Poor Old Lu

    Poor Old Lu

    Seattle, Washington16 reviews across 6 releases

    alternative rockfunk rockgrungeindie rock
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    Poor Old Lu was a Seattle-area Christian alternative rock band that began as BellBangVilla on Vashon Island around 1990, when its members were still in high school, and adopted the Poor Old Lu name in 1991. The first recordings were made with simple equipment and a raw, playful energy; the 1992 debut Star Studded Super Step mixed alternative rock with funk, while its lyrics treated spiritual doubt as a subject rather than a slogan. On Mindsize, Terry Taylor's production brought a more controlled, jangling guitar sound, with fuzz and wah tones set against acoustic passages and a firm rhythm section. By A Picture of the Eighth Wonder in 1996, the writing had become fuller and more melodic, moving from a seven-minute prayer for lucidity to bright pop hooks and sudden eruptions of anger. The band remained difficult to predict.

    In late 1996, Poor Old Lu announced its breakup after six years, with a farewell show at Old Lincoln High School in Wallingford, Washington, in November. In Their Final Performance, released in 1998, preserved the concert's intense playing, Scott Hunter's forceful vocals and a guest appearance by Jeremy Enigk; the live recording was sometimes muddy, but it captured the occasion. Aaron Sprinkle and Scott Hunter later assembled Chrono (1993-1998) with remixes and earlier songs, while the four original members reunited for The Waiting Room on Tooth & Nail in 2002. The comeback brought new reflective songs and further performances, but it did not restore the band's continuous run. Members pursued separate recording projects afterward, including Fair, This Diminishing West and Blank Books. Poor Old Lu later appeared for occasional reunion recordings and shows.

    6 releases reviewed