Polvo
L-R: Steve Popson, Ash Bowie, Dave Brylawski. (Not pictured: Eddie Watkins.)
Background information
Origin	Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
Genre(s)	Indie rock Math rock
Years active	1990 – 1998
Label(s)	Merge Touch And Go Kitchen Puff Records
Website	Polvo
Members
Ash Bowie Dave Brylawski Steve Popson Eddie Watkins

Polvo were an influential indie noise rock band of the 1990s from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. The band was fronted by vocalist/guitarist Ash Bowie and guitarist Dave Brylawski. Eddie Watkins played drums, and Steve Popson played bass guitar. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Chapel Hill may refer to: Chapel Hill, Queensland, a town in Australia Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a town in the United States, or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a major university within the town. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music often used to refer to bands that are on small independent record labels or that arent on labels at all. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... See also: 1989 in music, 1990 in British music, other events of 1990, 1991 in music, 1990s in music and the list of years in music // January 21 - MTVs Unplugged premieres on cable television with musical guest, Squeeze February 6 - Billy Idol is involved in a serious motorcycle accident... See also: 1998 in music (UK) other events of 1998 Musical groups established in 1998 Record labels established in 1998 list of years in music 1990s in music // February 15 - Sir Edward Elgars unfinished third symphony, completed by Anthony Payne is performed for the first time at the Royal... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Merge Records is an indie-rock record label based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. ... Touch and Go Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, USA, which began life in 1979 in East Lansing, Michigan as a magazine put out by Tesco Vee. ... Ash Bowie is an American musician. ... Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music often used to refer to bands that are on small independent record labels or that arent on labels at all. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Chapel Hill may refer to: Chapel Hill, Queensland, a town in Australia Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a town in the United States, or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a major university within the town. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ...

Polvo are considered one of the key proponents of a genre which came to be known as math rock. Their sound was defined by complex and dissonant guitar harmonies and driving rhythm, complementing Bowie's cryptic, often surrealist lyrics. So unpredictable and angular was their sound 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; the band's name is the Spanish word for "dust." Also is a slang used in Spain meaning sex. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Biography

Polvo's first recording was Can I Ride, a double 7" single released on Kitchen Puff Records in 1990. 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"s on Merge Records. They were critically acclaimed from the outset, at least among those critics who were into nontraditional/ underground rock. Two final albums were released after the band signed to larger label Touch and Go Records. These two releases featured a darker, more progressive rock-oriented sound instead of their earlier, post-punk influenced style. For reasons unknown, the band stopped releasing singles after signing to Touch And Go. A vinyl EP from Crop Circles. ... Merge Records is an indie-rock record label based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. ... Touch and Go Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, USA, which began life in 1979 in East Lansing, Michigan as a magazine put out by Tesco Vee. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Post punk generally refers to the particularly fertile and creative period following the initial punk rock explosion. During the first wave of punk, roughly spanning 1976-1983, bands such as The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Ramones and The Damned began to challenge the current styles and conventions of rock...

Touring

Polvo toured the U.S. frequently, with similar-minded bands such as Archers of Loaf, Superchunk, Pipe, Sonic Youth, Unwound, and Spatula. This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... Superchunk (left to right): Mac McCaughan, Jim Wilbur, Jon Wurster, Laura Ballance. ... Sonic Youth is a seminal American alternative rock group formed in New York City in 1981. ... // Unwound was a U.S. post-hardcore/ noise rock band based in Tumwater/Olympia, Washington. ...

Post-breakup activity

The group disbanded in February 1998, as members had been increasingly drifting apart, and Bowie wanted to dedicate his full attention to Helium and then-girlfriend Mary Timony. He also started a solo home-recording project under the moniker Libraness. Brylawski later played in the Indonesian music-influenced band Idyll Swords, and currently is a member of The Black Taj, as is Steve Popson. Watkins currently plays drums in Dr. Powerful. A rock band from Boston, MA during the 1990s. ... Mary Timony (born in Washington, D.C., 1970) is an American indie rock singer, guitarist, keyboardist, and violist. ... Indonesia is culturally diverse and is home to hundreds of forms of music, with those from the islands of Java, Sumatra and Bali being the most frequently recorded. ...

Discography

1996's "Exploded Drawing"

Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ...

Albums

• Cor-Crane Secret LP/CD (Merge, 1992)
• Today's Active Lifestyles LP/CD (Merge, 1993)
• Exploded Drawing CD/2xLP (Touch & Go, 1996)
• Shapes LP/CD (Touch & Go, 1997)

Cor-Crane Secret is Polvos first studio album. ... Todays Active Lifestyles is Polvos second studio album. ... Exploded Drawing is the fifth LP released by Polvo, in 1996. ... Shapes is Polvos fifth and final studio album. ...

EPs

• Celebrate the New Dark Age (EP/ mini album) CD/3x7" box set (Merge, 1994)
• Polvo CD (reissue of "Can I Ride" double 7"; Jesus Christ, 1995)
• This Eclipse CD EP (Merge, 1995)

Celebrate the New Dark Age is an EP by Polvo. ... This Eclipse is a Polvo EP released in 1995. ...

Singles

• "Can I Ride" 2x7" (Kitchen Puff, 1990)
• "Vibracobra" 7" (Rockville, 1991)
• "El Cid" split 7" (with Erectus Monotone; Merge, 1992)
• "Tilebreaker" 7" (Merge, 1993)
• "Two Fists/All The Cliches Under Broadway" split 7" (with New Radiant Storm King; Penny Farthing, 1994)

A 7 split single released by Math Rock band, Polvo, and New Radiant Storm King, on Penny Farthing Records. ... New Radiant Storm King is an indie rock group formed at Massachusetts Hampshire College in 1990. ... Penny Farthing Records was established by UK record producer Larry Page as a progression from his successful 1960s label Page One Records. ...

Sources

• VH1 Bio about Polvo
• on Epitonic, with free MP3 of Tragic Carpet Ride

External links

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