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Come (American band)

From Alfawiki
Come
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1990 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States
FounderThalia Zedek, Chris Brokaw, Arthur Johnson, Sean O'Brien
Headquarters
Boston
,
United States
ProductsAlternative rock music, albums, singles

Come is a Boston-based American alternative rock group formed by Thalia Zedek (vocals, guitar), Chris Brokaw (guitar, vocals), Arthur Johnson (drums), and Sean O'Brien (bass).

Band history and reception

The inception of Come occurred when Brokaw, O'Brien, and Johnson—each having experience with prominent 1980s bands—decided to start a new ensemble and invited Zedek, previously involved with Uzi, Dangerous Birds, and Live Skull, to join their ranks.

In 1991, the band introduced the 12-inch single "Car" through Sub Pop, which highlighted their characteristic intense and brooding sound marked by Zedek’s raw vocal delivery and compelling guitar exchanges. Early reviews were favorable; Spin commended their fusion of "adrenaline rush" with "aching melody," setting the stage for broader acclaim.

Their 1992 debut album, 11:11, released under Matador Records, garnered praise from both indie and mainstream outlets. Following this release, Brokaw departed from Codeine to dedicate himself entirely to Come. The band gained endorsements from influential figures such as Dinosaur Jr.’s J. Mascis and Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain, underscoring their significance within the alternative rock genre.

Come’s sophomore effort, Don't Ask, Don't Tell (1994), adopted a more subdued yet still somber mood. Subsequently, Johnson and O'Brien left the band to pursue other professional paths. The group then recorded Near-Life Experience featuring contributions from musicians like Mac McNeilly of the Jesus Lizard and Bundy K. Brown of Tortoise. In 1998, they released the expansive Gently, Down The Stream, noted for its cohesive sonic textures and standout tracks including "Saints Around My Neck." Afterward, Zedek and Brokaw concentrated on individual projects but occasionally reunited for live shows.

Following their hiatus, Come has performed several reunion concerts. Notably, in 2007 Brokaw and Zedek appeared at the Middle East Club’s 20th anniversary celebration in Cambridge. A full-band reunion took place in 2008 at Spain’s Tanned Tin Festival, where they performed selections spanning their discography. Between 2010 and 2011, the original members regrouped sporadically for special appearances such as the TraniWreck festival in Cambridge. In 2013, they embarked on an international tour commemorating the 20th anniversary of 11:11, supporting its deluxe reissue.

Throughout their tenure, Come toured alongside key alternative rock acts including Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Sugar, and Dinosaur Jr., solidifying their place within the 1990s rock landscape.

Members

  • Thalia Zedek – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1990–2001, 2013–present)
  • Chris Brokaw – lead guitar, backing vocals (1990–2001, 2013–present)
  • Sean O'Brien – bass (1990–1995, 2013–present)
  • Arthur Johnson – drums (1990–1995, 2013–present)

Former members

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 id:Vocals              value:red     legend:Lead_vocals,_rhythm_guitar 
 id:Guitars             value:green   legend:Lead_guitar,_backing_vocals
 id:Bass                value:blue    legend:Bass
 id:Drums               value: orange legend:Drums
 id:Lines               value:black   legend:Studio album
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 at:12/01/1992 color:black layer:back 
 at:10/01/1994 color:black layer:back 
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 at:02/10/1998 color:black layer:back 
 at:05/21/2013 color:black layer:back

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 bar:Zedek text:"Thalia Zedek"
 bar:Brokaw text:"Chris Brokaw"
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 bar:Coughlin text:"Daniel Coughlin"

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 width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
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 bar:Zedek from:01/01/2013 till:10/07/2022 color:Vocals
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 bar:Brokaw from:01/01/2013 till:10/07/2022 color:Guitars
 bar:O'Brien from:01/01/1990 till:01/01/1995 color:Bass
 bar:O'Brien from:01/01/2013 till:10/07/2022 color:Bass
 bar:Bramen from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/2001 color:Bass
 bar:Johnson from:01/01/1990 till:01/01/1995 color:Drums
 bar:Johnson from:01/01/2013 till:10/07/2022 color:Drums
 bar:Coughlin from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/2001 color:Drums

