Small Factory

Though Small Factory never ranked among the underground pop scene’s most celebrated, widely embraced, or forward-thinking outfits, the trio nevertheless distilled the sparkling essence of American indie rock more vividly than any other group of its period. Their artfully tuneless vocals, unrefined yet unforgettable melodies, and distinctive blend of naivety and reckless energy allowed them to embody the sound and atmosphere of that era with unmatched precision. The band originated in Providence, RI, during 1991, uniting singer/bassist Alex Kemp, singer/guitarist Dave Auchenbach, and singer/drummer Phoebe Summersquash. After building a devoted regional audience, they generated considerable excitement at the celebrated Lotsa-Pop-Losers festival in Washington, D.C., and shortly afterward issued their first recording, “The Giant Merry-Go-Round,” shared with Honeybunch and the Scottish Bachelor Pad on a flexi-disc packaged inside the fanzine The Milky Way. They concluded 1991 by delivering their initial commercial single, “Suggestions,” through Collision Time. The next spring they shifted to Slumberland for the follow-up, “What to Want.” A brief run of British shows supporting Heavenly paved the way for a longer U.S. trek opening for Fudge and the Dambuilders. Fresh material arrived only in summer 1993 with the Pop Narcotic single “So What About Love,” succeeded soon afterward by “If You Hurt Me,” the clear centerpiece of Simple Machines’ Working Holiday singles series. Another label change, this time to Spin Art, preceded the autumn appearance of their first album, I Do Not Love You; for the follow-up, the 1994 release For If You Cannot Fly, the group moved to Virgin subsidiary Vernon Yard. Small Factory dissolved in fall 1995, after which Kemp and Summersquash reconvened in the inferior Godrays while Auchenbach resurfaced in Flora Street; Pop Narcotic issued the singles compilation The Industrial Evolution in 1996.