Pencil

Pencil is an American math rock and post-punk band from Indianapolis, Indiana. The group is active from 1989 to 1994 and has a shifting lineup centered on late 1980s and early 1990s Indiana University students and Bloomington basement-show regulars.

Early lineup and development

The band begins with high school friends Carl Saff on guitar and Matt Wagner on drums, joined by Chris Morgan on vocals and Karl Desch on bass. It develops through frequent gigs in the Bloomington basement scene. Its early style is a loose, party-oriented sound that later becomes noisier, heavier and more experimental as the group’s influences expand to include independent labels and scenes such as Dischord and Touch and Go.

Lineup changes and recordings

After graduation, Morgan and Desch leave the band. Rob Davidson takes over vocals and Tyler Tribby joins on bass. In 1992, Pencil records and releases a self-issued seven-inch EP, which leads to interest from Grass Records in New York. The band signs a three-record deal with the label.

The first album, Skantron, is recorded at Echo Park studio in Bloomington with Phil Sung on bass and appears in 1994. Soon after its release, Sung leaves and the lineup settles as Wagner, Saff, Davidson and new bassist Ryan Wilson. Pencil then records a second album, El Toro, for Grass Records before ending in 1995.

Members

Across its activity, Pencil includes Karl Desch, Chris Morgan, Carl Saff, Matt Wagner, Tyler Tribby, Rob Davidson, Phil Sung and Ryan Wilson.