By Steve Huey--
The off-kilter indie pop band Heavy Vegetable was the inaugural vehicle of Rob Crow, a prolific singer, guitarist, and songwriter who went on to form a dizzying array of alternate projects. Crow was a longtime devotee of rock eccentrics ranging back to Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart, as well as Can, the Residents, and Devo, among others. In practice, Heavy Vegetable’s music sounded more punkish, with a fractured pop aesthetic that brought the likes of Guided by Voices or the Archers of Loaf to the minds of some critics; early on, their music also bore the unmistakable influence of prog-punk outfits like Slint and Drive Like Jehu. Crow’s surrealist lyrics and fragmented melodic gifts earned Heavy Vegetable an enthusiastic cult following in the mid-‘90s. However, in the first indication of the creative restlessness that would mark his career, he soon chose to move on, fronting a succession of bands that more or less followed the Heavy Vegetable aesthetic.
Heavy Vegetable was formed in Encinitas, California (near San Diego) by guitarist/singer Crow, lead singer Eléa Tenuta, bassist Travis Nelson, and drummer Manolo Turner. After a few split singles and compilation appearances, the band debuted in 1993 with the four-song EP A Bunch of Stuff by Heavy Vegetable, released by The Way Out Sound. Their style truly blossomed on their first full-length album, 1994’s The Amazing Undersea Adventures of Aqua Kitty and Friends (on Headhunter/Cargo), whose brief, catchy songs wedded progressive, even jazzy musicianship (odd time signatures, complex harmonies, etc.) to geeky lyrics reminiscent of They Might Be Giants. The follow-up, Frisbie, appeared in 1995 and consolidated the strengths of its predecessor while moving farther away from the band’s punk roots. Frisbie in particular won the band considerable critical acclaim, but unfortunately, they split up during the supporting tour.
Crow issued some solo material as one-half of a split LP with Lesser, also in 1995, and quickly formed a new band called Thingy in partnership with Tenuta. Thingy was Crow’s main vehicle for the next few years, but he also recorded as part of the punky Fantasy Mission Force, the one-off solo project Snotnose, the kitschy indie-pop duo Optiganally Yours, synth minimalists Physics, and more straightforward indie rockers Pinback. In 2000, Headhunter/Cargo released a posthumous collection of singles and rarities called Mondo Aqua Kitty: A Collection of the Further and Final Unabashed Adventures of Heavy Vegetable.
I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4
Thanks for the ADD! Go to our website www.HollywoodMusicOnline.com it's FREE to submit a song for our 24 hour Hollywood Music Online Radio and get a FREE On-line Press Kit too. While you're at it, check out info about the Hollywood Rock Convention. Hope to see you there!
someone said I sounded a bit like you lot... hope you're not offended!
Er, you know how everyone's always going "look at me! listen to my shit!" etc... well...
I've done 5 new recordings, 2 feat. Claire Lemmon (Sidi bou Said/Cardiacs) which are now 'up' on my page, ready for your ears... so have a listen! ...please
The Return of CREEDLE 12/30 Casbah The bill has been announced for the 12/30 Casbah show:
CREEDLE Bunky Donald Wilson (can you believe it??) Secret Fun Club
Tix available at casbahmusic.com. I'm told they are going fast.
I've been receiving requests to play some of my fave Creedle tracks and rarities on my EVR radio show in anticipation of the reunion so I am going to dedicate tonight's installment accordingly (regardless of the awkwardness of it). It's the band that set my soundtrack fanaticism into motion so I guess it ties in, sort of.
The show airs live tonight 12 - 2 am EST (9 pm - 12 am PST) but will be archived for your listening convenience the next two weeks leading up to the show at:
Thanks for the add! Very cool stuff! If you have the time, please visit our MySpace page and listen to some great tracks from the Swedish band The Nooners. Take care!
All the best,
Kiss Kass Recordings
and
The Return Of The Living Dead Nooners
