Downy Mildew (band)

Downy Mildew was an American folk pop/alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California active from 1984 to 1995.

Downy Mildew
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
GenresFolk pop, alternative rock
Years active1984–1995 (1995); 2009; 2019
LabelsTexas Hotel, Glass, Triple X, High Street
Past membersJenny Homer
Charlie Baldonado
Nancy McCoy
Mike Marasse
John Hofer
Salvador Garza
Rob Jacobs
Janine Cooper
Jason Kahn

History

Formed in Los Angeles, California in 1984, the early lineup consisted of Jenny Homer (guitar, vocals), Charlie Baldonado (vocals, guitar), Nancy McCoy (bass guitar), and Mike Marasse (drums), all students at local colleges.[1][2] The band's first release was a self-titled EP on the Texas Hotel label in 1986.[1] Their chamber-pop sound, inspired by 1960s pop and post punk saw them lumped in with the Paisley Underground scene.[1][3][4] Debut album Broomtree followed in 1987, and was released by Texas Hotel and Glass Records in the UK.[1]

Marasse left, to be replaced by John Hofer, with Salvador Garza added on violin, and the new lineup recorded the album Mincing Steps, released in 1988 on Texas Hotel. Michael Stipe of R.E.M. directed a video for the song Offering from the album.[1][5][6]

Hofer then left, and after a few years with only a sole single released on Triple X featuring the song "Cool Nights" which was produced by Andy Gill of Gang of Four and backed with a cover of the Bacharach/David song, "Walk On By" and a mash up of "Sunday Morning" by the Velvet Underground and "Leaving On A Jet Plane" by John Denver, the band returned in 1992 with the Elevator EP, released on the Windham Hill sub-label 'High Street', now with Rob Jacobs on drums.[1][6] By this time their sound had evolved more towards alternative rock.[7] This was followed by the album An Oncoming Train. McCoy left to start a family and was replaced by Janine Cooper (formerly of Pet Clarke) for the band's final album, Slow Sky, released in 1994. Both An Oncoming Train and Slow Sky were recorded in the band's own studio and mixed by Tchad Blake.[1] The band split up in 1995.[1]

Discography

Albums
  • Broomtree (1987), Texas Hotel/Glass
  • Mincing Steps (1988), Texas Hotel
  • An Oncoming Train (1992), High Street
  • Slow Sky (1994), High Street

EPs
  • Downy Mildew (1986), Texas Hotel
  • Elevator (1992), High Street

Singles

References
  1. Strong, Martin C. (2003) The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-335-0, pp. 306-7
  2. Appleford, Steve (1992) "Back on Track With 'Oncoming Train'", Los Angeles Times, June 14, 1992. Retrieved March 21, 2013
  3. Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Indie & New Wave, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0231-3, pp. 138-9
  4. Ali, Lorraine (1994) "Pop Music Review : Downy Mildew Has Had Better Nights", Los Angeles Times, September 13, 1994. Retrieved March 21, 2013
  5. Foss, Richard "Mincing Steps Review", Allmusic. Retrieved March 21, 2013
  6. Cohen, Jason "Downy Mildew", Trouser Press. Retrieved March 21, 2013
  7. Foss, Richard "An Oncoming Train Review", Allmusic. Retrieved March 21, 2013
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