Velocity Girl
Encyclopedia
Velocity Girl was an American
indie rock
band formed in 1989 in College Park
, Maryland
, although it was generally known as a Washington, DC-area band. The band released three albums before splitting up in 1996.
) in 1989 (the two having met at university), initially going under the name The Gotterdemocrats, becoming Velocity Girl with the addition of Brian Nelson (ex-Big Jesus Trashcan, also of Black Tambourine), Jim Spellman (ex-High Backed Chairs), and lead singer Bridget Cross (soon to join Unrest
). The band took its name from a Primal Scream
B-side which appeared on the influential C86 compilation album. Sarah Shannon joined to replace Cross after the release of the band's debut single "I Don't Care If You Go". While much 1990s rock music featured an abrasive vocal and instrumental style, Velocity Girl's sound, especially post-1993, was more melodic and typically featured "clean" (non-distorted) electric guitar sounds and two-part harmonies; the band described their influences as "the Rough Trade and Postcard labels and some of the early Creation bands". However, on their first seven-inch records on Slumberland
and Merge, as well as their first Sub Pop album, Copacetic, Velocity Girl were noted for their shoegaze influences. The band was noted for its love of releasing a steady stream of 7" vinyl singles. Slumberland Records was formed in 1989 by members of several D.C.-area bands, including Velocity Girl.
They often featured female/male vocals, sometimes simultaneously, Archie Moore providing the male vocals.
Velocity Girl toured frequently, releasing three full-length recordings on the Sub Pop
label. Music videos were released for "Crazy Town" (1993), "Audrey's Eyes" (directed by Phil Harder
) ('93), "Sorry Again" ('94), "I Can't Stop Smiling" (directed by Spike Jonze
) ('94), and "Nothing" (4.3 Mb Quicktime excerpt: http://www.subpop.com/bands/velocitygirl/videos/nothing.MOV) ('96). The group disbanded in late 1996 after playng their last show "The Buzz Bakesale", in West Palm Beach, FL. Coincidentally, this was the same time that the career of Lush
, the band to which Velocity Girl were most frequently compared, ended as well. Shannon, Riles and Spellman reunited in a short-lived project called Starry Eyes, releasing one EP in 1998. Moore had already formed Heartworms before Velocity Girl split up, and later formed The Saturday People with Terry Banks of Tree Fort Angst
.
Sarah Shannon went on to release her self-titled album in 2002. There was one Velocity Girl reunion show played at the Black Cat in Washington, DC on June 9, 2002 to benefit original vocalist Cross.
Jim Spellman now plays guitar in Washington DC based power-pop band Julie Ocean.
Split releases:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
indie rock
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 formed in 1989 in College Park
College Park, Maryland
College Park is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. The population was 30,413 at the 2010 census. It is best known as the home of the University of Maryland, College Park, and since 1994 the city has also been home to the "Archives II" facility of the U.S...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, although it was generally known as a Washington, DC-area band. The band released three albums before splitting up in 1996.
History
The band started as the duo of Kelly Riles and guitarist/singer Archie Moore (also of Black TambourineBlack Tambourine
Black Tambourine was an influential twee pop band and one of the earliest Slumberland groups of the early 1990s. Formed in Silver Spring, Maryland, the band comprised singer Pam Berry, Brian Nelson, Archie Moore and Mike Schulman...
) in 1989 (the two having met at university), initially going under the name The Gotterdemocrats, becoming Velocity Girl with the addition of Brian Nelson (ex-Big Jesus Trashcan, also of Black Tambourine), Jim Spellman (ex-High Backed Chairs), and lead singer Bridget Cross (soon to join Unrest
Unrest (band)
Unrest is an indie rock band from the Washington, D.C. area. It was one of Mark Robinson's projects for what would eventually become the TeenBeat label, also created by Mark while in high school. Developing from an experimental approach of never playing the same song twice, earlier material seemed...
