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Polvo

From Alfawiki
Polvo
Company typeIndie rock band
IndustryMusic
Founded1990
Headquarters
Chapel Hill
,
United States
Key people
Ash Bowie, Dave Brylawski, Steve Popson, Brian Quast
ProductsMusic albums, EPs, singles

Polvo is an American indie rock group originating from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, established in 1990. The band is led by guitarists and vocalists Ash Bowie and Dave Brylawski, accompanied by Steve Popson on bass and Brian Quast on drums. Initially, drummer Eddie Watkins was part of the lineup but did not participate in the 2008 reunion after their split in 1998.

Origins and initial recordings

The founding members of Polvo—Bowie, Brylawski, Popson, and Watkins—came together in 1990. Bowie and Brylawski connected while attending the University of North Carolina, sharing an interest in SST Records releases and the local act Let's Active. Their debut recording was Can I Ride, a double 7-inch single launched through their own Kitchen Puff Records in 1991, which was subsequently reissued as the Polvo EP on Jesus Christ Records. Over time, they released two full-length albums, two EPs, and multiple singles via Merge Records, a label created by Superchunk’s Mac McCaughan, who attended high school with Brylawski and Popson. Merge Records issued their first album, Cor-Crane Secret (1992), followed by Today's Active Lifestyles (1993), which marked a development in their musical style. Two EPs came next: Celebrate the New Dark Age (1994) and This Eclipse (1995). Due to copyright issues, Today's Active Lifestyles was re-released featuring different cover artwork.

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

Expansion, changes, and dissolution

Polvo embarked on extensive tours throughout North America with bands such as Pavement, Superchunk, and Sonic Youth, as well as performing across the UK and Europe alongside groups like Sebadoh and Babes in Toyland. After signing with the larger label Touch and Go Records, they produced two albums. Their 1996 release Exploded Drawing displayed a more experimental approach that incorporated elements of Asian music. Following this album, drummer Watkins departed to concentrate on his personal life and career. Brylawski moved to New York for graduate studies and traveled to India, while Bowie relocated to Boston in 1994 to be with then-partner Mary Timony of Helium. The band reunited in 1997 to record Shapes featuring new drummer Brian Walsby. Both albums released under Touch and Go adopted a darker tone with a more progressive rock influence compared to their earlier post-punk sound. They amicably disbanded later that year after completing a farewell tour across the United States, concluding with two performances at Chapel Hill's Cat's Cradle.

Break period and side endeavors

In 2000, Bowie issued an album of home-recorded tracks titled Yesterday...and Tomorrow's Shells under the pseudonym Libraness through Tiger Style Records. He subsequently collaborated with Brian Quast’s band the BQ’s and toured with Fan Modine. Bowie and Quast also worked together on additional Libraness projects. Meanwhile, Brylawski performed with Idyll Swords, an Indonesian-influenced band based in North Carolina that released two albums via Communion Records; he currently plays with Black Taj alongside Steve Popson. Watkins contributed his drumming talents to Dr. Powerful as well as Durham’s Stranger In The Valley of The Kings. In July 2020, Brylawski and Quast debuted their first album as Silver Scrolls.

Reunion

Following invitations to perform at the 2008 editions of All Tomorrow's Parties and Barcelona's Primavera Sound Festival, Polvo reunited with Brian Quast, previously of Vanilla Trainwreck and The Cherry Valence, stepping in as their new drummer. The band subsequently played several concerts across the United States, including an appearance at Portland's Northwest Music Fest. A live recording from a 2008 benefit gig at Cat's Cradle, showcasing both fresh tracks and revamped material, was released online. In 2009, Polvo returned to Merge Records, issuing In Prism, their first studio album in over a decade, timed to coincide with the label’s 20th anniversary. They supported the release with a tour alongside Versus in 2010 and followed up with their sixth album, Siberia, in 2013, which was released without any promotional campaign. Their final live show took place in 2011.

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

In January 2020, Polvo announced vinyl reissues of their debut albums: Cor-Crane Secret and Today's Active Lifestyles. Merge Records provided a special bundle that included both records with refreshed artwork, posters, archival memorabilia from the band’s collection, and an expanded version of their early singles compilation pressed on translucent green vinyl. The following month, Bowie and Popson participated in an interview conducted by Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz for Talkhouse, reflecting on the band's enduring impact. Popson commented:

We were simply one among many talented bands back then who performed live shows. It was thrilling that people actually enjoyed our music. Even after three decades, it still surprises me... Regarding the reissue, I have no clue whether it’s being purchased by people in their forties or fifties replenishing their collections or by eighteen-year-olds discovering us anew. I would be amazed if it’s mostly the latter. But honestly, I just don’t know.

Musical style and influences

Polvo is often recognized as a pioneering act within the math rock scene; however, the band has rejected this classification. Their sound is characterized by intricate and dissonant guitar interplay combined with propulsive rhythms and enigmatic, surreal lyrics. The group’s erratic and jagged approach frequently led listeners to mistakenly believe their guitars were out of tune. Asian motifs and "exotic" elements appear regularly in both Polvo’s music and visual art, drawing heavily from Eastern traditions such as Indian music and Middle Eastern music-inspired drones, alongside instruments like the sitar.

The publication Complex ranked guitarists Bowie and Brylawski among indie rock’s elite, highlighting their distinctive shimmering chord work and stream-of-consciousness riffing that challenged conventional guitar techniques.

In various interviews, Polvo acknowledged influences including My Bloody Valentine’s Isn't Anything, Hüsker Dü’s Zen Arcade, Meat Puppets, Sonic Youth, early works by R.E.M., progressive rock groups like Mahavishnu Orchestra, and psychedelic rock from the 1960s.

Legacy

During a 2008 discussion with Pitchfork, Ash Bowie reflected on Polvo’s impact on contemporary bands while expressing mixed feelings about others adopting elements of their style, also noting his personal interest in pursuing different musical directions.

Polvo has inspired or been cited as a favorite by a broad array of artists spanning multiple genres. Notable admirers include Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz, Mary Timony, Unwound, John Dwyer of Oh Sees, Bloc Party, Mark Smith from 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, members of Dry Cleaning, Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends, Dogleg, groups like Om, The Faint, Lemuria, A Minor Forest, solo artist Melissa Auf der Maur, acts such as Holy Sons and The Joggers, projects like Leviathan and musicians including Faith Coloccia of Mamiffer. Others influenced include members of The Hair and Skin Trading Company, Alex Edkins from METZ, bands like Pharaoh Overlord and performers such as Sean Kirkpatrick of The Paper Chase. Additional admirers come from groups like Unwed Sailor, Posse, Sorry About Dresden, veterans like Pitchblende, newer acts such as Big Ups, hardcore outfits like Such Gold, post-punk bands including Slow Mass, and singer-songwriter Tift Merritt.

Members

Present lineup

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

Past members

  • Eddie Watkins – drums (1990–1996; deceased 2016)
  • Brian Walsby – drums (1997–1998)

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

Compilation contributions

  • "Mexican Radio" featured on Planned Parenthood benefit CD Tannis Root Presents (Tannis Root, 1992)
  • "Watch The Nail" included on Rows of Teeth compilation (Merge Records, 1994)
  • "Reverse Migraine" part of the soundtrack for Music From The Motion Picture Reach The Rock (Hefty Records, 1998)

Sources

External links

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