Sebadoh

Sebadoh emerged as a defining force in the 1990s lo-fi underground by treating deliberately unpolished home recordings as the connective tissue between introspective sentimental pop and abrasive experimental noise. Singer-songwriter Lou Barlow started the project in 1986 as a private outlet while serving as bassist for Dinosaur Jr., where frontman J Mascis blocked any of his original songs from appearing on the group’s releases. After Barlow’s expulsion from Dinosaur Jr. in 1989, Sebadoh had already grown from a solo endeavor into a loose trio anchored by drummer and songwriter Eric Gaffney; multi-instrumentalist Jason Loewenstein soon joined, and their volatile mix yielded enduring indie-rock landmarks such as the 1991 album III and 1993’s Bubble and Scrape. With press attention fixed on Barlow, Gaffney exited in frustration during 1994, leaving the band to pursue its most radio-friendly and studio-refined phase, heard on the comparatively clean Harmacy in 1996 and the major-label release The Sebadoh in 1999, before a 14-year hiatus. Years of separate pursuits ended when the original members reconvened in 2013, eventually producing another set of characteristically raw and nervy songs on 2019’s Act Surprised.

Barlow’s initial motivation stemmed directly from Mascis’s refusal to include his compositions on Dinosaur Jr. records. In 1987 he issued the four-track acoustic cassette Weed Forestin’ under the alias Sentridoh, selling copies at Massachusetts record shops; Eric Gaffney added percussion. During a Dinosaur Jr. break in 1988 the pair recorded The Freed Man, a homemade cassette of songs by both writers that reached Homestead Records head Gerard Cosloy. Cosloy reissued an expanded version on his label in 1989, shortly before Mascis dismissed Barlow, prompting full concentration on Sebadoh. An enlarged edition of Weed Forestin’ appeared in early 1990, and both titles were later combined on the CD The Freed Weed.

On Gaffney’s recommendation, Jason Loewenstein joined as permanent drummer by late 1989. Live shows emphasized Gaffney’s electric material alongside occasional Barlow numbers and veered into post-hardcore and Sonic Youth-inspired volume, while most early singles remained acoustic. Sporadic activity continued through 1990 until the band committed to a professional path. The 1991 EP Gimme Indie Rock! signaled a shift toward electric recording, and the full-length Sebadoh III split Gaffney’s louder tracks with acoustic contributions from Barlow and Loewenstein. Gaffney quit just before the first major tour; Barlow and Loewenstein proceeded as a duo before recruiting Bob Fay on drums. Gaffney returned after the tour, yet the band’s focus had already moved toward Barlow’s songs.

A 1991 national tour yielded a five-song Barlow demo that secured deals with Sub Pop domestically and City Slang/20/20 abroad. Gaffney left again at year’s end, Fay rejoined, and the trio toured the U.S. and Europe while cutting the EPs Rocking the Forest and Sebadoh vs. Helmet; both appeared on the 1992 Sub Pop compilation Smash Your Head on the Punk Rock. Gaffney’s subsequent return prompted Fay’s second departure. Frustrated with Gaffney’s frequent absences, Barlow revived the Sentridoh moniker for numerous EPs, singles, and cassettes throughout 1993 and 1994. Bubble and Scrape arrived in spring 1993, followed by extensive touring that strengthened the band’s following on both sides of the Atlantic. Gaffney’s final exit came in fall 1993, with Fay installed permanently.

Before Sebadoh’s sixth album, Barlow formed the Folk Implosion with John Davis, releasing three recordings in 1994. The first post-Gaffney Sebadoh album, Bakesale, surfaced that summer and achieved the group’s strongest sales yet, driven by the near-modern-rock hit “Rebound.” After a 1995 pause during which the Folk Implosion scored the film Kids—yielding the Top 30 single “Natural One”—Sebadoh returned with Harmacy in fall 1996. Although it failed to match the commercial expectations created by “Natural One,” the album became the band’s first to enter the U.S. charts. Russ Pollard replaced Fay before the delayed follow-up The Sebadoh appeared on Sire Records in February 1999. After touring, the group entered hiatus.

Barlow continued with the Folk Implosion and issued solo albums Emoh in 2003 and Goodnight Unknown in 2009, while Loewenstein released At Sixes and Sevens in 2002 and collaborated with Fiery Furnaces. The 2007 reissues of Sebadoh III, The Freed Man, and Bubble and Scrape prompted a one-off reunion of the original lineup. Further activity waited until 2011, when Bakesale and Harmacy reissues led Barlow and Loewenstein to enlist drummer Bob D’Amico for live dates. The new trio recorded the 2012 Secret EP to finance a full studio album. Signing with Joyful Noise Recordings, Sebadoh delivered their ninth record, Defend Yourself, in September 2013. Subsequent solo work and Barlow’s commitments with Dinosaur Jr. delayed new material until the 2019 release of Act Surprised and its accompanying world tour.