Artist Biography
by Jason Ankeny
The Athens, Georgia-based Gerbils
emerged as part of the second wave of bands linked to the Elephant 6
Recording Company collective, a coterie of like-minded, lo-fi indie
groups -- including the Apples (in stereo), Neutral Milk Hotel and the Olivia Tremor Control -- who shared musicians, ideas and sensibilities. The Gerbils comprised singer/guitarist Scott Spillane,
drummer John D'Azzo and bassist Will Westbrook, who together attended
grade school in the Elephant 6 breeding grounds of Ruston, LA; Spillane
and D'Azzo first joined forces in 1992 in the group Smilin' Joe
Fission, which also included violinist John Fernandes (later a member of
Olivia Tremor Control) and guitarist Ross Beach. After a series of roster changes, the original Gerbils lineup -- a five-piece also featuring Beach and future Azalia Snail
cellist Penny Burbank -- recorded its first demo; slimming down to a
trio, they released a series of singles on indie labels like Spare Me
and Earworm before signing to Hidden Agenda to issue their 1998
full-length debut Are You Sleepy? Spillane, D'Azzo and Westbrook all additionally pulled double duty as reserve members of both Neutral Milk Hotel and the Olivia Tremor Control.
Tracklist
| 1 |
Sunshine Soul |
|
| 2 |
Is She Fiona |
|
| 3 |
Crayon Box |
|
| 4 |
Penny Waits |
|
| 5 |
Fluid |
|
| 6 |
Wet Host |
|
| 7 |
Glue |
|
| 8 |
Ted Doesn't Mind |
|
| 9 |
Walnuts |
|
| 10 |
Lead |
|
| 11 |
Grin |
biography
[+]
by Jason Ankeny
The Athens, Georgia-based Gerbils
emerged as part of the second wave of bands linked to the Elephant 6
Recording Company collective, a coterie of like-minded, lo-fi indie
groups -- including the Apples (in stereo), Neutral Milk Hotel and the Olivia Tremor Control -- who shared musicians, ideas and sensibilities. The Gerbils comprised singer/guitarist Scott Spillane,
drummer John D'Azzo and bassist Will Westbrook, who together attended
grade school in the Elephant 6 breeding grounds of Ruston, LA; Spillane
and D'Azzo first joined forces in 1992 in the group Smilin' Joe
Fission, which also included violinist John Fernandes (later a member of
Olivia Tremor Control) and guitarist Ross Beach. After a series of roster changes, the original Gerbils lineup -- a five-piece also featuring Beach and future Azalia Snail
cellist Penny Burbank -- recorded its first demo; slimming down to a
trio, they released a series of singles on indie labels like Spare Me
and Earworm before signing to Hidden Agenda to issue their 1998
full-length debut Are You Sleepy? Spillane, D'Azzo and Westbrook all additionally pulled double duty as reserve members of both Neutral Milk Hotel and the Olivia Tremor Control.
read more
