Merge Records

Superchunk

Superchunk
Superchunk was formed in 1989 in the town of Chapel Hill, NC, by Mac McCaughan (guitar and vocals), Laura Ballance (bass), Chuck Garrison (drums), and Jack McCook (guitar). After a couple of singles on their own Merge imprint, the band inked a deal with a fledgling Matador Records.

McCook was the first to depart the group. He called it quits after the release of the first album, Superchunk, citing road fatigue and his burgeoning career as a softball umpire as reasons for leaving the fold. Connecticut-born James Wilbur was recruited to take over guitar duties. Much touring and recording ensued.

No Pocky for Kitty was recorded in 1991 in Chicago by Steve Albini. Chuck left the band a few weeks before the record's release. Local window cleaner Jon Wurster was brought on board to mind the tubs. The current line up was set.

Jim Wilbur - guitar and backing vocals
Jon Wurster - drums, backing vocals
Laura Ballance - bass, backing vocals
Mac McCaughan - guitar, vocals

The Superchunk Rock Vessel plowed forth from 1993 to 1996. The band put out one more record for Matador (On the Mouth) and then opted to release its own records, through Merge. The album, Foolish brought stylistic shifts and critical acclaim. A second singles compilation (the first was 1992s Tossing Seeds) came out in the summer of '95. It was titled Incidental Music and contained most of their harder-to-find numbers (imports, b-sides, comp. tracks). Boston was the setting for Superchunk's next album session. 1995's Here's Where the Strings Come In was recorded at the city's Fort Apache Studios and slated for a fall release. The band toured hard for Strings all over the world, scoring a minor hit with the "Hyper Enough" single and video.

After a brief hiatus and another Australian tour the band released a limited-edition EP called The Laughter Guns. The band then started the writing process for what would become Indoor Living. Recording commenced in Bloomington, Indiana's Echo Park Studios with Chapel Hillian John Plymale co-producing with the band. Superchunk stretched out a bit on Indoor Living, expanding their sound by adding some new instruments to the mix: piano, organ vibes and more. The album was by far their most adventurous and at the same time their most accessible to date.

To place their own indelible mark on the end of a decade, nay, the end of a century, Superchunk delivered Come Pick Me Up, their 7th full-length studio release for Chapel Hill's favorite sons [and daughter]. It also served as part of the 10th anniversary for the band and their label, Merge Records.

Jim, John, Mac and Laura traveled to Chicago this time around for a recording session at Electrical Audio Studios with legendary abstract pop pioneer Jim O'Rourke. Set on continuing the musical journey that began on Indoor Living, Superchunk have continued the expansion and growth of their sound that started with Foolish, pushing themselves to new heights of creativity. O'Rourke was a perfect choice; incorporating strings and horns on some tracks and lending the expertise and studio savvy to help Superchunk create their most mature and enduring record to date. They've come a long way since those "Slack Motherfucker" days of working at the Kinko's on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill.

For Here's To Shutting Up, the band traveled to Atlanta, GA's Zero Return Studios to record the basic tracks, bringing producer Brian Paulson with them. The finishing touches were added at Paulson's own Uwharrie Ridge Studios in Chatham County NC, just down the road from Chapel Hill. On Here's To Shutting Up, Paulson enjoys the distinction of being the first producer to work with Superchunk twice (the first time being 1994's Foolish LP), and this familiarity helped lend to a comfort zone that allowed the band to stretch out their musical sensibilities, creating a gorgeous tapestry of sound that is as refreshing as it is astounding.

Here's To Shutting Up documents their ongoing maturation as both songwriters and musicians. Songs such as "Late-Century Dream," "Phone Sex" and "Drool Collection" shimmer with intricate melodies and some of the most diverse instrumentation and stylistic innovations yet heard in the Superchunk canon. But the boys and a girl can still rock out with the best of them on tracks such as "Rainy Streets" and "Art Class."

www.superchunk.com
03/03/10
Merge will be well-represented at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin this year with eight bands and two special Our Noise events. Our bands will be playing all over the city during the festival, so if you will be in Austin, keep your eyes peeled for all of the cool daytime parties being announced daily.

Spoon are headlining the NPR show at Stubbs BBQ on Wednesday, March 17 (12:15 am) and She & Him are playing a free, open to the public show at Auditorium Shores on Saturday March 20 (8 pm).  Superchunk are playing a free Village Voice day party at La Zona Rosa on March 19 (3 pm).

Merge Showcase @ Cedar Street Courtyard
208 West 4th St b/t Colorado & Lavaca
Thursday, March 18th
7:30 PM
(from first to last)
Special Guest
Let’s Wrestle
Radar Brothers
She & Him
Wye Oak
Lou Barlow + the missingmen
The Love Language


Merge @ Homeslice Pizza’s “Music by the Slice” Party
1415 Congress Ave.
Free & Open to the public

Thursday, March 18:
1:30 pm The Love Language
2:15 pm Radar Brothers

Friday, March 19:
Noon Let’s Wrestle
3:45  Wye Oak
6:45  Lou Barlow

Also, book events!

