Misplaced Pages

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Polvo" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Polvo
Polvo playing in Greenpoint, New York in 2010
Background information
Origin	Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.
Genres	Indie rock noise rock math rock post-hardcore
Years active	1990–1998 2008–present
Labels	Merge Touch And Go
Members	Ash Bowie Dave Brylawski Steve Popson Brian Quast
Past members	Eddie Watkins Brian Walsby
Website	polvonc.bandcamp.com

Polvo is an American indie rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The band formed in 1990 and is fronted by guitarists/vocalists Ash Bowie and Dave Brylawski, with Steve Popson playing bass guitar and Brian Quast playing drums. Eddie Watkins was the band's original drummer, but did not rejoin the band upon its reunion in 2008, after breaking up in 1998.

Biography

Formation and early releases

Polvo formed in 1990 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. Their original lineup consisted of vocalists/guitarists Ash Bowie and Dave Brylawski, bassist Steve Popson, and drummer Eddie Watkins. Bowie and Brylawski met in a Spanish class at the University of North Carolina and shared an affinity for music released by SST Records and local rock band Let's Active. Polvo's first recording was Can I Ride, a double 7-inch single released on the band's Kitchen Puff Records label in 1991. It was later re-released on CD as the Polvo EP on micro-indie Jesus Christ Records. The band then released two full-length albums, two EPs, and several 7-inches on Merge Records, a label run by Superchunk's Mac McCaughan, a high-school classmate of Brylawski and Popson. Merge Records issued their debut album, Cor-Crane Secret, in 1992. Today's Active Lifestyles followed in 1993, refining the group's approach, and it was followed in turn by two EPs, 1994's Celebrate the New Dark Age and 1995's This Eclipse. Today's Active Lifestyles was later reissued with an alternative cover without the lion image on it, because of a copyright lawsuit brought by the painter of the album.

The band also made an appearance in the 1994 cult road movie Half-Cocked.

Wider reach, dispersion and break-up

Polvo toured North America numerous times, including outings with Thinking Fellers Union Local 282, Pavement, Superchunk, Pipe, Sonic Youth, Unwound, Trumans Water, Sleepyhead, Trans Am, Dungbeetle, and Spatula. They toured twice in the UK and once in Europe, playing with Sebadoh, Babes in Toyland, and Superchunk.

Two albums were released after the band signed to the larger label Touch and Go Records. Their debut for the label was 1996's double-length Exploded Drawing, an eclectic, progressive effort that began to delve more explicitly into the guitarists' fascination with Asian music. Drummer Watkins amicably left the band afterward to pursue career and family interests. The rest of the group was beginning to drift apart as well. Brylawski moved to New York City to attend graduate school and also traveled to India, while Bowie had already relocated to Boston by 1994 to join then-girlfriend, Helium frontwoman Mary Timony. Polvo reconvened in 1997 to record Shapes with new drummer Brian Walsby. Both Touch and Go releases featured a darker, more progressive rock-oriented sound instead of their earlier, post-punk influenced style. Rumors that it would be their final album proved true when they amicably disbanded later that year, ending their farewell US tour with a two-night stand at hometown club Cat's Cradle.

Hiatus and other projects

In 2000 Bowie released an album of home recordings on the Tiger Style label, called Yesterday...and Tomorrow's Shells under the name Libraness. He has since appeared with (current Polvo drummer Brian Quast's band) the BQ's and recorded and toured with Fan Modine. Bowie and Quast had also been working on tracks for a new Libraness album. Brylawski later played in the North Carolina–based Indonesian music-influenced band Idyll Swords, which released two albums on Communion, and currently is a member of Black Taj, as is Steve Popson. Watkins played drums in Dr. Powerful, as well as Durham outfit Stranger In The Valley of The Kings. In July 2020, Brylawski and Quast released their first album as Silver Scrolls.

Reunion

Polvo reformed with new drummer Brian Quast, formerly of Vanilla Trainwreck and The Cherry Valence, after being invited to appear at All Tomorrow's Parties 2008 and the Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona, Spain. They also played several shows in the US, including the Northwest Music Fest in Portland. A full live set from a benefit show at Cat's Cradle in August 2008, featuring new songs and reworked versions of old songs, was made available to purchase online. In 2009, Polvo re-signed to Merge Records and released In Prism, their first studio album in 12 years. The album's release coincided with Merge Records' 20th anniversary, and Polvo were featured at a concert to honor the label at the Cat's Cradle in July. In 2010 the band toured with Versus and released their sixth album, Siberia, in 2013. The band did not undertake any promotion for its release. Polvo's last live performance to date was in 2011.

Original drummer Eddie Watkins died on April 24, 2016, at the age of forty-seven.

