Gumption

Gumption came to life when Kurt Hagardorn and Gary Miller moved from Tennessee (where they had known each other since around 1987) to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to start a band. Kurt had been playing in the regionally successful Brian And The Nightmares and the ludicrously cool Floyd Eats Mayberry. Gary was leaving the group Ella Minopy (which featured Seth and Brian now of the Fluid Ounces and Matt now of Self, Wired All Wrong and the expedia.com commercial).

Kurt had been playing in the regionally successful Brian And The Nightmares and the ludicrously cool Floyd Eats Mayberry. Gary was leaving the group Ella Minopy (which featured Seth and Brian now of the Fluid Ounces and Matt now of Self, Wired All Wrong and the expedia.com commercial).

Finding a kindred soul in Jody Maxwell, former drummer of the funk band Sex Police, the trio created a Replacements meets indie pop sound. After a short stint on fledgling Spongebath Records, on which they released the "Don't Screw Up" single (on red vinyl), the group recorded the Ultramaroon album with Chris Stamey, well known producer and former member of The dB's.

After some touring and radio play, Gary left the group for graduate school and was replaced by Aaron Oliva on bass. Dave Merrit was added on guitar at that time, as well. The group soon changed their name to Northside before finally splitting up.