Gastr del Sol was the most prominent vehicle of indie rock stalwart David Grubbs, a former member of Squirrel Bait and Bastro. With Gastr del Sol, the Louisville, KY-born vocalist/guitarist/pianist's evolution from conventional rock music into more intricate and sophisticated tone patterns became complete; debuting with the 1993 EP The Serpentine Similar, the group -- a shifting aggregate of talents initially including bassist Bundy K. Brown and drummer John McEntire -- began exploring a new approach, taking off from often improvisational performances to embark on highly idiosyncratic sonic adventures.