Seafood

by Simon P. Ward British indie rock quartet Seafood first came to the attention of the music press via a series of limited-edition singles on the independent Fierce Panda and Kooky labels. The band had come together in 1996 when bassist Kevin Hendrick and drummer Caroline Banks spotted an advert vocalist/guitarist David Line and guitarist Charles McLeod had placed in a classified newspaper. They were signed to a short-term deal by Fierce Panda in 1997, after their fourth gig. After playing two U.K. tours and releasing the "Scorch Comfort," "Psychic Rainy Nights," and "Porchlight" singles, the Messenger in the Camp compilation was issued in late 1998. In 1999, Seafood signed a permanent deal with Fierce Panda and released their full-length debut, Surviving the Quiet. After tours supporting Llama Farmers and Idlewild, Seafood made their American debut at the CMJ Festival in New York. Successive singles -- "This Is Not an Exit," "Belt," and "Led By Bison" -- breached the U.K. Top 100 as the band continued building a solid fan base. 2001 saw Seafood recording their second album in New York with Girls Against Boys' Eli Janney handling production duties. The resulting When Do We Start Fighting... received excellent reviews in the U.K. music press. Seafood followed the release with more heavy touring, including supports with Placebo and My Vitriol. Overseas, America got their taste of Seafood when When Do We Start Fighting was issued on Nettwerk in April 2002. A subsequent tour with Dashboard Confessional and European dates with Ash and Jimmy Eat World coincided the band's stance inside the press.