Oleander

An alternative pop outfit hailing from Sacramento, California, Oleander experienced a short-lived surge in mainstream visibility during 1999, as the tracks “Why I’m Here” and “I Walk Alone” secured airplay on rock stations. Originally assembled in 1995, the group comprised vocalist and guitarist Thomas Flowers, guitarist Ric Ivanisevich, bassist Doug Eldridge, and drummer Fred Nelson, Jr. The quartet took its name from the toxic wildflowers scattered across Northern California, issuing a self-titled EP as its first studio recording in 1996 before releasing the full-length Shrinking the Blob in the middle of 1997. That album produced a regional success with “Down When I’m Loaded,” which helped secure a contract with Universal.

February Son appeared in 1999 and featured the two previously mentioned singles alongside new drummer Scott Devours. By mid-2000 the record had attained gold certification, and the band’s more experimental next release, Unwind, yielded the Top 40 single “Champion” in 2001. Despite that achievement, Unwind generated little additional interest, prompting Universal to drop the act. Oleander then moved to Sanctuary Records and delivered Joyride in 2003, which earned praise from Rolling Stone; the album nevertheless failed to restore national attention, and the members soon turned to separate endeavors, leading to the band’s dissolution in 2004.