Begun as an experimental recording project by two drummers, Speed Stick mutated into an angular indie rock supergroup as more participants got involved. The core membership sent around unfinished instrumental tracks to their friends and collaborators, eventually compiling an album's worth of input from members of Superchunk, R. Ring, Polvo, and many others for their 2021 debut Volume One.

Speed Stick was initially formed and conceptualized by drummers Laura King of Bat Fangs and Thomas Simpson of the Love Language. The two drummers recorded themselves playing in unison and sent the rhythm tracks to friends like R.Ring/Breeders vocalist Kelly Deal, Superchunk's Mac McCaughan, singer/songwriter Ryan Gustafson, and many others. As more musicians became involved with the project, Speed Stick's core membership grew to include Polvo's Ash Bowie and Charles Chace of the Paul Swest. The results of this experiment in remote collaboration ranged from groove-heavy rockers to blown-out noise jams to Krautrock-tinged instrumentals led by modular synth tones. Speed Stick collected ten tracks for their debut album Volume One, released in January of 2021 by Don Giovanni Records. ~ Fred Thomas, Rovi