Superconductor was a Canadian alternative rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia, active in the 1990s."Guitar army on march: Superconductor declares war and wages melodic mayhem". Vancouver Sun, December 16, 1993. Led by Carl Newman,"New Pornographers frontman Carl Newman catches us up". A.Side TV, April 2, 2017. the band was known for an unusual instrumental approach which saw up to six guitarists and two bassists performing simultaneously on each song.
History
Formed soon after Newman finished high school,Michael Barclay, Ian A.D. Jack and Jason Schneider, Have Not Been the Same: The Can-Rock Renaissance 1985-1995. ECW Press. . p. 640. the band included guitarists Sean Elliott, Pat Hogue, Scott Gubbels, Brian Gillard and Warren Westling, bassists Mike Kerley and Mike Rohaly, and drummer Keith Parry. They released the single "The Most Popular Man in the World" in 1991 and the EP Heavy with Puppy in 1992."Superconductor". Trouser Press. In 1993, Superconductor released their full length debut album Hit Songs for Girls, which included aspects of metal and punk music mixed with rock."Superconductor Hit Songs for Girls". AllMusic Review by Nitsuh Abebe
The band toured to support the album as an opening act for Guided by Voices."The New Pornographers: Together Forever". Exclaim!, August 27, 2014. Around the same time, Newman joined the side project Zumpano, to concentrate on more pop-oriented music."Zany Zumpano: Canadian band latest to join Sub Pop". Montreal Gazette, January 29, 1995.
The band followed up in 1994 with Anvil to the Fucking Head, an eight-song EP released in the vintage 8-track tape format. Their second and final album, Bastardsong, was released in 1996."Superconductor: Bastardsong". The Province, November 28, 1996.
The band broke up following Bastardsong, with Zumpano continuing as Newman's primary band until he formed The New Pornographers.
References