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==History== Superchunk was formed in 1989 in the town of [[Chapel Hill, North Carolina]], by [[Mac McCaughan]] (guitar and vocals), [[Laura Ballance]] (bass and backing vocals),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mergerecords.com/artist/superchunk|title = Merge Records - Artists, News, Music - Shop Vinyl, Merch, Music and More}}</ref> Chuck Garrison (drums), and Jack McCook (guitar). Initially, the band went by the name Chunk (original drummer Chuck Garrison's name was misspelled as "Chunk" Garrison in the phone book, and the moniker stuck), and they released their first single as Chunk.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.westword.com/1995-04-19/music/chunky-style/ | title=CHUNKY STYLE | publisher=Denver Westword | author=Michael Roberts | date=April 19, 1995 | access-date=December 27, 2014}}</ref> After adding the "Super" prefix to their name to avoid confusion with a similarly named jazz band from New York,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.superchunk.com/press/MacAndLauraZine92.html |title=Press |publisher=Superchunk |date=February 12, 1991 |access-date=February 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912075636/http://www.superchunk.com/press/MacAndLauraZine92.html |archive-date=September 12, 2012 }}</ref> the first official Superchunk single, "Slack Motherfucker", followed in 1989 on [[Merge Records]], founded by McCaughan and Ballance. Both releases were well received,{{Clarify|reason=vague|date=December 2014}} and Superchunk released its debut [[Superchunk (album)|eponymous album]] in 1990 on [[Matador Records]] to more critical acclaim.{{Citation needed|date=December 2014}} McCook decided to leave the group after the release of the first album, ''[[Superchunk (album)|Superchunk]]'', and Connecticut-born James Wilbur was recruited to take over guitar duties. In spite of the ensuing bidding war that emerged between major record labels in the aftermath of the album's release, Superchunk decided to stay independent, sticking with Matador Records for their second, just as critically lauded{{Citation needed|date=December 2014}} LP, ''[[No Pocky for Kitty]]'', which was recorded in [[Chicago]] by [[Steve Albini]] in 1991. Garrison left the band a few weeks before the record's release, and [[Jon Wurster]] was brought on board on drums. The band put out one more record for Matador, ''[[On the Mouth]]'' in 1993. After Matador entered into a distribution agreement with major label [[Atlantic Records]], Superchunk decided to leave the label, even though the Atlantic logo did not have to be displayed on their releases. Instead, the band opted to release their following records through Merge. The next album, ''[[Foolish (album)|Foolish]]'', brought further critical acclaim for the band in 1994.{{Citation needed|date=December 2014}} A second singles compilation (the first was 1992's ''[[Tossing Seeds]]'') came out in the summer of 1995. It was titled ''[[Incidental Music 1991β95]]'' and contained most of their hard-to-find tracks (imports, B-sides, comp. tracks) released between 1991 and 1995. Boston was the setting for Superchunk's next album session. 1995's ''[[Here's Where the Strings Come In]]'' was recorded at the city's [[Fort Apache Studios]] and slated for a fall release. The band toured hard for ''Strings'' all over the world as well as appearing on the [[Lollapalooza]] tour, scoring a minor hit with the "Hyper Enough" single and video. After a brief hiatus and another Australian tour, the band released a limited-edition EP called ''The Laughter Guns''. They then started writing for what would become ''[[Indoor Living]]''. Recording started in Bloomington, Indiana's [[Echo Park Studios]] with Chapel Hillian [[John Plymale]] co-producing with the band. Superchunk stretched out a bit on ''Indoor Living'', expanding their sound by adding some new instruments to the mix: piano, organ, vibes and more. The album was by far their most adventurous and at the same time their most accessible to date.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mergerecords.com/band.php?bio=true&band_id=1 |title=Merge Records Superchunk |publisher=Mergerecords.com |date=October 16, 2003 |access-date=February 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427010215/http://www.mergerecords.com/band.php?bio=true&band_id=1 |archive-date=April 27, 2006 }}</ref> Superchunk delivered ''[[Come Pick Me Up]]'', their seventh full-length studio release, in 1999, recording in Chicago at [[Electrical Audio]] with producer [[Jim O'Rourke (musician)|Jim O'Rourke]]. Superchunk continued the expansion and growth of their sound that started with ''Foolish'', pushing themselves to new heights of creativity.