Chavez
by Jason Ankeny & Andy KellmanThe angular indie rock unit Chavez was led by singer/guitarist Matt Sweeney, the former frontman of New Jerseys Skunk. Following the groups demise, Sweeney joined the New York band Wider, which included onetime Live Skull drummer James Lo; when Wider dissolved in 1992, Sweeney began playing with ex-Bullet Lavolta guitarist Clay Tarver. Lo joined not long after, and with bassist Davey Hoskins, Chavez cut its first demo recordings in late 1993. Following Hoskins exit and the recruitment of bassist Scott Masciarelli (also known as Scott Marshall, the son of Happy Days creator Garry Marshall), the band made its live debut; soon, the anthemic 1994 debut single Repeat the Ending and a reputation for stunning live sets made Chavez a hot commodity on the New York club scene. Their acclaimed debut, Gone Glimmering, and the follow-up EP Pentagram Ring appeared in 1995; the full-length Ride the Fader followed a year...