Verbena (band)
Verbena was a Birmingham-based alternative rock band that enjoyed moderate national success.
The band was formed by vocalist and guitarist Scott Bondy, drummer Les Nuby and bassist Daniel Johnston when the three were in high school in the early 1990s. Ann Marie Griffin (singer/guitarist) joined the trio, originally called Shallow, and shared songwriting duties with Bondy. Nuby left the group and was replaced by original Remy Zero drummer Louis Schefano.
The band renamed itself Verbena and in 1996 released the EP, Pilot Park, on the independent record label Merge. Nuby rejoined the band a year later. Verbena's 1997 debut full-length, Souls for Sale, attracted attention from Capitol Records. The band performed at City Stages that year.
Dave Grohl, the former Nirvana drummer and vocalist/guitarist for the The Foo Fighters, agreed to produce the band's major-label debut, Into the Pink, which was released in 1999. The album's first single "Baby Got Shot" received moderate modern rock radio airplay. Shortly afterwards, Griffin left the band and Johnston was replaced on bass with Nick Daviston. Verbena released La Musica Negra in 2003, and received radio airplay for the single "Way Out West". They toured in support of La Musica Negra and often times under the false name of "The Alabama Boys Choir." Verbena disbanded in 2003.
Discography
- Pilot Park (EP) Merge (1996)
- Souls For Sale Merge (1997)
- Into The Pink Capitol (1999)
- La Musica Negra Capitol (2003)