No. 2

After the demise of Heatmiser, his noted band with Elliott Smith, vocalist/guitarist Neil Gust formed the band No. 2 in 1998. Two similarly seasoned musicians from the Pacific Northwest -- bassist/vocalist Jim Talstra (Minus 5, Maroons) and drummer Paul Pulvarite (Atomic 61, Jr. High) -- joined Gust to form the indie rock supergroup. Drawing influence from such artists as Television, Gang of Four, and Stevie Wonder, the trio began playing some songs Gust had written toward the end of his stint with Heatmiser. Not long afterward, they went on tour, where they refined the songs and readied them for recording. The band entered Jackpot Studios in early 1999 and recorded No Memory, its debut album, released late that year by Chainsaw Records of Olympia. The album reflected elements of what Gust had done in Heatmiser yet was a charming pop album at its core.

Just as soon as the album-recording process resumed, No. 2 again hit the road, touring with Elliott Smith and Quasi, the latter a band fronted by Sam Coomes, who had been Gust's and Smith's fellow bandmate in Heatmiser. In addition, the trio opened some shows for Sleater-Kinney and Stephen Malkmus, two of the Pacific Northwest's most esteemed artists. No. 2 released its second album, What Does Good Luck Bring?, in late 2002 and again embarked on an extensive tour. Unlike the often unabashedly straightforward pop of No Memory, What Does Good Luck Bring? showcases a gritty rock sound much informed by the trio's extensive number of live performances. ~ Jason Birchmeier, Rovi...

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