The Gerbils
Encyclopedia
The Gerbils are an indie rock
band that formed in Athens, GA in 1998. Part of the Elephant Six Collective
, the band released two albums and toured nationwide during their tenure.
Penny Burbank, they released a couple singles on a variety of record labels from 1996-1998 before recording an album (which included the four previously-released songs) in 1998 on Hidden Agenda Records.
Spillane's Neutral Milk Hotel
bandmate Jeremy Barnes
eventually joined as drummer, which drove the somewhat twee pop sound of the band's first album towards a more energetic hard rock. The members of the band soon decided to call it quits unofficially with a farewell show in 1999 in Athens. While D'Azzo pursued interests in California, Spillane and Westbrook (with the help of members of Of Montreal
and Elf Power
) finished mixing the album that was completed with Chris Bishop prior to their separation. Once the resulting album, The Battle of Electricity, was completed, the Gerbils did a national tour with Elf Power before again separating. The band eventually reformed in 2004, playing regularly and becoming fully active.
Guitarist Will Westbrook died on Monday, December 11, 2006 due to an undisclosed illness. After his death, The Gerbils disbanded, with Spillane and D'Azzo occasionally performing Gerbils' songs together afterwards.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band that formed in Athens, GA in 1998. Part of the Elephant Six Collective
The Elephant Six Collective
The Elephant 6 Recording Company is a collective of American musicians who spawned many notable independent bands of the 1990s, including The Apples in Stereo, The Olivia Tremor Control, Neutral Milk Hotel, Beulah, Elf Power, Of Montreal, and Circulatory System.-Foundation:The collective was...
, the band released two albums and toured nationwide during their tenure.
Bio
The band consisted of Scott Spillane, John D'Azzo and Will Westbrook, college roommates in Ruston, LA. Along with sometimes-cellistCello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
Penny Burbank, they released a couple singles on a variety of record labels from 1996-1998 before recording an album (which included the four previously-released songs) in 1998 on Hidden Agenda Records.
Spillane's Neutral Milk Hotel
Neutral Milk Hotel
Neutral Milk Hotel was an American indie rock band formed by singer, guitarist and songwriter Jeff Mangum in the early 1990s. The band was noted for its experimental sound, obscure lyrics and eclectic instrumentation....
bandmate Jeremy Barnes
Jeremy Barnes
Jeremy Barnes is an American musician. He was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the son of a local businessman. In 1995 he moved to Chicago to attend DePaul University but later dropped out. He joined the band Neutral Milk Hotel in January 1996. The band disbanded in 1998 and Barnes spent time...
eventually joined as drummer, which drove the somewhat twee pop sound of the band's first album towards a more energetic hard rock. The members of the band soon decided to call it quits unofficially with a farewell show in 1999 in Athens. While D'Azzo pursued interests in California, Spillane and Westbrook (with the help of members of Of Montreal
Of Montreal
Of Montreal is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. It was founded by frontman Kevin Barnes in 1996, named after a failed romance with a woman "of Montreal." The band is one of the bands of the Elephant 6 collective...
and Elf Power
Elf Power
Elf Power is an indie rock band that originated in Athens, Georgia. Currently, the line-up consists of guitarist/vocalist Andrew Rieger, keyboardist Laura Carter, guitarist Jimmy Hughes, bassist Derek Almstead, and drummer Eric Harris...
) finished mixing the album that was completed with Chris Bishop prior to their separation. Once the resulting album, The Battle of Electricity, was completed, the Gerbils did a national tour with Elf Power before again separating. The band eventually reformed in 2004, playing regularly and becoming fully active.
Guitarist Will Westbrook died on Monday, December 11, 2006 due to an undisclosed illness. After his death, The Gerbils disbanded, with Spillane and D'Azzo occasionally performing Gerbils' songs together afterwards.
Releases
Along with various contributions to compilation albums, the Gerbils have released two albums and three singles on a variety of labels.Albums
- Are You Sleepy?Are You Sleepy?Are You Sleepy? is the debut album of The Gerbils.-Track listing:#"Sunshine Soul" - 2:38#"Is She Fiona" - 2:56#"Crayon Box" - 3:00#"Penny Waits" - 2:18#"Fluid" - 2:53#"Wet Host" - 5:29#"Glue" - 4:24#"Ted Doesn't Mind" - 2:24#"Walnuts" - 2:28...
(CD/LP) - Hidden Agenda - 1998 - The Battle of ElectricityThe Battle of ElectricityThe Battle of Electricity is the second album by Athens-based Elephant 6 band The Gerbils-Track listing:All tracks by John D'Azzo/Scott Spillane except where noted.#"Are You Underwater" The Battle of Electricity is the second album by Athens-based Elephant 6 band The Gerbils-Track listing:All...
(CD/LP) - Orange Twin - 2001
Singles
- "Grin"/"Crayon Box" (7") - Spare Me RecordsSpare Me RecordsSpare Me Records was an independent record label based in Williamsburg, New York, active between 1996 and 2002. It specialized in supporting and internationally releasing albums by local talent, but released work by non-locals, as well....
- 1996 - "Glue"/"Is She Fiona" (7") - Hidden Agenda - 1997
- "Lucky Girl"/"Big White Limo" - EarwormEarworm RecordsEarworm Records was a London-based independent record label, with its first release by the band Hood in 1997. Other bands to release music on the label include Yo La Tengo, Of Montreal, Stars of the Lid, Windy & Carl, Portal, The Besnard Lakes, Fridge, Damon & Naomi and Magnétophone....
- 1997