In January 2020, the band announced vinyl reissues of their first 2 albums: Cor-Crane Secret and Today's Active Lifestyles. The release was accompanied by a bundling option from Merge Records, which includes both albums with "updated-but-familiar" artwork (including posters & other "ephemera from the band's archive") and an expanded edition of the band's self-titled early singles compilation on translucent green vinyl. In February that year, Bowie & Popson sat down for an interview with Sadie Dupuis of the band Speedy Ortiz for Talkhouse. Reflecting on their legacy, Popson said:

We were just a band, one of a thousand really good bands at that time, that played shows. We were stoked that people actually liked listening to what we did. It still is shocking to me 30 years later. The reissue, I have no idea if it’s 40-year-old people, 50-year-old people restocking this stuff. Or if there are 18-year-old people out there buying it. I’d be shocked if it’s the latter. But I just don’t know.

Musical style and influences

Polvo is widely considered to be a standard bearer of a genre which came to be known as math rock, although in interviews the band disavowed that categorization. Their sound was defined by complex and dissonant guitar harmonies and driving rhythm, complementing cryptic, often surrealist lyrics. Their sound was so unpredictable and angular that the band's guitarists were often accused of failing to play with correctly tuned guitars. Polvo's songs and artwork frequently featured Asian/"exotic" themes and references. Additionally, their music had a pronounced Eastern feel that came not only from the Indian and Middle Eastern-style drones in their compositions, but actual Eastern instruments like the sitar as well. Complex ranked both Bowie & Brylawski among indie rock's greatest guitarists, writing that the band "built most of their songs around shimmering chords and stream-of-consciousness riffs; whistling Polvo on the bus would make someone look pretty strange. They sound as if someone stared into space and imagined the strangest guitar-based song possible and then the band tackled – and generally nailed – the unenviable task of performing it."

Across various interviews, the band members have cited Isn't Anything by My Bloody Valentine, Zen Arcade by Hüsker Dü, Meat Puppets, Sonic Youth, early R.E.M., progressive rock bands such as Mahavishnu Orchestra, and 60s psychedelic rock as influences on their sound among others.

Legacy

On being asked by Pitchfork about their influence on modern bands in 2008, Ash Bowie said:

I don't really look for it, to be honest. I think we've had an influence, but there are other reasons why people are often found doing similar things at the same time in music, art, design, or whatever. As far as other people incorporating your style into their work, of course you'll have mixed feelings about it, but it's probably best to remain ambivalent about it. Anyway, I've always been more into music that's completely different from Polvo, so I don't run across it much.

A wide range of bands and musicians have cited Polvo as either an influence or a favorite. They include Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz, Mary Timony, Unwound, John Dwyer of Oh Sees, Bloc Party, Mark Smith of Explosions in the Sky, Ryan Adams, St. Vincent, Les Savy Fav, Modest Mouse, Dylan Baldi of Cloud Nothings, Brand New, Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio, Johnny Jewel of Chromatics, Dry Cleaning, Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends, Dogleg, Om, The Faint, Lemuria, A Minor Forest, Melissa Auf der Maur, Holy Sons, The Joggers, Leviathan, Faith Coloccia of Mamiffer, The Hair and Skin Trading Company, Alex Edkins of METZ, Pharaoh Overlord, Sean Kirkpatrick of The Paper Chase, Unwed Sailor, Posse, Sorry About Dresden, Pitchblende, Big Ups, Such Gold, Slow Mass, Tift Merritt and many others.

