The
starting point for two key members of the Christchurch
Music Community, Pihed featured Andrew
Penman on Bass / Vocals (Rhubarb Collective, Golf Course
Alligators, Salmonella Dub - Curious George Records),
Tom Mahon - Guitar / Lead Vocal (Rhubarb Collective,
Strange
Loves, Holy Toledos, Del Burgoes),
Carolyn O'Neill - Vocals (Blue Marbles),
Bede Pascoe - Electric Piano,
Andrew Cavanagh - Drums (Rhubarb Collective).
The band recorded a set of songs with their then live
sound engineer Rob Mayes at Penman's Christchurch flat,
utilising hired PA equipment and a borrowed 4 track.
The results ended up on a split album with The Rhubarb
Collective, one track - "Slow
Haze" only available on
the Failsafe Records Compilation South.
These sessions were the first of Rob Mayes mobile studio
recordings which would provide the Failsafe Label with
most of its material. The results were rough, and reverb
heavy, this being the first time he or the band had seen
a digital reverb, let alone used one.
The band eventually mutated into the Rhubarb Collective
featuring Penman and Cavanagh, as well as guitarist James
Wilkinson (Lap Dogs, Rua, various respected folk projects,
and brother of Scott Wilkinson of Ballon d'Essai), and
vocalist / Guitarist Matthew Garrett.
After the Rhubarb Collective folded Penman continued
his work as a concert promoter and started his own label.
Later on he continued his musical work moving to guitar
for Golf Course Alligators and then on to Salmonella
dub his most successful project, still running and featuring
the rhythm section of Mark Tyler (Genie And The Wild
Children, Catherine Wheel, 147Swordfish) and Dave Deacons
(147Swordfish).
Tom Mahon went on to the West Coast of the South Island
where he teamed up with Rex Bourke for
the Strange Loves. They recorded a 7" single for
Flying Nun followed by an album See Your Colours which
apparently sold very well in West Coast America, particularly
San Francisco, where it was shifting 300 copies a week
on initial release. They fashioned a sixties tinged Velvet
Underground pop, also keen followers of The Clean.
The band eventually completed a self-funded album released
on the Onset Offset label. Later the band mutated into
the Del Burgoes playing rock n roll tinged stuff, some
of it a la John Spencer Blues Explosion.
Del Burgoes also featured guitarist Gareth Evans (Ex
Griffins, Xu Xu Pedals) who's impressive guitar style
heavily flavoured the band's sound.
The Del Burgoes recorded an album of their material
and eventually releaed it as raw star guitars.
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