Polvo

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They also played several shows in the US, including the Northwest Music Fest in Portland.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2009, Polvo re-signed to Merge Records and released In Prism, their first studio album in 12 years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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:<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

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,<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> although in interviews the band disavowed that categorization.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name=":1" /> 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."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Across various interviews, the band members have cited Isn't Anything by My Bloody Valentine,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0" /> Zen Arcade by Hüsker Dü,<ref name=":0" /> Meat Puppets, Sonic Youth,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> early R.E.M.,<ref name=":0" /> progressive rock bands such as Mahavishnu Orchestra,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and 60s psychedelic rock<ref name=":1" /> as influences on their sound among others.

Legacy

On being asked by Pitchfork about their influence on modern bands in 2008, Ash Bowie said:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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,<ref name=":0" /> Mary Timony,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Unwound,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> John Dwyer of Oh Sees,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bloc Party,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Mark Smith of Explosions in the Sky,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Ryan Adams,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> St. Vincent,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Les Savy Fav,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Modest Mouse,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dylan Baldi of Cloud Nothings,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Brand New,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Johnny Jewel of Chromatics,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dry Cleaning,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dogleg,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Om,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Faint,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Lemuria,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A Minor Forest,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Melissa Auf der Maur,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Holy Sons,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Joggers,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Leviathan,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Faith Coloccia of Mamiffer,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Hair and Skin Trading Company,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Alex Edkins of METZ,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Pharaoh Overlord,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sean Kirkpatrick of The Paper Chase,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Unwed Sailor,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Posse,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sorry About Dresden,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Pitchblende,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Big Ups,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Such Gold,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Slow Mass,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tift Merritt<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and many others.

Members

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2 Current members

• Ash Bowie – guitar, vocals (1990-1998, 2008–present)
• Dave Brylawski – guitar, vocals (1990-1998, 2008–present)
• Steve Popson - bass (1990-1998, 2008–present)
• Brian Quast - drums (2008–present)

Template:Col-2 Former members

• Eddie Watkins - drums (1990-1996; died 2016)
• Brian Walsby - drums (1997-1998)

Timeline

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Colors =

 id:vocals     value:red         legend:Vocals,_guitars
 id:Bass       value:blue        legend:Bass
 id:Drums      value:orange      legend:Drums
 id:Lines1     value:black       legend:Studio_album
 id:lines2     value:gray(0.7)   legend:EP
 id:bars       value:gray(0.95)

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 at:06/01/1992 color:black  layer:back
 at:04/19/1993 color:black  layer:back
 at:04/30/1996 color:black  layer:back
 at:09/23/1997 color:black  layer:back
 at:09/08/2009 color:black  layer:back
 at:09/30/2013 color:black  layer:back

 at:05/01/1994 color:lines2 layer:back
 at:06/01/1995 color:lines2 layer:back
 at:11/14/1995 color:lines2 layer:back

BarData =

 bar:Bowie        text:"Ash Bowie"
 bar:Brylawski    text:"Dave Brylawski"

 bar:Popson       text:"Steve Popson"

 bar:Watkins      text:"Eddie Watkins"
 bar:Walsby       text:"Brian Walsby"
 bar:Quast        text:"Brian Quast"

PlotData=

width:11 textcolor:black align:left     anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
  bar:Bowie        from:start      till:04/01/1998  color:Vocals
  bar:Bowie        from:11/07/2007 till:end         color:Vocals
  bar:Brylawski    from:start      till:04/01/1998  color:Vocals
  bar:Brylawski    from:11/07/2007 till:end         color:Vocals

  bar:Popson       from:start      till:04/01/1998  color:Bass
  bar:Popson       from:11/07/2007 till:end         color:Bass

  bar:Watkins      from:start      till:06/01/1996  color:Drums
  bar:Walsby       from:01/01/1997 till:04/01/1998  color:Drums
  bar:Quast        from:11/07/2007 till:end         color:Drums

</timeline>

Discography

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2 Albums

• Cor-Crane Secret LP/CD (Merge, 1992)
• Today's Active Lifestyles LP/CD (Merge, 1993)
• Exploded Drawing CD/2×LP (Touch and Go, 1996)
• Shapes LP/CD (Touch and Go, 1997)
• In Prism LP/CD (Merge, 2009)
• Siberia LP/CD (Merge, 2013)

EPs

• Celebrate the New Dark Age (EP/ mini album) CD/3×7″ box set (Merge, 1994)
• Polvo CD (reissue of "Can I Ride" double 7-inch; Jesus Christ, 1995)
• This Eclipse CD EP (Merge, 1995)

Template:Col-2 Singles

• "Can I Ride" 2×7″ (Kitchen Puff, 1991)
• "Vibracobra" 7-inch (Rockville, 1991)
• "El Cid" split 7-inch (with Erectus Monotone; Merge, 1992)
• "Tilebreaker" 7-inch (Merge, 1993)
• "Two Fists/All The Cliches Under Broadway" split 7-inch (with New Radiant Storm King; Penny Farthing, 1994)
• "Heavy Detour" 7-inch (Merge, 2011)

Compilation appearances

• "Mexican Radio" (originally by Wall of Voodoo) on the Planned Parenthood benefit CD Tannis Root Presents: Freedom of Choice (Tannis Root, 1992)
• "Watch The Nail" on Rows of Teeth (Merge Records, 1994)
• "Reverse Migraine" on Music From The Motion Picture Reach The Rock (Hefty Records, 1998)

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
• Libraness: Yesterday...and Tomorrow's Shells City Pages
• Libraness (aka Ash Bowie) Duke Chronicle
• Polvo's Ash Bowie Talks "Reformation" Pitchfork Media
• Dave Segal Interrogates Ash Bowie of Polvo from The Stranger
• Speed Stick Releases New Video for Angular Song “Protect Your Magic” Featuring Polvo Guitarist Ash Bowie