Comet Gain

Comet Gain

Comet Gain is an indie pop and indie rock group from Oxford, United Kingdom, active from 1992 to the present. The band forms around David Feck and develops with a line-up that changes over time, but remains associated with a distinctive blend of indie pop, twee and alternative music, with strong influences from Dexys Midnight Runners and northern soul.

Formation and early line-up

The group starts in Feck’s bedroom in Oxford in 1992. He brings in his housemate Phil Sutton on drums, then recruits Sarah Bleach and Jaxx Coombes, who live nearby, and Sam Pluck, whom he finds in London, on guitar. The first stage of the band meets and plays together for the first time at the Monarch pub in Camden in 1993. Feck also meets future Comet Gain singer Rachel Evans that same night.

Releases and recording history

The band signs to Wiiija through Gary Walker and releases the single Aliens at War / A Kind of Loving, followed by an original version of Kids at the Club backed by Goodbye Song. It then releases Casino Classics, an album that becomes especially valued by twee pop listeners and is also released in California on Xmas Records. The group later records Peel sessions and issues the EPs Baby's Allright / Charlie and Say Yes / Hideaway. It also plans an album called Sneaky, which appears with only Feck’s songs.

Line-up changes

The original line-up splits in 1997 after disagreements on stage. A second line-up begins in 1998. Later members include ex-Huggy Bear bass player Jon Slade, future Velocette members Sarah Bleach and Jax Coombes, Kay Ishikawa, Blair Cowl, Erik Brunulf, Darren Smyth, Chris Apelgren and M.J. Taylor. The post-1997 line-up includes David Charlie Christian Feck on vocals, guitar and keys; Rachel Evans on vocals; Jon Slade on guitar and keys; Kay Ishikawa on bass; Blair Cowl on guitar and bass from 1997 to 1999; Erik Brunulf on guitar and bass in 2001; Darren Smyth on drums from 1997 to 2001; Chris Apelgren on drums in 2002; and M.J. Taylor on percussion from 2001 onwards.