A product of the vibrant Eastern Canadian indie rock scene that also nurtured Jale and Sloan, the noise-pop quartet Eric's Trip came together in Moncton, New Brunswick, during 1990. Taking their name from a Sonic Youth track, the group united several longtime figures from the local Moncton circuit: drummer Mark Gaudet had first appeared in the mid-1970s with Purple Knight before moving on to the Whoremoans and No Explanation, while vocalist/guitarist Rick White and guitarist Chris Thompson each launched their careers in 1984, White with Bloodstain and Thompson with Dang. White and Thompson formed the Forest in 1989, adding vocalist/bassist Julie Doiron-Claytor the next year; Gaudet’s arrival a few months later marked the birth of Eric’s Trip.
The band’s first release was a self-titled cassette in 1990. A steady stream of recordings followed, including the 1991 tapes Caterpillars and Drowning, the 1992 EPs Warm Girl and Belong, and 1993’s Peter. Becoming the first Canadian act signed to Sub Pop, Eric’s Trip released the EP Songs About Chris and the album Julie and the Porthole to Dimentia on the independent Sappy label before issuing their full-length Sub Pop debut, Love Tara, to close out 1993. The 1994 releases Gordon Street Haunting EP and Forever Again LP preceded a hiatus prompted by Doiron-Claytor’s pregnancy; after Purple Blue appeared in 1996, the group announced its dissolution. White soon launched Elevator to Hell, Doiron-Claytor continued as Broken Girl, Gaudet rejoined the reformed Purple Knight, and Thompson performed with Moonsocket.