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Albums

Singles

  • "Car" - 7" (Sub Pop, 1991) including "Car" and "Last Mistake" (August release in Sub Pop's Singles Club)
  • "Car" - 12"/CD (Sub Pop, 1991) containing "Car," "Last Mistake," and "Submerge" (original pre-album version)
  • "Fast Piss Blues" - 7" (Matador Records/Placebo, 1992) featuring "Fast Piss Blues" and "I Got the Blues"
  • "Fast Piss Blues" - 10"/CD (Matador Records/Placebo, 1992) with the addition of "Brand New Vein"
  • "Wrong Side" - 7"/CD (Matador Records/Beggars Banquet Records, 1994) comprising "Wrong Side," a cover of Swell Maps' "Loin of the Surf," and "SVK" ("Sharon Vs Karen")
  • "In/Out" - 7" (Matador Records, 1994) limited edition promotional vinyl including "In/Out" and "Yr Reign"
  • "String" - 10" (Matador Records/Beggars Banquet Records, 1995) featuring "String," "Who Jumped In My Grave," "German Song," and "Angelhead"
  • "String" - CD (Matador Records/Beggars Banquet Records, 1995) with extra tracks including a BBC Peel Session cover of The Only Ones' "City Of Fun"
  • "Secret Number" - 10"/CD (Matador Records/Domino Records, 1996) presenting a piano rendition of the opening track from Near-Life Experience
  • "Preaching the Blues B/W Sex Beat" - (Chunklet, 2021) credited to "Come (AKA the Come Club)," as a tribute to The Gun Club

* denotes songs not featured on any Come album

Appearances on compilations

  • "Car" on Afternoon Delight!: Love Songs From Sub Pop (Sub Pop, 1992)
  • "Orbit" on Altered States Of America (Lime Lizard, 1993)
  • "Fast Piss Blues" on Independent 20 Volume 16 (Beechwood Music, 1993)
  • "Fast Piss Blues" on The Beggars Banquet Collection (Beggars Banquet Records, 1993)
  • "City of Fun" (BBC Peel session cover of The Only Ones) on Volume Eight Compilation (Volume, England, 1993)
  • "Submerge" on The Day We Killed Grunge (Caroline Records, 1994)
  • "In/Out" on Cortex Sampler (Cortex, 1994)
  • "Wrong Side" on Play It! Vol. 3 (PIAS Benelux, 1994)
  • "Wrong Side" on Rough Trade: Music For The 90's, Vol. 6 (Rough Trade Records, 1994)
  • "String" on The Day We Exhumed Disco (Caroline Records, 1994)
  • "String" on Menú (Everlasting Records, 1995)
  • "Off to One Side" on This Is Fort Apache (MCA Records, 1995)
  • "Cimarron"* (recorded July 1995) on Ain't Nuthin' But a She Thing (London Records, 1995)
  • "Weak as the Moon" on Audio Compilation (Audio Magazine [Greece], 1996)
  • "Brand New Vein (radio session)"* (recorded September 1991) on Pipeline! Live Boston Rock on WMBR (Kimchee, 1996)
  • "In/Out" and "Strike"* (recorded November 1995) on What's Up Matador (Matador Records, 1997)
  • "Madroad Driving..."* (featuring Johnny Depp) on Kerouac: Kicks Joy Darkness (Rykodisc, 1997)
  • "Hurricane II" on Hits Hurt (Domino, 1997)
  • "Recidivist" on The Sell Texas To Mexico Fund-Raising CD (Matador, 1997)
  • "String" on Twenty-one Years Of Beggars Banquet Records (PIAS/Beggars Banquet, 1998)
  • "Hurricane (acoustic radio session)"* (recorded March 1998) on Drinking From Puddles: A Radio History Compilation (Kill Rock Stars, 1999)
  • "Do You Love Me?"* (recorded October 1999) on Knitting On The Roof - Songs from 'Fiddler On The Roof (Knitting Factory Records, 1999) featuring Thalia Zedek on voice and clarinet; Chris Brokaw providing voice and guitar
  • "I Got The Blues" on Gimme Shelter Vol. 1 (Uncut Magazine, 2002)
  • The tracks “Fast Piss Blues,” “String,” and “New Coat (live)”* (recorded in 1999) appear in the Matador At 21 box set (Matador, 2010)

* indicates tracks not included in any Come album or single release

Non-album tracks

  • "Car"
  • "Last Mistake"
  • "Submerge" (initial version before album release)
  • "Brand New Vein" (recorded during radio session)
  • "SVK"
  • "Loin of the Surf" (cover of Swell Maps)
  • "City Of Fun" [Peel Session] (covering The Only Ones)
  • "Who Jumped In My Grave"
  • "Angelhead"
  • "Cimarron"
  • "Strike"
  • "Prize"
  • "Hurricane II" (piano arrangement)
  • "Hurricane" (acoustic version from radio session)
  • "Madroad Driving..." (featuring Johnny Depp)
  • "Do You Love Me?"
  • "New Coat" (live performance)
  • "Clockface" (live rendition)

Music videos

External links

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