The Mayflies USA

The Mayflies USA were a Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based power pop rock band signed to Yep Roc Records.^[1] The band was a classic example of power pop, as their songs featured catchy melodies, vocal harmonies, and prominent guitar riffs. Their style was considered derivative of older bands such as The Beatles, Big Star, and also more contemporary groups like Teenage Fanclub and Velvet Crush.^[1][2][3]

The band released their debut EP in 1997, and their next three albums were released by Yep Roc. Noted North Carolina producer Chris Stamey (formerly of the The dB's, and credited by the band as the "fifth" Mayfly) produced their first two records for Yep Roc, Summertown and The Pity List.^[4]

Keith Cleversley, who has produced The Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev, worked on their 2002 record Walking in a Straight Line. The band's albums garnered favorable reviews in publications such as The Washington Post, Spin, The Village Voice, Allmusic and The Boston Phoenix^[3][4][5]; however the band broke up shortly after Walking in a Straight Line. They reunited for some shows in 2007 and again in 2009.^[6][7][8]

Matt McMichaels, one of the band's three singer-songwriters said in a 2000 interview, "I think the reason the four of us formed this band was that we were the only four people in Chapel Hill who still loved pop songs from the '60s and '70s. We were outcasts." He claims that the band were influenced by Big Star and Television more than the Beatles and Beach Boys.^[4]

Discography

References