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

03.19.2010

Austin, TX

La Zona Rosa

FREE Village Voice SXSW Party!

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