Pollen (band)

Pollen

Pollen was a power pop band originally hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They released three albums over their eight years.

Articles

Aversion April 5,1999

Meat Loaf. Buzzcocks. Blondie. All have returned from the dead to stage notable comebacks. Don’t even think of adding Pollen to that list, however.

"I definitely don’t want people to think it’s been dead for the last two and a half years and we’re making some kind of comeback because we’ve just been doing the same thing we’ve always been doing," said Bob Hoag, the band’s drummer and songwriter.

To fans, however, the opposite might seem true. After the blistering 1997 release of Peach Tree (Wind-up), the Tempe, Ariz., quintet quietly dropped off rock’n’roll radar screens, with sparse touring and a bona fide recording drought. Nobody recognizes this as much as the band.

"To the consumer, Pollen has been dead and gone for two years," Hoag mused, a hint of remorse coloring his words. "To a national audience we’re totally out of the picture."

So how did one of the most promising power pop acts wind up spinning its wheels in its hometown for months on end? It’s a story with more plot twists and shady characters than either a Charles Dickens or a John Grisham novel. It’s a story of hardship upon annoyance upon misfortune. Most of all, however, it’s a story the band is more than willing to share in hopes of dispelling the slacker image its absence from rock’s daily goings-on have probably inspired in fans across the country.

"It was business and red tape," Hoag said, plunging into the band’s long ordeal, "things that have nothing to do with the music whatsoever, but unfortunately affect it adversely."

From disputes with their record label, which eventually led the band to sever its connection with Wind-up to a squabbles with a do-nothing manager, Pollen’s past couple years are ones the band hopes to put behind it, though

"It’s the most amazing story," Hoag said. "It’s even more amazing because we didn’t lose any money!"

Though coming out of a funk harsh enough to shake less stalwart bands out of the industry, both Hoag and lead singer Dan Hargest bubble with an optimism contrasting their band’s current situation, interrupting each other, joking and light-heartedly nagging one another as if discussing a platinum single rather than Pollen’s darkest hours.

The band’s stroll through the valley of the shadow of death began soon after Peach Tree went to mastering. Label men, unimpressed with the original mixes offered, demanded the songs be toned down in mastering.

"Luckily there wasn’t anything they could do," Hoag said, "and it just turned out sounding like a really good version of Peach Tree."

Once the album hit stores, things soon hit the fan with Wind-up. Label representatives soon were pushing the band to soften its sizzling guitar tracks, tone down its rock element and write more easily accessible lyrics.

"I was at work when the president of the label called and said `You need to sound less like Rocket From the Crypt and more like Third Eye Blind.’ I immediately told him to go to hell," Hargest said.

That explosive outburst marked the end of Pollen’s working relationship with Wind-up records; soon after the band and the imprint formally parted directions. Left out in the cold, the band was unworried, however, as its management assured them labels were nearly knocking down his door to sign them.

Enter Big Problem No. 2.

As it turned out the band’s newfound management did little to pursue label deals, all the while telling the band things were about to blossom.

"We didn’t do anything to try to get on a label because we were told weekly that all this stuff is going on with labels," Hoag said, voice clouded with frustration.

Hargest chimes in with remarks equally as disappointed and aggravated as Hoag’s. "He just made stuff up and we were led to believe things were happening."

Needless to say, the band was less than amused by its management’s monkey business, and after figuring out they’d more or less been scammed, broke off relations in early March.

"We started taking management into our own hands again," Hoag said. "Already things are starting to happen."

Most notably, the band recently recorded five songs for a split EP with the Californian band Coed, released off Cool Guy Records.

"It’s a small thing, but at least it will be available," Hargest said. "It’s something in the meantime for us to do."

Though a small victory, the band views the upcoming EP as a glimpse of daylight following a two-year cloudy stint. However, Hoag isn’t about to revel in self-congratulatory praise, knowing the EP is but a small step in the right direction.

"When the EP is out and on shelves, I’ll feel like we’re back on track," Hoag said.

Still shopping for a label, Pollen still continues to focus on its next full-length album, which by anyone’s standards is overdue. By Hargest and Hoag’s reckoning, however, it’s terminally overdue.

"We could of had an album out a year and a half ago," Hargest said, lamenting on the numerous delays holding back the band’s studio output.