Our Noise event @ Book People (603 N. Lamar Blvd)
Wednesday, March 17 at 6PM
Free & Open to the Public
Mac & Laura will read selections from their book, Our Noise, and will perform covers of songs from selected bands mentioned in the book. They’ll be available to sign books afterwards, too.

Our Noise panel @ SXSW Convention Center
Thursday, March 18 at 2PM
Open to convention registrants only
Michael Azerrad will moderate a Q&A-style event with Mac & Laura about Our Noise and 20 years of Merge Records.

10/14/09
On Friday, October 23rd, Mac, Laura and John Cook will read from Our Noise and Mac will perform a few songs beginning at 7pm at Housing Works in New York. Come get your book signed, and enjoy some stories from the book and maybe a few that were left out!

Visit the Merge blog for collected reviews of Our Noise and video from past events.

Friday, October 23rd @ 7p.m.
Housing Works – Bookstore Cafe
126 Crosby Street
New York, NY 10012
212-334-3324

Get your copy of Our Noise in the Merge store or at your favorite local independent bookstore.

03.19.2010 Austin, TX La Zona Rosa FREE Village Voice SXSW Party!
04.07.2010 Toronto, ON Royal Cinema Screening of "Passenger Side" featuring a performance by Mac & Jim from Superchunk and Portastatic
06.19.2010 Denver, CO Westword Music Festival
What Do I / Train From Kansas City / My Noise [7"] (Merge) 1989
Slack Motherfucker / Night Creatures [7"] (Merge) 1989
"Garlic" on Three's Company split 7" w/ Geek & Seaweed [7"] (Merge) 1990
SUPERCHUNK [cd/lp/cs] (Matador) 1990
Fishing / Cool [7"] (Merge) 1991
The Breadman / Cast Iron [7"] (Matador) 1991
The Freed Seed [7"] (Merge) 1991
Tower [7"] (Messiah Complex) 1991
NO POCKY FOR KITTY [cd/lp/cs] (Matador) 1991
"Cool" on Self Mutilation Volume Two comp. [7"] (Hippy Knight) 1991
"Invitation" on Pyloric Waves comp. [cd] (D-Tox) 1991
"Skip Steps 1 & 3" on Throw comp. [cd] (Yo-Yo) 1991
HIT SELF DESTRUCT [10"/cdep] (Hippy Knight) 1992
"I'll Be Your Sister" on Teriyaki Asthma comp. [7"] (C/Z) 1992
"Nancy Sin" on Fortune Cookie Prize comp. [cd/lp] (Simple Machines) 1992
"Girl You Want" on Freedoom of Choice comp. [cd/dbl-lp] (Caroline) 1992
TOSSING SEEDS: SINGLES 1989-91 [cd/cs/lp] (Merge) 1992
"Mower" b/w "On The Mouth" [7"/cd5] (Merge) 1992
ON THE MOUTH [cd/lp/cs] (Matador) 1993
The Question Is How Fast [7"/cd5] (Merge) 1993
"Night of Chill Blue" on December Working Holiday split 7" w/ Caterpillar [7"] (Simple Machines) 1993
"Baxter" on Inclined Plane comp. [7"] (Simple Machines) 1993
"Basement Life" on Dope, Guns, and Fucking In The Streets Volume 3 comp. [7"] (Amphetamine Reptile) 1993
Take The Tube [video] (!K7) 1993
"Ribbon" b/w "Who Needs Light" [7"] (Merge) 1993
"Dance Lessons" on Rows of Teeth comp. [cd] (Merge) 1994
"Precision Auto Pts. 2 & 3" [7"] (Merge) 1994
The First Part [cd5/7"] (Merge) 1994
FOOLISH [cd/cs/lp] (Merge) 1994
Driveway To Driveway [cd5/7"] (Merge) 1994
"Night of Chill Blue" on Working Holiday! comp. [cd] (Simple Machines) 1994
Home At Dawn [7"] (Speed Kills) 1995
"Kicked In" on split 7" w/ Tsunami [7"] (Honey Bear) 1995
"Shallow End" on Jerky Boys soundtrack [cd] (Atlantic) 1995
INCIDENTAL MUSIC 1991-1995 [cd/cs/dbl-lp] (Merge) 1995
"Hyper Enough" b/w "Never Too Young To Smoke" [7"/cd5] (Merge) 1995
HERE'S WHERE THE STRINGS COME IN [cd/lp/cs] (Merge) 1995
Superchunk / Guided By Voices Australian tour cd [cd-ep] (Fellaheen) 1996
"Does Your Hometown Care" on Suburbia soundtrack [cd] (DGC) 1996
"Fader Rules" on Lounge Ax Defense Fund comp. [cd] (Touch And Go) 1996
LAUGHTER GUNS [cdep] (Merge) 1996
"Eastern Terminal" [remixed by Mark Robinson] on MRG100 comp. [cd-ep] (Merge) 1997
"For Tension" on What's Up, Matador? comp. [dbl-cd] (Matador) 1997
"Watery Hands" b/w "With Bells On" [7"/cd5] (Merge) 1997
INDOOR LIVING [cd/lp] (Merge) 1997
"Fishing" on Cinema Beer Belly comp. [cd] (Hopeless) 1999
"Cursed Mirror" on Pop Till You Drop comp. [dbl-cd] (Redeye / S'more) 1999
"The Majestic" b/w "Reg" [7"] (Merge) 1999
HELLO HAWK [cdep] (Merge) 1999
"Clover" on Oh, Merge comp. [cd] (Merge) 1999
SUPERCHUNK [cd] (Merge-reissue) 1999
ON THE MOUTH [cd/lp] (Merge-reissue) 1999
NO POCKY FOR KITTY [cd/lp] (Merge- reissue) 1999
COME PICK ME UP [cd/lp] (Merge) 1999
"1,000 Pounds" [cd5] (Merge) 2000
"Late Century Dream" [cd5] (Merge) 2001
HERE'S TO SHUTTING UP [cd/lp] (Merge) 2001
"Art Class" [cd5] (Merge) 2002
CLAMBAKES - Vol 1 (acoustic live) [CD] (self-released) 2002
CUP OF SAND [2xCD] (Merge) 2003
CLAMBAKES - Vol 2 ("A Page Of Madness" - Score) [CD] (self released) 2003
CROWDING UP YOUR VISUAL FIELD [DVD] (Merge) 2004
CLAMBAKES - Vol 3 (When We Were 10 - Live @ Cat's Cradle 1999) [CD] 2004