{{Citation needed|date=December 2014}} [[File:Superchunk (cropped).jpg|thumb|220px|right|Superchunk touring in Tokyo, Japan, October 2, 2001; Photo: Masao Nakagami]] In 2001, the band released ''[[Here's to Shutting Up]]''. In 2002, Superchunk began a series of limited-edition live albums known as ''The Clambakes'' series. ''Clambakes Volume 1'' (limited to 1500 copies) is an acoustic live set recorded in various record stores across the US in support of ''Here's to Shutting Up'' and ''Clambakes Volume 2'' (limited to 2500 copies) is a film score Superchunk was commissioned to write. It was recorded live at the [[Castro Theater]] in [[San Francisco]] on April 23, 2002, during the [[San Francisco International Film Festival]] at a showing of the 1926 [[Teinosuke Kinugasa]] film ''[[A Page of Madness]]''. ''[[Cup of Sand]]'', released in 2003, is the third singles album compiling all singles and rare 1995β2002 tracks. ''Clambakes Series Volume 3'' was released in 2004, documenting the live set Superchunk played at the [[Cat's Cradle (venue)|Cat's Cradle]] in [[Carrboro]], [[North Carolina]], on July 23, 1999, for the Merge Records tenth anniversary celebration. In 2006, Superchunk headlined a concert held in celebration of the tenth anniversary of ''[[The Daily Show]]'', a [[Comedy Central]] program, at [[Irving Plaza]] in New York. The show also featured a performance from [[Clem Snide]] as well as short stand-up comedy sets from various ''Daily Show'' correspondents. In 2007, Superchunk contributed a hidden track to the [[Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters Colon the Soundtrack|Aqua Teen Hunger Force soundtrack]], "Misfits and Mistakes", with singing from [[Aqua Teen Hunger Force]] character [[Meatwad]]. On June 5, 2007, Superchunk released the ''Misfits and Mistakes'' 7-inch, which has the Superchunk solo version on the A-side, and the Meatwad version on the B-side. The band played two shows, the Eff Cancer Benefit in Chicago on June 20, 2007, and headlined the inaugural free [[Pool Parties]] show at [[McCarren Park Pool]] in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York (state)|New York]]. They are also known to still play occasional one-off shows at home in [[North Carolina]], usually at [[Cat's Cradle]] in [[Carrboro]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2014}} Superchunk also recorded a cover version of "Say My Name" by [[Destiny's Child]] for [[Engine Room Recordings]]' compilation album ''[[Guilt by Association Vol. 1|Guilt by Association]]'', which was released September 4, 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-09-27 |title=Paste Magazine :: News :: Listen, party to indie-rocked guilty pleasures (Page 1) |url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article/4510/news/music/news@pastemagazine.com |access-date=2025-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927231732/http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article/4510/news/music/news@pastemagazine.com |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Guilt By Association (Digital-Only Version) |date=2007-09-04 |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/3Yp9X75om14pfhOcjUaT3r |access-date=2025-04-20 |language=en}}</ref> Superchunk appeared at [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival]] in [[Indio, California|Indio]], California, on April 18, 2009, along with other acts like [[Yeah Yeah Yeahs]], [[The Killers]], [[M.I.A. (artist)|M.I.A.]], [[TV on the Radio]], [[Band of Horses]]. On April 7, 2009, Superchunk released the ''Leaves in the Gutter'' EP, their first CD release in seven years. It consisted of three unreleased tracks, in addition to "Misfits and Mistakes" and an acoustic version of the new song "Learned to Surf". On May 28, 2009, the band announced a new 7-inch, "Crossed Wires" b/w "Blinders (Fast Vers.)", which released on July 7, 2009. It was initially limited to a pressing of 1000 on clear vinyl. On July 27, 2010, the band covered [[The Cure]]'s ''[[In Between Days]]'' for AV Club Undercover.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-cure,38884/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729131648/http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-cure,38884/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 29, 2010 |title=Superchunk covers The Cure |publisher=The A.V. Club |date=February 13, 2012 |access-date=February 19, 2012}}</ref> The band's ninth studio album, ''[[Majesty Shredding]]'', was released on September 14, 2010.