Paisley Underground

Paisley Underground is a musical genre that originated in California. It was particularly popular in Los Angeles, reaching a peak in the mid-1980s. Paisley Underground bands incorporated psychedelia,

Etymology#

The term “Paisley Underground” originated in late 1982, and took root with a comment made by Michael Quercio of the band the Three O’Clock, during an interview with the LA Weekly alternative newspaper. The phrase later came to be “hated by the bands it described,” though Steve Wynn acknowledged that it was both harmless and helpful to have a “banner” over the movement.

Southern California#

Pat Thomas has described the Paisley Underground sound as a “marriage of classic rock and punk.” The 1970s Memphis-based cult band Big Star, whose “September Gurls” was covered by the Bangles, was also influential, as were Britain’s Soft Boys. John Hoffs, best friend of David Roback and brother of Susanna Hoffs was an idea contributor to starting a unique new sound, a Paisley Underground all girl band. Paisley Underground bands frequently shared bills, socialized, and collaborated on side projects. For example: * Rainy Day was formed by members of Rain Parade, the Bangles, the Dream Syndicate and the Three O’Clock, who joined to release an eponymous album of cover versions of songs by the Velvet Underground, Buffalo Springfield, Bob Dylan, the Beach Boys, Big Star, Jimi Hendrix, and the Who. * Danny & Dusty, a duo formed by Steve Wynn of the Dream Syndicate and Dan Stuart of Green on Red, made the album The Lost Weekend in 1985, backed by members of both bands along with most of the Long Ryders. * Clay Allison was an offshoot band composed of David Roback and Will Glenn of Rain Parade, Kendra Smith of Dream Syndicate, Sylvia Juncosa of the Leaving Trains, and Keith Mitchell of Monitor. * Opal was adopted as a new name for Clay Allison in 1984, prior to the release of their Fell from the Sun EP. In 1986, the Rain Parade were the first of the Paisley Underground bands to break up, followed by the Long Ryders in 1987, the Three O’Clock in 1988, the Dream Syndicate and the Bangles in 1989, and Green on Red in 1992.

Sacramento and Davis#

Even before the Los Angeles-based Paisley Underground took shape, the Sacramento/Davis area of Northern California was an early focus of Paisley Underground bands and musicians, some of whom later moved to Los Angeles. which first appeared on the Three O’Clock’s Arrive Without Travelling. Live and studio performances of the Game Theory version, titled “Girl w/ a Guitar”, appeared as CD bonus tracks on the 1993 reissue of Game Theory’s The Big Shot Chronicles and the 2014 reissue of Real Nighttime. The band 28th Day, formed in 1982 in Chico, California (a small college town about one hour north of Davis), was also part of the Paisley Underground. 28th Day consisted of Barbara Manning (bass, vocals), Cole Marquis (guitar, vocals), and Mike Cloward (drums). Their first EP was produced by True West’s Russ Tolman and released on his Bring Out Your Dead label.

The Paisley Underground movement was paralleled in other parts of the world by genres such as New Zealand’s Dunedin sound, whose chief exponents (such as the Chills and Sneaky Feelings) were often cited as directly comparable to Paisley Underground bands. A related genre of 1980s guitar rock is named jangle pop after the ringing, light guitar sounds, such as those of R.E.M., that also often featured in Paisley Underground music.

Legacy and influence#

Although many of the Paisley Underground groups released at least one album on a major label, by far the most commercially successful band to emerge from the movement was the Bangles, who had several mainstream hits in the 1980s, reaching number 1 in the United States with the single “Walk Like an Egyptian” in 1986. As the Paisley Underground bands of the 1980s broke up, some of their members came together in new combinations which continued to record through the 1990s and later: * Viva Saturn was formed in 1989 by Steven Roback, with fellow Rain Parade alumni John Thoman and Will Glenn. Glenn later joined Mazzy Star, and was replaced by another former Rain Parade member, Matt Piucci. * Continental Drifters, formed in 1991, included Mark Walton of the Dream Syndicate and Vicki Peterson of the Bangles. The band was originally active through 2001, and has reunited in 2009 and 2015. * Mazzy Star evolved from Opal in 1989 when Kendra Smith was replaced by Hope Sandoval. Their fourth studio album, Seasons of Your Day, was released in 2013. Other currently active recording artists who are cited as influenced by the Paisley Underground include the Allah-Las, Exploding Flowers, Mercury Rev, The Gentle Cycle (led by latter Rain Parade member Derek See), and Grandaddy. In 2005, Rhino released Children of Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the Second Psychedelic Era, 1976–1995, a four-CD box set which anthologized many Paisley Underground and related bands. The title referred to the original 1972 compilation Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968, whose music influenced the bands featured on Children of Nuggets.

Revival and band reunions#

True West did a number of reunion shows in the years 2006 through 2009, including a few shows with Violent Femmes, including at The Fillmore in San Francisco. True West also played the Down On The Farm festival in Norway in 2009. 2013 saw a series of reunions among the original Paisley Underground bands. After 25 years of turning down reunion offers, the Three O’Clock reformed after being presented with a chance to play at the 2013 Coachella Festival. Michael Quercio (vocals/bass), Louis Gutierrez (guitars), and Danny Benair (drums) were joined by new recruit Adam Merrin (keyboards). The group played both weekends of Coachella, appeared on the late-night talk show Conan, embarked on a brief concert tour, and released several archival recordings.

External links#

*Davis, California early 80s music scene

Genre family: Alternative rock genres, American styles of music, Rock music genres
Region: California