). The band took its name from a Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
B-side which appeared on the influential C86 compilation album. Sarah Shannon joined to replace Cross after the release of the band's debut single "I Don't Care If You Go". While much 1990s rock music featured an abrasive vocal and instrumental style, Velocity Girl's sound, especially post-1993, was more melodic and typically featured "clean" (non-distorted) electric guitar sounds and two-part harmonies; the band described their influences as "the Rough Trade and Postcard labels and some of the early Creation bands". However, on their first seven-inch records on Slumberland
Slumberland Records
Slumberland Records is an American independent record label formed in 1989 in Washington, D.C. area and currently based in Oakland, CA. The label has released recordings from artists including Velocity Girl, Honeybunch, Lilys, Stereolab, St...
and Merge, as well as their first Sub Pop album, Copacetic, Velocity Girl were noted for their shoegaze influences. The band was noted for its love of releasing a steady stream of 7" vinyl singles. Slumberland Records was formed in 1989 by members of several D.C.-area bands, including Velocity Girl.
They often featured female/male vocals, sometimes simultaneously, Archie Moore providing the male vocals.
Velocity Girl toured frequently, releasing three full-length recordings on the Sub Pop
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
label. Music videos were released for "Crazy Town" (1993), "Audrey's Eyes" (directed by Phil Harder
Phil Harder
Philip Harder is a music video director and commercial director represented by Bob Industries in Santa Monica, California. He had a music video company Harder/Fuller Films, 1985 - 2005...
) ('93), "Sorry Again" ('94), "I Can't Stop Smiling" (directed by Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze is an American director, producer and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television...
) ('94), and "Nothing" (4.3 Mb Quicktime excerpt: http://www.subpop.com/bands/velocitygirl/videos/nothing.MOV) ('96). The group disbanded in late 1996 after playng their last show "The Buzz Bakesale", in West Palm Beach, FL. Coincidentally, this was the same time that the career of Lush
Lush (band)
Lush were an English alternative rock band, formed in 1987 and disbanded in 1998. They were one of the first bands to attract the "shoegazing" label...
, the band to which Velocity Girl were most frequently compared, ended as well. Shannon, Riles and Spellman reunited in a short-lived project called Starry Eyes, releasing one EP in 1998. Moore had already formed Heartworms before Velocity Girl split up, and later formed The Saturday People with Terry Banks of Tree Fort Angst
Tree Fort Angst
Tree Fort Angst was an indie pop band that was originally a solo project of former St. Christopher guitarist Terry Banks.-History:...
.
Sarah Shannon went on to release her self-titled album in 2002. There was one Velocity Girl reunion show played at the Black Cat in Washington, DC on June 9, 2002 to benefit original vocalist Cross.
Jim Spellman now plays guitar in Washington DC based power-pop band Julie Ocean.
Personnel
- Archie Moore, guitar/bass/vocals
- Brian Nelson, guitar
- Kelly Riles, guitar/bass (now Kelly Young)
- Sarah Shannon, vocals
- Jim Spellman, drums
- Bridget Cross, vocals (1989–90)
LPs/CDs
- CopaceticCopacetic (album)Copacetic is an album by Velocity Girl, released in 1993. It is their first full-length album and features the singles "Crazy Town" and "Audrey's Eyes," both of which were given music videos. The album's title derives from an American slang word meaning "everything's ok"...
(Sub Pop - SP 196; March 24, 1993) - ¡Simpatico! (Sub Pop - SP 247; June 14, 1994)
- Gilded Stars And Zealous Hearts (Sub Pop - SP 340; March 12, 1996)
EPs
- Velocity GirlVelocity Girl (album)Velocity Girl EP is the compilation of singles by Velocity Girl, released in April 1993. "Not at All" and both versions of "I Don't Care if You Go" were sung by Bridget Cross. Sarah Shannon is lead vocal on "Forgotten Favorite" and "Why Should I Be Nice to You?"...
