Grover

at T.T. the Bear’s
review and photo by Jen Beatty

Not long ago, Angie Carlson was “back home waiting tables and hoping something would happen.” Since the disbanding of Let’s Active in 1989, it’s been difficult for her to find a musical outfit that worked for her. Then she formed Grover. This three-piece traveled from Chapel Hill, North Carolina to open for Kevin Salem. (Salem is chief producer of Grover’s Zero Hour debut, My Wild Life.) Although it was not a sold out gathering, Grover won the crowd over and reigned musically over the headliner.

Carlson, and bandmates Chris Phillips and Dave Burris kept their set simple in rhythm, melody, and stage presence. They’re sound is girl-fronted British pop, reminiscent of the Sundays, but Grover play with more charge and aren’t from England. Grover fall under the progression that’s spun from new wave-come-alternative, and yet stand apart from comparison to other female groups. Whenever a phrase for this develops, Grover will pave the way for other groups to follow.