The Gerbils

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The Gerbils were an indie rock band that formed in Athens, GA in 1998. Part of the Elephant Six Collective, the band released two albums and toured nationwide during their tenure.

The band consisted of Scott Spillane, John D'Azzo and Will Westbrook, college roommates in Ruston, LA. Along with sometimes-cellist Penny Burbank, they released a couple singles on a variety of record labels from 1996-1998 before recording an album (which included the four previously-released songs) in 1998 on Hidden Agenda Records.

Spillane's Neutral Milk Hotel bandmate Jeremy Barnes eventually joined as drummer, which drove the somewhat twee pop sound of the band's first album towards a more energetic hard rock. The members of the band decided to unofficially call it quits with a farewell show in 1999 in Athens. While D'Azzo pursued interests in California, Spillane and Westbrook (with the help of members of Of Montreal, Elf Power, and Neutral Milk Hotel) finished mixing the album that was completed with Chris Bishop prior to their separation. Once The Battle of Electricity was finished, the Gerbils did a national tour with Elf Power before again separating. Once again, the band has reformed, playing regularly and becoming fully active.

Releases

Along with various contributions to compilation albums, the Gerbils have released two albums and three singles on a variety of labels.

Albums

Are You Sleepy? (CD/LP) - Hidden Agenda - 1998
The Battle of Electricity (CD/LP) - Orange Twin - 2001

Singles

"Grin"/"Crayon Box" (7") - Spare Me - 1996
"Glue"/"Is She Fiona" (7") - Hidden Agenda - 1997
"Lucky Girl"/"Big White Limo" - Earworm - 1997

The Elephant Six Collective
Main Article
Bands in the Collective
The Apples in Stereo \| Beulah \| Black Swan Network \| Chocolate USA \| Circulatory System \| Dixie Blood Mustache \| Dressy Bessy \| Elf Power \| The Essex Green \| Frosted Ambassador \| The Gerbils \| High Water Marks \| Major Organ and the Adding Machine \| Marbles \| The Minders \| The Music Tapes \| Neutral Milk Hotel \| The Olivia Tremor Control \| Orchestre Fantastique \| Pipes You See, Pipes You Don't \| Secret Square \| The Sunshine Fix \| ulysses \| Von Hemmling
Other Noted Bands and Side Projects
American Revolution \| Bablicon \| Fablefactory \| Great Lakes \| A Hawk And A Hacksaw \| Icy Demons \| The Instruments \| The Ladybug Transistor \| The Late B.P. Helium \| M Coast \| Marta Tennae \| Midget and Hairs \| My First Keyboard \| Of Montreal \| Synthetic Flying Machine \| Thimble Circus \| Visitations
Related articles
Bill Doss \| Jeff Mangum \| Robert Schneider \| Will Cullen Hart \| Hilarie Sidney \| Laura Carter \| Jeremy Barnes \| Jill Carnes \| David Barnes \| Julian Koster

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