Come (US band)

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Come was an American indie rock band, formed in 1990 in Boston by Thalia Zedek (vocal, guitar), Chris Brokaw (guitar, vocal), Arthur Johnson (drums), and Sean O'Brien (bass).

Come came into being after a mutual acquaintance invited Brokaw, O'Brien, and Johnson to play with him; after one show the three decided to split off into their own project, inviting Zedek to join them. Zedek's former band, the post-no wave New York band Live Skull, disbanded in 1990. Zedek played in the bands Uzi and Dangerous Birds before that. Brokaw was playing drums with Codeine, and he and Zedek had been talking about playing together. Johnson was previously the drummer for the Athens, Georgia band Bar-B-Q Killers, while O'Brien had played with Kilkenny Cats and Fashion Battery, two other 1980s Athens bands.

After a year of jamming together, Come debuted with the 12-inch single Car on Sub Pop in 1991. The song, a seven-minute epic in the blues-noir style of The Birthday Party and These Immortal Souls, encapsulated what was to become the trademark style of Come: dark, intense and lengthy songs marked by Zedek's emotional and distressed vocals, abrupt rhythms, and the tension-filled guitar interplay between Zedek and Brokaw, both extraordinarily accomplished guitarists.

Come released its debut album 11:11 on Matador Records in 1992 to general acclaim in both the independent and established media. Brokaw left Codeine after the release, devoting himself full-time to Come.

The band released its second album, Don't Ask Don't Tell, in 1994. Though somewhat calmer than its predecessor, it was equally as grave. Among the highlights of the album, and of the whole of the band's impressive song catalogue, are the two dark ballads, Let's Get Lost and Arrive, each closing a side of the vinyl edition.

Johnson and O'Brien left the band after Don't Ask Don't Tell to pursue other careers. The following album, the short Near Life Experience, was recorded with a number of different musicians, including drummer Mac McNeilly of the Jesus Lizard and John McEntire of Tortoise.

Come's original lineup formed the backing band on Steve Wynn's 1996 album Melting in the Dark.

The last album from Come, the 66-minute tour de force Gently, Down the Stream, took its cue from Near Life Experience, but with a more fluent integrated soundscape.

Zedek and Brokaw took a break after Gently, Down the Stream, and the band never regrouped.Its founders have since each released multiple solo albums, and have performed together on many occasions.