Rain Parade

The Rain Parade is a band that was originally active in the Paisley Underground scene in Los Angeles in the 1980s, and that reunited and resumed touring in 2012.

Rain Parade
Rain Parade rehearsal in San Francisco, September 2013
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, US
GenresPaisley Underground, psychedelic rock
Years active1981–1986, 1988, 2012–present
LabelsEnigma, Zippo, Island
Associated actsRainy Day, Opal, Viva Saturn, Gone Fishin', Mazzy Star
MembersMatt Piucci
Steven Roback
John Thoman
Mark Hanley
Derek See
Stephan Junca
Past membersDavid Roback
Will Glenn
Eddie Kalwa
Mark Marcum
Gil Ray

History

Rain Parade in the 1980s (1981–86)

Originally called the Sidewalks, the band was founded in Minnesota by college roommates Matt Piucci (guitar, vocals) and David Roback (guitar, vocals) in 1981,[1][2] while they were attending Carleton College.[3] David's brother Steven Roback (bass, vocals) joined the band shortly thereafter. David and Steven had been in a band called the Unconscious with neighbor Susanna Hoffs (who went on to become a member of the Bangles, the most famous of the Paisley Underground bands). The band soon added Will Glenn (keyboards and violin) and later Eddie Kalwa (drums). They self-released their debut single, "What She's Done to Your Mind" on their Llama label in 1982.[1]

In 1983, they released their debut album, Emergency Third Rail Power Trip, on the Enigma/Zippo label.[4] Critic Jim DeRogatis would later write in his book Turn on Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock (2003) that "Emergency Third Rail Power Trip is not only the best album from any of the Paisley Underground bands, it ranks with the best psychedelic rock efforts from any era", with uplifting melodies offset by themes that were "dark and introspective."[5] According to DeRogatis, the album showcased "the Robacks' ethereal vocals, Eddie Kalwa's precise drumming, Will Glenn's colorful sitar, violin, and keyboard accents, and an intricate, chiming, but droney two-guitar attack that picks up where the Byrds left off with 'Eight Miles High.'"[5]

After David Roback left to form a new band, Opal,[4] the rest of the band continued to record as a four-piece, releasing the mini-LP Explosions in the Glass Palace in 1984.[1] NME would later write, in praise of Explosions in the Glass Palace: "Sound cathedrals? We got ‘em ... mind-meltingly beautiful guitar sounds, employed sparingly and dynamically amid dark, dizzy tales of murder, madness and drug paranoia."[6][7] The song "No Easy Way Down" was cited as a "mantra for an altered state of mind, and testament to a band who, however fleetingly, made music that sounded like the best drugs ever."[6]

After the release of a single, "You Are My Friend", drummer Eddie Kalwa left and was replaced by Mark Marcum, with John Thoman (guitar, vocals) also added to the line-up.[1]

The band was signed to Island Records, and recorded a live album in Japan called Beyond the Sunset.[8] Their third album, Crashing Dream, came out in 1985.[8]

Breakup and other projects (1986–2012)

The band split in 1986, reforming briefly in 1988 to finish off a double album they had started, which was never released.[1]

Piucci would go on to release the LP Can't Get Lost When You're Goin' Nowhere with Tim Lee, under the band name Gone Fishin'. He later joined Crazy Horse.[4]

Steven Roback went on to form the band Viva Saturn whose debut release appeared on the San Francisco label Heyday Records, which was run at the time by Pat Thomas of the band Absolute Grey. Viva Saturn went on to release two additional LPs, Soundmind and Brightside.

David Roback made the album Rainy Day, featuring cover versions performed by various leading lights of the Paisley Underground. He formed the Clay Allison Band and Opal, both with former Dream Syndicate bassist Kendra Smith, and later formed Mazzy Star with Hope Sandoval.

