Inchworm
Inchworm were one of Hamilton's more successful indie pop/rock bands in the mid to late nineties. The band formed in 1993 when drummer Rob Talsma (ex-Paisley Tile) joined with Spatula Death's Justin Harris (guitar) and Scott Brodie (bass). The band shared vocal and song-writing duties.
Inchworm burst onto the scene, winning the 1993 Waikato Rock Awards. They turned down the five year deal they won with Hark Records, choosing instead to release recordings independently on their own Dedear label. Their debut EP, "Looper", was released in 1994. The band then contributed the track "1987" to "The Fridge" compilation in 1995. The album "Shiny" was recorded between February 1995 and February 1996, and included re-recorded versions of two of the tracks on Looper (Come out, Come out, wherever you are and It means a lot to me). It was released on May 10, 1996, with a release party at The Exchange supported by Scribbler and Love and Violence. The band’s second album (and final release) was "You Are Only Here", released in 1997. You get to me, from this album, was included on the Green Eggs and Hamilton compilation.
Inchworm were awarded NZ On Air funding for three music videos (all directed by Greg Page) and self-funded two others. Their videos, Shine, It Means a Lot to Me, Come out, Come out, wherever you are, Umbrella and Give Up, all received TV airplay. In all they had tracks on six Hamilton music compilations and contributed seven times to the NZ On Air Indie Hit Discs. The band played regularly in Hamilton, and undertook three national tours. Significantly, they played the Big Day Out music festival in 1996.
In 1999, an article in City Weekend (September 10) reported the band were leaving Hamilton to base themselves in London. However, Justin did not join the other two. In England, Scott and Rob formed a band with Sarah Ferguson (formerly of Tobermorie) called Girlinky.[1] Girlinky released a cover of the Inchworm song Umbrella on their first single, My Huge Head. A three song EP titled Tapeworm was released posthumously by Inchworm in 2007.
Releases
Looper EP, 1994
Shiny CD, 1996
You Are Only Here CD, 1997
Tapeworm EP, 2007
Driver appears on the 1993 compilation They came to take us alive
1987 appears on the 1995 compilation The Fridge
Happy Birthday appears on the 1996 compilation In Love With This Town
Come Out Come Out, Wherever You Are appears on the 1996 compilation BURN
You get to me appears on the 1997 compilation Green Eggs and Hamilton
Once Again appears on the 2001 compilation Year Zero
It Means a Lot to Me appears on the promo CD NZ on Air Indie Hit Disc 1
Groll #1 appears on the promo CD NZ on Air Indie Hit Disc 2
Give up appears on the promo CD NZ on Air Indie Hit Disc 3
Umbrella appears on the promo CD NZ on Air Indie Hit Disc 6
You Get to Me appears on the promo CD NZ on Air Indie Hit Disc 7
Alien One appears on the promo CD NZ on Air Indie Hit Disc 8
Once Again appears on the promo CD NZ on Air Indie Hit Disc 12
Published Articles
An Inch Closer to Stardom, Nexus, 11 October 1993, P12
Inchworm measures success, by Lynda Drumm, Waikato Times, 13 October 1993
Inching toward the big time, Challenge Weekly, 16 February 1994
The Worms Turn, Waikato Times, 28 June 1994, P13
Inchworm Interview by Matt Gould, 18 July 1994, P34-35
Inchworm "Looper" Review, Nexus, 15 August 1994, P22
Inchworm are going it alone, Evening Standard (Palmerston North), 17 May 1995
Enjoying their success, The Daily News, (New Plymouth), 18 May 1995
Inchworm, Pavement magazine, April 1996
Last of the Independents by John Miller, Nexus, 6 May 1996, P18-19
Shiny CD review by John Miller, Nexus, 6 May 1996, P20
Inching forward, by Tania Hall, Waikato Times, 7 May 1997
Inching forward, City Weekend, 10 May 1997
London Destination for Inchworm, City Weekend, 10 September 1999, P14
Inchworm by Emma Philpott, Rip it Up, January 2000, P9