<ref>[http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=115&csid2=844&fid1=47028 "Superchunk Announce Majesty Shredding Album"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507080813/http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=115 |date=May 7, 2010 }}. ''[[Exclaim!]]'', June 3, 2010.</ref> The band was chosen by [[Jeff Mangum]] of [[Neutral Milk Hotel]] to perform at the [[All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)|All Tomorrow's Parties]] festival he curated in December 2011 in [[Minehead]], [[Somerset]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atpfestival.com/events/jeffmangum.php |title=ATP curated by Jeff Mangum |website=Atpfestival.com |access-date=February 19, 2012}}</ref> The band's tenth studio album, ''[[I Hate Music (album)|I Hate Music]]'', was released on August 20, 2013. Before the release, Ballance announced on the band's website that she would not be taking part in the upcoming tour to promote the album, citing a worsening hearing condition known as [[hyperacusis]]. Her live replacement was [[Jason Narducy]], formerly of [[Verbow]] and then bass player with [[Bob Mould]]'s band. The band performed in North America, Australia and the UK as part of the tour.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderl |first=Timothy |date=2013-08-14 |title=Superchunk ready I Hate Music, tour (2013) |url=https://ghettoblastermagazine.com/news/superchunk-ready-i-hate-music-tour-2013/ |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Ghettoblaster Magazine |language=en}}</ref> In November 2013, the band played the holiday camp edition of the [[All Tomorrow's Parties]] festival in Camber Sands, England.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.atpfestival.com/events/endofanerapart2.php | title=All Tomorrow's Parties|website=Atpfestival.com | access-date=December 27, 2014}}</ref> On February 27, 2016, Superchunk re-united with original drummer Chuck Garrison for a performance of "Slack Motherfucker" at the end of a [[Scharpling & Wurster]] live show in [[Durham, North Carolina]]. Jon Wurster performed some of the vocals in character as Philly Boy Roy.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.indyweek.com/music/archives/2016/02/29/live-scharpling-and-wurster-and-the-original-superchunk-lineup-at-motorco | title=Indy Week |website=Indyweek.com| date=February 29, 2016 | access-date=February 29, 2016| last1=Hudnall | first1=David }}</ref> In November 2017, the band announced that their 11th studio album ''What a Time to Be Alive'' will be released in February 2018.<ref name="mergerecords.com"/> On May 31, 2019, as part of Merge Records' "special 30th anniversary releases", Superchunk released an acoustic version of their 1994 album ''Foolish'', titled ''Acoustic Foolish''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mergerecords.com/acoustic-foolish|title=Acoustic Foolish|website=Mergerecords.com|access-date=August 5, 2019}}</ref> On February 10, 2023, Jon Wurster announced his exit from the band.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jon Wurster on Instagram|quote= "Didn't realize the #rocknrollweirdness of this announcement landing on the 30th anniversary of the release of Superchunk's "On The Mouth" until a few moments ago, but here goes: Friends, After much soul-searching I have decided to fade back from my role as Director of Percussive Research at Superchunk Industries. It's been a very productive thirty-one years but my heart just isn't in it anymore. I will most likely don The Shirtβ’ on special occasions, but unless otherwise noted, my office will be occupied by a more than capable, to-be-named DoPR. The immensely talented @lkbroiler will be behind the kit one week from tonight at the Carolina Hurricanes Fan Fest in Raleigh, NC. I wish nothing but the best for Mac, Jim and Jason as they continue producing the high quality, live rock music you have come to know and love. It has been an honor serving you and I'll rock your faces somewhere down the line. Jon Wurster 2/10/23" |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CofAEmQOoDv/ |access-date=February 10, 2023 |website=Instagram |language=en}}</ref> The band released the compilation album ''[[Misfits & Mistakes: Singles, B-Sides & Strays 2007β2023]]'' in October 2023.
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