Chavez

Chavez were/are a math rock/indie band from New York fronted by guitarist/vocalist Matt Sweeney. Theirs is a relatively poppy style with 4-minute songs usually in a recognisable verse/chorus structure. This poppiness is augmented with complex rhythm/vocal interplay and novel, sometimes uncomfortable guitar sounds. The band formed iteratively around Sweeney between '92-'94. They released Gone Glimmering in '95 followed by Ride The Fader in '96, both on Matador. Sweeney, a longtime friend of Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan, has also played in Corgan's side-project, Zwan, and more recently in a duo with Will Oldham on their Superwolf album. Pitchfork recently reviewed the new Chavez compilation which also contains some nice observations about their sound and its context. After a lengthy hiatus between 1999 and 2006 they have recently begun playing extensively around the New York area.