The Rain Parade is a band that was originally active in the Paisley Underground scene in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

in the 1980s, and that reunited and resumed touring in 2012.

History

Rain Parade in the 1980s (1981–86)

Originally called the Sidewalks, the band was founded in Minnesota by college roommates Matt Piucci (guitar, vocals) and

David Roback David Edward Roback (April 4, 1958 – February 24, 2020) was an American guitarist, songwriter and producer, best known as a founding member of the alternative rock band Mazzy Star. Early life Roback was born on April 4, 1958 and raised in Los ...

(guitar, vocals) in 1981, while they were attending Carleton College. David's brother Steven Roback (bass, vocals) joined the band shortly thereafter. David and Steven had been in a band called the Unconscious with neighbor Susanna Hoffs (who went on to become a member of

the Bangles The Bangles are an American pop rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1981. The band recorded several singles that reached the U.S. top 10 during the 1980s, including " Manic Monday" (1986), " Walk Like an Egyptian" (1986), "Hazy Shad ...

, the most famous of the Paisley Underground bands). The band soon added Will Glenn (keyboards and violin) and later Eddie Kalwa (drums). They self-released their debut single, "What She's Done to Your Mind" on their Llama label in 1982. In 1983, they released their debut album, '' Emergency Third Rail Power Trip'', on the Enigma/Zippo label. Critic

Jim DeRogatis James Peter DeRogatis (born September 2, 1964) is an American music critic and co-host of '' Sound Opinions''. DeRogatis has written articles for magazines such as ''Rolling Stone'', '' Spin'', '' Guitar World'' and ''Modern Drummer'', and for ...

would later write in his book ''Turn on Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock'' (2003) that "''Emergency Third Rail Power Trip'' is not only the best album from any of the Paisley Underground bands, it ranks with the best psychedelic rock efforts from any era", with uplifting melodies offset by themes that were "dark and introspective." According to DeRogatis, the album showcased "the Robacks' ethereal vocals, Eddie Kalwa's precise drumming, Will Glenn's colorful sitar, violin, and keyboard accents, and an intricate, chiming, but droney two-guitar attack that picks up where

the Byrds The Byrds () were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1964. The band underwent multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn (known as Jim McGuinn until mid-1967) remaining the sole cons ...

left off with '

Eight Miles High "Eight Miles High" is a song by the American rock band the Byrds, written by Gene Clark, Jim McGuinn (a.k.a. Roger McGuinn), and David Crosby. It was first released as a single on March 14, 1966. Musically influenced by sitar player Ravi Sh ...

.'" After David Roback left to form a new band,

Opal Opal is a hydrated amorphous form of silica (SiO2·''n''H2O); its water content may range from 3 to 21% by weight, but is usually between 6 and 10%. Due to its amorphous property, it is classified as a mineraloid, unlike crystalline form ...

, the rest of the band continued to record as a four-piece, releasing the

mini-LP A mini-LP or mini-album is a short vinyl record album or LP, usually retailing at a lower price than an album that would be considered full-length. It is distinct from an EP due to containing more tracks and a slightly longer running length. A ...

''Explosions in the Glass Palace'' in 1984. ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...

'' would later write, in praise of ''Explosions in the Glass Palace'': "Sound cathedrals? We got ‘em ... mind-meltingly beautiful guitar sounds, employed sparingly and dynamically amid dark, dizzy tales of murder, madness and drug paranoia." The song "No Easy Way Down" was cited as a "mantra for an altered state of mind, and testament to a band who, however fleetingly, made music that sounded like the best drugs ever." After the release of a single, "You Are My Friend", drummer Eddie Kalwa left and was replaced by Mark Marcum, with John Thoman (guitar, vocals) also added to the line-up. The band was signed to Island Records, and recorded a live album in Japan called ''Beyond the Sunset''. Their third album, ''Crashing Dream'', came out in 1985.

Breakup and other projects (1986–2012)

The band split in 1986, reforming briefly in 1988 to finish off a double album they had started, which was never released. Piucci would go on to release the LP '' Can't Get Lost When You're Goin' Nowhere'' with Tim Lee, under the band name Gone Fishin'. He later joined Crazy Horse. Steven Roback went on to form the band

Viva Saturn Viva Saturn was a rock group from Los Angeles, California, founded by former members of Rain Parade. History When Rain Parade decided to take a break in 1988, Steven Roback formed a new project, Viva Saturn, with fellow Rain Paraders John Thoman ...

whose debut release appeared on the San Francisco label Heyday Records, which was run at the time by Pat Thomas of the band Absolute Grey. Viva Saturn went on to release two additional LPs, ''Soundmind'' and ''Brightside''. David Roback made the album ''Rainy Day'', featuring cover versions performed by various leading lights of the Paisley Underground. He formed the Clay Allison Band and

, both with former Dream Syndicate bassist

Kendra Smith Kendra Smith (born March 14, 1960)Strong, Martin C. (2003) ''The Great Indie Discography'', Canongate, is an American musician who was a founding member of The Dream Syndicate, a member of Opal, and later recorded as a solo artist. Biography Afte ...