Members

Timeline

Discography

References

1. Amy Phillips (2007-11-09). "Polvo Reunite for All Tomorrow's Parties | News". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
2. "Music Fest NW".
3. "Cytunes". Archived from the original on December 15, 2008. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
4. Tom Breihan (2009-06-03). "Polvo Sign to Merge for Reunion Album | News". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
5. "Merge Records". Archived from the original on September 25, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
6. Hooley, Danny (2016-04-27). "Friends, Bandmates Remember Original Polvo Drummer Eddie Watkins". indyweek.com. INDY Week. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
7. Bloom, Madison (13 January 2020). "Polvo Announce Vinyl Reissues of First Two Albums". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
8. Sacher, Andrew (January 13, 2020). "Polvo announced limited edition, colored vinyl reissues of first two albums". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
9. ^ "Polvo Finally Appreciates Their Own Music — Sort Of Sadie Dupuis (Speedy Ortiz) digs deep into the band's two new reissues with Ash Bowie and Steve Popson". talkhouse.com. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
10. ^ "What is Math Rock? Catch Polvo and Find Out | WIRED". Blog.wired.com. 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
11. Horowitz, Hal. "You can call Polvo math rock, but the numbers just don't add up". Clatl.com. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
12. "The 25 Greatest Indie Rock Guitarists". Complex. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
13. "Polvo (bonus)". tapeop.com. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
14. "freedarko.com: Shoals Vs. Polvo". Retrieved 2021-02-16.
15. "The Agit Reader • Feature: Polvo". www.agitreader.com. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
16. "David Brylawski interview". www.markprindle.com. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
17. "Polvo's Ash Bowie Talks "Reformation"". Pitchfork. 17 April 2008. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
18. "Mary Timony". Pitchfork. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
19. Turner-Heffer, Adam (June 9, 2017). "The Friday Fangasm: Leaves Turn Inside You by Unwound". DrownedInSound. Archived from the original on 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
20. Gluckin, Tzvi (23 October 2017). "Oh Sees' John Dwyer: 21st Century Renaissance Man". www.premierguitar.com. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
21. Corcoran, Nina (2017-12-22). "How Thee Oh Sees Became Cult Garage-Rock Icons". Vulture. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
22. "A Coalition With Bloc Party". www.gigwise.com. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
23. "Explosions in the Sky guitarist talks about the band, 'Friday Night Lights' and growing up in MIdland". Midland Reporter-Telegram. 2007-05-11. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
24. "The Records That Changed My Life". Spin. 2004-08-04. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
25. ""I Could Be Anybody Today…" St Vincent Interviewed". Mojo. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
26. "Les Savy Fav". Pitchfork. 16 August 2007. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
27. Earles, Andrew (2015-04-16). "Modest Mouse Sell Out Minglewood". Memphis Flyer. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
28. "Cloud Nothings: Attack on Memory".
29. McKinlay, Fiona (September 17, 2009). ""I like talking to people": Brand New's Jesse Lacey chats to DiS". DrownedInSound. Archived from the original on 2015-10-12. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
30. "TV On The Radio - Band Reviews and Interviews by The Deli". www.thedelimagazine.com. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
31. "The Self-Titled Interview: Johnny Jewel - self-titled". 19 March 2012. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
32. Grow, Kory (2022-10-19). "Dry Cleaning Brilliantly Combine Rocking and Talking on 'Stumpwork'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
33. "neutron, Author at Conan Neutron & The Secret Friends". Conan Neutron & The Secret Friends. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
34. "Playlist: Dogleg's Formative Punk, Emo, and Post-Hardcore Tracks". FLOOD. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
35. Bugbee, Tim. "Om: Interview". prefixmag.com. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
36. "Interviews -The Faint-". sound.jp. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
37. ""Putting a Little Gloom into It" an Interview with Sheena Ozzella of Lemuria". She Shreds Media. 2015-09-16. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
38. San Francisco Bay Guardian Issue 48.06. 2013.
39. "Melissa Auf der Maur (Hole, Smashing Pumpkins) Talks Polvo's Siberia". Talkhouse. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
40. "Interview: Emil Amos of Holy Sons". Echoes And Dust. 2014-09-07. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
41. "olvo both started and nearly broke up our band. I'll tell the whole story on a podcast if someone invites me Cat face with tears of joy". Twitter.
42. Angle, Brad (26 June 2015). "Leviathan's Jef Whitehead Discusses 'Scar Sighted' and Why He Still Won't Tour". guitarworld. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
43. "Feature: Music – Pass The Mic: Artists on 2015 | Year End 2015". Scene Point Blank. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
44. Mills, Fred (15 September 2019). "A SUPERHEATED MIX: The Hair and Skin Trading Company". Blurt Magazine. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
45. Von Bader, David (6 August 2015). "Metz: Alex Edkins' Relentless Aggression". www.premierguitar.com. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
46. Orlandino, Nicola. "My AweSOMe Guest List: Pharaoh Overlord". SonOfMarketing. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
47. Wolf, Erin. "From the pAper chAse to the Nervous Curtains: Sean Kirkpatrick Brings Nervous Musical Energy to the Cactus Club". Urban Milwaukee. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
48. "D//E Interviews: Unwed Sailor // Track Premiere: Retrograde". Destroy//Exist. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-15. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= and |website= (help)
49. "Posse". Pitchfork. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
50. "Lazyeye Interview: sorry about dresden". www.timmcmahan.com. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
51. "Secret History: Pitchblende's Kill Atom Smasher". DCist. Archived from the original on 2022-04-19. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
52. Brum, Tag (7 May 2014). "An Interview With Big Ups - PUNCH". punchland.com. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
53. "Interviews: Deep in a hole with Rochester's Such Gold". www.punknews.org. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
54. "Slow Mass offer a Track By Track breakdown of their debut LP, On Watch: Stream". Consequence of Sound. 2018-05-10. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
55. "Tift Merritt (The Interview)". www.speakersincode.com. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 2021-02-15.

Sources

• VH1 Bio about Polvo
• on Epitonic, with free MP3 of Tragic Carpet Ride
• Spanish Royal Dictionary "Polvo"

External links

• Official Touch and Go Records site
• Mark Prindle's Polvo record reviews

• Math rock groups
• American noise rock music groups
• Indie rock musical groups from North Carolina
• Musical groups from Chapel Hill-Carrboro, North Carolina
• Musical groups established in 1990
• Musical groups disestablished in 1998
• Merge Records artists
• Touch and Go Records artists
• Musical groups reestablished in 2008