With plans for the band’s next album bouncing around for nearly two years, Pollen’s absence from the studio has given the band a tremendous backlog of songs, with 40 tracks written, practiced and ready to go. Because of the amount of untapped material sitting in the Pollen catalog, its next release will be considerably dated.

"The next LP that will come out is pretty old stuff," Hoag said. "It wasn’t a delay creatively. The songs were all there. They were all demoed."

The lull in studio appearances frustrates Hoag more than anything. While pulling his band out of the public eye, it also considerably reigned in his creative output.

"There’s way to many songs, so I had to stop writing. I have a whole catalog of songs that we haven’t learned yet and that’s what’s driving me nuts," he said. "I’m in it to write songs. I like playing drums and the recording aspect of it, but it’s the recording and composing aspects that are the reason I’m in the band. I’m really, really anxious to get it out so I can get on with it and write a whole bunch of new songs."

Because of Pollen’s considerable backlog of material, it would be tempting for some bands to drop an album of epic proportions, a Sandinista! of power pop, but the idea doesn’t tempt Pollen’s members one bit.

"It’s not going to be any of that Melancholy and the Infinite crap," Hoag said, squashing even the hint of a possible monster-length album.

Hargest whole-heartedly agrees with his drummer, nearly interrupting him in his haste to set things straight. "That’s something we’re all scared of, especially Bob."

As to the final outcome of the band’s next full length, Hoag and Hargest have a pretty firm idea of how the album will turn out. Because of the delay in releases, Pollen managed to demo most of the songs for its upcoming album, some landing multiple demos. Growing from the straight-forward power pop of Peach Tree, the band’s sound carries a lot stronger edge.

"In general it’s a lot more rocking (than Peach Tree.) It’s going to hit people a lot harder," Hoag said. "There’s a lot more guitar layering. It’ll sound a lot bigger and thicker."

The band’s sound will explore new directions, the pair said, though still sticking close to its roots. "There is a lot more of a variety of sounds," Hargest said.

Hoag agrees, elaborating "We’ve tried to encompass a lot more things but always in that melodic and poppy structure."

Slowly inching its way back into the national spotlight, Pollen’s members beam with optimism as to their band’s future, though know they are still a ways away from regaining their previous stature.

"I’d definitely say we’re in gear, but I don’t know how floored the accelerator is," Hoag said.

Phoenix New Times April 19,2001

After an eight-year run, local pop-punks Pollen are calling it quits. The group announced its imminent demise from the stage this past weekend, confirming rumors that had been circulating for several weeks.

The band -- which relocated from Pittsburgh to the Valley in 1994 -- has seen its star on the rise over the past year, thanks to last year's stellar full-length Chip, released on Florida's Fueled by Ramen records. However, it had become increasingly clear that to maintain the band's burgeoning success, a significant increase in touring was going to be necessary. That, in particular, was something that guitarist Mike Bennett was not keen on. Bennett, who's planning to start a family within the year, told the group about his intentions of quitting the road by next summer.Significantly, Pollen drummer and chief songwriter Bob Hoag is also settling down and is set to be married later this year. While the group members say it was not an easy choice, they opted to take a cue from Bennett's decision and "close up shop."

An interesting side note: Pollen bassist Chris Serafini was set to audition for San Fran indie rock outfit Samiam last week. The group, signed to New Red records, was booked for a Far Eastern tour in the coming months. Serafini -- favored to fill the band's vacant rhythm slot -- was scheduled to fly to the Bay Area for a final audition, only to receive a call the night before saying that Samiam had decided to break up as well.

Pollen is set to play a final Valley show sometime in May. Bash & Pop will let you know when a date is confirmed.

Band Members

Past Members

• Dan Hargest, (Vocals)
• Kevin Scanlon, (Guitar
• Chris Serafini, (Bass)
• Mike Bennett, (Guitar)
• Bob Hoag, (Drums)

Discography

Albums

Album	Record Label	Release Date
Bluette	Grass Records	(1994)
Crescent	Grass Records	(1995)
Peach Tree	Wind-Up Records	(1997)
Chip	Fueled By Ramen	(2000)

External links

• Don't Call It A Come Back from Aversion
• Group Efforts from the Phoenix New Times

Unofficial Sites

• [ http://www.myspace.com/pollenrocks A Pollen Fan Site]