Kendra Smith
Encyclopedia
Kendra Smith is an American
musician who was a founding member of Dream Syndicate
, a member of Opal
, and later recorded as a solo artist.
, and went on to record two albums and an EP
as bassist
with the group before leaving in 1984 to join former Rain Parade
guitarist David Roback
in Rainy Day
(she had worked with Roback before, providing backing vocals on the Rain Parade album Emergency Third Rail Power Trip).
Rainy Day released an album and a single in 1984 before Roback and Smith became a duo in the psychedelic-tinged band Opal.
Opal only released one record before they split up, the Northern Line EP, but recorded enough material for two compilation albums, Happy Nightmare Baby and Early Recordings. Smith left Opal during the band's final tour and was replaced by Hope Sandoval
, with Opal changing its name to Mazzy Star
after the tour.
Smith formed a new band, The Guild of Temporal Adventurers, with Jonah Corey and A. Philip Uberman, who released an eponymous mini-LP
in 1992, with Smith playing the pump organ, but her next release would not be until 1995 when her solo debut, Five Ways of Disappearing was issued on the 4AD
label, and was described by Trouser Press
as "an impressive — and colorful — achievement".
Not much is known about her after the solo album came out except according to 4AD she had moved to the woods of Northern California in the early 1990s, living in a small cabin with no electricity, and returned there after making two appearances to promote the album.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician who was a founding member of Dream Syndicate
Dream Syndicate
The Dream Syndicate was an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California active from 1981 to 1989. The band was associated with the Paisley Underground music movement.-History:...
, a member of Opal
Opal (band)
Opal were an American alternative/psychedelic band in the 1980s. They were part of the Paisley Underground musical style.The group formed in the mid-'80s under the name Clay Allison, featuring guitarist David Roback , bassist Kendra Smith and drummer Keith Mitchell...
, and later recorded as a solo artist.
Biography
After one privately pressed release with Suspects in 1979, Smith formed The Dream Syndicate in 1981 with Steve WynnSteve Wynn (songwriter)
Steve Wynn is a songwriter based in New York . He led the band the Dream Syndicate from 1981 to 1989 and afterward began a solo career.- Career in bands :...
, and went on to record two albums and an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
as bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
with the group before leaving in 1984 to join former Rain Parade
Rain Parade
The Rain Parade was a band active in the Paisley Underground scene in Los Angeles in the 1980s.-History:The band was founded by college roommates Matt Piucci and David Roback in 1981, originally as The Moving Sidewalks. David's brother Steven Roback joined the band shortly thereafter...
guitarist David Roback
David Roback
David Roback is a guitarist and songwriter best known as a member of the duo Mazzy Star.Roback grew up in Los Angeles and attended Palisades High School, graduating in 1975. He was a classmate and neighbor of John Hoffs, the brother of Susanna Hoffs, who would eventually become the lead singer of...
in Rainy Day
Rainy Day
Rainy Day may refer to:*Rainy Day , a Paisley Underground band from the 1980s containing an all-star line-up of members from four other bands in the same sub-genre*Rainy Day , a painting by Gustave Caillebotte...
(she had worked with Roback before, providing backing vocals on the Rain Parade album Emergency Third Rail Power Trip).
Rainy Day released an album and a single in 1984 before Roback and Smith became a duo in the psychedelic-tinged band Opal.
Opal only released one record before they split up, the Northern Line EP, but recorded enough material for two compilation albums, Happy Nightmare Baby and Early Recordings. Smith left Opal during the band's final tour and was replaced by Hope Sandoval
Hope Sandoval
Hope Sandoval is an American singer-songwriter who is the lead singer for Mazzy Star and Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions....
, with Opal changing its name to Mazzy Star
Mazzy Star
Mazzy Star is an American alternative rock band formed in Santa Monica, California, in 1989 from the group Opal, a collaboration of guitarist David Roback and bassist Kendra Smith...
after the tour.
Smith formed a new band, The Guild of Temporal Adventurers, with Jonah Corey and A. Philip Uberman, who released an eponymous mini-LP
Mini-LP
A Mini-LP or Mini-album is a short album, usually retailing at a lower price than an album that would be considered "full-length".-History:...
in 1992, with Smith playing the pump organ, but her next release would not be until 1995 when her solo debut, Five Ways of Disappearing was issued on the 4AD
4AD
4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today...
label, and was described by Trouser Press
Trouser Press
Trouser Press was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow Who fan Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" ...
as "an impressive — and colorful — achievement".
Not much is known about her after the solo album came out except according to 4AD she had moved to the woods of Northern California in the early 1990s, living in a small cabin with no electricity, and returned there after making two appearances to promote the album.
With The Dream Syndicate
- The Dream Syndicate mini-LP (1982) Down There (UK IndieUK Indie ChartThe UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
#25) - The Days of Wine and RosesThe Days of Wine and RosesThe Days of Wine and Roses was the second album and the debut full-length album by American alternative rock band Dream Syndicate. Produced by Chris D. , it was recorded in Los Angeles in September 1982 and released later that year on Chris D.'s Ruby Records, which was a division of Slash Records...
(1983) Ruby/Rough TradeRough Trade RecordsRough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
(UK Indie #7) - "Tell Me When It's Over" 12" EP (1983) Rough Trade (UK Indie #11)
Kendra Smith and David Roback and Keith Mitchell
- Fell From the Sun EP (1984) Serpent/Enigma (UK IndieUK Indie ChartThe UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
#16)
With Rainy Day
- Rainy Day (1984) Llama/Rough Trade
- "I'll Keep It With Mine" (1984) Rough Trade (UK IndieUK Indie ChartThe UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
#36)
With Opal
- "Northern Line" 12" EP (1986) One Big Guitar (UK Indie #17)
- Happy Nightmare BabyHappy Nightmare BabyHappy Nightmare Baby is the debut album by the American band Opal, released in 1987.-Track listing:# Rocket Machine 4:24# Magick Power 6:14# Relevation 2:53# A Falling Star 1:21...
(1987) SSTSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment... - Early Recordings (1989) Serpent/Rough Trade
With The Guild of Temporal Adventurers
- Kendra Smith Presents the Guild of Temporal Adventurers mini-LP (1992) Fiasco
Solo
- "Valley Of The Morning Sun" (1992) Warner Bros. (promo only)
- Five Ways of Disappearing (1995) 4AD4AD4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today...