The Lemons

When Greg Lovell, originally from Florida, moved to Washington from California,[1] met Jimmy Paulson, they decided to form a band,[1] adding bassist Brent Saunders and drummer Jeff Ramirez to the lineup in 1991,[1][2] with Paulson on lead vocals and sharing guitar duties with Lovell.[2] They played local shows, opening for acts such as the Supersuckers and the Dwarves,[1] before parting ways with Ramirez.[1] They soon successfully auditioned drummer Rob Cunningham, after he put an ad in The Rocket,[1] and began recording their debut album three weeks later.[1] They continued to play live, including shows opening for Meddaphysical and Bathtub Gin,[1] before signing a deal with independent record label Macola Records in 1993.[1][2][3] Released in the same year[2] and produced by Al Sieg,[4] Marvel was described as "a speedy album that owed more to the bratty '80 pop-punk of the Descendents and All than the currently fashionable sludgy grunge sound" by Allmusic review Stewart Mason,[2] though he criticized Seig's production.[4]

The Lemons signed a deal with Will Records[5] before signing with Mercury Records in 1994,[2][5] releasing a self-titled EP the same year.[2] They recorded their new album with Bill Stevenson, of the Descendents. producing.[2] However, the label rejected the album,[2] with Cunningham departing the band,[3] joining Flake,[2] and guitarist[3] Nabil Ayers joining as their new drummer,[2] making his first appearance with the band when they opened for Mudhoney later in the year.[3] They decided to re-record their second album with Ayers,[3] however Paulson departed the band, temporarily joining Best Kissers in the World[2] before forming New American Shame, with Johnny Reidt, in 1998.[6][7] Adding guitarist Jeff Hiatt to the group,[2] Lovell became the group's lead singer and re-recorded their second album.[2][8] Released in 1995,[2] Sturdy sold poorly[2] resulting in the band being dropped from the label a month later.[5] The following year, The Lemons disbanded.[2]

Ayers went on to join Alien Crime Syndicate[9] forming the record labels Collective Fruit[10][11] and The Control Group[9] to release the albums Dust to Dirt, XL from Coast to Coast and Ten Songs in the Key of Betrayal with the band.[12] He later joined John Roderick's The Long Winters,[9][13] touring with Keane and releasing the album Putting the Days to Bed.[9][13] His music store, Sonic Boom, was also named the top independent music store in the US by Rolling Stone magazine in 2006.[9]

In April 2011, The Lemons reunited for a one-off show at Neumos in Seattle, opening for Duff McKagan's Loaded.[14]