Formed in Buffalo, New York in the late ‘80s, Mercury Rev's early releases Yerself is Steam and Boces showcased psychedelic noise-pop akin to The Flaming Lips, with Rev's bassist Dave Fridmann co-producing both bands. A mid-‘90s reshuffle saw Jonathan Donahue take lead vocals, and then, personal problems and illnesses threatened to derail the group. The melodic, elegant chamber pop of ‘98's Deserter's Songs was intended as a farewell, but instead, it broke through in the UK Re-energized, Rev released three more albums, and Donahue and Grasshopper still tour today.