This San Francisco, USA-based psychedelic folk rock brainchild of Andy Cabic (b. 23 October 1974, Alexandria, Virginia, USA; guitar/vocals) was conceived in the late 90s. Named after a particular type of East Indian grass that is commonly found in California, the band has since featured an ever-changing line-up of like-minded friends. The most notable, and regular collaborator was Texas-born weird-folk pioneer Devendra Banhart who co-wrote material on the band's self-titled album 2004 debut and decided to select a Vetiver track ("Angel's Share" featuring Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star) to open his genre-defining compilation, The Golden Apples Of The Sun.
Cabic had spent a large part of his youth in North Carolina, and it was here that he co-founded the indie rock act the Raymond Break, who released one album and an EP before he decided to relocate to the west coast. Vetiver was essentially an album four years in the making and included further guest appearances from deft, psych-folk harpist Joanna Newsom and My Bloody Valentine drummer and co-founder, Colm O'Ciosoig. It was a largely acoustic-based record that invoked the openness of Elliott Smith's first two albums, along with the playfulness of Donovan and Paul McCartney.
2005 was a busy year for Cabic that saw him tour both extensively as part of Banhart's band, as well as with Vetiver. He set up Gnomonsong Records with Banhart and proceeded to sign Jana Hunter and Feathers to the label. Back on the DiCristina Stair Builders imprint, he released Vetiver's appropriately titled odds-and-sods EP, Between, while working on material that was included on 2006's To Find Me Gone. This second album release had a full band sound, was produced by Thom Monahan of Pernice Brothers, and featured performances from Otto Hauser of Espers and Dave Scher of Beachwood Sparks fame.
