A foundational force in the development of Northwestern indie rock and particularly the riot grrl scene, Vancouver’s Mecca Normal served as a link connecting earlier female post-punk acts such as the Raincoats and the Slits, along with Patti Smith’s punk poetry, to the overtly political and feminist noise acts that emerged in the 1990s. Essentially operating as a duo that occasionally received studio assistance, the group favored a lo-fi, amateurish and strictly minimalist approach, with vocalist Jean Smith—who also worked as a poet, novelist and painter—delivering her stream-of-consciousness and pointedly topical lyrics above the clattering cacophony produced by guitarist David Lester. Over more than two decades of collaboration the pair built a reputation for intense live shows while appearing on several prominent indie imprints of the period, including K, Matador and Kill Rock Stars.
Smith and Lester established Mecca Normal in Vancouver in 1981 while both held positions in print-media design. Following years of rehearsal they produced their initial home recordings in 1984 and finished their debut album in 1986; released on the band’s own Smarten Up! imprint under the plain title Mecca Normal, the record was sold primarily at concerts. The release fostered a connection with Beat Happening frontman and K Records founder Calvin Johnson, who enlisted the group for its second album, Calico Kills the Cat, issued in 1988. A succession of further K releases followed, among them 1991’s Water Cuts My Hands, 1992’s more restrained and melodic Dovetail, and 1993’s Flood Plain. Also in 1993 the band issued Jarred Up, a collection of singles recorded for assorted indie labels across the preceding six years.
The duo next moved to Matador, releasing the favorably received Sitting on Snaps in 1995, an album that included drum and piano contributions from New Zealand producer Peter Jefferies. During the same period Smith and Jefferies formed the side project 2 Foot Flame, which issued two albums between 1995 and 1997. Jefferies remained for the subsequent Mecca Normal releases, 1996’s The Eagle & the Poodle and 1997’s more acoustic Who Shot Elvis?. After a several-year break during which Smith and Lester explored other artistic pursuits, Smith issued her self-titled solo debut on Kill Rock Stars in 2000. Mecca Normal resumed activity in 2002 with The Family Swan, also on Kill Rock Stars. Two years later the band delivered its thirteenth album, The Observer, and embarked on a spring tour covering both U.S. coasts, with Shoplifting supporting the East Coast shows.
