Guided By Voices Plays Tonight at Emo’s
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Since their formation back in 1983 in Dayton, OH, then the official disbanding in 2004, and followed by what was dubbed the “classic line-up” reunion tour for Matador Records‘ 21st anniversary in 2010, Guided By Voices will undoubtedly go down in history as a band that’s recorded more than its share of music. This, by the way, is an understatement. The word “prolific” does their history no justice. Then you look at frontman and songwriter Robert Pollard, who released multiple solo recordings in between the break-up and the reunion, and then it really becomes mind-boggling.
In the early days, the band was known for its lo-fi approach to recording (basically the Portastudio four-tracks-to-cassette kind of thing), which gave them the leverage to literally make countless releases, oftentimes with tracks no longer than two minutes each or less. The fan base grew as word spread, mostly through underground and college music outlets.
They’ve weathered line-up change after line-up change, major label overproduction, and everything in between, but the fans remained solid, and do so today. I lost count of their extended discography, but all the hardcore GBV fans know the music will just keep on coming.
GBV takes over the stage tonight at Emo’s, 2015 E. Riverside Dr. New LA band Détective opens the show. Doors are at 8 p.m. Should be a damn good time, kids. Recommended.
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