Hummingbirds

by Jason AnkenyAlthough criminally unknown outside of their native Australia, the Hummingbirds dreamy boy-girl harmonies and refreshing jangle-pop sound positioned them among the brightest bands of their era. The group formed in 1986 from the remnants of the short-lived Bug Eyed Monsters, and originally comprised singer/guitarist Simon Holmes, bassist John Boyce and drummer Mark Temple; vocalist/guitarist Alannah Russack signed on a short time later, and after signing to the indie label Phantom, the group debuted in mid-1987 with the single Alimony. Boyce soon departed, and with the subsequent addition of singer/bassist Robyn St. Clare, the classic Hummingbirds lineup was in place. After three more 1988 singles — Everything You Said, Swim to Shore and Hindsight — the band signed to the rooART label, and with noted producer Mitch Easter entered the studio to record their 1989 debut LP, the superb loveBUZZ. When the album became a hit down under, it was licensed for U.S. release by the Polygram label; however, despite excellent reviews, the LP stiffed, and the Hummingbirds career suffered seemingly irreparable damage. Despite strained relations with rooART, they forged on, with drummer Shane Melder taking over for Temple; after another LP, 1992s Va Va Voom (released solely in Australia), the Hummingbirds moved on to the tiny indie IV Recordings. After two final 1993 EPs, Gone and Tail, the group disbanded in December of that year; Holmes later joined the band Fragile.