Paisley Underground is a musical genre that originated in California. It was particularly popular in Los Angeles, reaching a peak in the mid-1980s. Paisley Underground bands incorporated psychedelia, rich vocal harmonies and guitar interplay, owing a particular debt to 1960s groups such as Love and the Byrds, but more generally referencing a wide range of pop and garage rock revival.</blockquote>

The phrase later came to be "hated by the bands it described," The 1970s Memphis-based cult band Big Star, whose "September Gurls" was covered by the Bangles, was also influential, as were Britain's Soft Boys. John Hoffs, best friend of David Roback and brother of Susanna Hoffs was an idea contributor to starting a unique new sound, a Paisley Underground all girl band.

Paisley Underground bands frequently shared bills, socialized, and collaborated on side projects. For example:

  • Rainy Day was formed by members of Rain Parade, the Bangles, the Dream Syndicate and the Three O'Clock, who joined to release an eponymous album of cover versions of songs by the Velvet Underground, Buffalo Springfield, Bob Dylan, the Beach Boys, Big Star, Jimi Hendrix, and the Who. which first appeared on the Three O'Clock's Arrive Without Travelling. Live and studio performances of the Game Theory version, titled "Girl w/ a Guitar", appeared as CD bonus tracks on the 1993 reissue of Game Theory's The Big Shot Chronicles and the 2014 reissue of Real Nighttime.

The band 28th Day, formed in 1982 in Chico, California (a small college town about one hour north of Davis), was also part of the Paisley Underground. 28th Day consisted of Barbara Manning (bass, vocals), Cole Marquis (guitar, vocals), and Mike Cloward (drums). Their first EP was produced by True West's Russ Tolman and released on his Bring Out Your Dead label.

The Paisley Underground movement was paralleled in other parts of the world by genres such as New Zealand's Dunedin sound, whose chief exponents (such as the Chills and Sneaky Feelings) were often cited as directly comparable to Paisley Underground bands. A related genre of 1980s guitar rock is named jangle pop after the ringing, light guitar sounds, such as those of R.E.M., that also often featured in Paisley Underground music.

As the Paisley Underground bands of the 1980s broke up, some of their members came together in new combinations which continued to record through the 1990s and later:

  • Viva Saturn was formed in 1989 by Steven Roback, with fellow Rain Parade alumni John Thoman and Will Glenn. Glenn later joined Mazzy Star, and was replaced by another former Rain Parade member, Matt Piucci. Michael Quercio (vocals/bass), Louis Gutierrez (guitars), and Danny Benair (drums) were joined by new recruit Adam Merrin (keyboards). The group played both weekends of Coachella, appeared on the late-night talk show Conan, embarked on a brief concert tour, and released several archival recordings.

References

  • Davis, California early 80s music scene