Poolside

Guitarist Mike Wu, keyboardist Eric Diaz, and bassplayer J Claire Nau caroused as corn-fed teenagers who liked to play loud music in their parents' northwestern Indiana garages. Near Chicago but compelled to contribute to the colorful San Franciscan grunge scene, the trio packed it up, drove across country, landed in the Bay Area and tried a few stylistic and logistical combinations, usually featuring Wu and Nau in one band and Wu and Diaz in another. In 1993 the fun grunge Sidecar was formed with longer-Frisco-based drummer DAve Ayer, who also performed and recorded with Porch. By 1994, however, the sirens of the Gibraltar of Grunge, Portland, sang so sweetly to the "parts" of pre-Poolside, they all decided to move up the coast and throw themselves into the mix. Drummer Joe Fitzgibbon brought a lighter vibe to the dense Poolside (as did Diaz' Moog, which had once lent its voice to the weird coos of amorous rodents in the Captain and Tennille's dusty chestnut, "Muskrat Love"). During a stint in Austin, Bong Load records caught Poolside's act and cast Gin Blossoms' songwriter Dave Bassett as producer of their debut album, Indyglow. This popular indie Stereolablike record became a quick Bay favorite, securing a full touring schedule for these mop-headed, bespectacled and perennially nineteen-year-old boys from back on the farm. ~ Becky Byrkit