The Mayflies USA

The Mayflies USA
Origin	Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
Genres	Power pop
Years active	1997–2002
Labels	Yep Roc Records
Members
Matt McMichaels Adam Price Matt Long David Liesegang

The Mayflies USA were a Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based power pop rock band signed to Yep Roc Records.^[1] The band was a classic example of power pop, as their songs featured catchy melodies, vocal harmonies, and prominent guitar riffs. Their style was considered derivative of older bands such as The Beatles, Big Star, and also more contemporary groups like Teenage Fanclub and Velvet Crush.^[1][2][3]

The band released their debut EP in 1997, and their next three albums were released by Yep Roc. North Carolina producer Chris Stamey (formerly of the The dB's, and credited by the band as the "fifth" Mayfly) produced their first two records for Yep Roc, Summertown and The Pity List.^[4]

Keith Cleversley, who has produced The Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev, worked on their 2002 record Walking in a Straight Line. The band's albums garnered favorable reviews in publications such as The Washington Post, Spin, The Village Voice, Allmusic and The Boston Phoenix;^[3][4][5] however they broke up shortly after Walking in a Straight Line. In 2007 and 2009, the band reunited for some shows.^[6][7]

Matt McMichaels, one of the band's three singer-songwriters said in a 2000 interview, "I think the reason the four of us formed this band was that we were the only four people in Chapel Hill who still loved pop songs from the '60s and '70s. We were outcasts." He claims that the band were influenced by Big Star and Television more than the Beatles and Beach Boys.^[4]

Discography

Year	Title	Label
1997	The Mayflies USA	Clancy
1999	Summertown	Yep Roc
2000	The Pity List	Yep Roc
2002	Walking in a Straight Line	Yep Roc

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Yep Roc Records > Artist Info". Yep Roc Records. http://www.yeproc.com/artist_info.php?artistId=49. Retrieved 2008-12-25. 
2. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "The Mayflies USA > Overview". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p371002. Retrieved 2008-12-25. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Perry, Jonathan (October 31, 2002). "Music". Boston Phoenix. http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/music/otr/documents/02507248.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-26. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} Bumgardner, Ed (May 5, 2000). Winston - Salem Journal. (Media General, Inc.). Pop Flie ; from `outcasts' to the Latest Rage, Mayflies Stay Focused on the Music. Retrieved 2009-04-24. 
5. ^ Sendra, Tim. "Walking in a Straight Line > Overview )))". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r596794. Retrieved 2008-12-25. 
6. ^ Parker, Chris. "Chapel Hill's the dB's play Carrboro". Indyweek.com. Independent Weekly. http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A43642. Retrieved 2008-12-29. 
7. ^ "Blast From The Past: Mayflies USA And The Connells". Music.MyNC. May 5, 2009. http://music.mync.com/2009/05/blast-from-the-past-mayflies-usa-and-the-connells/. Retrieved 2009-07-17.