Genres Indie | Years active 1985–present | |
Origin Columbus, Ohio, United States | ||
Scrawl is an American musical trio based in Columbus, Ohio, United States.
History
The founding members were Marcy Mays (lead vocals, guitar, songwriting), Sue Harshe (bass guitar, backing vocals, songwriting), and Carolyn O'Leary (drums). Their first show, in the summer of 1985, was a 20-minute opening spot for the Meat Puppets. Their first album, Plus, Also, Too, was self-produced (with Andy Izold) and released in 1987 on the local label No Other Records. The following year the band was signed to the ill-fated Rough Trade Records U.S., for whom they released two albums, He's Drunk (produced by Jim Rondinelli) and Smallmouth (produced by Gary Smith).
When Rough Trade U.S. filed for bankruptcy in 1990, the band was forced to bid for their master recordings at auction during the label's Chapter 11 proceedings. Fortunately, they succeeded. Their next release, a seven-track EP called Bloodsucker, was released on the Chicago-based Feel Good All Over label (then reissued on Simple Machines Records).
Drummer O'Leary left the group in May 1992, and was replaced by Dana Marshall.
They recorded their next album, Velvet Hammer, in 1993. It was engineered by Steve Albini (around the time he produced Nirvana), and released on the Simple Machines label. The band was then signed their first major label deal, to Elektra, for whom they released two albums, Travel On, Rider, and Nature Film.
Marcy Mays also appeared as lead singer on "My Curse" from the album Gentlemen by The Afghan Whigs. She performed live with them at the Reading Festival 1994 and, more recently, at All Tomorrow's Parties I'll Be Your Mirror USA 2012.