, in October/November. The great struggle continues...

"s/t" 12" (1995) Stella White
"Postmarked stamps # 2" (1995) 7" on Tree
"And farewell to hightide" (1996) CD on Tree
"Breathing machines" (1996) cassette on Stella White
"The soundtracks to elements of structure/permanence" (1998) CD on Audio Information Phenomenon
"Homb" (1999) CD on Temporary Residence
"Crash my moon yacht" (2000) CD on Pandemonium/North East Indie

+ songs on various compilations...