The Ladybug Transistor

by Jason Ankeny & Tim SendraThe indie pop unit the Ladybug Transistor was led by vocalist/guitarist Gary Olson, a onetime string stretcher and key inspector at his familys piano factory; the group debuted in 1996 with the LP Marlborough Farms, titled after Olsons Brooklyn-area home recording studio. After a lineup change which left only Olson and drummer Edward Powers remaining from the Ladybug Transistors original roster, Saturnine guitarist Jennifer Baron and her bassist brother Jeff were recruited prior to recording 1997s Beverly Atonale, issued on Merge. After completing the LP, Powers exited and was replaced by Individual Fruit Pie drummer San Fadyl. The groups wonderful third album, The Albemarle Sound, which featured new member Sasha Bell on keyboards and vocals, followed in 1999. Both Bell and Jeff Baron were also members of neo-psych band the Essex Green at this time as well as the alt-country outfit the Sixth Great Lake. The Ladybug Transistors next album, Argyle Heir, with its indie kitsch stylings, was released in spring 2001. After losing Jennifer Baron and gaining Julia Rydholm, the band decamped to Arizona to record their next album, The Ladybug Transistor (2003), with Calexico producer Craig Schumacher. More lineup changes followed as Bell left the band and Jeff Baron became more of a satellite member. The band stayed fairly quiet for a couple years as the lineup sorted itself out, and Olson spent time producing other artists. They returned in 2006 with the Here Comes the Rain EP and followed up with the excellent Cant Wait Another Day, which was released in June 2007 by Merge. The lineup for the album added keyboardist Kyle Forester and guitarist Ben Crum of Great Lakes. Sadly, mere weeks before the release of the album, drummer San Fadyl, a beloved figure in the indie rock community, passed away due to complications from severe asthma.