Becoming A Speck


from Late-Century Dream
DOWNLOAD 

Never Too Young To Smoke


from Cup of Sand
DOWNLOAD 

Nu Bruises


from Indoor Living
DOWNLOAD 

Pink Clouds


from Come Pick Me Up
DOWNLOAD 

Rainy Streets


from Here's to Shutting Up
DOWNLOAD 

Misfits & Mistakes


from Leaves in the Gutter
DOWNLOAD 
loading...

On Tour

Caribou [+]

April
19 Manchester Deaf Institute
20 London Corsica Studios
21 Amsterdam Paradiso
22 Brussels Beursschouwburg
23 Paris Le Point Ephemere
[see all]

The Clientele [+]

March
12 Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern
15 Minneapolis, MN Cedar Cultural Center
16 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon
17 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
18 Ann Arbor, MI Blind Pig
[see all]

The Ladybug Transistor [+]

March
19 New York, NY Bowery Electric

Let's Wrestle [+]

March
15 New York, NY The Knitting Factory
18 Austin , TX Cedar Street
21 El Paso, TX Black Market
22 Scottsdale, AZ Chyro Arts
23 Los Angeles, CA Bootleg Theater
[see all]

The Love Language [+]

March
12 Durham, NC Broad Street Cafe
13 Wilmington, NC Soapbox Laundro Lounge
15 Atlanta, GA The Earl
16 Baton Rouge, LA Red Star Bar
18 Austin, TX Home Slice Pizza
[see all]

Oakley Hall [+]

April
02 Brooklyn, NY Knitting Factory

Radar Bros. [+]

March
26 Los Angeles, CA Spaceland

The Rosebuds [+]

March
19 Asheville, NC UNCA Alumni Hall in Highsmith
20 Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle
May
08 Beaufort, NC Beaufort Music Festival

She & Him [+]

March
15 Los Angeles, CA Largo at the Coronet
25 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theatre
27 Savannah, GA Trustees Theatre (Savannah Music Festival)
29 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
30 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
[see all]

Shout Out Louds [+]

March
23 Rostock MAU
24 Hamburg Uebel & Gefahrlich
25 Berlin Astra
26 Dresden Reithalle
27 Munchen Backstage Werk
[see all]

Spoon [+]

March
18 New Orleans, LA Republic New Orleans
19 Birmingham, AL Workplay Soundstage
20 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
22 Washington 9:30 Club
23 Washington 9:30 Club
[see all]

Superchunk [+]

March
19 Austin, TX La Zona Rosa
April
07 Toronto, ON Royal Cinema
June
19 Denver, CO Westword Music Festival

Telekinesis [+]

May
21 Eugene, OR Sam Bond's Garage
24 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern
25 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
27 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
29 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
[see all]

Wye Oak [+]

March
12 Frederick, MD Cafe Nola
13 Pittsburgh, PA Brillobox
14 Indianapolis, IN Vollrath Tavern
15 Memphis, TN Hi-Tone Cafe
24 Atlanta, GA The Earl
[see all]
see all tour dates

Sign Up

Enter your email to receive our monthly newsletter:

Merge Radio

Stream full-length songs (at random) from our entire catalog.

Listen Now