When you hear the phrase “Ohio bands”, one of the first names that should pop into your head is Guided By Voices. If it isn’t, we may have to sit down and have a long talk. Birthed in 1983 in Dayton and led by a high-kicking former teacher and one of the most prolific artists around, Robert Pollard, GBV slammed through 16 studio albums and 16 EPs (plus 3 split EPs) before saying farewell in 2004.
In the meantime, they commanded a hell of a lot of love and respect not only from fans, but also from other bands, including fellow Daytonians the Breeders, who covered “Shocker in Gloomtown” on their 1993 album Last Splash. I love this video for the Breeders’ cover for the idea it gives that A) Dayton bands roam the streets of town and B) have nothing better to do than spy on each other’s practic sessions.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FqhOQLD3t0?fs=1]
GBV reunited this year to tour and show the kids how it’s done, while sending GBV fans into paroxysms of ecstasy. Here’s “Shocker” 2010-style.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUohJjpAPGI?fs=1]
GBV returned the favor during their 1995 tour by covering the Breeders’ “Invisible Man”. Unfortunately, we don’t have the GBV cover available, but you can easily imagine it from the Breeders original. This song sounds like it was practically written for Pollard and company.
ers, video
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4DmReQoJLQ?fs=1]