Mark Marcum joined the heavy metal band Savage Grace after leaving Rain Parade and appeared on their 1986 album After the Fall from Grace and 1987 EP Ride into the Night.[9]

Reunion and comeback (2012–present)

The Rain Parade reformed in 2012, performing their comeback gig on December 20, 2012 at Cafe Du Nord in San Francisco on a sold out bill with Powder and the Bang Girl Group Revue. The Rain Parade lineup included original members Matt Piucci, Steven Roback and John Thoman, augmented by Mark Hanley, Alec Palao and former Game Theory drummer Gil Ray.

In December 2013, Rain Parade played two nights with three other reunited Paisley Underground bands—the Bangles, the Dream Syndicate, and the Three O'Clock—at The Fillmore in San Francisco (Dec. 5) and The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles (Dec. 6 benefit concert).[10]

In 2014, drummer Gil Ray gave up performing due to health concerns, and was replaced in the lineup by returning member Stephan Junca. Ray died of cancer in 2017.

Three new recordings by Rain Parade were released in November 2018 as part of a compilation album called 3 × 4, which also included the Dream Syndicate, the Bangles, and the Three O'Clock, with each of the four bands covering songs by the other bands.[11] Following the initial Record Store Day First release as a double album on "psychedelic swirl" purple vinyl, Yep Roc Records released the album on LP, CD, and digital in February 2019.[12][13]

David Roback died on February 25, 2020.[14]

Discography

Singles and EPs

  • "What She's Done to Your Mind" b/w "Kaleidoscope" (1982) Llama DK002
  • Explosions in the Glass Palace mini-LP (1984) Enigma/Zippo (UK Indie No. 4)[15]
  • "Sad Eyes Kill" (1984)
  • "You Are My Friend" (1985) Enigma/Zippo (UK Indie No. 28)[15]

Albums

Live albums and compilations

  • Beyond the Sunset (Live in Tokyo 1984) (1985) Restless/Island (UK No. 78)[1]
  • Demolition (1991) – outtakes and unreleased material
  • Emergency Third Rail Power Trip/Explosions in the Glass Palace (1992) Mau Mau
  • Perfume River (2002) – live in New York, November 1984
  • 3 × 4 (2018 compilation) Yep Roc Records

See also

References

  1. Strong, Martin C. (1999). The Great Alternative & Indie Discography. Canongate. ISBN 0-86241-913-1.
  2. Buckley, Peter, ed. (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock (3rd ed.). Rough Guides. p. 845. ISBN 978-1-84353-105-0.
  3. "Ultimate Paisley Underground 1980s Psychedelic / Neo-Psychedelic Scene". Facebook.com.
  4. Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 992/3. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  5. DeRogatis, Jim (2003). Turn on Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 362. ISBN 9780634055485.
  6. "Explosions In The Glass Palace". Reviews. New Musical Express. Archived from the original on 2014-10-04.
  7. duBrowa, Corey (May 18, 2001). "One Nation Underground: The Story of the Paisley Underground". Magnet. Archived from the original on 2013-10-19.
  8. Larkin, Colin (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Indie & New Wave Music. Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-579-4.
  9. https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Mark_Marcum/33774
  10. Mills, Fred (October 16, 2013). "Reunion Concerts: A Million Paisley Underground Fans Can't Be Wrong!". Blurt.
  11. "RSDBF '18 Special Release: Various Artists – 3 x 4". Record Store Day. 2018. Archived from the original on 2019-01-22.
  12. "3x4 – The Bangles, The Three O'Clock, The Dream Syndicate, Rain Parade (Yep Roc Records)". Coachella Valley Weekly. January 9, 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-01-22.
  13. "Yep Roc Announces Record Store Day Black Friday Titles!". Yep Roc Records (Press release). October 10, 2018. Archived from the original on 2019-01-22.
  14. ""Mazzy Star's David Roback Dead at 61". Pitchfork". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  15. Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980–1989. Cherry Red Books. ISBN 0-9517206-9-4.
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