, and later formed

Mazzy Star Mazzy Star is an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 in Santa Monica, California, from remnants of the group Opal. Founding member David Roback's friend Hope Sandoval became the group's vocalist when Kendra Smith left Opal. Mazzy St ...

with Hope Sandoval. Keyboardist Will Glenn was also a member of the Rainy Day project, The Three O'Clock, and Viva Saturn. He also recorded with Mazzy Star under the name William Cooper. Glenn died of cancer on March 16, 2001. Mark Marcum joined the heavy metal band

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after leaving Rain Parade and appeared on their 1986 album ''After the Fall from Grace'' and 1987 EP ''Ride into the Night''.

Reunion and comeback (2012–present)

The Rain Parade reformed in 2012, performing their comeback gig on December 20, 2012 at Cafe Du Nord in San Francisco on a sold out bill with Powder and the Bang Girl Group Revue. The Rain Parade lineup included original members Matt Piucci, Steven Roback and John Thoman, augmented by Mark Hanley, Alec Palao and former Game Theory drummer

Gil Ray George Gilbert "Gil" Ray (September 17, 1956 – January 24, 2017) was an American rock drummer, guitarist, and vocalist, best known for his recordings in the 1980s and 1990s as a member of the bands Game Theory and The Loud Family. In late 2 ...

. This lineup also performed at

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in Atlanta, GA on January 19, 2013. This show was a benefit for Bobby Sutliff of

The Windbreakers The Windbreakers were an American power pop group from Jackson, Mississippi Jackson, officially the City of Jackson, is the capital of and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The city is also one of two county seats of ...

, who had been injured in a car accident. In December 2013, Rain Parade played two nights with three other reunited Paisley Underground bands—the Bangles, the Dream Syndicate, and

the Three O'Clock The Three O'Clock is an American alternative rock group associated with the Los Angeles 1980s Paisley Underground scene. Lead singer and bassist Michael Quercio is credited with coining the term "Paisley Underground" to describe a subset of the ...

—at The Fillmore in San Francisco (Dec. 5) and The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles (Dec. 6 benefit concert). In 2014, drummer Gil Ray gave up performing due to health concerns, and was replaced in the lineup by returning member Stephan Junca. Ray died of cancer in 2017. Three new recordings by Rain Parade were released in November 2018 as part of a compilation album called ''3 × 4'', which also included

the Dream Syndicate The Dream Syndicate is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California, originally active from 1981 to 1989, and reunited since 2012. The band is associated with neo-psychedelia and the Paisley Underground music movement; of the ba ...

, and

, with each of the four bands covering songs by the other bands. Following the initial Record Store Day First release as a double album on "psychedelic swirl" purple

vinyl Vinyl may refer to: Chemistry * Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a particular vinyl polymer * Vinyl cation, a type of carbocation * Vinyl group, a broad class of organic molecules in chemistry * Vinyl polymer, a group of polymers derived from vinyl ...

Yep Roc Records Yep Roc Records is an American independent record label based in Hillsborough, North Carolina, and owned by Redeye Distribution. Since 1997, the label has released albums from North Carolina and international artists, including Nick Lowe, Paul W ...

released the album on LP, CD, and digital in February 2019.

died from metastatic cancer on February 25, 2020.

Discography

Albums

*'' Emergency Third Rail Power Trip'' (1983) Enigma/Zippo (UK Indie No. 5) *'' Crashing Dream'' (1985) Island

Live albums and compilations

*''Beyond the Sunset (Live in Tokyo 1984)'' (1985) Restless/Island ( UK No. 78) *''Demolition'' (1991) – outtakes and unreleased material *''Emergency Third Rail Power Trip/Explosions in the Glass Palace'' (1992) Mau Mau *''Perfume River'' (2002) – live in New York, November 1984 *''3 × 4'' (2018 compilation) Yep Roc Records #27 Billboard Independent Albums

Singles and EPs

*"What She's Done to Your Mind" b/w "Kaleidoscope" (1982) Llama DK002 *''Explosions in the Glass Palace'' mini-LP (1984) Enigma/Zippo (UK Indie No. 4) *"Sad Eyes Kill" (1984) *"You Are My Friend" (1985) Enigma/Zippo ( UK Indie No. 28)

References

External links

* Rain Parade on Allmusicbr>Alan McGee on the Rain Parade in his Guardian Newspaper Column
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rain Parade Alternative rock groups from California Jangle pop groups Musical groups established in 1981 Musical groups disestablished in 1986 Musical groups reestablished in 1988 Musical groups disestablished in 1988 Musical groups reestablished in 2012 Musical groups from Los Angeles Psychedelic rock music groups from California Enigma Records artists Sibling musical groups