Solution a.d. - Happily Ever After (Atlantic, 1996)

"Solution a.d. was formed in northeast Pennsylvania in 1991; originally known as just Solution, the band added "a.d." when another Solution was discovered. (Bassist Kevin Leggieri admitted the abbreviation doesn't stand for anything.) Live guitarist Chad Taylor, impressed by the group's performance at CBGB, offered to produce their EP, A Week There One Night, which was released in 1996. Their full-length, Happily Ever After, soon followed, and their single "Fearless" made a minor dent on alternative radio stations' play lists. Despite critical acclaim, MTV airplay and constant touring -- the band was known for its powerful live sets -- Solution a.d. failed to break into the mainstream." (allmusic.com)

Solution a.d. were signed to Atlantic records' subsidiary label, Tag Recordings, and were one of the few bands to stay with Atlantic after Tag folded (along with Fountains of Wayne and The Lemonheads). However, the band's time with Atlantic proved to be short.  This quote from frontman Toby Costa from a 1997 article sums up the band's fate: "At first getting signed is a great, great thing. You get money up front, money is invested in you, and it's a thrill to make your first real record for a label. But it all comes down to touring and sales, and there's so much competition that if you don't have a hit right out of the box, you can fall through the cracks." 

Solution a.d. @ MySpace

Maypole - Product (Sony, 1997)

There ain't much about Maypole out there on the ol' world wide web. What I do know is that the band was formed by Tobi Miller, a former guitarist for The Wallflowers (you know... that band fronted by Bob Dylan's son). The band was picked up by the Sony imprint label, Work Records, who released the band's lone album, Product, in 1997. Maypole supported its release with tours opening for The Wallflowers, Our Lady Peace, and The Jayhawks. The video for the album's single, "Concrete Shoes", can be seen below.

Eventually Maypole evolved into a new band called New Low, minus Tobi Miller - though he did serve as the band's producer. Since then most of the band has continued to be active in the music world, though more on the studio side of things. Frontman Hans DeKline is now the owner and chief mastering engineer of Sound Bites Dog, where he has

mastered albums for Tim Finn, The Von Bondies, DJ
Steve Aoki, among others. Tobi Miller has served as producer/engineer for the likes of Korn, Unwritten Law, and his former bandmates The Wallflowers. Chris Frankfort (who also seems to go as Evan Frankfort) has also been behind the boards, working with Pete Yorn, Sugarcult, & Turbonegro, to name a few.

Drummer Hugh Mangum has contributed to Enemy - the project of Troy Van Leeuwen (Failure, A Perfect Circle, Queens of the Stone Age), and Miiko Watanabe has played in a number of bands including The Martinis and Sugarplum Fairies as toured with Dave Navarro, Gwen Stefani and Tracy Chapman.

Dragmules - 2a (Atlantic, 1995)

Dragmules' debut record, 2a, was named after the bar in New York City's East Village that served as the band's stomping grounds (and workplace). While the band of Texas-transplants began as a studio project, it quickly evolved into a full fledged band with the addition of new members such as Paul Garisto, a former drummer for The Psychedelic Furs and Iggy Pop to its lineup. The band was signed to Atlantic Records who released 2a in 1995. As far as the band's sound goes, one reviewer called it: "R.E.M. crossed with Social Distortion" - and i'd say that's dead on.

The band's second record, Swims with the Fishes, was rejected by Atlantic, which you can read more about here (though unfortunately the audio samples are no longer). Since the dissolution of Dragmules, Paul Garisto has gone on to drum with fellow NYC types Ryan Adams and Jesse Malin, as well as David Gahan of Depeche and countless others.

Balloon Guy - The West Coast Shakes (1996, Warner Bros.)

Balloon Guy honed their chops as students at the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis, releasing a number of singles through the independent Generator Records. After sparking a major label race to sign the band, Balloon Guy signed with Warner Bros. who released their debut full length, The West Coast Shakes in 1996. The band recorded the album with fellow Minneapolis native and frontman of the amazing (and then Interscope-signed) band Polara.

Balloon Guy played a fuzzy, quirky brand of indie rock that received comparisons to Pavement. Unfortunately the promising band dissolved not long after the release of their debut. The Minneapolis periodical CityPages.com revealed the details surrounding the band's split: "Olson bailed on Balloon Guy after a sobering gig opening for the Goo Goo Dolls in Iowa City. "In the paper was a picture of us and it didn't even mention how we sounded," Olson chuckles. "It talked about how we kind of dressed like Weezer." He retreated to his parents' basement in Faribault, grew a mammoth beard à la Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, and obsessively fiddled with weird beats off equipment he'd scored on the Warners' dime." Following the band's breakup, Olson shifted his focus to his one-time solo project, Smattering, transforming the project into a full band. Balloon Guy drummer Erik Mathison would later go on to plays drums with Moon Maan, led by former Afghan Whigs guitarist Rick McCollum.

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