(reissued as The Horrible Truth EP and 6 Songs) CD EP (Slumberland Records - SLR 23; April 16, 1993) - Sorry Again CD EP (tracks: "Sorry Again", "Marzipan", "Diamond Jubilee", "Labrador (remix)") (Sub Pop - SP 357; May 24, 1994)
Singles
- "I Don't Care If You Go" (full mp3: http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/sounds/vgirl-dont_care.mp3) b/w "Always" (Slumberland Records - DRYL 4, 1990) (featured Bridget Cross on vocals)
- "I Don't Care If You Go" b/w "Not At All" and "I Don't Care If You Go (acoustic version)" (Summershine - SHINE 006, 1990) (featured Bridget Cross on vocals)
- "My Forgotten Favorite" (full mp3: http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/sounds/vgirl-forgotten.mp3) b/w "Why Should I Be Nice To You?" (Slumberland Records - DRYL 10, 1991)
- "Crazy Town" b/w "Creepy" (Sub Pop - SP 179, Nov. 1992)
- "Crazy Town" b/w "Creepy" & "My Forgotten Favorite" (Sub Pop - SP 179, Nov. 1992) (12")
- "Audrey's Eyes" b/w "Stupid Thing" (Sub Pop - SP112-228, 1993)
- "Sorry Again" b/w "Marzipan" (Sub Pop - SP 257, 1994)
- "I Can't Stop Smiling" b/w "Marzipan" (Sub Pop [Europe], 1994)
- "Your Silent Face" (a New Order cover) b/w "You're So Good To Me" (a Beach Boys cover) (Merge Records - MRG 061, 1994)
- "Seven SeasSeven Seas (song)"Seven Seas" is a single by Echo & the Bunnymen which was released on 6 July 1984. It was the third single to be released from their 1984 album Ocean Rain. It reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart and number 10 on the Irish Singles Chart.-Overview:...
" b/w "Breaking Lines" (Heaven Records - HV 13, 1995) - "Nothing" b/w "Anatomy Of A Gutless Wonder" (Sub Pop - SP 341, Feb. 1996)
Split releases:
- "Clock" on What Kind Of Heaven Do You Want? comp. (bands: V.G., Black Tambourine, Powerderburns) (Slumberland Records - DRYL 1)
- "What You Say" on Screw 7" comp. (bands: V.G., Jawbox, Candy Machine, Geek) (Simple Machines - SMR 04, 1991)
- "Warm", "Crawl" (on split 7" with Tsunami) (Sub Pop - SP 137, 1992)
- "Merry Christmas, I Love You" on Season's Greetings 7" (Simple Machines - SMR 14, 1992)
- "Breaking Lines" (on split 7" with Chisel) (Shute Records - No. 8, 1997)
Appearances on various-artist compilations
- "Blackzilla (live)" on Pre-Moon Syndrome Post-Summer Of Noise (Simple Machines - SMR 03, Dec. 1990)
- "My Forgotten Favorite" on One Last Kiss (SpinArt Records - SPART 1, 1991)
- "Tales Of Brave Aphrodite" on Fortune Cookie Prize: A Tribute To Beat Happening (Simple Machines - SMR 07, 1991)
- "What You Say" on The Machines: Simple Machines 7"s (1990-1993) comp. (Simple MachinesSimple MachinesSimple Machines was a record label that operated out of Arlington, Virginia. The label was masterminded by Jenny Toomey and Kristin Thomson and, at its peak, had four paid workers- Toomey, Thomson, Pat Graham and Mickey Menard...
- SMR 19, 1994) [track from Screw EP] - "Here Comes", "Always" and "Crazy Town" on John PeelJohn PeelJohn Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
Sub Pop Sessions (Sub Pop, 1994) - "My Forgotten Favorite" on Clueless soundtrack CD (Capitol, 1995) Certified Platinum
- "Finest Hour" on That Virtua Feeling: Sub Pop And Sega Get Together (1995)
- "Same Old City" on Golden Jam: General Mills' Golden Grahams (EMI, 1996)
- "I Can't Stop Smiling" on Poptopia! Power Pop Classics of the '90s (Rhino, 1997)
- "It's All Right By Me" on Flirt (MP3-only release, 2006)