No. 2 (band)
Encyclopedia
No. 2 was an alternative rock
band that originated in Portland, Oregon
in 1998. Consisting of Neil Gust
(guitar
and vocals), Gilly Ann Hanner (bass, backing vocals; later to be replaced by Jim Talstra), and Paul Pulvirenti (drums
). No. 2 was formed by frontman Neil Gust after the breakup of Heatmiser
. The band quickly picked up where Heatmiser left off, with songs on their debut album No Memory
that echoed the sound and feel of Mic City Sons
. No Memory quickly earned the band praise for its melodic hooks and finely crafted songs. No. 2 began small, with Neil Gust asking a few friends to help record some material for a new album. http://www.wweek.com/html/musica020399.html
The band's name is a reference to the fact that this was Neil Gust's second band with Virgin Records:
The band's first release, a 7" vinyl called Allistair Chestnut, was released in mid 1999. The A-side, titled "Allistair Chestnut", is an infectious poppy song about falling for someone who is more interested in 'playing the field' than a relationship. The band's first full album, No Memory, was released within months of the Allistair Chestnut 7" and was generally described as melodic pop with solid lyrics by reviewers. A full tour followed, mostly opening for former bandmate Sam Coomes
's band Quasi
. A second album, What Does Good Luck Bring?
followed in 2002.
In April 2007, a studio recorded demo was leaked by Neil Gust of a No. 2 song recorded in 2003. The song, titled "Who's Behind the Door" features former bandmate Elliott Smith
on guitar and keyboards, and John Moen (currently of The Decemberists
) on drums. According to Gust:
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band that originated in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
in 1998. Consisting of Neil Gust
Neil Gust
Neil Jacob Gust is an American musician. He is best known for co-founding Heatmiser with Elliott Smith in 1992.-Music career:Gust and Smith first met in 1987 while the pair were attending Hampshire College, in Amherst, Massachusetts. Gust wrote songs for as well as played guitar and sang in the band...
(guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and vocals), Gilly Ann Hanner (bass, backing vocals; later to be replaced by Jim Talstra), and Paul Pulvirenti (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
). No. 2 was formed by frontman Neil Gust after the breakup of Heatmiser
Heatmiser
The Music of Heatmiser is a six-song demo cassette, recorded on April 29 and 30, 1992, at Sound Impressions in Milwaukie, Oregon. It was made available only at shows or by mail order....
. The band quickly picked up where Heatmiser left off, with songs on their debut album No Memory
No Memory
No Memory was the first of two albums by No. 2, and was released in 1999.-Track listing:#"Critical Mass" #"Never Felt Better" #"Move It Along" #"So Long" #"Just Answer the Man" #"Pop in C"...
that echoed the sound and feel of Mic City Sons
Mic City Sons
Mic City Sons is the third and final album by Heatmiser, released in 1996 on Caroline Records. Pitchfork.com ranked the album at #48 on their "Top Albums of the 90s" list...
. No Memory quickly earned the band praise for its melodic hooks and finely crafted songs. No. 2 began small, with Neil Gust asking a few friends to help record some material for a new album. http://www.wweek.com/html/musica020399.html
The band's name is a reference to the fact that this was Neil Gust's second band with Virgin Records:
At the time, this was the second thing for Virgin and so I wrote No. 2 on it, and I just liked the way it looked. My second band, that's it. http://www.synthesis.net/music/story.php?type=band&id=1666
The band's first release, a 7" vinyl called Allistair Chestnut, was released in mid 1999. The A-side, titled "Allistair Chestnut", is an infectious poppy song about falling for someone who is more interested in 'playing the field' than a relationship. The band's first full album, No Memory, was released within months of the Allistair Chestnut 7" and was generally described as melodic pop with solid lyrics by reviewers. A full tour followed, mostly opening for former bandmate Sam Coomes
Sam Coomes
Samuel J. Coomes is an American musician, and currently one-third of the Portland-area indie band Quasi, along with drummer and ex-wife Janet Weiss and bassist Joanna Bolme...
's band Quasi
Quasi
Quasi is an American indie rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1993 by ex-husband and wife Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss . Since 2007 the group has been a trio, following the addition of bassist Joanna Bolme.-History:In 1990 , Coomes, Weiss, and Brad Pedinov formed the band Motorgoat...
. A second album, What Does Good Luck Bring?
What Does Good Luck Bring?
What Does Good Luck Bring? was the second of two albums by No. 2, and was released in 2002.-Track listing:#"A Little Confusion" #"More, More" #"Stranger's March" #"For the Last Time" #"8:45 AM" #"Traveling"...
followed in 2002.
In April 2007, a studio recorded demo was leaked by Neil Gust of a No. 2 song recorded in 2003. The song, titled "Who's Behind the Door" features former bandmate Elliott Smith
Elliott Smith
Steven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and resided for a significant portion of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity...
on guitar and keyboards, and John Moen (currently of The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists are an indie folk rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States, fronted by singer/songwriter Colin Meloy. The other members of the band are Chris Funk , Jenny Conlee , Nate Query , and John Moen .The band's...
) on drums. According to Gust:
It was recorded in Elliott [Smith]'s studio in LA. It was a surreal experience. Long story. Elliott came to our last show in LA and wanted to record, so we schlepped our gear over there, recorded the basics the next day and I hung around for 2 weeks trying to finish 1 song with him. He wasn't very healthy, but he was trying. It was the last time I saw him. I left before we finished mixing it. His girlfriend [Jennifer Chiba] gave me the mix about 8 months later at his 'funeral'.
Singles
- "Allistair ChestnutAllistair Chestnut"Allistair Chestnut" is a song by No. 2, released as a single in 1999.-Personnel:*Neil Gust - vocals, guitar, keyboards*Paul Pulvirenti - drums, percussion*Gilly Ann Hanner - backing vocals, bass*Joanna Bolme - recording, mixing*Jeff Saltzman - mastering...
" (1999; B-side: "Little Face"; Wicked Witch Records)
External links
- MySpace - No. 2 profile at MySpace
- BuyOlympia - online store for the label which released the band's 7" single
- Chainsaw - music label which released the band's first album
- In Music We Trust - music label which released the band's second album
- Move It Along - An internet fan page, with lyrics, pictures, and live recordings.