Matt Piucci and Steven Roback have been writing songs together since 1981, and are co-founders (along with the late David Roback) of Rain Parade. Rain Parade made a splash by combining the psychedelic sounds of 1967 through a post-punk filter, which has proven to be a timeless sound that remains fresh and copied forty some years later. It’s a highly influential sound which was also being honed in the same era in England by the likes of seminal artists such as Echo And The Bunnymen and The Soft Boys. Rain Parade’s debut LP, Emergency Third Rail Power Trip (released by Enigma Records in the US and Demon Records in the UK  in 1983) is internationally recognized as a masterpiece. Jim DeRogatis, Chicago rock critic, notes that their debut LP is “…among the best psychedelic LPs of any era.”

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‍The followup EP, Explosions In The Glass Palace (Enigma US; Demon UK 1984), was recorded after David Roback left the band. The EP has garnered the same high praise as the debut, and its reputation has been steadily increasing ever since. Sid Griffin, author and leader of The Long Ryders has said: “We were in the Paisley Underground with Rain Parade back in the 1980s… Explosions In The Glass Palace is and will forever be the BEST recording from a Paisley Underground band, be it us, The Dream Syndicate, The Bangles, The Three O’Clock or whomever.”

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‍Noted as an influence by the likes of My Bloody Valentine, Ride, The Stone Roses, Primal Scream, Teenage Fanclub, The Asteroid # 4, and The Charlatans UK. Rain Parade creates timeless music which has crossed over to younger generations and has created new fans, many born well after their debut album was released.

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‍Last year, Rain Parade released a new LP, Last Rays of a Dying Sun, on Label 51 Recordings. This album has garnered high praise and reverential reviews. Writer Mark Deming stated “this is a 21st Century version of their trademark approach, with the nocturnal melodies, the thoughtful interplay of the guitars, the starry-eyed vocals, expert harmonies, and the gently-insistent rhythms coming together with the same impact  they summoned in their salad days.”

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‍Rain Parade has been keeping busy since the release of their comeback album. Steven, Matt, and drummer/percussionist Stephan Junca went to the UK in March of 2023 for an acoustic, stripped down tour in support of their old pals Dream Syndicate, to smashing success. The winter of 2024 saw the band hit the road with like-minded psychedelic voyagers The Third Mind, a supergroup made up of Dave Alvin (The Blasters), Victor Krummenacher (Camper Van Beethoven, Eyelids) and indie goddess Jesse Solomon Sykes. On a West Coast tour which spanned Seattle’s Crocodile Club to Los Angeles’ legendary Troubadour, this was a musical match made in heaven, with rabid crowds at every stop. 
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Upon return, Steven and Matt hit the woodshed and crafted more new material, resulting in the four-song EP Last Stop on the Underground (2024).  The band toured the UK and Europe in the summer of 2024, and are now hard at work in the Bay Area working on another full album. Label 51 is proud to announce that their entire back catalog, available immediately as digital releases, and LPs/CDs forthcoming throughout 2024 and into 2025. A double colored vinyl reissue of ‘Emergency Third Rail Power Trip’ sold out as a 4/20 Record Store Day edition, and will be issued again, soon, on black vinyl. Stay tuned!  

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‍In addition to Piucci and Roback, Rain Parade is produced by veteran studio whiz Jim Hill, and features long-time Rain Parade guitarist John Thoman, multi instrumentalist/vocalist  Derek See (The Gentle Cycle, Chocolate Watchband, Dean & Britta), and drummer/percussionist Stephan Junca (Billy Talbot  Band, Jon Anderson, The Hellenes, boatclub).

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