Suburban Vegetable
Encyclopedia
Suburban Vegetable were formed as an improvisational synth-pop duo by Gareth Davies
and Andrew Girardin in Manchester
, England in 1989. Their early work was influenced by The KLF
and the Pet Shop Boys
although Davies' love of progressive rock
gave their work a more off-the-wall approach. They signed to Saltwater Records in October 1989 and released their debut single One For Uncle Martin later that month. This was followed in 1990 by their debut LP Mr.Ridley which was immediately revered as an underground classic.
Following Girardin's departure in early 1991, Davies struggled to write and record the second album Weety Things which was panned by critics. By November 1991 though the band were back on track with their third LP Gladioli Mix and new permanent members in guitarist Matthew Poole
and drummer Ian Ferguson. Their fourth LP Organic saw them move away from their traditional keyboard and acoustic guitar sound and use electric guitars for the first time, a change inspired by Davies' new found love of indie
music and bands such as Blur
and The Stone Roses
.
The album was hailed as a masterpiece and the subsequent tour saw them attract their biggest crowds, despite their success being localised to the North West of England. Live in concert, the band were often compared to local heroes The Fall, despite Davies' prominent use of tin whistle
and flute
which clearly betrayed his continued love of Jethro Tull
and folk rock
. It was in the summer of 1992 that the band played their biggest gigs and reached their career peak.
In late 1992, internal rifts split the band apart and Davies recorded the final LP Censored Haircut largely alone. The sound again shifted to more heavy guitars and basses, more akin to American bands such as Pavement
and Pixies. Although the 1992 line-up reformed for a one-off gig in May 1993, the band split for good immediately afterwards.
In 2001 a compilation LP entitled Tautology was released and Davies recorded a new single under the Suburban Vegetable name for the occasion. (I) Feel Like A Ghostbuster was a sparkling pop song that re-awakened interest in this most cultish of bands.
Gareth Davies now pursues a solo career as a performer and producer, whilst Andrew Girardin publishes poetry and is currently working on his first novel.
Gareth Davies (singer-songwriter)
Gareth Davies was a founder member and principal songwriter in Suburban Vegetable, releasing five albums between 1990 and 1993, including the cult classics Organic and Censored Haircut...
and Andrew Girardin in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England in 1989. Their early work was influenced by The KLF
The KLF
The KLF were one of the seminal bands of the British acid house movement during the late 1980s and early 1990s....
and the Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
although Davies' love of progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
gave their work a more off-the-wall approach. They signed to Saltwater Records in October 1989 and released their debut single One For Uncle Martin later that month. This was followed in 1990 by their debut LP Mr.Ridley which was immediately revered as an underground classic.
Following Girardin's departure in early 1991, Davies struggled to write and record the second album Weety Things which was panned by critics. By November 1991 though the band were back on track with their third LP Gladioli Mix and new permanent members in guitarist Matthew Poole
Matthew Poole
Matthew Poole was an English Nonconformist theologian.-Life to 1662:He was born at York, the son of Francis Pole, but he spelled his name Poole, and in Latin Polus; his mother was a daughter of Alderman Toppins there. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, from 1645, under John...
and drummer Ian Ferguson. Their fourth LP Organic saw them move away from their traditional keyboard and acoustic guitar sound and use electric guitars for the first time, a change inspired by Davies' new found love of indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
music and bands such as Blur
Blur (band)
Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
and The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
.
The album was hailed as a masterpiece and the subsequent tour saw them attract their biggest crowds, despite their success being localised to the North West of England. Live in concert, the band were often compared to local heroes The Fall, despite Davies' prominent use of tin whistle
Tin whistle
The tin whistle, also called the penny whistle, English Flageolet, Scottish penny whistle, Tin Flageolet, Irish whistle and Clarke London Flageolet is a simple six-holed woodwind instrument. It is an end blown fipple flute, putting it in the same category as the recorder, American Indian flute, and...
and flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
which clearly betrayed his continued love of Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
and folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
. It was in the summer of 1992 that the band played their biggest gigs and reached their career peak.
In late 1992, internal rifts split the band apart and Davies recorded the final LP Censored Haircut largely alone. The sound again shifted to more heavy guitars and basses, more akin to American bands such as Pavement
Pavement (band)
Pavement is an American alternative rock band that formed in Stockton, California in 1989. In their career, they achieved a significant cult following, and they were called the best band of the 1990s by prominent music critics Robert Christgau and Stephen Thomas Erlewine...
and Pixies. Although the 1992 line-up reformed for a one-off gig in May 1993, the band split for good immediately afterwards.
In 2001 a compilation LP entitled Tautology was released and Davies recorded a new single under the Suburban Vegetable name for the occasion. (I) Feel Like A Ghostbuster was a sparkling pop song that re-awakened interest in this most cultish of bands.
Gareth Davies now pursues a solo career as a performer and producer, whilst Andrew Girardin publishes poetry and is currently working on his first novel.
Selected discography
- 1990 Mr.Ridley LP
- 1991 Weety Things LP
- 1991 Gladioli Mix LP
- 1992 Organic LP
- 1993 Censored Haircut LP
- 2001 Tautology - Suburban Vegetable Examined Compilation LP