John Shough

While serving as chief engineer at Cro-Magnon Studio in Dayton, Ohio, John Shough logged extensive sessions with Guided By Voices and occasionally contributed instrumentation to their albums under the alias "Johnny Strange." He also produced solo projects for both Robert Pollard and Tobin Sprout, along with the Breeders and assorted local acts. In 1995 Shough launched a side endeavor writing and recording his own material, drawing on Beatlesque pop and a range of indie rock approaches. After stockpiling more than 100 songs, his tapes secured a deal with Big Beef Records, which released his debut album, Ultra Vega, in late 2000. Shough subsequently formed a backing band comprising keyboardist Brett Owsley, guitarist Jeff Robertson, bassist Dennis Mullins, and drummer Todd "Tea Sea" Carll.