The Long Afternoon

Reclusive Pennsylvania-based indie rock pioneers The Long Afternoon formed in Pittsburgh in 1985. Guitarist and vocalist Eston Martz worked with several local musicians to craft the band's original sound: angular and edgy, with energy to burn and an emphasis on cryptic, deeply personal songs. Intentionally obscure from the outset, even the band's name is open to multiple interpretations. While never deliberately confrontational or anti-entertainment, the group has neither been particularly interested in attaining popularity and showing audiences a good time.

Intentionally obscure from the outset, even the band's name is open to multiple interpretations. While never deliberately confrontational or anti-entertainment, the group has neither been particularly interested in attaining popularity and showing audiences a good time. As long as the band was firing on all cylinders, its members seemed equally satisfied whether listeners were appreciative or confounded.

In 1987, Martz moved the group's base to State College, Pennsylvania and formed a new lineup. The group's material and sound became more dense, psychedelic and exploratory, drawing heavily on mid-period Beatles as well as more recent groups like Mission of Burma, Wire and The Dream Syndicate. Although the band band eschewed travel, and only rarely played outside State College or Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, high-profile opening slots for indie-rock luminaries like Dinosaur Jr. ultimately resulted in the band being offered a deal with Bulging Eye, the Flaming Lips' management company, in 1987.

The group recorded a self-titled EP and planned a national tour with Bulging Eye, but tensions during the recording sessions led to an acrimonious split. In the wake of the band's dissolution, the EP remained unreleased. Martz continued to study music, sometimes played guitar in various groups, and continued writing, but refused to revive The Long Afternoon.

When Mission of Burma and Wire emerged from retirement in the early 2000s and resumed recording compelling, dynamic music, Martz began making music again himself, exploring new options, renewing old contacts, and developing new material.

Martz decided to begin recording again, enlisting drummer Greg Elliott and former Seen bassist Jeff Edmunds to join him in the studio. The Long Afternoon's first album, ?The Luxury Problem,? came out in 2006 to enthusiastic reviews in The Big Takeover and, ironically enough for a band whose members no longer indulge, High Times.

The Long Afternoon's second album, the 16-song ?Signifying Nothing,? was recorded from March 2007 to January 2009 at Audible Images studio in Port Matilda, Pa., and the band's own Problematic Audio studio. It became available for physical purchases and downloads in Spring 2009.

Still reclusive after all these years, The Long Afternoon almost never plays live, although Martz occasionally plays Long Afternoon material in solo shows. And although the end of the CD era and the rise of ?free? music on the Internet compels most artists to step up their live performances, the Long Afternoon has no plans to do anything other than issue recorded statements as situations warrant.

Martz and his fellow musicians are currently at work on follow-up projects to ?Signifying Nothing,? including an instrumental soundtrack for exercise classes and the third Long Afternoon album.